Safe Medicines Terminology: Putting the Recommendations into Practice

Reduce errors. Improve safety. Speak the same language.

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care has released updated recommendations on the safe use of medicines terminology. This session unpacks what those 17 best practice principles mean for nurses, why certain abbreviations and symbols are now on the “do not use” list, and how to apply these standards in everyday practice. 
CPD HOURS: 1
Registration Year 2026/2027

Course Content

Medication errors often start with something as simple as a misunderstood abbreviation.

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care has released a major 2024 update, replacing the 2016 “Terminology, Abbreviations and Symbols used in Medicines Documentation” standard. This update draws on real-world incidents and international evidence about “error-prone” shorthand that continues to put patients at risk.  

In this session, we unpack what’s changed, why it matters, and what every nurse and midwife needs to do differently. You’ll explore the 17 Best Practice Principles designed to ensure medicines are prescribed, documented, and communicated safely across all settings — from handwritten charts to digital records and verbal handovers.  

Through practical examples, we’ll discuss how everyday habits such as using abbreviations, unclear dose expressions, or inconsistent documentation can lead to confusion, near misses, and avoidable harm. You’ll learn what’s now considered acceptable (and what’s not), how to spot unsafe practices, and ways to advocate for safer digital systems.
This synopsis is my interpretation of the article and is not a reproduction of the original text.

Why this Session may be Relevant to your Work

Understanding and applying the recommendations for the safe use of medicines terminology is directly relevant to nursing practice because medication errors remain one of the most common and preventable causes of patient harm.

Nurses are often the final checkpoint before a medicine reaches the patient, which means that any ambiguity in terminology can place both patient safety and professional accountability at risk.

By using standardised language, nurses ensure that communication with colleagues across shifts and disciplines is clear and consistent, reducing the likelihood of misinterpretation.

Learning Outcomes

In this session, you will:
  • Identify the 17 best practice principles for safe use of medicines terminology and explain their role in reducing medication errors.
  • Apply safe documentation practices, including correct use of medicine names, doses, routes, and times.
  • Differentiate between acceptable and unsafe abbreviations, symbols, and dose designations.
  • Demonstrate integration of the recommendations into daily nursing practice to support patient safety and compliance with national standards.

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Sue Walker

RN, BN, BN (ADMIN), MPHC, MACN

Sue is the Director and Co-Founder of Nurses for Nurses (NFNN), delivering national and international conferences, study tours and professional development programs for nurses and midwives. She is also a key contributor to Nursing CPD, an online education platform supporting nurses to meet NMBA Continuing Professional Development requirements through accessible, evidence-based learning that is firmly grounded in real-world practice.