Q4-6

I would say they work to allow the nurse some discretion/judgment in adiministering. When range orders are written, you are supposed to start at the lowest dose and longest frequency. (I think it's a TJC thing. Some facilities don't allow them anymore.) So, you would start at the longest interval (q6h), and proceed to the shorter interval as needed. I usually see it in conjuction with a dose range, such as 1-2 Percocet q6-8h PRN. That gives the nurse some leeway in deciding how to best treat a pt's pain. Start off with 1 perc q8h and go from there.

I do see your point, though. They could just write q4h, since most range orders are for PRN's anyway. It's probably just a habit.

TJC?

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The Joint Commission. They apparently don't like to be called JCAHO anymore. *shrug*