Teaching yourself dosage calculations

Nursing Students General Students

Published

I am starting an adn program this fall and wanted to practice dosage calculations before I start class. Are there any good youtube videos or books to teach yourself and prepare?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pharmacy, Mathematics, Physics, and Educator.

If you look at my article, Master Your Dosage Calculations Before you Get to Nursing School, you will see a lot of information there. There is a pdf in one of the comments which has all the information along with practice problems. You will learn how to do the dosage calculations without any formulas. Let me know if you need any help.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Mental Health.

Just look up some videos on dimensional analysis. If you get good at that you'll be all set for any math nursing throws at you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pharmacy, Mathematics, Physics, and Educator.

Yes, that is the best method and how I teach it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Mental Health, Gerontology, Palliative.
Maths and meds for nurses worked well for me. It took me right from basic maths to how that basic maths applied to the drug calculations we use on the job
Up Vote Up Vote ×

My program had us buy a book called Calculate with Confidence. It's a really easy to follow book that will walk you step-by-step through multiple methods for solving problems (although I definitely prefer the dimensional analysis method). I have a lot of anxiety when it comes to math, so I used it to teach myself over the summer before my program began. I felt super prepared when our first dosage calculations exam rolled around!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pedi.

If you took algebra in middle/high school, you know all the math you need to know to do dosage calculations.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you. I'll look at everything suggested. I've taken college algebra and stats so I'm not new to math. I've just heard so much about it I got worried that dosage calculations would be super complex.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Oncology, OCN.
Thank you. I'll look at everything suggested. I've taken college algebra and stats so I'm not new to math. I've just heard so much about it I got worried that dosage calculations would be super complex.

They really aren't. If you have a solid foundation in algebra they are pretty simple. I spent more time memorizing the proper nursing conversions of measurments than the actual math, neither took much of my time though.

mL per tsp, tbsp, oz, cup; lbs to kg required memorization. Dose calculations just required applying algebra; read the question plug the correct numbers in and solve for X.

I was required to buy the Calculate with Confidence book for my program and will say it is a good book. I flipped through it a few times when my classmates were freaking out about calculations just to make sure I wasn't missing something. I wasn't but the examples in the book are helpful and they show three different methods so you can use the one that works best for you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hello try calculate with confidence by Deborah Gray Morris. I used it when I took a math for nursing class and it has a CD that is helpful.

Happy studyimg

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Mental Health.
Thank you. I'll look at everything suggested. I've taken college algebra and stats so I'm not new to math. I've just heard so much about it I got worried that dosage calculations would be super complex.

Some people are extremely terrified of math and don't do well on the math tests. If math isn't one of your issues don't stress out about it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm looking to buy that book and was wondering if they have the desired/have or ordered/have method. I'm not a big fan of dimensional analysis lol

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment