Dosage calc abbreviations and conversions

Oz

ounce

TBS or tbs

tablespoon

Tsp or tsp

teaspoon

Gtt

drop

kg

kilogram

lb

pound

G or g

gram

mg

milligram

mcg

microgram

gr

grains (written as “gr 10 or gr X)

po or PO

per os (by mouth) or “orally”

sl or SL

sublingually or “under the tongue”

IV

intravenous

PR

per rectum or “in the rectum”

IM

intramuscular or “in the muscle”

SQ or sc or sq

subcutaneous or “under the subcutaneous layer of skin”

ID

intradermal or “just under the skin”

Topically

on top of the skin

Buccal

between the teeth and gum

Q or q̄

every

D or d

daily **always written as “daily”

U

units **always written as “units”

mEq

milliequivalents

QOD

every other day **always written as “every other day”

HS

hours of sleep or “at bedtime” **always written as “at bedtime”

PRN

as needed

Q 2 hours

every 2 hours

H or h

hours

BID

twice daily

TID

three times daily

1 oz

30 mL

16 oz

1 pound

1 TBS

15 mL

1 tsp

5 mL

1 kg

2.2 lbs

1 G

1,000 mg

1 mg

1,000 mcg

1 L

1,000 mL

gr 1

60 mg

1 kg

1,000 G

to go from larger to smaller units of measure…

move decimal 3 spaces to the right (ex: 1 G = 1.000 = 1,000 mg)

to go from small to larger unit of measure…

move 3 decimal spaces to the left (ex: 1000mg = 1000. = 1.0 G = 1 G) **never have a trailing zero

how to round tablets?

round to the nearest HALF (ex: 1.3 tablets → 1.5 tablets)

how to round capsules?

round to nearest WHOLE (ex: 1.2 caps → 1 cap)

adults with more than one of anything

round to the 10th space after the decimal (ex: 1.34mg → 1.3mg) **“5 rule”

adults with less than one of anything

round to the nearest 100th space after the decimal (ex: 0.763mg → 0.76mg) **”5 rule”

childrens medications?

ALWAYS round to the nearest 100th space after the decimal, even if its more or less than one of something (ex: 2.464mg → 2.46mg)

adult weights

always rounded to the 10th space after a decimal (ex: 189.57 lbs → 189.6 lbs)

childrens weights

always rounded to the 100th space after the decimal (ex: 33.568 lbs → 33.57 lbs)

converting lbs to kgs

pounds/2.2 = weight in kg (ex: adult weights 186lbs = ?kg → 186/2.2 = 84.54kg → 84.5kg)

converting kg to lbs

kg x 2.2 = weight in lbs (ex: adult weighs 96kg = ?lbs → 96×2.2 = 211.2lbs)