COLLEGE OF NURSING

TIME OF ADMINISTRATION

Abbreviation Derivation Meaning

A.c. ante cibum before meals

Alt. die. Alternis diebus alternate days
Alt. hor alternis horis alternate
hours
Alt. noct. Alternis noctes alternate nights
A.m. ante miridiem morning
B.i.d bis in die twice a day
H. hora hour
H.d. hora decibitus at bedtime
H.s. hora somni at sleeping time
M. et N. mane at nocte morning and
night
O.d omni die daily
O.n. omni nocte each night
P.c. post cibum after meals
P.m. post miridiem afternoon
Pp.r.n pro re nata when required
Q.h quaque hora every hour
Q2h every 2 hours
Q3h every 3 hours
Q4h every 4 hours
Q.i.d or 4 i. d. quarter in die four times
a day
Stat statim at once
T.i.d ter in die three times a day

COMMON EQUIVALENT USED:

1 kg = 1000 grams 1 quart = 2 pints

1 kg = 2.2 lbs or pounds 1 liter = 1000 cc
1 gram = 1000 mg 1 pint = 1/2 liter or
500 cc
1 grain = 60 mg 1 pint = 16 fluid ounces
1 gm = 15 grains 1 ml = 15 gtts
1 gallon = 4 liters or 4000 cc 1 gtt = 4 megtts
1 gallon = 4 quarts 1 gm = 1 ml
1 quart = 1 liter 1 gm = 1 gtt

HOUSEHOLD MEASURES:

1 table spoon = 15 ml or cc 1 tsp = 5 ml or cc

1 fluid ounce = 30 ml or cc 1 cup = 6 oz or 180
cc
1 fluid oz = 2 tbsp 1 glass = 8 oz or 240
cc
1 tbsp = 3 tps 1 ml = 15 to 16
minims
 Urios College
COLLEGE OF NURSING
Butuan City

PREPARATION OF DRUGS

Abbreviation Derivation Meaning

Aq. Aqua water

q. dest. Aqua destillata distilled water
Comp. compositum
compound
Conf. confection confection
D. detur give
Dil. Dilutus dulute
Empl. Emplastrum plaster
Et et and
Fl. Fluidum fluid
Inf. Infusum infusion
Lin. Linimentum liniment
Liq. Liquor liquid
Lot. Lotio lotion
Mist. Mistura mixture
N.N.R. new and
non-official
remedy
Ol. Oleum oil
Pil. pilula pill
Pulv. Pulvis a powder
S. fr. Spiritus frumenti whisky
Sp. spiritus spirit
S. v. r. spiritus vini rectificatus alcohol
S.v.g. Spiritus vini gallici brandy
Syr. Syrupus syrup
Tinct. Tinetura tincture
Troch. Trochiseum lozenge
Ung. Unguentum ointment
Vin. Vinum wine
 Urios College

ABBREVIATIONS and SYMBOLS

Abbreviation Derivation Meaning

a. Ana of each
Add. Addle add to
Add part. Dol. Adde partem dolente to the painful
part
Ad. Lib ad libitum as much as
desired
C. congius gallon
C Centigrade
ć cum with
cc cubic centimeter
Cap. Capiat let him take
Contin. Continuator let it be
continued
Dim. Dimidius one half
D. in p. aeq. Dividatur in partes
divide in equal parts
Aequales
Div. dividatus divide
Dur. Dolor. Duranted dolore while pain lasts
Ft. fiat let it or let tem be made
gm gram gram, grams
gr. granum, grana grains, grain
Garg. Gargarisma gargle
Kg kilogram a thousand grams
L. liter a liter
lb libra a pound
M. misce mix
m. minimus minim
ml. milliliter a thousandth of a liter
N. B. nota bene note well
No. numero number
O octarius a pint
Eart, vic. Parttibus vicibus in divided doses
Q. s. quantum sufficit as much as is sufficient
Rx recipe take
S sine without
S. or Sig. signa give the following
Directions
S. o. s. si opus sit if necessary
Ss semi one half
Tsp teaspoon teaspoonful
Tbsp tablespoon tablespoonful
 Urios College
COLLEGE OF NURSING
Butuan City

