Reference — RT Career & Professional Practice
The Do Not Use Abbreviation List
The abbreviations the Joint Commission prohibits because they cause medication errors — what not to write, why, and the safe alternative for each.
Written by Apex Respiratory Editorial Team
Educational use only. This material supports respiratory therapy education and exam review. It is not medical advice and is not a substitute for clinical judgment, institutional protocols, or physician orders. Always follow facility policies and current provider orders, and verify calculations independently before clinical use.
Overview
The Joint Commission maintains an official Do Not Use list of abbreviations that are prohibited because they are frequently misread and cause medication errors. They apply to all orders and handwritten or free-text documentation.
Prohibited Abbreviations
| Do Not Use | Problem | Use Instead |
|---|---|---|
| U, u (unit) | Mistaken for 0, 4, or cc | Write “unit” |
| IU (international unit) | Mistaken for IV or the number 10 | Write “international unit” |
| Q.D., QD, q.d., qd (daily) | Mistaken for one another; the period or Q misread as “I” | Write “daily” |
| Q.O.D., QOD, q.o.d., qod (every other day) | Mistaken for QD or QID | Write “every other day” |
| Trailing zero (X.0 mg) | The decimal point is missed, causing a tenfold overdose | Write “X mg” (no trailing zero) |
| No leading zero (.X mg) | The decimal point is missed, causing a tenfold overdose | Write “0.X mg” |
| MS, MSO4, MgSO4 | Confused for one another (morphine sulfate vs magnesium sulfate) | Write “morphine sulfate” or “magnesium sulfate” |
Clinical Notes
- Decimal rules. Never use a trailing zero (write 5 mg, not 5.0 mg); always use a leading zero (write 0.5 mg, not .5 mg).
- Scope. These items apply to every order and free-text entry, not just medication administration records.
- Institutional extensions.Many institutions extend the list — for example to micrograms abbreviated as ug, cc, and the @ symbol. Follow your facility's policy.
Related Resources
Sources
- The Joint Commission. Official Do Not Use List of Abbreviations. The Joint Commission.
- Kacmarek RM, Stoller JK, Heuer AJ. Egan's Fundamentals of Respiratory Care. 12th ed. Elsevier; 2021. Recording and communicating clinical data.