Which abbreviation is on the Do Not Use list for medication orders or documentation?

• A. qd
• B. NPO
• C. Subling
• D. bid

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that some abbreviations for dosing and instructions are avoided because they can be misread and lead to dangerous errors. The abbreviation for “every day” or “once daily” is a well-known example on Do Not Use lists because it can be easily misread as “four times a day” (qid) or otherwise misunderstood, which could cause a patient to receive the dose too often. To prevent this, the recommended practice is to write the instruction in full terms like “every 24 hours” or “daily.”

The other options don’t carry the same risk in typical Do Not Use guidance. For example, NPO is commonly used to mean “nothing by mouth” and, while context matters, it isn’t the abbreviation flagged in this specific safety list. A nonstandard term like “Subling” isn’t a standard abbreviation and should be written out properly (sublingual). “Bid” is a common, acceptable frequency meaning twice daily, and while clarity is always important, it’s not the Do Not Use abbreviation highlighted here.