DOSAGE CALCULATIONS

Common Equivalents Used

1 kg = 2.2 lbs (pounds) 1 gal = 4000 cubic

centimeters
1 kg = 1000 grams (gms) 1 qt =1L
1 gm = 1000 milligrams (mg) 1 L = 1000 cc or milliliters
1 gm = 15 grains (gr) 1 L = 2 pints
1 gr = 60 mg 1 pint = 500 cc or ½ L
1 mg = 1000 micrograms (mcg0 1 pint = 16 fluid ounces
(fl oz)
1 gallon= 4 liters (L) 1 ml = 15 gtts or drops
1 gal = 4 quarts (qts) 1 gtt = 4 microdrops or
mcgtts

Household Measures

1 tbsp = 15 ml or cc 1 tsp = 5 ml or cc
1 fl oz = 30 ml or cc 1 cup = 6 fl oz or 180
cc
1 fl oz = 2 tbsp 1 glass = 8 fl oz or
240 cc
1 tbsp = 3 tsp 1 ml = 15 to 16
minims or mx

Conversion

0
Cto 0 F = 0 Cx9 / 5 + 32
0
Fto 0 C = 0 F − 32(5 / 9)

Computation of pediatric Doses using:

A. CLARK’S RULE

Average adult dose x weight of child in pounds = estimated

safe dose
150

Example : How much Aspirin should a one-year-old child weighing

21 lbs.
receive if the average adult dose is 10 grains?

10 grains x 21 lbs = grain 1 2/5 or 1.4 grains

150

B. YOUNG’S RULE
 Average adult dose x age of child in years = estimated
safe dose
Age of child + 12

Example: How much Atropine Sulfate should an eight year old child
received if
adult dose is grain 1/150

8 1
xgrain = grain1 / 375
8 + 12 150

C. FRIEDMAN’S RULE

Average adult dose x age in months = estimated safe dose

150

Example : The adult dose of atropine sulfate is 0.6 mg. How much
should a 2-
month-old child receive?

0.6 x 2 1.2
= = 0.008mg
150 150

D. BODY WEIGHT

The body weight method of calculating allows for individualizing the

drug dose and involves three steps as follows:

1. Convert pounds to kilograms if necessary.

2. Determine drug dose per body weight by multiplying:
Drug dose x body weight = client’s dose per
day
3. Follow the basic formula to calculate drug dosage:

D q
=
H Q

Example: order – Cefaclor (Ceclor) 20 mg/kg/day in three divided doses

.
Child’s weight – 31 lbs
Drug label – Cefaclor (Ceclor) 125 mg / 5 ml

a. Convert pounds to kilograms

31 divided by 2.2 = 14 kg.

b. drug dose x body weight

20 x 14 = 280 mg / day
280 mg divided by 3 divided doses in a day = 93 mg / dose

c. Calculate drug dosage

 93mg x
= cross multiply
125mg 5ml
Answer: 3.7 ml is to be given per dose

Practice Problems:

1. Order:Flurouracil (5-Ft) 12 mg/kg/day intravenously not to exceed.

Weight: 132 lbs

2. Order:Phenytoin (Dilantin) 5mg/kg/day in two divided doses

Weight: 55 lbs.

3. Order: sulfisoxazole (Gantrisin) 50 mg/kg/day in four divided

doses
Weight: 44 lbs

4. Order:albuterol (Provenuil) 0.1 mg/kg/day in four divided doses

Weight: 86 lbs

5. Order:oxacillin (Prostaphlin) 40 mg/kg/day in four divided doses

Weight: 33 lbs
Stock: 250 mg / 5 ml
How many milligrams should be given per day?
How many milliliters should the child received per dose?

Dosage Problems for Medications in the Same System

Example:
Order: 0.250 Digoxin
Stock: 0.125 mg Digoxin per tablet
Give: ______ tablet (s)

D q 0.250mg x
− , therefore, = cross multiply
H Q 0.125mg 1tablet

0.125mg ( x) 0.250mg (1tablet )

= 0.125
0.125mg
x = 2tablets

Practice Problems:

1. furosemide (Lasix) 160 mg daily as prescribed.

