Weights and Measures Nurses Assistant Unit 7

Common Equivalencies  Metric Weight:  1kg=2.2lbs  Metric Height:  1cm=.39inches  1inch=2.5cm  Medical Weights and Measures:  1cc= 1ml  1ounce= 30cc  1teaspoon= 5ml  1cup=8 ounces= 240ml  1pint=16 ounces= 500ml  1quart=32ounces= 1000cc  1liter= 1000ml

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

Liquid Measuring Equipment  Graduate Cylinders  Cylinders are marked with lines and numbers  Measurements for cylinders are marked in ounces and (cc’s)  Other equipment used, urinals,med cups,hats,specimen cups.

Procedure for Measuring Liquid Volume  Pour liquid into graduate container  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

Military Time Cont…  Examples:  3:00AM = 0300  3:30PM = 1530  12:00AM = 2400 or 0000  12:00PM = 1200  What time do you go to sleep?  Hint: The only way you are going to learn this is sheer memorization or adding/subtracting from 1200  For example 3pm + 12=15 now just add the minutes… :15pm+12=  6am=simply insert zeros 0600  10am=just simply remove colon=1000