Ordering Medication

Official “Do Not Use” List

Do not Use Use Instead

U Unit

IU International unit

Q.D. Daily

QOD Every other day

Trailing zero (X.0 mg) X mg

MS, MgSO4 Morphine 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• 11/4/14 0900 Administer Ativan 1 mg PO

Example

11/4/14 0900 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= 0.001 (one thousandth)• Micro= 0.000001 (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 ( )– 1.0100- 1.01

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 10• 1.20 m= 120 cm= 1200 mm

– Moving to the ( ) lowers the value by power of 10• 20 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 = 0.0502 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 MeasurementTerm Unit ValuePound 16 ozTsp 70-76 gttsTbsp 3 t/ 15 mLOz 2 tbsp/ 30 mLC 8 ozPt 2 c/ 16 oz/ 500 mLQt 2 pt/ t c/ 32 ozGal 4 qt/ 8 pt/ 16 c/ 128 ozFt 12 inYd 3 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= 750X= 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

LengthMetric Household10 mm= 1 cm 0.4 in2.5 cm 1 in30 cm 1 ft90 cm 1 yard100 cm= 1 m 39.4 in

Example

• An abdominal cavity was opened using 1 14-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?