Nursing Students General Students
Published Sep 23, 2007
tiffany311
126 Posts
I am hyperventilating. Converting is really foreign to me and I know that it is vital to know it in the health field, I fear that I am going to fail medical math. As I don't know how to convert anything:(
Can any of you please help me?
Here is a problem that I am trying to work out and I can't, I am on the verge of crying:(
Your client is receiving 1500mcg of benztropine mesylate, an antiparkinson drug. The drug comes in 0.5mg tablets. How many tablets should you administer?
Thank you!
brissie
89 Posts
There are 1000mcg in 1mg. So 1500mcg of a med is 1.5mg. So you would need 3 0.5mg tablets to get the 1.5mg which is the same as 1500mcg. There is an allnurses member whose screen name is Daytonite and provides excellent explanations to students questions. Try going back and looking for similar math calc threads and see if you can find a "Daytonite" explanation
mysterious_one, ASN, RN
587 Posts
Hi,
if I don't remember which way to move the dec. point , I always write it out like this
you know that:
1mg = 1000mcg
write underneath what you have on hand
0.5mg = ? mcg
now cross multiply and divide
0.5 x 1000 / 1 = 500 mcg
So this is how much it is in mcg for one tab. Now , of course: 1500 : 500 = 3
So you need 3 tabs.
The easier way , would be to remember , that you can move the decimal point 3 spaces to the right , if you have a smaller measurement, or 3 spaces to the left , it it is larger.
I hope this helps.
Bonny619
528 Posts
Do you have a med calculations book? Have you thought about going in for some math tutoring?
I cannot afford a tutor, just a poor student barley scraping by:(
where would I pick up a medical calculations book?
Your school's bookstore SHOULD have one for the nursing students. We were required to have it. Tutoring...I just mean going in and talking with your instructors.
Finally2008
228 Posts
I imagine one of your classmates would be more than happy to sit with you and help you. I've done it several times with my friends. And learning the conversions is essential....Good luck!
I cannot afford a tutor, just a poor student barley scraping by:(where would I pick up a medical calculations book?
here you go:
http://www.amazon.com/Calculation-Drug-Dosages-Work-Text/dp/032304588X/ref=pd_sxp_grid_pt_2_0/002-0759854-7168838
Daytonite, BSN, RN
1 Article; 14,604 Posts
your client is receiving 1500mcg of benztropine mesylate, an antiparkinson drug. the drug comes in 0.5mg tablets. how many tablets should you administer?
the formula you should use is the dose desired divided by the dose on hand equals the dose to give. you will need to apply a conversion factor because your dose on hand is in mg and the dose you want to give is written as mcg. you need to know that there are 1000 mcg in each mg.
NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN
10 Articles; 18,386 Posts
websites:
allnurses thread with several sites: math help links
pharmacology math: a tutorial for nursing students
dosage calculations for nurses
medication math for the nursing student
[color=#0000cc]math.com - world of math online
books:
math for nurses: a pocket guide to dosage calculation ...
schaum's outline of mathematics for nurses
most schools have tutoring services-just ask instructor!
books often available at school library for onsite use..occasionally take home overnight or 1wk loan---librarians are great to get advice from!
peacelovestar
100 Posts
Another book you might want to check out is Calculating with Confidence. I took an online course at a community college last spring for $25 (you did not get credit for the class) and this was the text book we worked from. Truth be told, the class was not completely necessary because I felt you could teach yourself from the book!
JONlvn-np2b
35 Posts
dose/ have.
1500 mcg=1.5 mg(dose)
0.5 mg(have)
1.5 mg/0.5 mg = 3 tablets.