One Ounce is equal to?

Appeared in: RUHS, Jaipur, PB B.Sc Nursing Entrance-2018

Explanation

One fluid ounce (oz) is a standard household measure of volume equivalent to approximately 30 milliliters (mL).
A standard teaspoon (tsp) is equivalent to 5 mL.
To convert ounces to teaspoons, you can use the metric equivalents: 30 mL (1 oz) divided by 5 mL (1 tsp) equals 6.
Therefore, one ounce is equal to 6 teaspoons.

Option A: 2 teaspoons are equal to 10 mL (2 tsp x 5 mL/tsp), which is significantly less than one ounce (30 mL).
Option B: 4 teaspoons are equal to 20 mL (4 tsp x 5 mL/tsp). This is two-thirds of an ounce, not a full ounce.
Option C: 5 teaspoons are equal to 25 mL (5 tsp x 5 mL/tsp). While closer, this is still less than the 30 mL that constitutes one ounce.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Unit Conversion in Medication Administration as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Accurate medication dosage is critical for patient safety. Using household spoons for liquid medication is discouraged because their sizes are not standardized, leading to underdosing or overdosing.
Nurses must educate patients and caregivers to use calibrated measuring devices like oral syringes, droppers, or medicine cups that are marked in milliliters (mL) to ensure correct dosage.
What if the prescription was for 1 tablespoon (tbsp)? The nurse should know that 1 tbsp is equal to 15 mL or 3 tsp. This knowledge is vital for correct administration and patient teaching.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the units involved in the question: ounces and teaspoons.
Recall the standard conversion factor between these units or their metric equivalents. The key facts are: 1 ounce ≈ 30 mL and 1 teaspoon = 5 mL.
Perform the calculation: Divide the metric equivalent of an ounce (30 mL) by the metric equivalent of a teaspoon (5 mL).
The result of the division (30 / 5 = 6) gives the number of teaspoons in one ounce.
Compare the calculated result with the given options and select the one that matches.

Concept Tested & Keywords

QORFhczdUltldZ_eyj0d3d

E6 Nursing Fundamentals Potter Perry 12e Part 3 p. 141-143

E6 Nursing Fundamentals Taylor p. 848-850

Practise the full RUHS, Jaipur, PB B.Sc Nursing Entrance-2018

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.