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Informatics in Pharmacy

Unsafe Abbreviations

August 12, 2018 By Dr. G, PharmD

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Read through the ISMP’s Unsafe Abbreviation Guide.  It’s more comprehensive than the Joint Commission’s and they overlap.  Here are a few things you should know.

  • You may use range orders according to your hospital protocol.
  • PRN range orders must include a symptom. Pain PRN meds must include some type of scale.  You shouldn’t have multiple meds for the same scale or indication without a reason (ie: one is IV and one is PO)
  • If the patient can take PO and there are two meds for the same indication, PO is preferred.
  • Don’t use:
    • U – write unit
    • IU – write international unit
    • QD, QOD – write daily, every other day, etc.
    • 2.0 – just write 2
    • .3 – write 0.3
    • MS, MS04, MgSO4 – write morphine, magnesium
    • ug – write microgram
    • HS – write bedtime or half-strength
    • S.C or SQ – write sub-q or subcutaneously
    • D/C – write discharge
    • cc – write ml
    • AS, AD, AU, OS, OD, OU – write right ear, left eye, etc
    • > and < – write out less than or greater than
    • / – write per

Filed Under: BCPS Study Materials and Tips, Policy, Regulatory and Research Tagged With: bcps, biostatistics, medication safety

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acid base acidosis acute coronary syndrome alkalosis analgesics anaphylaxis aortic dissection arrhythmia bcps Beta-Blockers biostatistics blood pressure cardiac markers CHA2DS2-VasC cocaine COVID-19 diabetes diabetes inspidius heart failure Heparin hypersensitivity hypertension hypovolemic shock intubation ionotropes journal club lipids LMWH medication safety morphine conversions myocardial infarction needs work NOAC NSTEMI obstructive shock pharmacoeconomics pheochromocytoma pressors reference materials right mi sedation septic shock shock STEMI Updated 2020