| Do Not Use | Rationale | Use Instead |
|---|---|---|
| U (unit) | Mistaken for "0" (zero), the number "4" 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 | Confused for one another Can mean morphine sulfate or magnesium sulfate | Write "morphine sulfate" Write "magnesium sulfate" |
* Exception: A "trailing zero" may be used only where required to demonstrate level of precision of value being reported (e.g., catheter tube sizes). It may not be used in medicationrelated documentation.