Drug Names & Dosage Notation Flashcards

Which of the following is an error-prone abbreviation that should NOT be used in medical transcription per ISMP guidelines?

Answer: μg

The symbol μg (microgram) can be misread as mg, so 'mcg' is the preferred safe abbreviation.

A medication order reads 'warfarin 2.5 mg PO qHS.' What does 'qHS' indicate?

Answer: Every bedtime (hora somni)

qHS (quaque hora somni) means at bedtime, a common timing directive for anticoagulants.

When transcribing 'Zofran 4 mg IV PRN nausea,' 'PRN' stands for:

Answer: Pro re nata — as needed

PRN (pro re nata) is a Latin term meaning 'as needed,' indicating the drug is given only when required.

The physician dictates 'atenolol 25 milligrams by mouth every day.' How should the frequency be transcribed?

Answer: daily

ISMP and JCAHO recommend writing 'daily' rather than 'q.d.' to avoid confusion with 'q.i.d.' (four times daily).

Which route abbreviation should be transcribed in full to avoid potential patient harm?

Answer: SC or SQ (subcutaneous)

SC/SQ can be misread as '5Q' or other characters; ISMP recommends spelling out 'subcutaneous.'

A transcriptionist encounters 'NPH insulin 30 units sub-Q at bedtime.' What does 'NPH' stand for in insulin nomenclature?

Answer: Neutral Protamine Hagedorn

NPH (Neutral Protamine Hagedorn) is an intermediate-acting insulin suspension, and understanding drug name origins aids accurate transcription.

In the medication notation 'levothyroxine 0.1 mg,' why is the leading zero used before the decimal?

Answer: It prevents misreading '.1' as '1' (tenfold error)

A leading zero before a decimal point (0.1) prevents the decimal from being missed, which could result in a tenfold dosing error.