Conversions

Weight Conversions

• Kilogram (kg) to Gram (g)

  • 1 kilogram equals 1,000 grams

  • Largest unit to smallest unit in weight

• Gram (g) to Milligram (mg)

  • 1 gram equals 1,000 milligrams

• Milligram (mg) to Microgram (µg)

  • 1 milligram equals 1,000 micrograms

• Order of Units: Kilogram → Gram → Milligram → Microgram

  • Each unit decreases by a factor of 1,000.

Reverse Conversions

• Microgram to Milligram:

  • 1 milligram equals 1,000 micrograms

• Milligram to Gram:

  • 1 gram equals 1,000 milligrams

• Gram to Kilogram:

  • 1 kilogram equals 1,000 grams

Volume Conversions

• Liter (L) to Milliliters (mL)

  • 1 liter equals 1,000 milliliters

• Direction of Conversion:

  • Liter to Milliliter: down (divide by 1,000)

  • Milliliter to Liter: up (multiply by 1,000)

Common Weight Conversions (Imperial vs Metric)

• Kilogram to Pounds

  • 1 kilogram equals 2.2 pounds

  • Important for understanding patient weight in the US

Patient Communication

• Medicinal Measurements:

  • 15 mL equals 1 tablespoon (TBSP)

  • 1 teaspoon (TSP) equals 5 mL, thus 3 teaspoons = 1 tablespoon

  • 1 ounce (oz) equals 30 mL

  • Useful for calculating fluid intake/output

Time Conversion

• Hour to Minutes

  • 1 hour equals 60 minutes

  • Important for calculations involving drip rates

Rounding Numbers

• Place Value Explanation:

  • Before Decimal: (1s, 10s, 100s)

  • After Decimal: (Tenths, Hundredths, Thousandths)

• Example for Rounding:

  • Given 234.562 Round to:

  • Tenths: 234.6 (5 in tenths rounds up)

  • Hundredths: 234.56 (2 in hundredths keeps it the same)

  • Whole Number: 235 (4 round ups to 5)

Important Practices in Medication Math

• Labeling: Always write the number first, followed by the unit (e.g., 5 g) to avoid confusion.

• Use Decimals Instead of Fractions:

  • Write 0.5 tablets instead of 1/2 tablet

• Zeros:

  • Use a zero before decimals (0.5) but avoid trailing zeros afterwards (10 vs. 10.0)

Summary of Points to Remember

• Clearly indicate measurements when communicating to avoid errors.

• Understanding and memorizing these conversions is crucial for medication math and patient care.

• Encourage seeking help for any confusion regarding metric system understanding and rounding.