Application of Measurement and Dose Conversion



Application of Measurement and Dose Conversion





Objective 1


Have you ever read the label on a pill bottle after a prescription has been filled? Many times, you will see a mixture of metric and U.S. Customary (household) measurements (Figure 9-1). Then the pharmacist hands you a measuring device with both metric and U.S. Customary (household) measurements on it (Figure 9-2). You want to give or take the correct dose, but which do you use—milliliters or teaspoons?




In the previous chapters, all of the questions dealt with the same base measurements. In this chapter, however, we practice converting between metric, apothecary, and U.S. Customary (household) measurements. The chapter also discusses common abbreviations used in the health care field, interpretation of physician orders, and conversion of temperature measurements from Fahrenheit to Celsius.



Objective 2


Common abbreviations used in the health care field


Have you ever taken a foreign language class? Medical terms and abbreviations used in the health care field can be compared to a foreign language. Because the medical field has a Latin word base, translations may not be obvious.


Tables 9-1 and 9-2 identify common abbreviations that are used when giving orders in the health care field. It is important that all health care professionals understand and can interpret common abbreviations—these abbreviations are not exclusive to the study of pharmacology.




The frequency of an order can be confusing. The abbreviation BID, which means “twice a day,” is not the same as q2h, which means “every 2 hours.” When requesting that a procedure, therapy, or medication be given at a specific time interval, the physician writes the hour frequency as a number.



Example:


Unasyn 500 mg IV


Q8H × 3 days


The above example Q8H means to give the medication every 8 hours. This order is more specific than tid (three times a day).




Objective 3


Interpretation of physician’s orders


Physician’s orders are given by the physician either in writing or orally to communicate what medication, tests (e.g., laboratory), or therapy he or she would like to have implemented. Orders are written in the patient’s chart by designated health care personnel. Medical abbreviations are commonly mixed in with longhand descriptions of the orders.



Example:


CBC q6h × 3 days then D/C.


Interpretation: Draw blood for a complete blood count every 6 hours for 3 days, then discontinue.


All physician’s orders should have the same basic information—what is to be done and how often.


Medication orders and prescriptions must include specific information (Figure 9-3):























1. Name of the medication Inscription
2. Dosage strength of the medication Inscription
3. How the medication should be taken Route
4. How often the medication should be taken Frequency or Signa (Sig)
5. How much medication should be dispensed Quantity
6. How many refills of the medication are allowed  

Let’s look at the prescription in Figure 9-3 and identify the required information.






















1. Name of the medication Pen-V-K (correct name: Pen-Vee K)
2. Dosage strength of the medication 250 mg
3. How the medication should be taken Tablets (by mouth) route
4. How often the medication should be taken Every 6 hours
5. How much medication should be dispensed 40 tablets
6. How many refills of the medication are allowed Refills are not specified so there would be no refills

If there is ever a question regarding the medication order, or the order does not make sense, the physician must be contacted. The physician writes the order in a specific manner that will affect the care of the patient. Clarification of any order should come from the physician or the physician’s representative.


Depending on the medication orders written, math may be involved in determining the correct amount of medication to be dispensed, the way to reconstitute the medication, and the amount of medication to be given over a specified period of time.



Apr 17, 2017 | Posted by in NURSING | Comments Off on Application of Measurement and Dose Conversion

Full access? Get Clinical Tree

Get Clinical Tree app for offline access