To ensure patient safety, the practicing nurse must have knowledge of the current Joint Commission's "Do Not Use" list of abbreviations. Which of the following is acceptable for use?
a. q.o.d. or Q.O.D. c. International Unit
b. MSO4 or MgSO4 d. Lack of a leading zero
ANS: C
The abbreviations "i.u." and "I.U." are no longer acceptable because they could be misread as "I.V." or the number "10." The abbreviation "q.o.d. or Q.O.D." should be written out as "every other day." The period after the "Q" could be mistaken for an "I"; the "o" could also be mistaken for an "i." With MSO4 or MgSO4, it is too easy to confuse one medication for another. These medications are used for very different purposes and could put a client at risk for an adverse outcome. They should be written as morphine sulfate and magnesium sulfate. The decimal point should never be missed before a number to avoid confusion (i.e., 0.4 rather than .4).
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