Procalc Rounding Rules & Sample Problems

The rounding rule specific to each numbered question is presented on each screen along with the problem.

This info comes directly from the ProCalc Software Practice/Help section.

Rounding Rules:

CONVERSIONS

1. metric conversions (mcg, mg, grams)

Do not round final answer

2. metric/apothecary conversions (grains, mg)

Do not round final answer

3. metric/household conversions (tsp, tbs, mL)

Do not round final answer (tsp or tbs)

Round final answer (mL): <1 to hundredth, >1 to tenth

4. metric/apothecary conversions (grams, kg, lbs, oz)

If oz are converted to pounds, do not round lbs

Round final answer (kg) to tenth

CALCULATIONS- 5. # of tabs, caps, or mL to prepare

Do not round final answer (tablets, capsules)

Round final answer (mL): <1 to hundredth, >1 to tenth

DOSAGES BASED ON WEIGHT/BSA

6. max safe dosage based on weight

If oz are converted to pounds, do not round lbs

If lbs are converted to kg, round kg to tenth

Round final answer (mcg): to whole number

Round final answer (mg, grams, units, mEq): <1 to thousandth, 1-10 to tenth, >10 to whole number
7. body surface area (BSA) calculation

Round final answer (m2) to the hundredth

8. max safe dosage based on BSA

Round final answer (mcg): to whole number

Round final answer (mg, grams, units, mEq): <1 to thousandth, 1-10 to tenth, >10 to whole number

SOLUTIONS

9. expressing solution strength

Do not round final answer

10. determining amount of drug or solute in solution

Do not round final answer

11. preparing tube feedings

Do not round final answer

IV FLUIDS

12. mL per hour (IV pump)

Round final answer (mL): <10 to tenth, >10 to whole #

13. drops per minute (IV gravity drip)

Round final answer (drops) to whole number

14. IV solution concentration

Do not round final answer

15. IV drug dose based on weight or BSA

If lbs are converted to kg, round kg to tenth

Round final answer (mcg): to whole number

Round final answer (mg, g, units, mEq): <1 to thousandth, 1-10 to tenth, >10 to whole number

16. IV mL per hour (drug dose per hour or minute prescribed)

Round final answer (mL): <10 to tenth, >10 to whole number

17. IV mL per hour (drug doses based on weight or BSA)

If lbs are converted to kg, round kg to tenth

Round final answer (mL): <10 to tenth, >10 to whole number

18. IV drug dose infusing per hour or minute

Round final answer (mcg): to whole number

Round final answer (mg, g, units, mEq): <1 to thousandth, 1-10 to tenth,>10 to whole number

19. IV mL per hour for titration (range of doses)

Round final answer (mL): <10 to tenth, >10 to whole number

20. IV mL per hour for titration with (drug doses based on weight or BSA)

If lbs are converted to kg, round kg to tenth

Round final answer (mL): <10 to tenth, >10 to whole number

SUMMARY OF ROUNDING

oz: do not round

kg: always round to tenth

mL for preparing oral liquids or injectables: <1 to hundredth, >1 to tenth

mL for IV infusions (pumps): <10 to tenth, >10 to whole number

mcg: round to whole number

mg, grams, units, mEq: <1 to thousandth, 1-10 to tenth, >10 to whole number

Sample Questions:

1. metric conversions (mcg, mg, gram). Sample question 1:

0.5 gram of ampicillin must be prepared. Ampicillin is available in mg. How many mg of ampicillin should be prepared?

1. metric conversions (mcg, mg, gram). Sample question 2:

An IV solution contains 6 mg of Nitrostat (nitroglycerin). 6 mg of Nitrostat is equivalent to how many mcg?

2. metric/apothecary conversions (grain, mg). Sample question:

1/4 grain of phenobarbital must be prepared. Phenobarbital is available in mg. How many mg of phenobarbital should be
prepared?

