What does an order of "Q2D" mean to you?

[Manofstone]

I thought that it meant that if I give the medication on Monday then Tuesday would be day one and Wednesday would be day two and so I would give it on day two. I'm being told by someone who is not a nurse (our RN is out on leave for two months and we have a director over us who is not a nurse taking her place) that if I give it on Monday then Tuesday would be day one and Wednesday would be day two but I would give it on Thursday (I would think that would be day three). Is that true? I was told this as I was leaving work and so I haven't had a chance to verify this with the doctor and of course today is Friday.

By the way, I'm an LVN with just over one year experience working at a facility that deals with Assisted Living/Memory Care. Thanks for any insight you can give me until I can check this with the doctor.

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

I would call the provider for clarification.

[CelticGoddess, BSN, RN]

What she said. IT's too confusing.

[Manofstone]

Yep, that's my next step.

[TriciaJ, RN]

It's really not a valid order because I'm quite sure JCAHO would not approve of the abbreviations used. The order needs to be written in a legal format so everyone knows exactly what it means.

[Mulan]

Every 2 days to me is every 48 hours. Given on Thursday it would be 72 hours.

So I agree with you, but even 2 nurses can interpret the same order differently.

[Libby1987]

Every 2 days is usually written QOD so I agree clarification is needed (though I would interpret as QOD so Monday then Wednesday)

[dishes, BSN, RN]

It's really not a valid order because I'm quite sure JCAHO would not approve of the abbreviations used. The order needs to be written in a legal format so everyone knows exactly what it means.

Not only JCAHO, but also the Institute for Safe Medication Practices has a list of abbreviations that should never be used http://www.ismp.org/tools/errorproneabbreviations.pdf

[MunoRN, RN]

Not only JCAHO, but also the Institute for Safe Medication Practices has a list of abbreviations that should never be used http://www.ismp.org/tools/errorproneabbreviations.pdf

I'm pretty sure "q2d" isn't on any of the "do not use" lists, "Q1D" is on list because it's easily confused with "QID" (and vice versa), but Q2d, Q3d, etc is technically acceptable, although the accepted correct abbreviation for "every other day" is "QAD", or better yet just write "every other day".

[Dogen]

Every 2 days is usually written QOD so I agree clarification is needed (though I would interpret as QOD so Monday then Wednesday)

QOD is on the list of abbreviations to avoid. We've been trained to never use Q for days. We write "daily," "every other day," "Mon/Weds/Fri." We only use it for hours and minutes. Q3h or whatever. You know what I'm talking about.

That was surprisingly awkward to write.

[NurseSpeedy, ADN, LPN, RN]

I personally have never seen an abbreviation written "Q2D". An order clarification needs to be done ASAP. I would assume that how you had interpreted it would be correct and not your co-worker, but never assume when it comes to medication orders, always clarify.

[Farawyn]

I still think in terms of QD, TID etc. even though I don't use it anymore.