DOSAGE AND CALCULATION (PART I) HANDOUTS

MATHEMATICS 101
 MDAS
 Inner circle then outward
 Solve for X

Metric system conversion

Example:
242 gram = __ kg
MUST REMEMBER:
242 g = 1 kg
 Kilo = X 1000
1000 g
 Gram = 1
= 0.242 kg
 Centi = / 100
 Milli = / 1,000
 Micro = / 1,000,000

Metric & English system conversion

 1 feet = 12 inches
 1 inch = 2.54 cm
 1 kg = 2.2 lbs

Mrs. Lucinda gave birth to a baby weighing 2,500 grams. One of the relatives of Mrs. Lucinda ask you what is
the weight of baby in pounds? The nurse best response would be:
A. 6.2 pounds B. 5.2 pounds C. 4.5 pounds D. 5.5 pounds

Grains and Grams:

Must Remember
 1 gram = 15 grain
 Grain I = 1 grain
 Grain ss = ½ grain

Scopolamine hydrobromide 1/200 grain Intramuscularly has been ordered because of its Antimuscarinic
(Anticholinergic) properties. The ampule is labeled 0.3 mg = 1 ml. How many milliliters should be given?
 1/200 = 0.005 grains
 0.005 grains X 1 gram X 1000 mg
15 grains 1 gram
 0.33 mg

 0.33 mg X 1ml = 1.1 ml

0.30 mg

What amount of the narcotic codeine phosphate should be withdrawn from a vial labeled 1 ml = 15 mg if
the prescription reads gr ss intramuscularly?
0.5 grain X 1 gram X 1000 mg = 33.33 mg
15 grains 1 gram

33.33 X 1 = 2.22 ml
15
Drug Concentration
How many grams of pure drug are in 50 ml of a 25 % glucose solution?
 50 ml X 25 % = 12.5 grams

Minims: 1 minim = 0.062 milliliters

Fluid ounce & cc

Must Remember
 1 fluid oz = 30 ml
EXERCISE:
 8 fluid oz = ___ ml
 8 fluid oz = 30 ml = 240 ml
1 fl oz

Medication computation Dosage X Quantity

Stock dose

The physician orders 0.15 grams of the antiulcer drug ranitidine hydrochloride (Zantac) for a patient.
Available tablets contain 150 mg each. How many tablets should the nurse administer?
 0.15 grams X 1000 mg = 150 mg
1 gram

150 mg / 150 mg = 1 tablet

A physician ordered 1,200,000 U of Penicillin G potassium (Lanacillin) Intramuscular. The vial is labeled
10 ml = 6,000,000 U. How many milliliters is equal the prescribed dose?
 1,200,000 X 10 ml = 2 ml
6,000,000

MG / HR
Problem:
A patient is with an IVF of Isoket 10 mg in PNSS 90 ml. If the Isoket drip is at 12 ml/hr. How many mg/hr is
the Patient receiving?

90 ml = 7.5 hrs 10 mg = 1.33 mg / hr

12 ml/ hr 7. 5 hrs

Must to Remember
 1 tablespoon = 15 ml 1 teaspoon = 5 ml

Exercise:
2 teaspoon = ____ ml 2 teaspoon X 5 ml = 10ml