3. metric/household conversions (tsp, tbs, mL). Sample question 1

60 mg of liquid ampicillin has been prescribed. 60 mg is contained in 10 mL. A measuring device marked in teaspoons is being used.
10 mL is equivalent to how many teaspoons?

3. metric/household conversions (tsp, tbs, mL). Sample question 2:

2 teaspoons of cough medicine has been prescribed. A measuring device marked in mL is being used. How many mL should be
administered?

4. metric/apothecary conversions (gram, kg, lbs, oz). Sample question:

An infant weighs 10 lbs 8 oz. You determine that 10 lbs 8 oz is equivalent to ___ kg.

Ruth Note: Pay special attention to this one, many students were simply using 10.8 and dividing by 2.2

You must convert the 8 oz to the portion of a lb (16 oz)

10 lb 8 oz is 10.5 lbs (divide the 8 by the 16)

Then 10.5 is divided by 2.2.

5. # of tabs, caps, or mL to prepare. Sample question 1:

0.5 gram of Aldomet (methyldopa) has been prescribed po. The Aldomet is available in tablets labeled 250 mg. How many tablets
should you administer?

5. # of tabs, caps, or mL to prepare. Sample question 2:

Ampicillin is available in liquid form labeled 0.25 mg in 1 mL. 0.125 mg of ampicillin has been prescribed by mouth. How many mL
should you administer?

5. # of tabs, caps, or mL to prepare. Sample question 3:

Vistaril (hyroxyzine hydrochloride) is available in a 10 mL vial labeled 25 mg in 1 mL. 50 mg of Vistaril must be prepared. How many
mL should you withdraw from the vial in preparing the drug?
5. # of tabs, caps, or mL to prepare. Sample question 4:

1 gram of Zefazone (cefmetazole sodium) must be prepared. A 2 gram vial of Zefazone in powdered form is available. Directions for
reconstitution state: Add 7 mL of diluent to yield 250 mg in 1 mL. After reconstituting the drug as directed, how many mL should
you withdraw from the vial?

6. maximum safe dosage based on weight. Sample question 1:

You need to verify that a prescribed dose of Proleukin (aldesleukin) for a patient currently weighing 50 kg is appropriate. The drug
literature recommends 600,000 units/kg/dose. You determine that an appropriate dose for this patient would be ___ units per
dose.

6. maximum safe dosage based on weight. Sample question 2:

You need to verify that a prescribed dose of theophylline for a patient currently weighing 50 kg is safe. The drug literature
recommends a maximum of 16 mg/kg/day. You determine that a maximum safe dose for this patient would be ___ mg per day.

6. maximum safe dosage based on weight. Sample question 3:

You need to verify that a prescribed dose of Zarontin (ethosuximide) for a patient currently weighing 110 lbs is safe. The drug
literature recommends a maximum of 40 mg/kg/day. The drug is administered in two divided doses over a 24-hour period. You
determine that a maximum safe dose for this patient would be ____ mg per dose.

7. body surface area (BSA) calculation. Sample question 1:

The drug literature provides information regarding the maximum safe dose of a drug per day, based on BSA in square meters . Your
patient's current weight is 110 lbs and height is 61 in. You determine that the patient's current BSA is ___.

8. maximum safe dosage based on BSA. Sample question 1:

You need to verify that a prescribed dose of Proleukin (aldesleukin) for a patient with a current BSA of 2.1 is appropriate. The drug
literature recommends 4,500,000 units/m2/day. You determine that an appropriate dose for this patient would be ___ units per
day.

8. maximum safe dosage based on BSA. Sample question 2:

You need to verify that a prescribed dose of Velban (vinblastine sulfate) for a patient with a current BSA of 1.61 is safe. The drug
literature recommends a maximum of 18.5 mg/m2/dose. You determine that a maximum safe dose for this patient would be ___
mg per dose.

9. expressing solution strength. Sample question 1:

A 50 % solution can be expressed as a fraction, ___ , or a ratio, __:__.

9. expressing solution strength. Sample question 2:

A 1:2 solution can be expressed as a fraction, ___ , or a percent, __.

