Can we get rid of the Apothecary system?

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It seems to me that teaching apothecary conversions takes a lot of time that could be put to better use educationally. Surely if it is in use anywhere, it is an error waiting to happen. What would it take to completely get rid of this system?

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Specializes in Psych, Med/Surg, LTC.

Wouldn't it be so nice to get rid or it? It is so infrequently used.... I don't ever remember giving something measured in minums.... :uhoh21: But yes, I was tested on it in school.

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Specializes in ICU.

We got rid of it YEARS ago - abou the same time we went metric I think.

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Specializes in Gerontological, cardiac, med-surg, peds.

We're not covering that material in our nursing classes anymore (the nursing math course may still touch on it, however). JCAHO has advised that apothecary symbols and measurements should no longer be used. It is a waste of time to teach this system.

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I have been told that apothecary math questions still occur on the NCLEX. Can this be correct? If so, we would have to cover it. The nursing Math for Meds texts still include it. I would rather spend my time teaching students how to do math problems that use metric and household measures.

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