When a drug is to be given at bed time, which of the following coded instruction is used?

Appeared in: OSSSC Nursing Officer-2021

Explanation

The abbreviation 'hs' is derived from the Latin term hora somni, which translates to 'at the hour of sleep' or 'at bedtime'.
This is a standard medical instruction directing the administration of medication just before a patient goes to sleep for the night.
Correctly identifying this abbreviation is a fundamental skill for safe medication administration.

Option A: The abbreviation 'sos' stands for the Latin term si opus sit, which means 'if there is a need' or 'as needed'.
Option B: The abbreviation 'od' stands for omne in die, meaning 'once a day'. It does not specify the time of administration.
Option D: The abbreviation 'ac' stands for ante cibum, which means 'before meals'.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Medical abbreviations for medication administration timing helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Accurate interpretation of medication abbreviations is a critical patient safety competency for nurses to prevent medication errors.
The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) includes 'hs' on its list of error-prone abbreviations because it can be mistaken for 'HS' (half-strength). Best practice is to write out the full instruction, 'at bedtime'.
Similarly, 'od' is often confused with 'OD' (right eye), leading to serious errors. The recommended practice is to write 'daily'.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key instruction required by the question, which is 'at bed time'.
Second, recall the standard medical abbreviations related to the frequency and timing of medication administration.
Third, systematically evaluate each option against your knowledge: 'sos' (as needed), 'od' (once daily), 'hs' (at bedtime), and 'ac' (before meals).
Finally, select the abbreviation that directly corresponds to the instruction 'at bed time', which is 'hs'.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Pharmacology Katzung 16e p. 1791-1793

E6 Pharmacology Nursing Lilley 11e Part 1 p. 85-87

Practise the full OSSSC Nursing Officer-2021

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.