DOSAGE ROUNDING RULES

Unit 1

General Guidelines:
 Remember to focus on what the problem is asking for to determine the final rounding.
 Carry work to thousandth during computation of dosage problem.
 Don’t round off until the end of the problem.
 For final answer round to the 10th—unless otherwise stated
 Do not go past the hundredth to round to the 10th – 1.6555; final answer 1.7 is not 2.0;
 No trailing zeros, for example 1 ml, instead of 1.0 ml
 ALWAYS use leading zeros, for example 0.3 instead of .3
o “Be a leader and not a follower”

1. Basic rounding rules used in math are:

 If less than 5, round down Example: 0.333 = 0.33; 0.102 = 0.1
 If greater than 5, round up Example: 1.302 = 1.3; 1.78 = 1.8;
1.001= 1

2. As a general rule, carry work to nearest thousandth, and then round the answer to
nearest tenth or whole number, if appropriate. If amount is less than 1, round to
hundredths.

Example: (< 1 mg) 0.251 = 0.25 mg

(> 1 mg) 1.25 = 1.3 mg;

3. Round the final answer to a whole number for mcg or units.

Example:
(mcg) Dopamine 3.78 mcg/kg/min = 4 mcg/kg/min

(Units) Heparin 1246.58 Units = 1247 Units

4. Liquids can be measured in a medicine cup if rounded dose is in multiples of 5 ml.

Rounded doses less than 5 ml, should be measured with a syringe.

Example: If computed dose is greater than 5 ml, but less than 10 ml, for example
7.2 ml, then 5 ml could be measured in medicine cup and 2.2 should be
measured in syringe and then added to 5 ml in medicine cup for
administration

5. Convert teaspoons to tenth of ml

6. Only scored tablets may be divided. Round unscored tablets to the nearest whole
number

7. NOTE: You will be required to use information you learn in the competency labs related to
dosage administration concerning the route used in calculating the problem.
Based on the type of syringe available and calibration, the answer should be rounded to the
tenth or nearest hundredth. Due to the limited time for this course, the type of syringe will not
be included in the problem, you will need to learn this in competency lab.

GENERAL MEDICATION ADMINSTRATION REMINDERS:

 ORAL LIQUID MEDS:

o Remember that a medication can be measured using a syringe—this will be more
precise measurement that can be obtained utilizing a medicine cup.

o If computed dose is in multiple of 5 ml, it can be measured in medicine cup.

o If computed dose is less than 5 ml, a syringe should be utilized to measure dose.

o Example:
If computed dose is greater than 5 ml but less than 10 ml, for example 7.2 ml, then
5 ml could be measured in medicine cup and 2.2 should be measured in syringe and
then added to 5 ml in medicine cup for administration.

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