Dangerous Abbreviations: JCAHO

Question 1

IU (for international unit)

Answer 1

Potential problem: this abbreviation may be mistaken as IV (intravenous) or 10 (ten)

Preferred term: write “ international unit“

Question 2

MS, MSO4, MgSO4

Answer 2

Potential problem: these abbreviations may be confused for one another; they can mean morphine sulfate, or magnesium sulfate.

Preferred term: write “morphine sulfate” or “magnesium sulfate”

Question 3

Q.D., QD, q.d., qd (daily), Q.O.D., QOD, q.o.d., qod (every other day)

Answer 3

Potential problem: These abbreviations may be mistaken for each other. The period after “Q” can be mistaken for an “I” and the “O” can be mistaken for an “I”.

Preferred term: write “daily” and “every other day”

Question 4

Trailing zero (X.0mg) lack of leading zero (.Xmg)

Answer 4

Potential problem: the decimal point is missed

Preferred term: never write a zero by itself after a decimal point (Xmg)