How Is the Metric System Used in Nursing?

The International System of Units, frequently called the metric system, is one of three systems of measurement. It is used in most countries around the world and therefore lends itself well to nursing.

The Metric System

• The United States is the only developed country that does not use the metric system as its basic tool of measurement, but there has been increasing usage in the government, science and medicine, according to the World Factbook, a publication of the Central Intelligence Agency.

Uses in Nursing

• The metric system is used by nurses to measure weight, liquid and length, according to the School of Nursing at Flinders University. Health professionals present information to patients in the most commonly used terms. A nurse in America might measure 3,000 grams, but will tell the patient six pounds, nine ounces.

Rationale

• The metric system is used in health care because it is nearly universal. Only three countries have not adopted the metric system as their common form of measurement: Myanmar, Liberia and the United States (The World Factbook).

Metric System Notation

• The metric system uses four basic units of measure: the meter, gram, liter and Celsius. The meter (m) is used to measure length, the gram (g) measures weight, the liter (l) measures volume and Celsius identifies temperature.

United States

• The United States uses what is known as United States Customary, which measures in feet, pounds, gallons and Fahrenheit, for example.