TheInstitute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP)maintains a list oferror-prone abbreviationsthat shouldnot be usedin medication orders to prevent misinterpretation and medication errors.
Analysis of the Answer Choices:Abbreviation
Meaning
ISMP Recommendation
U
Units
❌Do NOT use→ Can be mistaken for "0" or "4" (e.g., 10U could be misread as 100).Use"unit"instead.
AD
Right ear
❌Do NOT use→ Can be confused with "OD" (right eye).Use"right ear"instead.
AU
Both ears
❌Do NOT use→ Can be confused with "OU" (both eyes).Use"both ears"instead.
gtt
Drop
✅Accepted→ Common and not considered error-prone.
Since"gtt" for drop is not on ISMP's "Do Not Use" list, it is the correct answer.
ISMP List of Error-Prone Abbreviations– Confirms that "U," "AD," and "AU" should not be used in prescriptions.
Joint Commission "Do Not Use" List– Prohibits "U" and similar abbreviations to prevent dosing errors.
Chosen Answer:
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