Module 1: Introductory Concepts
Unit 6: "Do Not Use" List of Abbreviations
Some abbreviations related to drug administration, especially when used in physician orders and in medication documentation, have been shown to be error-prone and dangerous.

As of January 1, 2004, Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations(JCAHO) required that the following items MUST BE INCLUDED on every accredited organization's "Do Not Use" list.

  
Set Item Abbreviation Potential Problem Preferred Term
1. 1. U (for unit) Mistaken as zero, four, cc Write "unit"
2. 2. IU (for international unit) Mistaken as IV (intravenous) or 10 (ten) Write "international unit"
1. 3.
4. 		Q.D.
Q.O.D. 		Mistaken as zero, four, cc Write "daily" and "every other day"
1. 5.
6.		 Trailing zero after a decimal point (X.0 mg)
Lack of a leading zero (.Xmg) 		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.Xmg)
1. 7.
8.
9.		 MS
MSO4
MgSO4 		Confused for one another. Can mean morphine sulfate or magnesium sulfate. Write "morphine sulfate" or "magnesium sulfate"

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