Do Not Use List
| Do not Use | Potential Problem | Use Instead |
| U (unit) | Mistaken for "0" (zero), the number "4" (four) or "cc" | Write "unit" |
| IU (International unit) | Mistaken for "IV" (intravenous), or the number "10" (ten) | Write "International Unit" |
| Q.D., QD, q.d., qd, (daily) Q.O.D., QOD, q.o.d., qod, (every other day) | Mistaken for each other Period after the Q mistaken for "I" and the "O" mistaken for "I" | Write "daily" Write "every other day" |
| Trailing zero (X.0 mg)* Lack of leading zero (.X) mg | Decimal point is missed | Write X mg Write 0.X mg |
|
MS
MSO4 and MgSO4 |
Can mean morphine sulfate or magnesium sulfate Confused for one another | Write "morphine sulfate" Write "magnesium sulfate" |
1 Applies to all orders and all medication-related documentation that is handwritten (including free-text computer entry) or on pre-printed forms.
* Exception : A "trailing zero may be used only where required to demonstrate the level of precision of the value being reported, such as for laboratory results, imaging studies that report size of lesions, or catheter/tube sizes. It may not be used in medication orders or other medication-related documentation.