FOCUS: Education
LITTLE THINGS DO MATTER By Joy Penman A few nursing students asked me does it really matter that nurses write drug dosages in a particular way and follow a certain set of rules that have been devised. Must we belabour ‘little things’ as abbreviations and symbols? What is wrong with .5grms and not 0.5 g? “Of course it matters”, was my quick reply. I gathered my thoughts and enumerated the reasons for observing the conventions of units of measure, abbreviations and rules for writing drug dosages. First, it is important for nurses to speak and write as other health professionals. Nurses are part of the scientific community and we need to be in agreement with others when it comes to internationally agreed upon units and language. Second, observing convention will reduce the chance for medication errors, misinterpretations and confusion. Third, an average patient should be able to read and understand numerical nomenclature and uniformity in expression will facilitate his/her understanding considerably. Accuracy and consistency are paramount for medication charts and records, prescriptions, pharmacy computer orders, labels, and internal and external communications. The rules have been summarised by Cree and Rischmiller (2001) and Thompson and Taylor (2008). NIST has also produced a complete 80+ page document covering all aspects of this topic which can be downloaded at: http://physics.nist.gov/cuu/Units/ rules.html
Another resource is the Institute of Safe Medication Practices that has listed error-prone abbreviations, symbols, and dose designations with this link: http://www.ismp.org/tools/ errorproneabbreviations.pdf Here are some rules to follow: • Any quantitative measurement has to have a unit. The number four by itself can represent four elephants. • The units and symbols of quantities pertinent to nurses are to be written as follows: length, metre, m; mass, kilogram, kg; time, second, s; mass, gram, g; capacity, litre, L; time, minute, min; time, hour, h. • μg representing microgram has been mistaken as “mg”, hence, use “mcg”. • When any calculation is performed involving two or more numbers, the answer can be no more accurate than the accuracy of those numbers. A case in point is the quantity 1.2345 mL which is meaningless. Use only two significant figures - 1.2 mL is meaningful and accurate (could be stretched to 1.23 mL but nothing more). • Do not pluarise units, 7 h is correct but not 7 hrs. • Full stops are not used at the end of abbreviations, 15 kg is correct but not 15 kg.
ACCURACY AND CONSISTENCY ARE PARAMOUNT FOR MEDICATION CHARTS AND RECORDS, PRESCRIPTIONS, PHARMACY COMPUTER ORDERS, LABELS, AND INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS.
• A space in between the number
and the symbol for the unit is observed. Thus 98 min and not 98min. • A zero is always used before the decimal for any numbers less than one, hence, 0.60 mL is correct but the naked .60 mL is not. • Use the word ‘zero’ instead of ‘nought’ or ‘oh’. • Use up to date abbreviations and symbols. Many older practices have been changed. Dr Joy Penman is Senior Lecturer in Nursing and Midwifery at Monash University
References Cree, L and Rischmiller, S. 2001. Science in Nursing, 4th edn, Elsevier. Thompson, A and Taylor, B.N. 2008. Guide for the use of the International System of Units (SI). http://physics.nist.gov/ cuu/Units/rules.html
Living in Balance Retreat 16-20 October 2017 Learn to meditate Prevent burnout Heal anger and grief Enhance relationships
Book Now 1300 651 211 www.gawler.org
Reduce stress & anxiety Connect with your passion Create healthy eating habits Find your Inner JOY