Utah State University Nursing - Practical Nursing Program Math Review

A collection of medication math rules, safety notation standards, unit conversions, and Roman numerals utilized in the Utah State University Nursing Practical Nursing Program.

Medication Problem Rounding Rule

Round all answers to the nearest tenth ($0.1$); for example, $3.25$ is rounded to $3.3$.

Kilogram Weight Rounding

Weights must be rounded immediately to the nearest tenth ($0.1$) before proceeding with the rest of the calculation.

I.V. Flow Problem Rounding

Round to the nearest whole drop; for example, $33.3$ is rounded to $33$ drops.

Leading Zero Rule

A safety requirement stating that answers less than $1$ must always have a zero in front of the decimal (e.g., $0.7$ instead of $.7$).

Terminal Zero Rule

A patient safety standard which mandates the omission of terminal zeros; for example, $12.50$ must be written as $12.5$.

Metric Unit Expression

Metric units of measure must be expressed in decimals.

Apothecary Unit Expression

Apothecary units of measure must be expressed in fractions reduced to lowest terms (e.g., $\frac{1}{2}$ gr).

Final Answer Documentation

On the test, the ONE final answer must be circled; failure to circle or including incorrect answers in the circle results in a grade of incorrect.

$$1\,\text{kg}$$

$$2.2\,\text{lbs}$$

$$1\,\text{minim}$$

$$1\,\text{gtt}$$

$$1\,\text{grain}$$

$$60\,\text{mg}$$

$$15\,\text{minims}$$

$$1\,\text{mL}$$

$$1\,\text{oz}$$

$$30\,\text{mL}$$

$1\,\text{mL}$ (drops)

$$15\,\text{gtt}$$

$$1\,\text{dram}$$

$$4\,\text{mL}$$

$1\,\text{mL}$ (equivalent)

$$1\,\text{cc}$$

$$1\,\text{t}$$

$$5\,\text{mL}$$

$$1\,\text{cm}$$

$$10\,\text{mm}$$

$$1\,\text{T}$$

$$15\,\text{mL}$$

$$1\,\text{inch}$$

$$2.5\,\text{cm}$$

Roman Numeral $I$

$$1$$

Roman Numeral $V$

$$5$$

Roman Numeral $X$

$$10$$

grains ss

An apothecary measure for $\frac{1}{2}$ grain.

grains x

An apothecary measure for $10$ grains.