Lasix 40 mg tablets are “on hand”
Give ____ tablets

2. Allopurinol 150 mg is prescribed

Allopurinol 250 mg tablets are “on hand”
Give ____ tablets

3. Codeine elixir 20 mg is prescribed

Codeine elixir is labeled 10 mg per 5 ml
Give _____ mg

Dosage Problems for Medications in Different Systems

 Whenever the desired and on-hand drug dosages are in different
systems, you would:

1. Choose the approximate equivalent.

2. Use the formula D/H =q/Q

Example:
Order: 500 mg Gentrisin QID
Stock: 0.5 grams tablets
Give ______ tablet (s)

Change: To convert 500 milligrams to grams divide 500

milligrams by 1000 (1 gram = 1000 milligrams) or move
the decimal point of 500 mg three places to the left – 500
mg = 0.500 grams.

Use the formula:

D q 0.5 grams x
= , therefore, = cross multiply
H Q 0.5 grams 1tablet

x = 1tablet

Practice Problems:

1. Thorazine hydrochloride is available in a syrup (3 mg/ml). the

prescribed does is 3 teaspoons. You will give _____ ml which is
equal to _____ mg.
2. Aspirin is available in 0.5 gram tablets. The prescribed does is
grains 30 OD. Give _____ tablet (s) OD.
3. Phenobarbital ¼ grain is ordered q 6h PO. The stock available
contains ½ grain per tablet. You would give _____ tablet (s).

Dication Package as Powder.

The available amount of drug is in a solute form (dry powder)

and needs to be reconstituted by adding a diluent (solvent). The label
on the available drug well give directions for adding the diluent. There
are three common diluents that must always be sterile when added to
the drug powder. Use either on of the three.

a. Bacteriostatic water
b. Sodium chloride (0.9%)
c. Sterile distilled water for injection

Read the directions for reconstitution at the label for the:

a. recommended diluent
b. quantity of diluent
c. ratio of solute to solvent after reconstitution

Use the usual formula to calculate drug dosage required.

Example: The physician prescribed 250 mg of Amoxycillin IM q 8h. The

medication was available as a powder in a 1 gram vial.
Directions for reconstitution: Reconstitute with 2.5 ml of sterile water
for injection. Shake well unit dissolved. Solution concentration ----------
equal 330 mg/ml. fluid volume will equal 3.0 ml.

Use the formula:

D q 250 mg x
_____ = _____, therefore, _______ = _____ cross multiply

H Q 1000 mg 3 ml

1000 mg (x) = 250 mg (3ml)

___________ ____________
1000 mg 1000 mg
X = 0.75 ml will be given IM every 8
hours
Practice Problems:

1. The physician ordered that a patient receive 1.5 mg Stadol

IM q 3-4 hours as needs for pain. The medication was
available for injection as 2.0 mg/ml. the nurse would give
_____ ml every 3 to 4 hours prn.
2. The physician prescribed 500 mg of Velosef IM every 12
hours for the patients genitourinary infection. The
medication available was a powder form in a 2gram vial.
Directions at the label of the container read: reconstitute
with 6.0 ml of sterile water for injection, shake well.
Solution concentration will yield 270 mg/ml. fluid volume
will equal to 7.4 ml. Use approximate quantities for dosage
calculations. You will give _____ of the drug IM every 12
hours.

Drugs Measured in Units:

1. PENICILLIN – some preparations penicillin come in units / ml,

whereas other come in milligrams / ml. you can use the formula D/H
= q/Q.

Rule: To prepare Penicillin for injection, follow these steps:

Read the medication order noting the number of units to be

given. For example, a patch is prescribed 300,000 units of
Penicillin G Procaine to be administered IVTT every 12 hours.
Penicillin G Procaine is available as 600,000/1.2 ml. Therefore,
you would use the formula: D/H =q/Q

300,000 units = x = cross multiply

600,000 units 1.2 ml

600,000 units (x) = 300,000 units (1.2 ml)

600,000 units 600,000 units

x = 0.6 ml of the drug will be given IVTT

every 12 hours
2. INSULIN – Frequently, you will it necessary to mix two types of
insulin, usually regular insulin and NPH insulin. When you have to
mix insulin, there are two important guidelines that you must
remember:

a. Do no contaminate the contents of one vial with the contente of

the other vial.
b. Always draw up the NPH insulin, which is a turbid preparation,
last because chemically, it has a protein substance in it that the
clear Regular insulin does not have. Drawing up the NPH insulin
last helps prevent contamination of the regular insulin.

