UNSAFE ABBREVIATIONS
This single letter abbreviation for units is unsafe.
What is U
Instead of 'U', write this word
What is unit
What is the right of patients to access their medical records?
Patients have the right to access, review, and obtain copies of their medical records
This abbreviation is never to be used because it could double a dose
What is U
A doctor writes '2U insulin'. What should it be corrected to?
What is 2 units insulin
This abbreviation for international units looks like IV.
What is IU
Instead of 'IU', write this term
What is international units
What must patients be informed about regarding their information?
How their PHI will be used and shared.
This error can occur if you write 'MS' without clarification
What is confusion between morphine sulfate and magnesium sulfate
A nurse sees 'IU Vitamin D'. What should it be written as?
What is international units Vitamin D
This unsafe abbreviation means 'every day'
What is QD
Instead of 'QD', write this word
What is daily
What right allows patients to request corrections?
The right to request amendments to their health records
'MS04' is unsafe because it can be confused with this abbreviation
A chart says 'Digoxin .25mg' How should this be written?
What is 0.25mg?
What is QOD
Instead of 'QOD', write this phrase
What is every other day
Can patients request restrictions on disclosures?
Yes, patients can request restrictions, though providers are not always required to agree
Not writing a leading zero before a decimal could increase a dose by this many times
What is 10x
A patient order says 'Heparin 10.0mg'. What should it be corrected to?
What is Heparin 10mg
A trailing zero (e.g. 1.0mg) should not be used because it may look like this number
What is 10
Instead of '0.5mg' write this correctly
What is 0.5mg
What right allows patients to complain about HIPAA violations?
The right to file a complaint with HHS or the provider
This list, required by The Joint Commission, prevents medication errors
What is the Do Not Use List
A doctor writes 'MS 5mg'. How should it be clarified?
What is morphine sulfate 5mg.