Medication Safety Rounding Rules and Dosage Equivalents

Practice flashcards covering medication rounding rules, volume and weight equivalents, and temperature conversion formulas based on the LSUHSC-NO SON guidelines.

Rounding for volumes less than one mL

Round to $2$ decimal places and ensure there are no trailing zeros (e.g., $0.362$ becomes $0.36$).

Rounding for volumes greater than one mL

Round to $1$ decimal place and ensure there are no trailing zeros (e.g., $1.326$ becomes $1.3$).

Trailing Zeros Exception

A rule stating that a decimal answer must not end in a zero; for example, $1.99$ is rounded to $2$, not $2.0$.

Weight Rounding Rule

ALL weights are rounded to the tenth, and they must be rounded before calculating.

Kilogram ($kg$) calculation

$$Pounds \times 2.2 = kg$$

$$1\,g$$

$$1000\,mg$$

$$1\,mg$$

$$1000\,mcg$$

$$1\,L$$

$$1000\,mL$$

$$1\,mL$$

$1\,cc$ or $15\,gtt$

$$1\,tsp$$

$$5\,mL$$

$$1\,tbs$$

$$15\,mL$$

$$1\,oz$$

$$30\,mL$$

$$1\,cup$$

$$8\,oz = 240\,mL$$

$$1\,pint$$

$$16\,oz = 500\,mLs$$

$$1\,quart$$

$$32\,oz = 1000\,mL$$

$$1\,gallon$$

$$4\,quarts = 4\,L$$

$$1\,lb$$

$$16\,oz$$

$$1\,kg$$

$$2.2\,lb$$

$$1\,foot$$

$$12\,inches = 30.48\,cm$$

$$1\,inch$$

$$2.54\,cm$$

Fahrenheit ($^\circ F$) Conversion

$$^\circ F = (\frac{9}{5} \times ^\circ C) + 32$$

Celsius ($^\circ C$) Conversion

$$^\circ C = \frac{5}{9} ( ^\circ F - 32 )$$

Obsolete Medication Units

Terms no longer used in medication orders in the United States, including grain, drams, and minims.