Example: The doctor’s order reads as follow:

Urine sugar q 6 hours (6 AM – 12 NN – 6 PM – 12 MN)
Give Regular insulin subcutaneously for the following urine
sugar result.

0 - none
Trace - none
1+ - 5 units
2+ - 10 units
3+ - 15 units
4+ - 20 units

Stock: Regular insulin 40 units / ml.

At 6 AM, the Regular insulin result was 2+.

a. How many ml will you give using a tuberculin syringe?
Use the formula: D/H =q/Q,

10 units = x cross multiply

40 units 1 ml
40 units (x) = 10 units (1 ml)
40 units 40 units
x = 0.25 x

b. How many units will you give using a :

(1) u-40 insulin syringe
10 units = x cross multiply
40 units 40 units
40 units (x) = 10 units (40 units)
40 units = 40 units
x = 10 units
(2) u-80 insulin syringe?
10 units = x cross multiply
40 units 80 units
40 units (x) = 10 units (80 units)
40 units = 40 units
x = 20 units
(3) u-100 insulin syringe?
10 units = x cross multiply
40 units 100 units
40 units (x) = 10 units (100 units)
40 units = 40 units
x = 25 units
Practice Problems:

1. The physician prescribed Penicillin G 125,000 units IM q 12 h.

The medication is available in solution as 250,000 units/5 ml. The
nurse would give _____ every 12 hours.
2. The physician prescribed 15 units of U=100 Regular insulin
subcutaneously at 11 AM to cover a sugar and acetone reading
of 3+. The nurse had a u-100 insulin syringe. She would draw up
into the syringe ___Units.

Intravenous Fluids

1. Calculating rate of flow per minute – Use the formula:

Total amount of volume in ml x drop factor

Drops per minute = ___________________________________ OR
number of hours to last x 60 minutes/hour
= total volume to infuse in ml x drop factor
60 minutes / hour
Example: Administer 1000 ml of DW every 8 hours. The drop factor is
15 gtts/ml

total volume to infuse in ml x drop factor

Use : Drops per minute =number of hours to last x 60 minutes per
hour

= 1000 ml (15 gtts/ml) = 15 000 gtts = 125 gtts

8 hours (60 mins/hr) 480 mins 4
mins
= 31.25 gtts/min or 31 to 32 gtts/min

2. Calculating amount to infuse ml per hour – Use the formula:

Hourly volume = Amount of solution to infuse in ml

Number pf hours to infuse solution

Example : A patient is to receive 1000 ml of D LR over a 6-hour

period.
The patient will receive _____ ml/5hour

hourly volume = amount of solution to infuse

in ml
Use : Number of hours to infuse solution

= 1000 m = 166.66 ml per hour or

6 hours 167 ml per hour

3. Calculating duration of infusion – Use the formula:

Total of hours to infuse in ml x drop

factor
Number of hours to last = rate of flow per minute x 60 minutes per
hour
Example : How long will an intravenous infusion of D5NM 1000 cc
running at 20 gtts/min last when the drop factor of the
delivery system is 15 gtts/ml?

Use : number of hours to last = total volume in ml x drop factor

gtts / min x 60 mins / hr

= 1000 ml (15 gtts/ml)

20 gtts/min (60 mins/hr)

= 15000 = 12.5 hours Or

1200 / hr
= 12 hours and 30 minutes

2. To make 1.5 liters of a 5% solution from a stock of 25% solution, you

would need ____ml of solute. Add _____ ml of water to make 1.5
liters of the solution.

3. To prepare 400 ml of 20% sodium bicarbonate solution form a pure

drug, you would need _____ grams of solute. Add _____ ml of water
to make 400 ml.