Nursing Dosage Calculations: Basic Conversions and Practice

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering fundamental metric and U.S. customary conversion factors, calculation rules, and documentation standards for nursing dosage calculations.

Unit agreement

A medication-safety check requiring that the prescribed quantity and available quantity be converted to compatible units before calculating, because a number without its unit cannot be safely interpreted.

Liter to milliliter conversion ($\text{L} \rightarrow \text{mL}$)

A core metric volume relationship where $1\,\text{liter (L)} = 1{,}000\,\text{milliliters (mL)}$.

Gram to milligram conversion ($\text{g} \rightarrow \text{mg}$)

A core metric mass relationship where $1\,\text{gram (g)} = 1{,}000\,\text{milligrams (mg)}$.

Milligram to microgram conversion ($\text{mg} \rightarrow \text{mcg}$)

A core metric mass relationship where $1\,\text{milligram (mg)} = 1{,}000\,\text{micrograms (mcg)}$; converting from milligrams to micrograms requires multiplying by $1{,}000$ rather than a single ten-fold step.

Meter to centimeter conversion ($\text{m} \rightarrow \text{cm}$)

A core metric length relationship where $1\,\text{meter (m)} = 100\,\text{centimeters (cm)}$.

Milliliter ($\text{mL}$) vs. Cubic centimeter ($\text{cc}$)

An equivalent volume relationship where $1\,\text{mL} = 1\,\text{cubic centimeter}$; clinical guidelines specify using $\text{mL}$ rather than \"cc\" for medication volumes.

Metric prefix structure

The decimal measurement system where adjacent positions differ by a factor of ten: kilo ($1{,}000$), hecto ($100$), deka ($10$), base ($1$), deci ($0.1$), centi ($0.01$), and milli ($0.001$).

King Henry Died Until Drinking Chocolate Milk

The mnemonic used to recall metric prefixes in order from largest to smallest: Kilo, Hecto, Deka, Unit (base), Deci, Centi, and Milli.

Direction check

A mathematical reasonableness check stating that converting a larger unit to a smaller unit yields a larger numerical count (multiply), while converting a smaller unit to a larger unit yields a smaller numerical count (divide).

Dimensional-analysis sequence

A five-step conversion procedure: 1. Identify the required final unit; 2. Write the starting amount with its unit; 3. Arrange conversion fractions so unwanted units cancel; 4. Multiply numerators, multiply denominators, and divide; 5. Round only the final answer as instructed, retain units, and check magnitude.

Calibrated medication-measuring device

A dedicated clinical tool specifically advised for measuring and documenting liquid oral medications in $\text{mL}$, as opposed to household spoons.

Fluid-intake documentation rule

The recording principle requiring documentation of the volume actually consumed rather than the total container capacity when only a portion was ingested.

Kilogram to pound conversion ($\text{kg} \rightarrow \text{lb}$)

An approximate nursing calculation factor where $1\,\text{kg} \approx 2.2\,\text{lb}$.

Pound to ounce conversion (weight)

A customary weight relationship where $1\,\text{lb} = 16\,\text{ounces of weight}$.

Inch to centimeter conversion ($\text{in} \rightarrow \text{cm}$)

A linear measurement conversion factor where $1\,\text{inch} = 2.54\,\text{cm}$.

Fluid ounce to milliliter conversion ($\text{fl oz} \rightarrow \text{mL}$)

An approximate nursing calculation factor where $1\,\text{U.S. fluid ounce} \approx 30\,\text{mL}$; fluid ounces measure volume rather than weight.

U.S. Customary liquid volume hierarchy

A set of volume conversion relationships where $1\,\text{cup} = 8\,\text{U.S. fl oz}$, $1\,\text{pint} = 2\,\text{cups} = 16\,\text{U.S. fl oz}$, $1\,\text{quart} = 2\,\text{pints}$, and $1\,\text{gallon} = 4\,\text{quarts}$.

Teaspoon to milliliter conversion ($\text{tsp} \rightarrow \text{mL}$)

A nursing calculation factor where $1\,\text{teaspoon} = 5\,\text{mL}$.

Tablespoon to milliliter conversion ($\text{tbsp} \rightarrow \text{mL}$)

A nursing calculation factor where $1\,\text{tablespoon} = 15\,\text{mL}$.

Microdrip tubing factor

A drop factor calibration value listed in the source text as $60\,\text{gtt/mL}$.