Qualified Medication Aides (QMA) Practice Exam

Which unit of measurement is typically used for liquid medication doses?

1. Pints

2. Liters

3. Milliliters

4. Fluid ounces

The correct answer is: Milliliters

The unit of measurement that is most commonly used for liquid medication doses is milliliters. This is primarily because milliliters are a smaller unit of measurement that allows for precise dosage, which is critical in medication administration. For example, many prescribed medications require dosages to be delivered in small amounts, and milliliters provide the precision needed for accurate dosing. While pints, liters, and fluid ounces can also measure liquid volumes, they are generally not used for medication dosing due to their larger quantities. For instance, a pint equals approximately 473 milliliters, while a liter is much larger at 1,000 milliliters, making these units impractical for most medication dosages. Fluid ounces are sometimes used in specific formulations but are less precise than milliliters for medical dosing standards, which prioritize accuracy to prevent errors in patient care. This is why milliliters are the standard unit in medical settings when administering liquid medications.