DRUG CALCULATIONS

MAKING IT EASY

CLASS OUTLINE
1) review roman numerals
2) review apothecary measurements
3) review conversions
4) review 3 steps to dosage calculations
5) practice, practice, practice

Plugging in to Memory
Roman Numerals
APOTHECARY MEASURES
What are we talking about?
CONVERSIONS
- WITHIN SYSTEMS

- BETWEEN DIFFERENT SYSTEMS
WITHIN SYSTEMS

MEMORIZE:

1 gram (g or G) = 1000 milligrams (mg)
1 liter (l or L) = 1000 milliliters (ml or mL)
3 teaspoons (t) = 1 tablespoon (T)
1 cubic centimeter (cc) = 1 milliliter (ml)
BETWEEN SYSTEMS

MEMORIZE:
1 gram (G, GM, gm) = 15 grains (gr)
60 milligrams (mg) = 1 grain (gr)
1 tablespoon (T) = 15 ml
1 kilogram (kg) = 2.2 pounds (lb)
1 ounce (oz) = 30 ml or 30 cc
1 cc = 15 drops (gtt) or 15 minims (mx)
1 inch (in) = 2.5 centimeters (cm)

STEPS TO CONVERSION

WITHIN SYSTEMS
1) Write down what you know in a ration
or fraction format:

Example: 1 Gram
1000 milligrams
2) Write down what you desire in a ratio or
fraction format to complete the proportion:

Example: 3 Grams
x milligrams
Remember:

The numerator and denominator must be the
same unit of measurement
The unknown value is referred to as x
The completed proportion:


1 Gram 3 Grams
1000 mg : : x milligrams

Cross multiply
1 GM x X mg(s) = 3 GM x 1000 mg
Drop the terms used for units of
measurement: 1 X = 3(1000)
Solve for X: divide both sides of the
equation by the number preceding X:
X = 3000
1 1 X = 3000
BETWEEN SYSTEMS
1) Write down what you know in a fraction
format:

15 grains
1 gram

2) Complete the proportion by writing
down what you desire:

15 grains 30 grains
1 gram : : X grams

HINT: Keep the units of measurements in
the correct spaces!
Drop the units of measurement
Cross multiply

15 x X = 30 x 1
15X = 30

Solve for X: Divide each side by the number in
front of X : 1 X = 2 ANS: 2 Grams
VOILA!!

3 STEPS TO DOSAGE
CALCULATION:
1) Convert to units of same system and
similar unit
2) STOP AND THINK
3) Desired over amount on hand times
quantity

EX: desired
amount on hand x quantity


SAMPLE PROBLEMS
1) Convert: 300 mg to grams

2) Convert: 120 mg to grains

3) Convert: 30 gr to grams

4) A child who weighs 55 pounds weighs ____
kilograms?
5) A patient is restricted to four 8-ounce
glasses of water per day. The nurse knows
that the patients fluid intake is restricted to
____ mls per day.

6) The nurse administered aspirin gr v. She
knew this was equivalent to
_____milligrams(s).
7) Potassium chloride tablets are available
in 300 mg doses. The physician prescribed
gr v. Give ____ tablet(s).

8) The physician prescribed Capoten, 1.5
grams daily in three equal doses, for
hypertension. The nurse would give _____
1000 mg tablet(s) three times a day.


9) Lasix 30 mg, IM, is prescribed as a diuretic.
Lasix was available as 40 mg/mL. The nurse
would give ______mL.

10) Scopolamine 0.3 mg was ordered
subcutaneously as a preanesthetic medication.
The medication was available in ampules
containing grains 1/200 per mL. The nurse would
give _____mL.
11) The physician prescribed 25 mg of Librium,
IM. Add 2 mL of diluent to yield 100 mg/2ML.
The nurse should give _____ mL.

12) The physican prescribed 5 mg of Garamycin
for a child. The medication is available as 20
mgs/mL. To give 5 mg, you would give ____ mL.

PRACTICE, PRACTICE,
PRACTICE
And HOLLER if you need help!