Rules of Rounding 

When performing medication calculations, the answer can be different depending on where
and how rounding takes place within the problem.  Follow these simple rules of rounding: 
1. Round all calculations at the end of the problem. 
2. No trailing zeros and always use a leading zero for decimals (e.g. 0.1) 
3. For adult clients, round to the 10th decimal place (i.e. 3.2 mg) 
4. For pediatric clients, round to the 100th decimal place (i.e. 3.22 mg) 
5. For IV pump delivery and drop calculations, round to a whole number (less than 5,
round down OR 5 or greater, round up). 

Helpful Reminders 
Drug Dose = milligram (mg), grams (g), units (u), micrograms (mcg), tablets (tabs) 
Volume = milliliters (mL), drops (gtts), ounces (oz.), teaspoons (tsp), units (u) 
Time = hour (hr.), minute (min) 

MEASUREMENT AND EQUIVALENTS 

Metric System Conversions 
Weight and Dosages  Fluid Volume  Length and Height 
1 kilogram (kg) = 1,000 grams (g)   1 liter (L) = 1,000 milliliter (mL)  1 meter (M) = 100 centimeter (cm)  
1 g = 1,000 milligrams (mg)  1 mL = 0.001 liter (L)  1 cm = 10 millimeters (mm) 
1 mg = 1,000 micrograms (mcg)    1 mm = 0.001 meter (m) = 0.1 cm 
   

Temperature Conversion 
Freezing  Normal Body Temperature  Boiling 
32° F  98.6° F  212° F 
0° C  37° C  100° C 
Apothecary and Household Systems (Non-
Metric Systems) 
The apothecary system of measurements is outdated and no longer recommended for use by
the Institute of Safe Medication Practices (www.ismp.org) and the Joint Commission on
Accreditation for Healthcare (www.jointcommission.org).  Despite this, you may see it being
used on a rare occasion.  The Household System is sometimes used in acute care, but more
commonly seen in the community setting.  It is important to memorize the conversion for each
of these systems.  
Measures of Fluid: Metric  Measures of Fluid: Measures of weight: Measures of
Apothecary (A) and Metric  weight: Apothecary (A) and
Household (H)  Household (H) 
mL = milliliters  gtt = drop (H)  kg = kilogram  oz = ounce (H and A) 
L = liters  Tbsp = tablespoon (H)  g = gram  lb(s) = pound(s) (H and A) 
  tsp = teaspoon (H)  mg = milligram  gr = grains (A) 
oz = ounce (H and A)    dr = drams (A) 
cup = cup (H)   
pt = pint (H) 
qt = quart (H) 
 

1 mL = 15 gtt  60 mg = gr 1 (gr i) 
5 mL = 1 tsp  1 g = gr 15 (gr XV) 
15mL = 0.5 oz = 1 Tbsp  1 kg = 2.2 lb  
30 mL = 1 oz  1 lb = 16 oz 
240 mL = 1 cup = 8 oz   
480 mL = 1 pt = = 16 oz 
1,000 mL = 1 qt