Weights and Measures Nurses Assistant Unit 7

Weights and Measures Part A The metric system Chapter 15 pg 268-270 pg 419 Part B Weight, Length and liquid volume Part C Military Time Chapter 4 pg 44-45

Common Equivalencies Metric Weight: 1kg=2.2lbs Metric Height: 1cm=.39inches 1inch=2.5cm

Common Equivalencies Medical Weights and Measures: 1cc= 1ml 1ounce= 30cc or 30 ml (cc & ml) 1teaspoon= 5ml 1pint=16 ounces= 500ml 1quart=32ounces= 1000 ml or cc

1 liter= 1000ml 1 foot= 30 cm 1cup=8 ounces= 240ml 12 ounces= ___ cups= ____ ml or cc ½ cup= ____ ounces = ____ml or cc

Weights and Measures used in the average U.S household Weight is measured in ounces (oz) and pounds (lbs) Length is measured in inches, feet, and yards Liquid volume is measured in fluid ounces, pints, quarts, and gallons Pay attention if they are asking you to measure liquid or solid items.

Liquid Measuring Equipment Graduate Cylinders Cylinders are marked with lines and numbers Measurements for cylinders are marked in ounces and mls or cc Other equipment used, urinals, med cups, hats, specimen cups.

Procedure for Measuring Liquid Volume Pour liquid into graduate container/cylinder Place on flat surface Read at eye level Use measurements at lowest level of liquid surface Record measurements using correct abbreviations for unit measurement

Procedure for Measuring Length/ Height We can use a measuring tape to measure the heights of residents who are contracted, stooped, or in bed Measure in segments, while marking the sheet with a pencil Add all measurements together to find a total

Procedure for Measuring Length/ Height Cont… Measuring a residents Ht using an upright scale Assist the resident to remove their slippers Place a paper towel on the scale for infection control purposes Assist the resident to stand on the scale facing away Lower the height measuring rod until it rests on the residents head Record their Ht, reading is made at the moveable point using centimeters. You DO NOT need to convert! Assist the resident off of the platform

Procedure for Measuring Weight Make sure the scale is balanced at zero Place paper towel on the scale Remove residents slippers and help resident to step onto the scale facing forward Read the scale when in balance to the nearest quarter pound (or tenth of a kilogram) and record Help the resident off of the scale Return and clean equipment

Procedure for Measuring Weight Cont… Make sure to weigh residents at the same time everyday for accuracy Types of scales Wheelchair scale Mechanical lift (hoyer) scale Bed scale

Military Time Military time is a concise method of expressing time used by the military, emergency services, hospitals, and other entities Only uses four digits and no colons Does not use AM or PM When converting from military time to regular time and vice versa, the minutes and seconds do not change