Issn Print: 0361-1817

Publication Date: 2001/02/01


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Safe Prescribing

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Excerpt

Medication errors continue to result from prescriber abbreviation of the word subcutaneous. Often the "c" of "sc" is confused. For example, an order for morphine to be given "sc" was misread as "sl," and the drug was erroneously given sublingually.
The letter "q" as in "sq" or "sub q" resembles the abbreviation for "every" when followed by a number. For example, a patient's surgery had to be postponed after an order for "heparin 5,000 units sub q 2 hours before surgery" was misread as "...q 2 hours before surgery."
The Institute for Safe Medication Practices recommends avoiding ambiguous abbreviations. If an abbreviation must be used, the prescriber should consider "subcut" or "subcu.
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