Systems of Measurements used in Health Care METRIC SYSTEM HOUSEHOLD SYSTEM

METRIC TERM – ABBREVIATION – STANDARD SYSTEM COMPARISON Meter Gram Liter

m

Length/distance

g

Weight/mass L* Volume/capacity

Metric system is more accurate than the household system.

Metric is easier to convert between numbers because everything is based on a unit of 10.

*Capital L is used for liter at all times, not lower case, can be confused with number 1 or l.

TERM ABBREVIATION MEANING

Conversion within the decimal system are calculated by multiplying by 10, 100, 1000 and so on 1kiloliter=1000 X1 liter=1000liters 1hectoliter= 100 X 1 liter= 100 liters 1 decaliter= 10 X 1 liter= 10liters 1deciliter= 0.1 X 1 liter= 0.1 liter 1 centiliter= 0.01 X1 liter= 0.01liter

1milliliter= 0.001 X1 liter= 0.001 liter ***Gram or meter can be used in place of liter depending on what unit of measurement is used**

Less Than One Unit of Measure

Length: • 1 decimeter (dm) = 1/10 or 0.1 of a meter • 1 centimeter (cm) = 1/1 00 or 0.01 of a meter • 1 millimeter (mm) = 1/1 000 or 0.001 of a meter

Volume:

• 1 deciliter (dL) = 1/10 or 0.1 of a liter • 1 milliliter (mL) = 1/1 000 or 0.001 of a liter

More Than One Unit of Measure

Weight: • 1 .0 hectogram = 100 grams • 1 .5 hectograms = 150 grams • 1.0 kilogram = 1000 grams • 1 .5 kilograms = 1500 grams

Length: • 1 .0 hecto meter = 100 meters • 1.5 hectometers = 150 meters • 1.0 kilometer = 1000 meters • 1.5 kilometers = 1500 meters

K H D B D C M KING=kilo Henry=hecto Died=deca By=base unit of measurement Drinking=deci Chocolate=centi Milk=milli

The Metric Number Line:

A nother way to help you navigate inside the metric system.

Kilo Hecto Deka * Deci Centi Milli 1000 100 10 1 0.1 .01 .001

To use the Metric Line:

1.

2.

You will decide what unit you are changing FROM and what unit you are changing TO.

Starting at the FROM unit, count over (keeping in mind- "left" or "right") to the TO unit.

**This will be the number of places you will move

the decimal in your answer.

• EXAMPLE: 32 kilograms = ___________ grams ( This means you want to change FROM kilograms TO grams.) Use the number line and count over, starting at Kilograms….move to grams.

K H D (grams) D C M * -> 1 place -> 2 places -> 3 places

Now we use the number of places you moved (3 places to the "right") to find the answer. Move the decimal 3 places to the "right“ using a zero to hold each of the places 32 kilograms = 32000 grams Don’t forget that every whole number has a decimal to it’s right, so in our example 32kg is the same as saying 32.0 kg (We don’t always write the decimal to the right of a number but it is understood that it is there.)

Converting units within the metric system is accomplished by moving the decimal point.

Example: A physician orders 2000milligrams of a medication The medication is available in 2-gram tablets Milligrams must be converted to grams Milli is in the third place to the right of gram Move the decimal point three spaces to the left toward gram: 2000=2.000 , or 2.

Change unit name to grams: 2grams The proper dose would be 2 grams, or one 2-gram tablet.

**Converting from a larger to a smaller prefix or unit (kilo to milli): the answer will be larger. **Converting from a smaller to a larger prefix or unit (milli to kilo): the answer will be smaller.

**Millimeters (mL) and cubic centinmeters (cc) represent the same amount. Both units measure volume, and they are often interchanged when dispensing liquids. **1mL=1cc. 1mL or 1cc has a weight of 1gram.

Basic Rules for the Metric System 1. Numbers less than one unit are written in decimals. Examples: 0.1 0.01 0.001 2. If there is no number before the decimal point, always add a zero. Examples: .1 is 0.1 .5 is 0.5 .75 is 0.75 3. Abbreviations are always singular, never plural. Examples: Grams is abbreviated g, not gs. Liters is abbreviated L, not Ls. Liter is always shortened to capital L, not lowercase I. 4. Leave a space between the number and the abbreviation. Examples: 10 g not lOg. 1000 ml not l000ml.

HOUSEHOLD SYSTEM

• • Method of measurement most familiar to US students.

Units of measurement are related to each other and can be converted among themselves.

HOUSEHOLD SYSTEM

• Volume/capacity measurements: – Tablespoons (T or tbsp): 2T=1oz – Ounces (oz): 8oz=1C (cup) – Cups (C or cp): 2C=1pt – Pints (pt): 2pt=1qt – Quarts (qt): 4qt=1gal

HOUSEHOLD SYSTEM

• Distance/length measurement – Inch(in or “) 12in =1ft – Foot (ft or ‘): 3ft=1yd – Yard (yd): 1,760yd=1mile

HOUSEHOLD SYSTEM

• Mass/weight measurements: – Ounce (oz): 16oz=1lb – Pound=lb

Converting Systems of Measurement

• • Health Care work requires that units from one system of measurement be converted to those of another.

Requires knowledge of the equivalences between systems • Common approximate equivalents: – Distance/length Capacity/volume • • 1in=2.5cm

39.4in=1m 1tsp=5ml=5cc 1oz=30ml=30cc Mass/weight 2.2lb=1kg Frequently, there are no exact equivalents, and the answer is a close approximation when converting between systems.

