This document lists abbreviations that should not be used at Sandhills Endoscopy Center due to the risk of misinterpretation or confusion with other abbreviations. It includes abbreviations like "U" that could be mistaken for units or dosages, as well as abbreviations like "TIW" that could be misinterpreted. The list will be reviewed annually by the quality management committee. Additionally, some common abbreviations are discouraged due to the risk of being mistaken for ophthalmic abbreviations. An approved list of standard medical abbreviations is also provided.

1. Abbreviations not used at
Sandhills Endoscopy Center

2. The following abbreviations are not to be used in the ASC at any time. This list will be
reviewed, updated, and accepted by the QM committee annually.
Abbreviation Potential Problem Preferred
U, u, U., or u. (for Units) Mistaken for zero, four, or cc Write "Units"
IU (for International Units) Mistaken for IV (intravenous) or
10 (ten)
Write “International Units"
q.d. or QD (every day) Mistaken for q.i.d. especially if the period after the
“q” or the tail of the “q” is misunderstood as an “I”
Use “daily”
q.o.d or QOD Mistaken as “q.d.” (daily) or “q.i.d.” (four times
daily) if the “o” is poorly written
Use “every other day”
Trailing zero after decimal point
(e.g., 1.0 mg)
Mistaken as 10 mg if the decimal point is not seen
Do not use trailing zeros for doses expressed in whole
numbers
“Naked” decimal point (e.g., .5 mg) Mistaken as 5 mg if the decimal point is not seen
Always use a zero before a decimal point when the dose is
less than a whole unit.
MS, MSO4
(intended as morphine sulfate)
Mistaken as magnesium sulfate Use complete drug name
MgSO4
(intended as magnesium sulfate)
Mistaken as morphine sulfate Use complete drug name
mg (microgram) Mistaken for “gm” Use “mcg”
TIW (three times weekly)
Misinterpreted for three times daily
OR twice daily
Write "Three times a Week"
cc (cubic centimeter) Mistaken as “u” (units) Use “ml”
SC, SQ, sub q
( for subcutaneous)
SC mistaken as SL (sublingual); SQ
mistaken as “5 every”
Use “subcutaneously”

3. The following abbreviations are not to be used in the ASC at any time. This list will be
reviewed, updated, and accepted by the QM committee annually.
Abbreviation Potential Problem Preferred
HS (hours of sleep) Mistaken for "half strength" Write out "hours of sleep" or "at
bedtime"

4. The following abbreviations, although not regulated, are highly discouraged:
Abbreviation Potential Problem Preferred
AD, AS, AU
(right ear, left ear, each ear)
Mistaken as OD, OS, OU (right eye,
left eye, each eye)
Use “right ear,” “left ear,” or “each
ear”
OD, OS, OU
(right eye, left eye, each eye)
Mistaken as AD, AS, AU (right ear,
left ear, each ear)
Use “right eye,” “left eye” or “each
eye”
x3d Mistaken as “3 doses” Use “for three days”

5. APPROVED ABBREVIATIONS
•
Abbreviation Meaning Abbreviation Meaning Abbreviation Meaning Abbreviation Meaning
A before ac before meals ASA aspirin bid twice a day
BUN blood urea
nitrogen
c with C’ Centigrade C & S culture and
sensitivity
cm centimeter Cr creatinine DOB date of
birth
Dr doctor
dc D/C discontinue DX diagnosis D51/2NS dextrose in
0.45% normal
saline
D5W dextrose in
5% water
DISP dispense DNR Do Not
Resuscitate
e.g. for
example
EENT eye-ear-
nose-throat
ENT ear-nose-
throat
F Fahrenheit Fe iron fl. Oz fluid ounce
G gram g gauge GI gastrointestinal
gtt(s) drops
GU Genitourinary
H hour H & P history and
physical HS hour of sleep, at
bedtime
H20 water IM intramuscular INR international
normalized
ratio
IU international
unit
IV intravenous IVP IV push IVPB intravenous
piggyback
KCL potassium
chloride
Kg kilogram KVO keep vein
open
L left l liter

6. APPROVED ABBREVIATIONS
•
Abbreviation Meaning Abbreviation Meaning Abbreviation Meaning Abbreviation Meaning
Li Lithium Liq liquid m meter mcg microgram
mEq milliequivalent
Misc miscellaneous
mm millimeter NA sodium
N/A Not
Applicable
NaCl sodium
chloride
NKA no known
allergies
p after or
following
p.m. afternoon
or evening
PMP Premenopausal
pc after meal PMH Past Medical
History
po by mouth PRN as needed q every qam every
morning
q2h,q3h,etc. every 2 hours,
every 3 hours,
etc.
qid four times
daily
R right RN Registered
Nurse
s without SL sublingual S/P Status Post STAT at once,
immediately
SVT Supraventricular
Tachycardia TAB tablet tid three times a
day
T.O. telephone order
Tsp teaspoon V.O. verbal order WT weight
SYMBOLS > (Prohibited) greater
than
< (Prohibited) less than Ø None, Zero