Term
U (unit)
!!Mistaken for "0" (zero), the number "4" (four), or "cc"!! |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
IU (International Unit)
!!Mistaken for IV (intravenous) or the number 10 (ten)!! |
|
Definition
| Write "International Units" |
|
|
Term
Q.D., QD, q.d., qd (daily)
Q.O.D., QOD, q.o.d., qod (every other day)
!!Mistaken for each other!!
!!Period after Q mistaken for "I" and the "O" mistaken for "I"!! |
|
Definition
Write "daily"
Write "every other day" |
|
|
Term
Trailing zero (X.0 mg) in medication orders/documenation
Lack of leading zero (.X mg)
!!Decimal point is not seen!! |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
MS
MSO4 and MgSO4
!!Can mean morphine sulfate or magnesium sulfate; confused for one another!! |
|
Definition
Write "morphine sulfate"
Write "magnesium sulfate" |
|
|
Term
> (greater than)
< (less than)
!!Misinterpreted as the number "7" (seven) or the letter "L"!!
!!Confused for one another!! |
|
Definition
Write "greater than"
Write "less than" |
|
|
Term
Abbreviations for drug names
!!Misinterpreted due to similar abbreviations for multiple drugs!! |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Apothecary units
!!Unfamiliar to many practioners!!
!!Confused with metric units!! |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
@
!!Mistaken for the number "2" (two)!! |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
cc
!!Mistaken for U (units) when poorly written!! |
|
Definition
| Write "ml" or "milliliters" |
|
|
Term
μg
!!Mistaken for mg (milligrams), resulting in one thousand-fold overdose!! |
|
Definition
| Write "mcg" or "micrograms" |
|
|
