Meds calculation book

Students Student Assist

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Hey guys i am about to buy the book "Dimensional Analysis for meds" by Anna curren. Its 50 bucks for the dang book, and i want to know if anyone has used it and if it is a good book to brush up on math skills and learn dosage calculations. Also would it come in handy to have in my ever growing Nursing library.

Andy

Specializes in L&D/MB/High-risk antepartum; Hospice.

I haven't used this book, but I did use Math for Meds. Can't remember who it's by, but I did find it very helpful. At my school we are responsible for learning the math portion on our own. They might go over some formulas to help us, but that's it! Math for Meds has a great review section in the front of the book, which is great for math dummies like myself.

tookewlandy

727 Posts

See thats what i was afraid of, them making me learn it on my own. thats why i want to start now and practice until i i get it. i taught myself algebra i think i can teach dosage calculation, i hope i can. thanks Nurse2bNicole

Andy

Specializes in Trauma.

I believe that is the same one I bought. If I am not mistaken, it was $35 and a huge waste of money. The unviersity I attend handed out practice tests with problems on them. Not to mention the amount of problems you can get online through other nursing schools or even other students in the program. I have noticed as I go along in nursing schoool, that the majority with the exception of a few..I rarely use the books as the professors teach with notes and an overhead.

Save your money and wait until someone else buys the book and then get an "idea" from the problems.

RANCH GIRL

146 Posts

Andy - Try this book: Calculation of Drug Dosages by Sheila Ogden. Amazon.com has it used from about $20. My CC doesn't teach drug calculations as part of the formal curriculum either, but does offer it as a highly recommended class during summer semester.

If you taught yourself algebra, then you can easily teach yourself dosage calculations. If you don't want to put out the money for the book, see if there is something available in the library at your school. Best!

tookewlandy

727 Posts

Andy - Try this book: Calculation of Drug Dosages by Sheila Ogden. Amazon.com has it used from about $20. My CC doesn't teach drug calculations as part of the formal curriculum either, but does offer it as a highly recommended class during summer semester.

If you taught yourself algebra, then you can easily teach yourself dosage calculations. If you don't want to put out the money for the book, see if there is something available in the library at your school. Best!

They actually have that book at my city library so i am going to check it out tomorrow, thanks so much RANCH GIRL.

Andy

LAROSILIERE7

108 Posts

Yes, I have used it.I got a A- for that class, so I guess it's a really good book.We didnt go over every single chapter.Many people did poorly in that class because they failed to purchase the book.I spent $57 on it.I bought it new.

RANCH GIRL

146 Posts

They actually have that book at my city library so i am going to check it out tomorrow, thanks so much RANCH GIRL.

Andy

You are so welcome! I'm glad I could help you out with that. It's a good book, but does have some errors in it.

Laura77598

80 Posts

I learn best through the formulas and Ratio and Proportion. I just don't get Dimensional analysis as a way of learning math. I understand plugging numbers into a formula and performing the calculation. I never understood why I needed to put the number 1 under a fraction to set up another fraction if I could just multiply by or divide by a number to get the conversion. I used the Dimensional anaylsis book too, but I also bought the Math for meds book by the same author, and I understood it ALOT BETTER. I also used Stressed out about Drug Math, and it teaches dosage calculations using all three methods: dimensional analysis, ratio and proportion, and formulas. (I love formulas). The book is not complicated, if you can understand Dimensional Analysis. I was taught math using Ratio and proportion all throughout my school years, THEN along come some people and tell me hey, we have this great new way to teach math. I just Don't get it!!!

I like the math for meds book and Stressed Out About Drug Math. I didn't learn ANYTHING from the Dimensional Analysis for Meds book. If ANYONE can figure out why certain factors belong on the top and others belong on the bottom, please clue me in. I haven't been able to figure out how to set my problems up right. I understand that there needs to be a starting factor to use as your "X" or the unknown factor, but then I don't understand where the numbers go from there. I understand that when one converts to kilograms from pounds, you need to divide by 2.2 to get to kilograms before performing the calculations to work the problem, but I can never figure out what number to put where when setting up a problem. That's my problem with Dimensional Analysis. Just my two cents.

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