I/O Calculation Question

Nursing Students Student Assist

Published

I'm annoyed at this question I got wrong on my clinical calculations test. Calculate the intake in milliliters:

6 oz water

1/2 pint ice cream

4 oz coffee

So, I figure 1 oz = 30 mL:

6 oz water = 180 mL

1/2 pint ice cream = 8 oz = 240 mL

4 oz coffee = 120 mL

Therefore, total intake would be 540 mL right?

Apparently not, because the correct conversion is 1 pint = 500 mL so 1/2 pint is 250 mL and the correct answer is 550 total mL.

So what makes one conversion more accurate than the other?

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Specializes in Hem/Onc/BMT.

This type of unit conversion problems is really getting old... US seriously needs to get on board and start using only metric system and standardized international units.

Anyway, the closest approximation is: 1 oz = 29.5735.

6 oz + 1/2 pint (=8 oz) + 4 oz = 18 oz = 532.323 ml.

So, your answer 540ml is more accurate.

My guess is that the instructor just memorized the approximation 1 pint = 500ml without realizing the fact that 1 pint = 16 oz.

Did you work out the calculation and still got it wrong? If you showed your process, which was correct and even more accurate, you should've gotten the point. If you didn't work it out, the grader might have assumed you didn't add things up correctly.

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Yep, I showed all my work, wrote out my constant conversions and even showed the dimensional analysis even though it was easy enough to do in my head. But it wasn't the answer on the answer key. I passed the calculations competency test so I didn't argue it, but it was really bugging me.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

Know your conversions.....and double check the schools accepted conversions.

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

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Specializes in Orthopedics; Oncology.
Know your conversions.....and double check the schools accepted conversions.

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

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses.com

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