Converting Among Systems / Metric-to-Household Volume Conversions

To convert a liquid volume measurement from the household system (ounces) to the metric system (milliliters) or vice versa, use this conversion factor:

1 oz = 30 mL.1 oz = 30 mL. Note: When calculating dosages, remember that liters and quarts can be used interchangeably.

Whenever you see a volume or weight measurement in the apothecary system, expect to convert it to the metric system. For common apothecary units of measure, use these conversion factors:

1 oz = 30 mL1 oz = 30 mL dr i = 4 mLdr i = 4 mL gr i = 60 mg

Milliliters to Ounces To convert milliliters to ounces, divide the number of milliliters by the conversion factor 30.

Example Convert 120 mL to ounces. 120 mL ÷ 30 mL/oz = 4 oz Example: If a bottle of cough syrup contains 480 milliliters, the bottle contains ounces of cough syrup. 480 divided by 30= 16 ounces

Milligrams to Grains: To convert milligrams to grains, divide the number of milligrams by the conversion factor 60

Example Convert 120 mg to grains. 120 mg ÷ 60 mg/gr = 2 gr Example: If you are asked to take 1500 mg of a medication, how many grains of that medication are you being asked to take? 1500divided60= 1500/60=25 grains

Ounces to Milliliters To convert ounces to milliliters, multiply the number of ounces by the conversion factor 30.

Example Convert 2 oz to milliliters. 2 oz × 30 mL/oz = 60 mL

Liters to Ounces To convert liters to ounces, multiply the number of liters by 32.

Example Convert 3 L to ounces. 3 L × 32 oz/L = 96 oz3 L × 32 oz/L = 96 oz Because liters and quarts are essentially interchangeable, you can convert quarts to ounces the same way. Just multiply the number of quarts by 32.

Ounces to Liters To convert ounces to liters, divide the number of ounces by 32.

Example Convert 64 oz to liters. 64 oz ÷ 32 oz/L = 2 L64 oz ÷ 32 oz/L = 2 L You can convert ounces to quarts similarly. Just divide the number of ounces by 32.

Dimensional Analysis As an alternative, you can use the dimensional analysis method to do the conversions.

Example 1 Convert 2 oz to milliliters. X mL = 1 oz30 mL × 2 oz1 =60 mLX mL = 1 oz30 mL × 2 oz1 =60mL Example 2 Convert 120 mL to ounces. X oz = 1 oz30 mL × 120 mL1 =4 ozX oz = 1 oz30 mL × 120 mL1 =4 oz

Dimensional Analysis As an alternative, you can use the dimensional analysis method to do the conversions.

Example 1 Convert 3 L to ounces. X oz = 32 oz1 L × 3 L1 =96 ozX oz = 32 oz1 L × 3 L1 =96 oz Example 2 Convert 64 oz to liters. X L = 1 L32 oz × 64 oz1 =2LX L = 1 L32 oz × 64 oz1 =2 L

Drams to Milliliters To convert drams to milliliters, multiply the number of drams by the conversion factor 4.

Example: Convert 25 dr to milliliters. 25 dr × 4 mL/dr = 100 mL

Conversion between Inches and Centimeters To convert inches to centimeters, multiply the number of inches by the conversion factor 2.54

Example: Convert 4 inches to centimeters. 4×2.54=10.16 cm4×2.54=10.16 cm Example: If a person is 61 inches tall, how many centimeters tall is this person, to the nearest hundredth? 61x2.54= 154.94 cm

Pounds to Kilograms To convert pounds to kilograms, divide the number of pounds by the conversion factor 2.2. If needed, round off to the nearest tenth.

Example: Convert 166 lbs to kilograms. kg =X lb2.2 lb/kgkg=1662.2=75.45or 75.4(rounded to the nearest tenth)kg =75.4 Example: If a patient weighs 185 pounds, how many kilograms does this patient weigh, to the nearest hundredth? 185 Divided by 2.2= 84.09 kg

Grains to Milligrams To convert grains to milligrams, multiply the number of grains by the conversion factor 60.

Example: Convert 4 gr to milligrams. 4 gr × 60 mg/gr = 240 mg Example: If a capsule contains 7.5 grains of medication, milligrams of medication are contained within the capsule. 7.5x60=450 milligrams

Milliliters to Drams: To convert milliliters to drams, divide the number of milliliters by the conversion factor 4.

Example: Convert 75 mL to drams. 75÷4 mL/dr = 18.75 dr

Kilograms to Pounds: To convert kilograms to pounds, multiply the number of kilograms by the conversion factor 2.2. If needed, round off to the nearest tenth.

Example: Convert 93 kg to pounds. lb =kg ×2.2lb/kglb =93×2.2=204.6 lb Example: If a patient weighs 120 kilograms, this patient weighs? pounds. 120x2.2 = 264 lbs.

To convert centimeters to inches, divide the number of centimeters by the conversion factor 2.54

Example: If a newborn baby measures 54 centimeters long, this baby is ??? inches long 54 divided by 2.54= 21.26 (21.25984251968504) round to nearest hundredth= 21.26

Nurses commonly record length measurements, including: Linear laceration or lesion Size of the pupil of an eye Infant's head circumference Abdominal girth Measurements for edema

In various healthcare settings, the most commonly used metric units of measure for length are the centimeter and the millimeter. Plan to use these conversion factors: 1 cm = 10 mm1 in = 2.54 cm

To convert a liquid volume measurement from the metric system (liters) to the household system (ounces) or vice versa, use this conversion factor: 1 L = 32 oz1 L = 32 oz Note: When calculating dosages, consider liters and quarts to be interchangeable.

Liters to Ounces To convert liters to ounces, multiply the number of liters by 32. Example Convert 3 L to ounces. 3 L × 32 oz/L = 96 oz Because liters and quarts are essentially interchangeable, you can convert quarts to ounces the same way. Just multiply the number of quarts by 32.

How do you convert millimeters to inches?

One millimeter is approximately equal to 0.0394 inches. There are 25.4 millimeters in an inch. To convert millimeters into inches, divide the length in millimeters by 25.4

How do you convert inches to millimeters?

The process to convert inches to mm is quite simple. To convert inches to mm, you must multiply the unit by 25.4

The nurse must be able to use body weight to calculate medication doses for adults, children, and especially infants and neonates. Because their body systems are immature, infants and neonates require precise dosage calculations to prevent harmful or even fatal errors.

To perform household-to-metric weight conversions, remember this conversion factor: 2.2 lb = 1 kg.