Ordering Medication

Official “Do Not Use” List Do not UseUse Instead UUnit IUInternational unit Q.D.Daily QODEvery other day Trailing zero (X.0 mg)X mg MS, MgSO4Morphine sulfate

( ) When the Dr. tells a health professional which drug to administer to a patient Designates medication, dose, form, time, and route of administration Increases chance of ( ) Should always read it back to person who gave it ( ) Get clarification if still unsure

( ) Assigned to use in specific instances – Tylenol for fever ( )-signed set of orders to be used with specific procedures – Suppository, laxative or enema before colonoscopy

Components of Medication Orders ( ) Patient’s name Medication name Dosage or amount of medication ( ) Time or frequency of administration

Example Bob Jones 11/4/ Administer Ativan 1 mg PO

Example 11/4/ Bob Jones Tylenol 650 mg PO

Dosage Calculations

Metric System 3 basic units of measure: – ( ) (g)- weight – Liter (L)- volume – ( ) (m)- length Deci= 0.1 (one tenth of one unit) Centi= 0.01 ( one hundredth) Milli= (one thousandth) Micro= (one millionth) Kilo= 1000 (one thousand)

Always use a zero before decimal point is less than one whole unit – 0.78, 0.51 Do not use ( ) –

Common Abbreviations Kg Mg Mcg mL Cm mm

Converting To convert from unit to another – Moving decimal point to ( ) raised the value by power of m= 120 cm= 1200 mm – Moving to the ( ) lowers the value by power of mm= 2 cm= 0.02 m

Measurements for length Meter to millimeter 1 m= ( ) mm Meter to centimeter 1 m = 100 cm Centimeter to millimeter 1 cm= ( ) mm

Example Start with 50.2 mm and want to know in meters, move decimal place three places to left 50.2 mm = m

Example ___________ cm = 75 mm

Example ______________ mm = 2.5 m

_____________ mL= 4 L

( ) Older system for indicating drug mass or volume Basic unit of measure for weight is grain (gr) 60 grains= 1 dram Most common for liquid is ( ) – 8 drams = 1 fl. oz

Household Measurement TermUnit Value Pound16 oz Tsp70-76 gtts Tbsp3 t/ 15 mL Oz2 tbsp/ 30 mL C8 oz Pt2 c/ 16 oz/ 500 mL Qt2 pt/ t c/ 32 oz Gal4 qt/ 8 pt/ 16 c/ 128 oz Ft12 in Yd3 ft/ 36 in

Other measurements Units – Heparin, insulin Milliequivalent mEq

Converting Volume Measurement Units B/t Systems 24 oz= __________mL 30 mL = x mL 1 oz 24 oz X= 720 ml

750 mL= _______________pint(s) 500mL = 750 mL 1 pt x pts 500x= 750 X= 1.5

Weight Conversion 2.2 lb = 1 kg 16 oz= 1 lb 0.45 kg = 1 lb

Example A premature baby weighs 4 lb 3 oz. How many kg? First change the 4 lb to oz then add 3 oz. 4 X 16 = 64+7= 67 oz Then convert oz to kg 16 oz = 67 oz 16x= 30.15kg 0.45kg x kg x=1.88 kg

Length MetricHousehold 10 mm= 1 cm0.4 in 2.5 cm1 in 30 cm1 ft 90 cm1 yard 100 cm= 1 m39.4 in

Example An abdominal cavity was opened using inch incision. Convert this to metric 2.5 cm = x cm 1 in 14 in

Calculating Medications Zoloft 75 mg PO is ordered. The strength available is Zoloft 50 mg scored tablet. How many tablet(s) would provide the desired amount?

Mg per Kg Dilantin 2.5 mg /kg per dose for a child who weighs 44 lb. Available: Dilantin chewable tablet (s) 30 mg What is the strength of medicaiton for one dose? ________________ How many chewable tablet (s) should be given with each dose?