Cox College
Springfield, Missouri
General Rules for Dosage Rounding
General Rule for Rounding:
When rounding off numbers 5 and above, round up. Numbers below 5, round down.
Do not leave trailing zeros. (Round appropriately but if it comes to a whole number leave as whole number.)
Always place a zero before a decimal point (example 0.23)
I. Weights (pounds, Kilograms, grams, milligrams, etc.)
All weights should be carried to the thousandth and rounded to the hundredth.
Example:
77.272 kg = 77.27 kg
1.885 mg = 1.89 mg
Weights in pounds and ounces rounded to nearest whole ounce.
Example:
8 lb 12.44 ounces = 8 lb 12 ounces
8 lb 12.45 ounces = 8 lb 13 ounces
II. Capsules and Tablets
Round tablets/capsules to the nearest whole or half tablet (if scored). The difference should
not exceed 10% of total amount ordered.
Example:
1.9 capsules - 2 capsules
1.5 scored tablets - 1 ½ tablets
III. Liquid Medications by Mouth
If unable to accurately measure dose on available medication cup, use a syringe to obtain
accurate measurement of dose.
IV.
Milliliters
A. Volumes greater than 1 mL: Volumes using milliliters greater than 1 should be divided to
the hundredths place and rounded to the nearest tenth.
Example:
1.25 mL = 1.3 mL
1.24 mL = 1.2 mL
B. Volumes less than 1 mL: Volumes using milliliters less than 1 mL should be divided to the
thousandths place, and rounded to the nearest hundredth. A TB syringe is appropriate for
this measurement.
Example:
0.969 = 0.97 mL
0.963 = 0.96 mL
V. IV rates and/or calculation
•
Drip Rates - Calculate drip rates to the tenths place and round off to the nearest whole
number
Example:
15.4 = 15 drops per minute
15.5 = 16 drops per minute
•
IV pump drip rates – Calculate to the hundredths place and round to the tenths place. The
IV pumps can be set at a decimal.
Example:
15.44 = 15.4 mL/hr
15.45 = 15.5 mL/hr
G:\Website\Rounding Rules.doc
Originally Implemented Spring 2010 – Added additional notes Jan 2011
Additional Notes:
Equivalents:
1 kilogram (kg) = 1000 Grams (GM)
1 Gram (g) = 1000 milligrams (mg)
1 mg = 1000 micrograms (mcg)
1 Liter (L) = 1000 milliliters (mL)
1 mL = 1 cubic centimeter (cc)
30 mL = 1 ounce (oz)
65 mg = 1 grain (gr)
2.2 pounds (lb) = 1 kilogram (KG)
Must note Zero before decimals:
• If a decimal fraction is not preceded by a whole number, a zero must be used to
emphasize that the number is a fraction.
For example:
0.32 vs .32
No trailing Zeros
• Extra zeros on the end of decimal fractions are omitted to prevent errors.
for example:
10 vs 10.0
12.3 vs 12.30
Labeling answers:
• All answers but be properly labeled or the question will be counted wrong!
For example
4.62 mcg/kg/min vs. 4.62
0.17 mL vs 0.17
7.5 mg vs 7.5
80 mL/hr vs 80
20 drops/min vs 20
G:\Website\Rounding Rules.doc
Originally Implemented Spring 2010 – Added additional notes Jan 2011