Apothecary measurements

Nurses Medications

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I Am going to start nursing school in Jan. One of our professors wants us to know dosage calculations before we begin. I've been working through the book and came across the apothecary measurements and it says they are strongly discouraged and/or not used. In my mind, I don't want to learn them in the case that I receive an order in apothecary measurements and *think* I know the conversions but dont and incorrectly calculate and administer a drug. Our professor has practice problems with apothecary orders on them so obviously I'll need to learn them, but it's clearly outdated and discouraged so why have us learn something that isn't/shouldn't be used??

I can see if they have a reference book with conversions at a nursing station but I happen to strongly disagree with learning the INCORRECT way because in a stressful situation, you may recall learning something but it happens to be something you learned NOT to recognize/accept.

Experiences nurses, thoughts??

The fact that physicians still use a system whose use has been discouraged is frustrating. It could lead to miscalculation and incorrect administration of drugs. I don't like being forced to learn and tested on an antiquated system that isn't/shouldn't be used.

You are correct that this is an antiquated and inappropriate system. However, as Esme said, it's small potatoes compared to all the other BS in health care. Pick. Your. Battles.

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Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.
The fact that physicians still use a system whose use has been discouraged is frustrating. It could lead to miscalculation and incorrect administration of drugs. I don't like being forced to learn and tested on an antiquated system that isn't/shouldn't be used.

Did you read my earlier post? It isn't only about the physicians (who by and large don't order in it), it is about communicating well with your patients who do use pounds and ounces, cups and quarts.

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Specializes in Critical Care.
Did you read my earlier post? It isn't only about the physicians (who by and large don't order in it), it is about communicating well with your patients who do use pounds and ounces, cups and quarts.

We don't use the apothecary pounds, ounces, cups, and quarts anymore. It's a bit confusing since the modern metric system and the old apothecary system share some of the same terms for weights and measures, but what those terms represent is very different in each system. In the apothecary system, an ounce weighed 25 grams if you were in Venice, or 35 grams under the Habsburg definition, and various other weights in between depending on where you were or who you worked for. Unlike the apothecary pounds, ounces, cups, quarts, etc, our current system is standardized, and distinctly separate from the apothecary definitions of these terms.

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Specializes in ICU.

Back when I was a pharmacy tech we had to know it. Not only do you need to know to communicate with your patients but as Esme pointed out sometimes in situations with suppositories it's how the order is written. It's really not a difficult system to learn. I learned it without having to go to school.

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Specializes in Hospice.

I'm in NS now....... Trust me, the few apothecary things you need to know are small potatoes. You need to be able to covert from apothecary to metric. That's all. Not like you have to memorize it all, just some of the more frequently used.

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Specializes in retired LTC.
Why is it frustrating? You actually use the apothecary system in converting lbs to Kg a common calculation. The drams and miminum and grains are not really common any more but you still have to learn them.

You will see some and like someone just said it was common to See Tylenol Xgr ordered. SOme narcotic suppositories (Like B&O)still may have grain on them.

Another very common conversion you most certainly will have to make is wound measurements. A skin tear 2 inches long measures 5 cm.

How do you explain 15 cc to a teenage, new mom? One tablespoon is more understandable to her, yes?

We are not a metric society like the rest of the world. So there is still some need for the apothecary system still.

Kind of of off the subject, but do any oldsters remember when we used to count as morphine 1/4 and morphine 1/6, and phenobarb 1/2 and 1/4?

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Specializes in ICU.

Some of these are still on medication calculation tests you might take to get a job.

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I'm talking about drams and grains like that- I'm fine with conversions to cups t and T, oz to lb etc. the random symbols and old medication measurements that aren't even used in the home (frequently) are ones that I don't understand why they're even taught. Their use is strongly discouraged which suggests they are getting phased out from healthcare.

I know this isn't a big deal in the grand scheme of nursing, but it's still irritating.

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I'm in my first semester of nursing school and all of this was covered on the first class day. The more you practice dosage calculations the easier learning these conversions will be. Maybe apothecary measurements are "antiquated," but people still use them, so to me that means they are still relevant. Also, nursing school instructors will test you on the oddest of conversions. Why? Because they can.

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Specializes in Critical Care.
Another very common conversion you most certainly will have to make is wound measurements. A skin tear 2 inches long measures 5 cm.

How do you explain 15 cc to a teenage, new mom? One tablespoon is more understandable to her, yes?

We are not a metric society like the rest of the world. So there is still some need for the apothecary system still.

Kind of of off the subject, but do any oldsters remember when we used to count as morphine 1/4 and morphine 1/6, and phenobarb 1/2 and 1/4?

None of those are apothecary measurements.

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Specializes in critical care, ER,ICU, CVSURG, CCU.
None of those are apothecary measurements.

hey Muno, i resemble that remark, grains of morphine......wow right out of my 70s nursing school :o

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Specializes in Hospice.

We still have one ER physician that writes Tylenol X gr. I don't know why he does it, I guess it is hard to teach an old dog new tricks.

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