Apothecary Measurements

That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Feb 9, 2011

None. They arent used anymore really....or at least where I work. You very rarely ever see them.

2ndyearstudent, CNA · Feb 9, 2011

I'm working through Math for Nurses and have totally stalled on apothecary measurements (dram, grain, minim, etc.) It's preventing me from going forward.
Can anyone provide some insight on how much I really need to know and what are the most commonly used measurements?
Thank you!

For testing purposes, we needed to be somewhat familiar with grains - and only on the very first dosage calc test.

That was about it for us - check your learning objectives for what you need to know or ask your instructor.

hell0kittygyrl · Feb 10, 2011

One ounce is 8 drams, one gram is 15 grains, 1 mL is 15-16 minims, 1 dram is 4 mL, and one grain is 60 mg. They aren't that accurate, and we just had to memorize them for our dosage class. The only one we ever used was the 1 gr = 60 mg.

Jonathank · Feb 11, 2011

One ounce is 8 drams, one gram is 15 grains, 1 mL is 15-16 minims, 1 dram is 4 mL, and one grain is 60 mg. They aren't that accurate, and we just had to memorize them for our dosage class. The only one we ever used was the 1 gr = 60 mg.

Be aware of the differences in the final answer you'll get using one or the other of these conversions. The exact conversion factor is somewhere between these two. Get the rules clarified about which to use and when if there's any doubt.

Other than grains, we haven't had to do problems with the other apothecary units. Clarify exactly which units you'll need to know, and get familiar with them.

AmberAP · Jul 27, 2012

Just wondering if anyone has come across apothecary content on the NCLEX. We really didn't cover it in my pharmacology class. It was just a short intro class. So I'm trying to learn this stuff on my own but it's really daunting. So I didn't know how much we actually really need to know for the NCLEX.

AmberAP · Jul 27, 2012

oh ... just found my answer! nevermind. but if anyone else is wondering ...

https://www.ncsbn.org/2324.htm#do_candidates_need_to_know_the_apothecary_system_for_pharmacology_questions

do candidates need to know the apothecary system for pharmacology questions?

[color=#333333]apothecary measurements and conversions are no longer assessed on the nclex examination.

Double-Helix, BSN, RN · Jul 28, 2012

I never learned apothecary measurements in nursing school and I have never used them in real life.

turnforthenurse, MSN, NP · Jul 28, 2012

They aren't very accurate and I have never used them in real life. I wasn't tested on them on the NCLEX, either.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Jul 28, 2012

oh ... just found my answer! never mind. but if anyone else is wondering ...
https://www.ncsbn.org/2324.htm#do_candidates_need_to_know_the_apothecary_system_for_pharmacology_questions
do candidates need to know the apothecary system for pharmacology questions?
[color=#333333]apothecary measurements and conversions are no longer assessed on the nclex examination.

:yeah: :yeah: .........but i had to learn them. they were used a little bit here and there for years......tylenol 5gr. asa 10gr...anyone remember those??? :bugeyes: but for prosperity sake....

the short list 1 cup © = 8 ounces (oz)

1 dram (dr) = 60 grains (gr)

1 dram (fl dr) = 60 minims

1 gallon (gal) = 4 quarts (qt)

1 glass = 8 ounces (oz)

1 grain (gr) = 64.8 milligrams (mg)

1 gram (g) = 15.43 grains (gr)

1 inch (in) = 2.54 centimeters (cm)

1 kilogram (kg) = 2.2 pounds (lb)

1 liter (l) = 1.057 quarts (qt)

1 milliliter (ml) = 16.23 minims

1 minim = 1 drop (gt)

1 ounce (oz) = 2 tablespoons (tbsp)

1 ounce (oz) = 8 drams (dr)

1 ounce (fl oz) = 29.57 milliliters (ml)

1 pint (pt) = 16 ounces (oz)

1 pound (lb) = 16 ounces (oz)

1 quart (qt) = 0.946 liters (l)

1 quart (qt) = 2 pints (pt)

1 tablespoon (tbsp) = 3 teaspoons (tsp)

1 teacup = 6 ounces (oz)

1 teaspoon (tsp) = 4.93 ml

the long list

1 central = 45,359 grams (g)

1 centimeter (cm) = 10 millimeters (mm)

1 cubic centimeter (cc) = 1 milliliter (ml)

1 cup © = 8 ounces (oz)

1 drachm = 3.55 milliliter (ml)

1 dram (dr) = 60 grains (gr)

1 dram (fl dr) = 60 minims

1 gallon (gal) = 4 quarts (qt)

1 gill = 4 ounces (oz)

1 glass = 8 ounces (oz)

1 grain (gr) = 64.8 milligrams (mg)

1 gram (g) = 1,000 milligrams (mg)

1 gram (g) = 1,000,000 micrograms (mcg)

1 gram (g) = 15.43 grains (gr)

1 hand = 4 inches (in)

1 inch (in) = 2.54 centimeters (cm)

1 kilogram (kg) = 1,000 grams (g)

1 kilogram (kg) = 2.2 pounds (lb)

1 liter (l) = 1000 milliliters (ml)

1 liter (l) = 1.057 quarts (qt)

1 meter (m) = 1,000 millimeters (mm)

1 meter (m) = 100 centimeters (cm)

1 milligram (mg) = 1,000 micrograms (mcg)

1 milliliter (ml) = 1 cubic centimeter (cc)

1 milliliter (ml) = 15 drops (gt)

1 milliliter (ml) = 16.23 minims

1 minim = 1 drop (gt)

1 ounce (fl oz) = 2 tablespoons (tbsp)

1 ounce (oz) = 20 pennyweights (dwt)

1 ounce (oz) = 24 scruples

1 ounce (oz) = 31.1 grams (g)

1 ounce (oz) = 480 grains (gr)

1 ounce (oz) = 8 drams (dr)

1 ounce, fluid (fl oz) = 29.57 milliliters (ml)

1 palm = 3 inches (in)

1 pennyweight (dwt) = 24 grains (gr)

1 pint (pt) = 16 ounces (oz)

1 pint (pt) = 4 gills

1 pound (lb) = 16 ounces (oz)

1 pound (lb) = 350 scruples

1 quart (qt) = 0.946 liters (l)

1 quart (qt) = 2 pints (pt)

1 scruple = 20 grains (gr)

1 stone = 0.14 cents

1 tablespoon (tbsp) = 3 teaspoons (tsp)

1 teacup = 6 ounces (oz)

1 teaspoon (tsp) = 60 drops (gtt)

1 teaspoon (tsp) = 4.93 ml

DoGoodThenGo · Aug 1, 2012

Joint Commission amoung others has been trying to get facilities to stop using the apothecary system for years now IIRC.

Part of the reason is out of patient safety. When a nurse or anyone else is reading a handwritten med order could mistake the abbrevation for grains (gr) and grams (gm or g) and vice versa each other. A clue should be that some meds do not come as both but one or the other, however that didn't prevent errors in the past.