9. expressing solution strength. Sample question 3:

A 1/2 solution can be expressed as a ratio, __:__, or a percent, __.

10. determining amount of drug or solute in solution. Sample question 1:

A 50 % solution for external use prepared from solid drug contains __ grams of drug per 100 mL of solution or __ grams of drug for
every 1 mL of solution.

10. determining amount of drug or solute in solution. Sample question 2:

A 1:2 solution for external use prepared from solid drug contains __ grams of drug per 2 mL of solution or __ grams of drug for every
1 mL of solution.

10. determining amount of drug or solute in solution. Sample question 3:

2 mL of 0.5% bupivacaine has been administered to a patient. The patient has received __ grams of bupivacaine.

10. determining amount of drug or solute in solution. Sample question 4:

Dextrose 50% in water contains __ grams of dextrose per mL.

11. preparing tube feedings. Sample question:

200 mL of 25% Magnacal must be prepared for a tube feeding. You have available full strength Magnacal. To prepare the feeding,
you dilute ___ mL of the full strength Magnacal with ____ mL of water.

12. mL per hour (IV pump). Sample question:

An IV will be administered using an infusion pump that delivers mL per hour. Dextrose 5% in water has been prescribed to run IV at
a rate of 100 mL in 30 minutes. The IV should infuse at how many mL per hour?

13. drops per minute (IV gravity drip). Sample question:

600 mL of dextrose 5% in water has been prescribed for IV infusion over 5 hours. You are using an IV administration set that
delivers 10 drops per mL. You run the IV at ____ drops per minute.
14. IV solution concentration. Sample question 1:

500 mg of lidocaine has been added to dextrose 5% in water. The final solution has a volume of 1000 mL. You realize that the IV
solution contains___ mg of lidocaine per mL.

14. IV solution concentration. Sample question 2:

Lidocaine has been added to dextrose 5% in water. The final solution has a volume of 1000 mL and a strength of 0.5 mg lidocaine
per mL. You know that the total dose of lidocaine contained in the solution is ___ mg.

15. IV drug dose based on weight or BSA. Sample question:

Your patient's current weight is 70 kg. Nitroprusside is to be infused at 0.5 mcg/kg/minute. How many mcg of nitroprusside should
you infuse per minute?

16. IV mL per hour (drug dosage per hour or minute prescribed). Sample question:

An IV of dextrose 5% in water containing 6 mg of nitrostat and a total volume of 250 mL is to be infused at a rate of 4 mcg per
minute. At how many mL per hour will you infuse the IV?

17. IV mL per hour (drug doses based on weight or BSA). Sample question:

100 mg of intropin in dextrose 5% in water is to be infused at a rate of 4 mcg/kg/minute. The IV solution has a total volume of 250
mL. Your patient's current weight is 110 lbs. At how many mL per hour will you infuse the IV?

18. IV drug dose infusing per hour or minute. Sample question:

Dextrose 5% in water with nitrostat is infusing at a rate of 10 mL per hour. The IV solution was prepared by adding 6 mg of nitrostat
to dextrose 5% in water. The final solution contained a total volume of 250 mL. How many mg are infusing per hour? How many
mg are infusing per minute?

19. IV mL per hour for titration (range of doses). Sample question:

Levophed in dextrose 5% in water is to be titrated 2-6 mcg per minute to maintain a patient's BP. The IV solution was prepared by
adding 4 mg of levophed to dextrose 5% in water. The final solution contained a total volume of 1000 mL. The IV solution should
be infused at a rate of __ to __ mL per hour.
20. IV mL per hour for titration (drug doses based on wt or BSA). Sample question:

Nitroprusside in dextrose 5% in water is to be titrated 0.5-1.5 mcg/kg/minute to maintain a patient's BP. The IV solution was
prepared by adding 50 mg of nitroprusside to dextrose 5% in water. The final solution contained a total volume of 250 mL. Your
patient's current weight is 154 lbs. The IV solution should be infused at a rate of __ to __mL per hour.

12/08rh