Why does the medical assistant need to understand how to convert the household system and the metric system when most medication orders are given in the metric system?

Because of the difference in basic units of measure, you must remember that conversions between systems are only approximate equivalents. If you use a conversion chart, read it carefully before administering a drug.

Explanation:

Although the household measurement system is used in homes, it is the least precise and exact of all the measurement systems. For this reason, the household measurement system is rarely used in our health care facilities but it is sometimes used for prescription that will be taken in the home after hospitalization.

The household measurement system is the system that most of us use at home, usually in the kitchen. The household system uses measurements for drops, teaspoons, tablespoons, ounces, cups, pints, quart, gallons, and pounds. There are some similarities and differences between the household system of measurements and the apothecary system of measurements. For example, a fluid ounce is the same for both the household system of measurements and the apothecary system of measurement. There are some differences as well; for example, the pound that is used to determine weight is different between these systems. In the apothecary system, there are twelve (12) ounces in a pound, and, in the household system of measurements there are sixteen (16) ounces, and not twelve (12) ounces, in the household system of measurements.

Below is a table that displays household units of measurement and their approximate equivalents in another measurement system, such as the apothecary and the metric measurement systems. It is necessary that you memorize these equivalents so that you will be able to convert from one measurement system to another.

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