Worried to death about dosage cal!

[kayruhh]

I am awful at math, and I never seem to catch on to it like everyone else does. I've never got it. I remember sitting in third grade learning long division and thinking " what?!?!" lol. Would you recommend studying this summer and getting the gist of it? Our dosage cal is integrated into pharmacology. I don't want that time to. Ome and me be floundering! If so, any recommended books to help? TIA:D

[JBudd, MSN]

Thanks everyone! I just ordered calculate with confidence off amazon for 10$ new! I would have got the newer edition but I didn't want to spend the extra 30 bucks!

That is the book we use, and honestly I would have stayed with the older edition just to make it cheaper for my students. Math is math.

Work the chapter problems as you go, it really is just step by step and explained pretty well. I personally teach r/p and dimension analysis, ratio/proportion can take 2 or 3 steps for complex problems but is great for the simple ones.

DA just boils down to: unknown (what you want) = available x dose x conversion.

That's it. Make the labels on the numbers (mg, kg, mL) cancel out and you're done.

:kiss

[CRNBSN18]

I like the made incredibly easy dosage cal workout book. I got it for like $5 on amazon. I'd also buy the regular book. I'm not great at math..Unless I want to do it. I'm very calculator dependent.. Lol.

[LB_RN2B]

Okay...I suck in math too but this website DosageHelp.com - Helping Nursing Students Learn Dosage Calculations is awesome!!! I Hope this helps!!!!

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

med math is nothing more than high school sophomore algebra. if you can do that, you're all set. don't stress. check out the books recommended and do all the practice problems in them until you feel confident. but seriously? it isn't calculus. it isn't even trigonometry. basic algebra. solve for x. that's it.

[kayruhh]

Just to update, I've been doing math everyday since I got my book in. I just hit ratio and proportions and I'm liking this method a lot. It clicks with me but I havnt reviewed dimensional analysis yet. Here's the sample problems I've been doing:

Order: 150mg IV of a drug.

Available: 80mg per ml.

I've been doing good with those. Yay.

I had to go over decimals, fractions, everything. Lol.

I'm feeling a wee better now!

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

see? told ya. keep up the good work.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

Good for YOu!:yelclap:

[CRNBSN18]

Dimensional analysis is easy! Luckily, I'm using it for chemistry this summer so I'll be acquainted with it. You'll probably like it! You just cross stuff out. I'll have to look at the ratio method. I've been trying to get ahold to the nursing school to find out what method will be taught in our hospital measurements class this fall but I can't get anyone who knows! Good luck!

[sbem10]

I took this class last semester. It really wasn't that bad! I found it pretty easy actually. Probability & statistics was way harder than this. You should be fine! don't even worry about it. I can't remember at this moment the book we used but I'm sure any book about med. dosage would help you out a lot. It's basically the same concept once you get started. My prof. made us memorize abbreviations and a conversion sheet.

Approved Drug Administration Abbreviation

General

C with

S without

NS normal saline

Cap Capsule

Tab tablet

Susp. Suspension

NPO Nothing by mouth

NKA no known allergies

gtt drop

Route

IM intramuscular

SQ subcutaneous

IV intravenous

IVP intravenous push

IVPB intravenous piggy bag

ID intradermal

PO by mouth

NGT nasogastric tube

PEG percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy

GT gastrostomy tube

PR per rectal

Supp. Suppository

SL sublingual

Frequency

ac. before meals

pc. after meals

ad lib as desired

p.r.n. as needed, when necessary

HS hours of sleep

b.i.d two times a day

h, hr hour

q every

q2h every 2 hours

q4h every 4 hours

Stat immediately

Conversion

1 liter (L) = 1,000 mL

1 Kg = 1,000 g

1 g = 1,000 mg

1 mg = 1,000 mcg

1 quart (qt) = 2 pints (pt)

1 quart (qt) = 32 ounces (oz)

1 pint (pt) = 16 ounces (oz)

1 cup/glass = 8 ounces (oz) = 240 mL

16 ounces (oz) = 1 pound (lb)

1 ounce (oz) = 2 Tablespoons (T) = 30 mL

1 tablespoon (T) = 3 teaspoons (t)

1 teaspoon (t) = 60 drops (gtt)

1 tablespoon (T) = 15 mL

1 teaspoon (t) = 5 mL

1 inch = 2.5 cm

1 foot (ft) = 12 inches (in)

1 kilogram (kg) = 2.2 pounds (lb) or 0.45 kg = 1 lb

Celsius to Fahrenheit (°C x 9/5) +32 = °F

Fahrenheit to Celsius (°F - 32) x 5/9 = °C

Hope this helps!! copy pasted our class handouts and the conversions really are helpful throughout the semester