JCAHO Dangerous Abbreviations

DO NOT USE ABBREVIATIONS

U (for unit)

IU (for international unit)

O.D or Q.O.D.


Trailing zero (X.0 mg)




MS
MSO4
MgSO4

μg (for microgram)

H.S. (for half-strength or Latin abbreviation for bedtime)

T.I.W. (for three times a week)


S.C. OR S.Q. (for subcutaneous)


D/C (for discharge)

c.c. (for cubic centimeter)

A.S., A.D.,A.U. (Latin abbreviation for left, right, or both ears)

PREFERRED

Write “unit”

Write “International unit”

Write “daily” and “every other day”

Never write a zero by itself after decimal point (X mg), and always use a zero before a decimal point (0.X mg)

Write “morphine sulphate” or “magnesium sulphate”


Write “mcg”

Write out “half-strength” or “at bedtime”

Write “3 times weekly” or “three times weekly”

Write “Sub-Q” , “subQ” or “subcutaneously”


Write “discharge”

Write “mL” for millimeters

Write “left ear”, “right ear”, or “both ears”

**NOTE: Abbreviations should not be used in any of its forms such as upper or lower case, with or without periods. **