What it means
From Latin quaque die. It is on The Joint Commission's official "Do Not Use" list and ISMP's error-prone list, because QD has been read as QID (four times a day), especially when the period or the tail of the q looks like an i, causing a fourfold overdose. Its relative QOD (every other day) is banned for the same reason.
For the nurse
If an order says QD, contact the prescriber to clarify rather than guess. Write "daily" or "every other day" in full.
At a glance
| Also written | q.d., qd |
|---|