dosage calculation class

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I have to take this class and was wondering if anyone has some advice searched for it on the board didn't find much on the class

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Specializes in None.

I haven't taken the class, but...I can either take a dosage calculation test OR do the class and be exempted from the test. I'm not sure whats best. The nursing director said that the class is a basic and will be building on that kind of stuff so i'm thinking take the class to get a good understanding of it. Sorry I couldn't help you. But if anyone post it would help me also!

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Specializes in Medical Surgical/Addiction/Mental Health.

My program incorporates the dosage calculation course within all of my nursing courses. You will learn how to read drug labels. The label tells you everything as you probably already know. You will be given dosage calculation questions to answer. For example, Dr: Ordered 650 mg of XYZ drug. You have on hand 325mg/tab. How many tabs would you give the patient. You will also have problems of reconstituting drugs. These are powder drugs in vials that you will need to add Normal Saline (or other solution) to create the liquid form to give the patient. You will have questions like: Dr. orders 5mg of drug XYZ to be given IM to patient STAT. On hand: 2.5mg/3ml. How many ml of medication would you administer? You will learn which syringes get rounded to the hundredths and which to the tenths. These are just a few things to give you an idea. If you are looking for material to check out before class starts, check out bookstores like Half Price Books or the internet and purchase a used workbook. This will help.

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I agree with ParkerBeanCurd, that is exactly the types of work problems you will encounter in drug calculation. Some tips to help you prepare are to find some basic math skills brush up exercises on the net to help with calculations. While the class is pretty straight forward you will need to rely on basic math skills such as dividing decimals and converting percentages and fractions to decimals. I just completed the class this fall and passed. I needed to get tutoring for basic math skills that I just forgot because I learned them so long ago. Stay way ahead of the syllabus and read all chapters completely. This is where you need to pay attention to detail and one mistake makes a world of difference. Stay ahead of the lesson plans and practice conversions daily and you will be fine. This is not a class where you can afford to study a few times a week it. It takes practice. Good luck!!

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Specializes in EMT-P.

Learn how to use dimensional analysis.

Medication Math for the Nursing Student

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