Assisitance with IV calcalations

sanctuary, BSN, MSN, RN · Feb 5, 2006

i am taking part 2 of pharmacology. we just stilled flow rate, drop rate, iv bolus, iv reconstitution, and ivpb. do any of you know of any books that would help with this calculations. it just feel so overwhelming at this point and time. are all adn program like this? it seem like they are trying to give you so much information in a short period of time. any advice on learning this information in 2 weeks. i would appreciate any kind of feedback. what is the key to thinking critically? i am still trying to think critically on all of these tests.

if you can get a palm pilot (look in e-bay for cheap used ones) then go to website "art beat". they have wonderful programs for nurses, and they include archimedes, a program that does calculations on all sorts of things, from simple conversions to complex infusion rates. if you can't use it in a test situation, it will be a great study help, as you can check your math. but many schools are allowing them in the classroom, as they know they are graduating safer nurses who are comfortable with up to date resources.

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Feb 5, 2006

these are all the links i have that will help you out with iv calculations. in a recent thread about medication calculations another student recommended a book dimensional analysis for meds by anna curren. the current cost is about $50. the poster stated that "it takes you back to simple math, then helps you step-by-step work through all dosage calculation problems (i.e., i.v., peds, oral, syringe, etc.) ". dimensional analysis is a system of setting up equations of ratios, frequently used in chemistry, that allows you to include conversion factors. the technique adapts very nicely to medication and iv problems. take it from a serious math student, you want to work problems over and over and over. that is the only way you learn this stuff, particularly with math. take time to understand step by step how this demensional analysis works--the time you put into learning and understanding it will pay off once you finally "get it" and you will be able to solve any kind of medication calculation. i suggest you start with the san antonio college site as it is simple and straigh-forward.

http://www.accd.edu/sac/nursing/math/default.html -- the start page of this pharmacology math tutorial presented by the nursing department at the san antonio college. by clicking on the "go figure" button you can access quizzes on basic med calculations, iv, pediatric and ob med calculations. the quizzes all have answers. follow the directions.

http://www-isu.indstate.edu/mary/tutorial.htm - from the indiana state university a "basics" page on medication math with explanations on how to do a number of different types of medications problems (including iv problems), conversions and dimensional analysis with links to lots of practice quizzes.

http://www.manuelsweb.com/nrs_calculators.htm - oh, what a find this is! you can now double check your pencil on paper drug calculation with this handy tool! these are on-line working calculators to solve nursing math problems with formulas and examples included to show you how each calculator works. you can work problems for oral and iv medications. you can download these calculators for your pocket pc free from this site http://www.manuelsweb.com/nrs_download.htm

http://www.accd.edu/sac/nursing/math/mathindex2.html - basic tutorial on getting started with pharmacology math. at the bottom of this home page is a drop down box where you link into any of the following subjects: common conversion factors/equivalencies, common abbreviations, ratio and proportion, iv problems, titration problems, and pediatric pharmacology math.

http://home.sc.rr.com/nurdosagecal/ - med calc for nurses from central carolina technical college. explanations and quizzes (with answers) on the following subjects: measurements, conversions, oral dosages, parenteral dosages, iv flow rates, dose by weight, iv push meds, critical care iv's and tube feeding.

http://www.geocities.com/heartland/valley/3049/iv/clcltns.html - a quiz of 8 iv calculation questions with pictures and answers. the answers show you exactly how to set up the equations to solve the problems.

http://teach.lanecc.edu/nursing2/info/dosagecomp.pdf -- found this when surfing the internet on dosage calculations. it's a 20 question pharmacology math test from lane community college. it has questions on both oral meds (tablets and liquids) as well as iv drip rates. it shows how the answers to every question is worked out at the end of the test!

http://go.dbcc.edu/hhps/nursing/nur_1201_nur_1260c_nur1213.html - a wonderful site for practice problems with answers on iv calculations from daytona beach community college nursing department. just click on the links provided and knock yourself out!

http://www.testandcalc.com/quiz/index.asp -- this is the section of www.testandcalc.com that you can access for free. it contains four quizzes on metric conversions, tablet dosage calculations, fluid dosage calculations, and iv drop rate calculations. this is a site sponsored by australian nurses, but the tests are still usable. the solution to each question is revealed when you click on the "show me the solution" button. there is also a short "help" section within each test area that is a short tutorial about the subject. each test also includes an online calculator.