Pharm ??? again

iteachob, MSN, RN · May 10, 2010

Old textbooks (because it is not taught in the newest ones) will tell you that there are anywhere from 60 to 65 milligrams in a grain. Example: if something is 300 mg, it could be said to be 5 grains.....however, if something is 325 mg (aspirin is) it could also be said to be equal to 5 grains. We even have a 324 mg iron pill that used to be ordered as gr V!!

I can't understand why anyone is teaching an obsolete system; it only serves to confuse. I teach a pharmacology course in an ADN program. I give the apothecary system a mention (that it ever existed), and that is all.

That is a WIERD problem you have there....202g to grain? IF one were to use the apothecary system, why would anyone need to convert 202 g (202000 mg) to grains? Are you sure you wrote that down correctly?

MERRYWIDOW46 · May 11, 2010

I don't think you wrote the question right. No one would give 3108 gr of anything.

roser13, ASN, RN · May 11, 2010

If you're being tested on this antiquated stuff, surely you have a textbook that gives you the appropriate equivalents???? And equally surely, you have learned the basic math skills to convert, using your equivalents?

The problem for which you're asking assistance is not even much of an equation. It's a simple conversion. Even though the grains to grams conversion is outdated, converting from one measurement to another is never outdated. I worry about a student who cannot use his/her resources to make a simple conversion.

Please try harder to do your own homework. You definitely need the practice. And yes, it may take you longer than getting someone on allnurses.com to do your calcuations.

realnursealso/LPN, LPN · May 11, 2010

:smackingf:banghead: I'll just not comment. Student section is where this belongs.

NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN · May 11, 2010

There are 60mg to 1 grain and I believe there is 15 grains to 1 gram. Maybe these two conversions will help answer your questions.

IMHO - any member have a right to post WHERE EVER they like, not all members have been a member for 20 years and thus may not know there is a student forum. I find new forums on AN all the time that I didn't know exist....

lake girl · May 11, 2010

If one grain = 15 g then,

202gr/1 X gr/15 grams=13.466= 13.5 grains. Is this correct?

nursejackie2010 · May 11, 2010

First of all, I was just asking the question b/c it did not seem right. I did write the question right b/c I know so. I do not need anymore practice. I just thought I could ask some other persons who have al ready completed an pharmacology course that's all. If you don"t have anything nice to say please do not respond at all.:) :down:

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · May 11, 2010

First of all, I was just asking the question b/c it did not seem right. I did write the question right b/c I know so. I do not need anymore practice. I just thought I could ask some other persons who have al ready completed an pharmacology course that's all. If you don"t have anything nice to say please do not respond at all.:)

If the question "did not seem right" then this should have been addressed to your instructor. Surely more students than you would have a question about it and they need to be made aware of the discrepancy. Taking the issue to an anonymous bulletin board is really not the place to clarify that.

And for many of us , having completed pharmacology, know that you need to do your own homework. If it is not a mistake in the question (which needs to be addressed by the instructor), then it is a simple conversion. And posters seeking to become a "professional nurse" need to work out the conversion. You do not have to like that they are encouraging to do this, but it is their right to question the ethics of this, as much as you perceive that it is your " right" to ask this question.

And no one has said anything that is "not nice", they merely gave you an answer that you did not want.

roser13, ASN, RN · May 11, 2010

" I do not need anymore practice."

Truly, I am not trying to be mean, but this statement completely contradicts the fact that you just asked for help with a simple conversion from those who have already done their homework.

You must do your own work and figure out how to (1) research to find your tools and (2) use your tools to solve your problem. Not that you'll ever encounter grains in your working life, but when you do encounter a conversion problem, you will instantly be thrown back into the anxious student mode of "I don't know how to do this" if you have made a point of asking others for help.

Unfortunately, there are those here who must get a little boost of ego by giving students the answers instead of encouraging them to research for themselves.

lake girl · May 11, 2010

Correction.... 202grams/1 X gr/15 grams= 13.5 grains. this is the way I meant to post this.

Yeah some people here will read your post and complain about it, even though they don't have to read it at all. Selfish. Hope this helps.

iteachob, MSN, RN · May 11, 2010

Correction.... 202grams/1 X gr/15 grams= 13.5 grains. this is the way I meant to post this.
Yeah some people here will read your post and complain about it, even though they don't have to read it at all. Selfish. Hope this helps.

This is not correct. There are not 15 grams in 1 grain. There are approx. 60 mg in a grain. So, 202 grams would equal 202000 mg....divide by 60 and you get 3366.7 grains. But, why anyone would ever need calculate such a dose is beyond me, making me think that the problem was written (copied?) wrong.