qhs indicates administration at what time?

• A. By mouth
• B. Every night at bedtime
• C. Every 2 hours
• D. Glucose tolerance test

Answer: (B)

Understanding medication shorthand is essential for safe administration. qhs stands for quaque hora somni, a Latin term meaning at the hour of sleep. When a dose is labeled this way, it should be given at bedtime, typically in the evening, rather than at meals or on a fixed hourly schedule. It’s not a directive for taking a medication by mouth (that would be PO), nor is it a schedule like every 2 hours (that would be q2h). It also isn’t related to a diagnostic test (glucose tolerance test)—it’s specifically about timing the dose at the patient’s sleep time.