STEPS FOR PERFORMING CONVERSIONS

• • • • • • Identify an equivalent between two systems Set up a proportion so unit measurements on each side of the equation are the same Use X for the unknown value being calculated Cross-multiply (multiply the means and then multiply the extremes) Solve for X Decide if the answer is reasonable

STEPS FOR PERFORMING CONVERSIONS…CONT

• If converting from a smaller unit to a larger unit, the answer will be smaller.

– Example: How many tsp are in 10ml?

• Known equivalent: 1tsp=5ml • • 1tsp: 5ml= X tsp.: 10ml X= 2tsp

STEPS FOR PERFORMING CONVERSIONS….CONT

• If converting from a larger unit to a smaller unit, the answer will be larger – Example: How many pounds are in 6.8kg?

• Known equivalent: 2.2pd=1kg • • 2.2pd: 1kg= Xpd: 6.8kg

X=14.96pounds

YouTube

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tHpD zXP-lg

Standard and Metric Units of Length

Measuring Devices: Fluid Ounces and Cubic Centimeters

Graduate Baby’s bottle Measuring cup

Converting Pounds and Kilograms Converting pounds to kilograms

Multiply weight in pounds by 0.45 Examples: 110 lb changed to kilograms: 110 x 0.45 = 49.5 kg 200 lb changed to kilograms: 200 x 0.45 =90 kg

Converting kilograms to pounds

Multiply weight in kilograms by 2.2 Examples: 50 kg changed to pounds: 50 x 2.2 = 110 lb 90 kg changed to pounds: 90 x 2.2 = 198 lb

Converting Ounces to Metric Measurements •Converting ounces to cc/ml Multiply volume in ounces by 30

Examples: 1 oz medicine 1 × 30 = 30 ml = 30 cc 8 oz water 8 × 30 = 240 ml = 240 cc 6 oz soup 6 × 30 = 180 ml = 180 cc 4 oz juice 4 × 30 = 120 ml = 120 cc 12 oz soda pop 12 × 30 = 360 ml = 360 cc

• Converting ounces to grams Multiply weight in ounces by 30

Examples: 1 oz changed to grams: 1 × 30 = 30 g 8 oz changed to grams: 8 × 30 = 240 g **Remember 1oz also equivalent to 1gram**

Metric/Household Conversion Practice

• • • • • • • • • 30ml/cc=____oz 20kg=______lbs 2000g=______kg 3.5L=______ml 10 tsp=______cc 5yd =______m 100F=______C 38C=______F 8qts=______L 32oz=______cups 40.5lbs=______oz 5T=______ml 30ml=______tsp 850ml=______L

Metric/Household Conversion Practice

• At the pediatrician’s office, Mr. Johnson observes you documenting his daughter’s weight as 30kilograms. Mr. Johnson asks you to tell him the weight in pounds. • Mrs. Bennerman has been instructed to drink a liter of water prior to her fetal ultrasound. She asks you how many cups of fluid she will have to drink. • The doctor has requested Mrs. Lim to give her toddler 30cc of Gatorade each hour after vomiting subsides. Mrs. Lim would like to use a spoon for administering the fluid. How many teaspoons/tablespoons will you tell her?

Question for Wednesday

• How many cc’s are in 1oz?

Question for Friday

• How many mm of gauze bandage is needed to cover a wound that is 6cm in length?

Question for Thursday

• How many milliliters are in four liters?

Question for Monday

• What is the length in inches of a newborn baby measured to be 56cm?

Test Review

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A resident is to receive 1milligram of medication per dose. If a solution has 8milligrams of medication in 40milliliters of solution, how much solution should the resident receive?

Test Review

• A radiology patient needs to drink one liter of contrast fluid prior to a procedure. How many 250cc containers will the patient need to drink?

Test Review

• Two yards of elastic bandage is needed to wrap an athlete’s ankle. How many meters of bandage will be used?

Test Review

• The number of ml that a 500cc container can hold is:

Test Review

• A premature infant weighing 650grams weighs how many milligrams?

Test Review

• How many mm of gauze bandage is needed to cover a wound that is 6cm in length?

Test Review

• The average adult brain weighs 40 60ounces or how many kg?

Test Review

• Susie has been on a diet and has lost 4kilograms. How many pounds has she lost?

Test Review

• Johnny weighed 13lbs on his 2month check-up. How many kilograms did he weigh?

Test Review

• The capacity of the right atrium is approximately 1.9ounces. What does this equal in cc’s?

Test Review

• How many mL of liquid medication can a teaspoon hold?

Test Review

• Which kitchen utensil is BEST to use when measuring 15mL of cough syrup?

Test Review

• What is the length in inches of a newborn baby measured to be 56cm?

Test Review

• A surgical scar which measures 5.1cm is how many inches long?

Test Review

• A surgeon removes a 100gm tumor from a patient. How many ounces does this tumor weigh?

Test Review

• Approximately how many kilograms does a 225 pound patient weigh?

Test Review

• 10 milliliters is equal to 10……

Test Review

• How many milliliters are in four liters?

Test Review

• How many cc’s are in one liter of fluid?

Test Review

• How many Kg are equal to 40lbs?

Test Review

• Patient has a temperature of 99degrees F. What is their temperature in Celsius?

Test Review

• How many mL of liquid medication can a teaspoon hold?

Test Review

• How many kg’s are equal to 40lbs?

Test Review

• 12,000L is equal to how many KL?

Test Review

• The capacity of the right atrium is approximately 1.9ounces. What does this equal in mL?

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