nursing bundle

• Routes of Administration


  • PO (by mouth)
  • IM (intramuscularly)
  • PR (per rectum)
  • SubQ (subcutaneously)
  • SL (sublingual)
  • ID (intradermal)
  • GT (gastrostomy tube)
  • IV (intravenous)
  • IVP (intravenous push)
  • IVPB (intravenous piggyback)
  • NG (nasogastric tube)
• Drug Preparation


  • tab, tabs (tablet)
  • cap, caps (capsule)
  • gtt (drop)
  • EC (enteric coated)
  • CR (controlled release)
  • susp (suspension)
  • el, elix (elixir)
  • sup, supp (suppository)
  • SR (sustained release)
• Metric Units


  • g (gm, Gm) (gram)
  • mg (milligram)
  • mcg (microgram)
  • kg (Kg) (kilogram)
  • L (liter)
  • mL (milliliter)
  • mEq (milliequivalent)
• Apothecary and Household Units

  • gtt (drop)
  • min, m, mx (minim)
  • tsp (teaspoon)
  • pt (pint)
  • gal (gallon)
  • dr (dram)
  • oz (ounce)
  • T, tbs, tbsp (tablespoon)
  • qt (quart)
• Times of Medications


  • ac (before meals)
  • pc (after meals)
  • daily (every day)
  • bid (two times a day)
  • tid (three times a day)
  • qid (four times a day)
  • qh (every hour)
  • ad lib (as desired)
  • stat (immediately)
  • q2h (every 2 hours)
  • q4h (every 4 hours)
  • q6h (every 6 hours)
  • prn (as needed)
  • hs (at bedtime)
• tid = 3X a day
• Dosage Calculation Example Answer

  if they are receiving 1 mg for 3X a day, that's 1 mg x 3 = 3 mg per day
• Converting lbs to kg

  DIVIDE by 2.2
• Converting kg to lbs

  MULTIPLY by 2.2
• Converting larger to smaller units


  Move decimal to the right
• Converting smaller to larger units

  Move decimal to the left
• Dosage Calculation Rules


  • Show ALL your work
  • No trailing zeros
  • Leading zeros must be placed before any decimal point
  • Do not round until you have the final answer
• Rounding Final Answer


  • If the number in the thousands place is 5 or greater, the number in the hundredths place is rounded up
  • If the number in the thousands place is 4 or less, the number is dropped
• Medication errors kill, prevention is crucial
• Formula Method (for volume-related dosage orders)

  A = AMOUNT OF MEDICATION REQUIRED FOR ADMINISTRATION

  D = DESIRED

  H = DOSAGE OF MEDICATION AVAILABLE

  V = VOLUME
• Some medications like Heparin and Insulin are prescribed in units/hour
• 0.2 mg


  Very different than 2 mg of morphine
• DO NOT round until you have the final answer
• Rounding rules


  If the number in the thousands place is 5 or greater, the number in the hundredths place is rounded up. If the number in the thousands place is 4 or less, the number is dropped.
• Most nursing schools do not give partial credit, so every step must be done correctly
• Formula method for volume-related dosage orders


  A = AMOUNT OF MEDICATION REQUIRED FOR ADMINISTRATION, D = DESIRED, H = DOSAGE OF MEDICATION AVAILABLE, V = VOLUME THE MEDICATION IS AVAILABLE IN
• Assume all questions are asked "per dose" unless the question gives a timeframe
• Converting hours to minutes

  1 hour = 60 minutes, 2.5 hours = 150 minutes
• If a drop factor is included, the question is asking for flow rate in gtt/min
• mL/hr is always rounded to the nearest whole number
• Important: don't let this information lead you to use the wrong formula. In this example, we're asked for a flow rate which requires mL of solution and total time.
• hr → min


  1 hour = 60 minutes
• Small to big: move the decimal point 3 to the left (unit is getting Larger think Left)
• mg/kg<|>min


  • →
  • mg/min
• In this case, ordered amount depends on patient weight
• This is mL/min...we need units of mL/hr!
• WAIT! Remember: If the question is asking for flow rate ("to infuse") and you're given mL of solution, you need to write the answer in mL/hr!
• Remember: 0.010 mg/kg/min x 86.363 kg = 0.863 mg/min
• 2.5 L normal saline to infuse over 48 hours.
• ORDERED: Morphine 100 mg IM q12h prn pain
• AVAILABLE: Morphine 150 mg/2.6 mL
• How many mL will you administer? Round to nearest hundredth.
• ROUND: nearest hundredth
• • mL of solution
  • total hours
  • =
  • mL/hr
• Remember: Question asked for "per dose" because no timeframe was given