Medication Review
KILOGRAMS TO POUNDS
1. How many pounds is 60kg?
Remember: 1kg=2.2lbs.
Set up proportion like this:
1kg_ = __60 kg__
2.2lbs.
X lbs.
Solve by cross multiplying:
(1 kg) x (X lbs.) = (2.2 lbs.) x (60kg)
1x= 132
Isolate X and solve. You divide 132 by 1 = 132 lbs
POUNDS TO KILOGRAMS
2. How many kilograms is 225lbs? Remember same conversion 1kg=2.2lbs.
Set up proportion like this:
1kg_ = __X kg__
2.2lbs.
225 lbs.
Solve by cross multiplying:
(1 kg) x (225lbs.) = (2.2 lbs.) x (Xkg)
225=2.2x
Isolate X and solve. You divide 225 by 2.2 = 102.27 kg. (Do not round, must carry out to 1 hundredth
unit in pediatrics)
POUNDS PLUS OUNCES TO KILOGRAMS
3. How many kg is a child that weighs 14 pounds 4 ounces? Remember 16 oz. are in 1 lb.
First you need to convert ounces to pounds. __4 ounces_ = 0.25 pounds
16
Then add 0.25 pounds to 14 pounds and you get 14.25 pounds.
Convert pounds to kilograms. Do this by dividing 14.25 by 2.2 to find the kilograms.
__14.25 pounds_ = 6.48 kg
2.2
OUNCES TO MILLILITERS
4. How many ml are there in 4oz.? Remember: 8oz.=240ml.
Set up a proportion like this:
8oz._ = __4oz.__
240ml
Xml
Solve by cross multiplying: (240ml) x (4oz) = (8oz) x (Xml)
960=8x
Isolate X and solve. You divide 960 by 8 = 120ml
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MILLILITERS TO OUNCES
5. How many ounces is equal to 375ml? 1 oz = 30ml
Divide 375 by 30 = 12.5 ounces
GRAMS TO MILLIGRAMS
6. How many mg are there in 24 grams? Remember 1g=1000mg
Set up a proportion like this:
1 gram_ = __24 grams__
1000mg
X mg
Solve by cross multiplying: (1000mg) x (24grams)= (1gram)x (Xmg)
24000 = 1X
Isolate X and solve. You divide 24000 by 1 = 24,000mg
MILLILITER TO MILLIGRAM CONVERSION GIVEN A CONCENTRATION
7. How many mg are in 3ml if 1ml has 5mg?
Set up a proportion like this:
1 ml_ = __3ml__
5mg
Xmg
Solve by cross multiplying: (5mg) x (3ml) = (1ml) x (Xmg)
15=1x
Isolate X and solve. You divide 15 by 1 = 15mg
FIND MAXIMUM 24 HOUR DOSE
8. What is the maximum 24 hour dose for a child that weighs 21 pounds 6 ounces? The
maximum amount of medication that can be given in 24 hours is 80mg/kg/day.
Convert 6 ounces to pounds: 6/16 = 0.375 lbs.
Then add 0.375 lbs. to 21 lbs. = 21.375 pounds.
Convert lbs to kg: 21.375/2.2 = 9.716 kg
Then multiply (80mg) x (9.716kg) x 1 day = 777.28mg per day
DIVIDED DOSAGES
9. The child weighs 12 pounds 8 ounces. The medication is 30mg/kg/day given every 8 hours.
What is the total mg that can be given for the whole day? How many mg should be given at
each dose?
Convert 8 ounces to pounds: 8/16 = 0.5 pounds
Then add 0.5 lbs. to 12 lbs. = 12.5 pounds
Convert lbs. to kg: 12.5/2.2 = 5.682 kg
Then multiply (30mg) x (5.682kg) x 1 day = 170.46mg per day
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There are 3 doses in a 24 hour period (every 8 hours)
Divide 170.46 by 3 = 56.82mg administered at each dose
THERAPEUTIC RANGES
10. An order asks you to administer 50mg of a medication to a 6 pound 2 ounce premature infant
via a PEG tube. A drug reference book indicated that the safe medication range for this
medication is 10-15mg/kg/day. Is 50mg a safe dose to give?
Covert the weight to pounds: 2/16 = 0.125 then add 0.125 + 6 = 6.125 pounds
Convert pounds to kilograms: 6.125/2.2 = 2.784 kg
Calculate the minimum and maximum doses for the drug:
Minimum: (2.784kg) x (10mg) = 27.84mg
Maximum: (2.784kg) x (15mg) = 41.76mg
The order asked you to administer 50mg. The dose is outside of the range allowed for this child. You
may NOT administer this medication. Call the ordering MD to discuss modification to the order.
11. The child you are caring for has a lower respiratory tract infection. The doctor orders Cefprozil
(Cefzil) 125mg/5ml. Administer 120mg PO Q12 hours for 10 days. The child’s weight is
17lbs. 10oz. and she is 7 months old. The pediatric dose for a child >6 months old is
15mg/kg/Q12 hours. How many mg will you administer for the whole day? How many mg at
each dose? How many ml should be given at each dose? Is the dose ordered appropriate for
this child?
First and foremost, convert the weight to pounds: 10/16= 0.625lbs+17 = 17.625
Convert the weight to kg: 8.01kg
What are the mg that are to be given at each dose? (15mg) x (8.01kg) = 120.15mg per dose
Yes, the dose ordered is appropriate.
What is the mg dosage for the entire day? Medication is ordered BID, so: 120.15 x 2 = 240.3mg/day
Now determine the ml for each dose: Concentration __125mg__
5ml
Set up like a proportion with what you know is ordered: __125mg_ = __120mg__
5ml
Xmg
Cross multiply: (125mg) x (Xmg) = (5ml) x (120mg) = 125x = 600
Solve for X:
Divide 600 by 125 = 4.8ml per dose
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The following are examples of how your physician orders need to be written:
Suprax 100mg/5ml. Administer 6ml (120mg) per GB BID x 10 days.
Phenobarbital elixir 20mg/5ml. Administer 10ml (40mg) via GB twice daily.
Bisocodyl EC 5mg/tab. Administer 1 tab (5mg) per GB 8-12 hours before desired stool PRN
constipation. (Give only if no stool in 24 hours, may increase to 2 tabs)
**Make sure you indicate ml and mg on every single order**
**Complete the physician’s name you received the order from, write your full name with credentials,
complete the patient’s birthdate and Medicaid number**
**If you are writing a PRN order, please indicate the reason for usage.**
**Send the white copy to the office and keep yellow copy in the home. **
**If the order is for an antibiotic, immediately complete an infection control sheet and send it into the
office.**
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