Trouble with med question

[LaBellaVita]

Hello!

I'm entering a nursing program in the fall and was sent a practice exam for our first math/med exam that we will be having. I have gotten all but one correct, and can't seem to figure out what I'm doing wrong or if its the answer key has an error.

MD order: Give Codeine elixir 30mg PO as needed for pain. Medication on hand: Codeine elixir 10mg/5ml. How many tsp will the nurse give?

How I solved:

30/10 × 5 = 15

15 × 0.203 = 3.045

The nurse will give 3 tsp

The answer key is saying that the answer is 1 tsp....please help. Thanks!

[smf0903]

You are correct. There are 5mL in a tsp so 15mL would be 3 tsp. Your answer key is wrong

[LaBellaVita]

You are correct. There are 5mL in a tsp so 15mL would be 3 tsp. Your answer key is wrong

Thank you! I didn't want to assume that I was correct over the key since I'm new at this.

[nursej22, MSN, RN]

3 teaspoons=1 tablespoon. Whomever edited the key must have mixed up tsp with tbsp.

[Valcorie34, BSN, MSN, RN]

yep, they are wrong! Go you. You get to argue over a nursing test before nursing school starts. Just get used to much much more. lol

[bgxyrnf, MSN, RN]

3 teaspoons=1 tablespoon. Whomever edited the key must have mixed up tsp with tbsp.

All of which simply demonstrates why S.I. units are greatly preferred over Imperial units of measure.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

Codeine elixir is the worst! I've yet to meet a patient who can tolerate it. Crush a 30 mg pill if the patient can't swallow pills.