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 ratio

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
1000 mg : :

Cross

multiply

3 Grams
x milligrams

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
1 gram : :

HINT:

30 grains
X grams

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 : 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 8ounce 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 physician 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!