Download Do Not Use Abbreviations

Do Not Use Abbreviations
The Institute for Safe Medication Practice (ISMP) and the Joint
Commission (JACHO) have each developed a list of dangerous
abbreviations. The list includes abbreviations considered to be
dangerous because of the potential for misinterpretation. PPIC
recommends that insureds follow the guidelines.
“An abbreviation on the 'do not use' list should not be used in any of its
forms, upper or lower case, with or without periods. For example, if
Q.D. is on your list, you can't use QD or qd. Any of those variations are
confusing and can be misinterpreted.” (JACHO)
PPIC recommends that facilities using abbreviations for documentation
purposes keep lists of approved and unapproved abbreviations at
each documentation area.
This compilation of “do not use” abbreviations, as defined by ISMP and
JACHO, is current as of July 2004. PPIC encourages you to frequently
check ISMP and JACHO websites for updates to the list
(http://www.ismp.org and http://www.jcaho.org).
Abbreviation or
Symbol
Intended Meaning
Potential Problem
Preferred Term
or Misinterpretation or Correction
U
Unit
Mistaken as zero,
four, or cc
Write "unit"
IU
International unit
Mistaken as IV
(intravenous) or 10
(ten)
Write
"international
unit"
Decimal point is
missed
Never write a
zero by itself after
a decimal point
(X mg), and
always use a
zero before a
decimal point
(0.X mg)
Trailing zero (X.0
mg),
Lack of leading
zero (.X mg)
µg
H.S.
S.C. or S.Q.
D/C
Microgram
Mistaken for mg
Write "mcg"
(milligrams) resulting
in one thousand-fold
dosing overdose
Half-strength or
Latin abbreviation
for bedtime
Mistaken for either
Write out "halfhalf-strength or hour strength" or "at
of sleep (at bedtime). bedtime"
q.H.S. Mistaken for
every hour.
Subcutaneous
Mistaken as SL for
Write "Sub-Q,"
sublingual, or 5 every "subQ," or
"subcutaneously"
Discharge
Interpreted as
discontinue or
whatever
medications follow
(typically discharge
meds)
Write "discharge"
or “discontinue”
IJ
Injection
Mistaken as IV or
intrajugular
Write “injection”
IN
Intranasal
Mistaken as IM or IV
Write “intranasal”
or “NAS”
OJ
Orange juice
Mistaken as OD or O Write out “orange
juice”
By mouth, orally
Mistaken for left eye
Use “PO” or “by
mouth” or “orally”
One daily
Mistaken as tid
Use “1 daily”
Cubic centimeter
Mistaken for U (units) Write "ml" for
when poorly written
milliliters
Per os
t/d
c.c. or cc
A.S., A.D., A.U.
Latin abbreviation
Mistaken for OS, OD, Write "left ear,"
for left, right, or both OU, etc.
"right ear," or
ears
"both ears"
Ounce
Dram
Minim
3, m, ml, and others
Use the metric
system
mg
Microgram
Mistaken for mg
when handwritten
Use “mcg”
o.d. or OD
Once daily
Use “daily”
Misinterpreted as
“right eye” (OD—
oculus dexter) and
administration of oral
medications in the
eye
TIW or tiw
Three times a week Mistaken as three
times a day
q.d. or QD
Every day
Apothecary
symbols such as:
ƺƷm
Don’t use this
abbreviation,
write out “three
times a week”
Mistaken as q.i.d.,
Use “daily” or
especially if the
“every day”
period after the “q” or
the tail of the “q” is
mistaken for an “i”
qn
Nightly or at
bedtime
Misinterpreted as qh
(every hour)
Use “nightly”
qhs
Nightly at bedtime
Misread as every
hour
Use “nightly”
q6PM, etc.
Every evening at
6 PM
Misread as every six
hours
Use 6 PM
“nightly”
q.o.d. or QOD
Every other day
Misinterpreted as
q.d. (daily) or q.i.d.
(four times daily) if
the “o” is poorly
written
Use “every other
day”
x3d
For three days
Mistaken for three
doses
Use “for three
days”
BT
Bedtime
Mistaken as BID
(twice daily)
Write it out
ss
Sliding scale
(insulin) or ½
(apothecary)
Mistaken for 55
Spell out “sliding
scale.” Use “onehalf” or use “½”
SSRI
Sliding scale
regular insulin
Mistaken as
selective-serotonin
reuptake inhibitor.
Sliding scale insulin Mistaken as strong
solution of iodine
(Lugol’s)
Spell out “sliding
scale insulin”
> and <
Greater than and
less than
Mistakenly used
opposite of intended
Use “greater
than” or “less
than”
/
(Slash mark)
Separates two
doses or indicates
“per”
Misunderstood as the
number 1 (“25 unit/10
units” read as “110”
units
Do not use a
slash mark to
separate doses Use “per”
SSI
@
At
Mistaken as 2
Use “at”
&
And
Mistaken as 2
Use “and”
+
Plus or and
Mistaken as 4
Use “and”
o
Hour
Mistaken as zero
Use “hour, h, or
hr”
Intended Meaning
Misinterpretation
Correction
ARAºA
Vidarabine
CytarabineARAºC
Use complete
drug name
AZT
Zidovudine
(retrovir)
Azathioprine
Use complete
drug name
CPZ
Compazine
(prochlorperazine)
Chlorpromazine
Use complete
drug name
DPT
DemerolPhenerganThorazine
Diphtheria-pertussis- Use complete
tetanus (vaccine)
drug name
HCl
Hydrochloric acid
Potassium chloride
(The “H” is
misinterpreted as
“K”)
Use complete
drug name
HCT
Hydrocortisone
Hydrochlorothiazide
Use complete
drug name
Drug names
HCTZ
MgSO4
MSO4 or MS
MTX
Hydrochlorothiazide Hydrocortisone (seen Use complete
as HCT250 mg)
drug name
Magnesium sulfate
Morphine sulfate
Use complete
drug name
Morphine sulfate
Magnesium sulfate
Use complete
drug name
Methotrexate
Mitoxantrone
Use complete
drug name
TAC
Triamcinolone
Tetracaine,
Use complete
ADRENALIN,cocaine drug name
ZnSO4
Zinc sulfate
Morphine sulfate
“Nitro” drip
Nitroglycerin
infusion
Sodium nitroprusside Use complete
infusion
drug name
“Norflox”
Norfloxacin
NORFLEX
Use complete
drug name
IV Vanc
Intravenous
vancomycin
Mistaken as Invanz
Use complete
drug name
DTO
Diluted tincture of
opium, or
deodorized tincture
of opium
(Paregoric)
Mistaken as tincture
of opium
Use complete
drug name
PCA
Procainamide
Mistaken for patient
controlled analgesia
Use complete
drug name
PTU
Propylthiouracil
Mistaken for
meracptopurine
Use complete
drug name
Tylenol with
codeine #3
Mistaken for
liothyronine
Use complete
drug name
TNKase
Mistaken for TPA
Use complete
drug name
T3
TNK
Use complete
drug name