"Do Not Use" List (official, from The Joint Commission)

Question 1

Do not use U, u. What should you use instead?

Answer 1

write out “unit”

Question 2

Do not use IU. What should you use instead?

Answer 2

write out “International Unit”

Question 3

Do not use Q.D., QD, q.d., qd. What should you use instead?

Answer 3

write “daily”

Question 4

Do not use Q.O.D., QOD, q.o.d., qod. What should you use instead?

Answer 4

write “every other day”

Question 5

Do not use a trailing zero when writing out whole numbers (like 5.0 mg, 1.0mL, etc.). What should you use instead?

Answer 5

Omit the trailing zero: for example 5mg, 1mL

Question 6

Do not OMIT the leading zero when writing out numbers less than 1, like .5mcg, .25mL, etc. What should you use instead?

Answer 6

Include the leading zero: 0.5 mcg, 0.25mL

Question 7

Do not use MS. What should you use instead?

Answer 7

Write out “morphine sulfate”

Question 8

Do not use MSO4 or MgSO4. What should you use instead?

Answer 8

Write out “magnesium sulfate”

Question 9

True or False:

All medical facilities in the US use the same official abbreviation list.

Answer 9

FALSE. Always check with your facility for their official abbreviation list.

Question 10

True/False:
The Joint Commission requires that all medication names must always be completely spelled out using the generic OR trade name, and can never be abbreviated.

Answer 10

TRUE.