unit conversions and oral medication admin

grams (g)

used for solid meds and body weight (kg especially, for weight based dosing)

liter (L)

volume, used for liquid meds and IV fluids. most clinical doses measured in (mL)

meter (m)

length, used less often

kilo (k)

x1000 so 1x = 1000g

mili- (m)

divided by 1,000 so 1000x = 1g

micro (mcg)

divided by 1,000,000, so 1000x = 1mg

1 oz

30m

1 tbsp

15mL

reliable dosage calculation process

desired / have x quantity = amount to administer

1 identify “desired”

dose the provider order

2 identify “have”

concentration or strength on hand

3 identify “quantity”

volume or form that it comes in

4 solve than sanity check

calculate, does this amiunt make clinical sense

0. (leading 0)

always use

x.0 (trailing 0)

never use

~ round to the correction precision

under 1mL typically to nearest hundreth, over 1mL to nearest tenth

double check ususual results

should verify with math

when reading oral med label confirm

generic & trade name, concentrati

scored tablets

half for accurat

not every bill can be crushed, split, or open

this can change drug absorption profile

enteric coated

coating protects the stomach from the drug

extended / sustained release

release meds slower time, crushing can cause full dosage to release at once, serious overdose risk

immedicate release unscored

should not be split unless approved since distributed dose may not distribute evenly across the tablet

oral liquid meds

alwasy espressed as amount per volume, use calibrated oral syringe or dosing cup (never spoon b/c significantly varies from actual volume) especially important in pediatric pt since marked with 10ths for weight based calc. precision

preventing calculation & transciption errors

double check calculation, ask second nurse to verify, apply leading zero and no trailing zero, reduce distractions and interruptions, if calculation seems unusual re verify