In a standing order, what does q6h mean?

• A. Every 6 days
• B. Every 6 hours
• C. Once daily
• D. Every 60 minutes

Answer: (B)

In dosing abbreviations, q means “every” and the number followed by h indicates hours. So q6h = give the medication every six hours. This creates a regular, fixed schedule—four doses in a 24-hour day, spaced evenly around the clock. The other interpretations describe different frequencies (every several days, once daily, or every sixty minutes), which do not match the six-hour interval.