Neonatal Medication Protocols

Dose

Rounding

Example

Less than 1 mg

Prescribe in MICROGRAMS

If not possible do not round

0.13 mg to be prescribed as 130 micrograms

Less than 10 mg

Round to the nearest 0.1

(One decimal place)

6.33 mg round down to 6.3mg 
6.45 mg round up to 6.5 mg

10 to 50 mg

Round to the nearest whole number

  - Round down with 4 or less
  - Round up with 5 or more

12.4 mg round down to 12 mg
12.5 mg round up to 13 mg

Greater than
50 mg

Round to the nearest whole number in multiples of ‘5’

  - Round to 0 if digit is 1, 2, 8 or 9
  - Round to 5 if digit is 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7

62 mg round down to 60 mg
63 mg round up to 65 mg
67 mg round down to 65 mg
68 mg round up to 70 mg