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Introduction. Registered Nurses (RN) are increasingly required to perform complex, mathematical, drug-related calculations. This package is designed to assist the nurse to become competent in making drug calculations and can also be used as a reference guide.
In current nursing practice, the need to calculate drug dosages is not uncommon. These calculations have to be performed competently and accurately to ensure that the nurse – and more importantly the patient – is not put at risk. This book provides an aid to the basics of mathematics and drug calculations.
THE SIMPLE 6-STEP PROCESS FOR GETTING DOSE CALC PROBLEMS RIGHT: . r with it. Don’t worry, I’ll go through some practice problems on the next few pages to get you more comfortab. Step 1: What do I need? What unit of measurement do you need? . Write this on the right of your paper. Step 2: What is the order? .
Drug dosage calculations are required when the amount of medication ordered (or desired) is different from what is available on hand for the nurse to administer. Formula: Amount DESIRED (D) X QUANTITY (Q) = Y (Tablets Required) Amount on HAND (H)
Use your preferred dosage calculation method (formula, ratio proportion, or dimensional analysis) to solve for the dose of the drug to be administered to the client. Example: Ordered: Amoxicillin 10 mg per kg orally QID (four times a day)
Change each percent to a decimal. The answers are on page 35 of the dosage calculations packet. Record your answer using two decimal places unless instructed otherwise.
Dosage calculation is a mandatory skill for nurses in any clinical setting. Since medication administration is one of the primary roles of clinical nurses, being able to calculate correct dosages is paramount to safe practice.
