Calculating Drug Dosages: A Patient-Safe Approach to Nursing and Math Second Edition

Book Preface

Dear Students:
We are excited to present the second edition of Calculating Drug Dosages: A Patient-Safe Approach to Nursing and Math. Prevention of medication errors and promoting patient safety continues to be the focus of this book. In addition to demonstrating how to solve a drug dosage problem, we have included medication administration situations encountered in clinical practice. Each chapter is unique and designed to build your confidence in drug dosage calculation.

In the chapters you will find:

■ A choice of four methods of calculation.
■ Math tips that are related to medication administration in clinical practice.
■ Updated clinical situations that demonstrate issues regarding medication administration.
■ Updated simulated medication orders and electronic medication administration records.
■ Updated excerpts from drug references that apply to the calculation of dosages.
■ Practice problems that will help you to develop math competency.
■ Situations that promote clinical judgment and decision making. Developing competency in drug dosage calculations takes practice. We encourage you to practice solving drug dosage problems every day and to always follow recommended guidelines when administering medications. Taking the time to practice drug dosage calculations demonstrates a commitment to patient safety.
To the Instructor:
Thank you for using Calculating Drug Dosages: A Patient-Safe Approach to Nursing and Math to teach students how to calculate drug dosages accurately and with confidence. In the second edition we continue to emphasize the importance of safety in the total process of medication administration, from reading the medication order to the calculation of the dose and documentation of the medication.

Key features of the book include:

■ Drug dosage problems solved in four methods: Linear Ratio and Proportion, Fractional Ratio and Proportion, Dimensional Analysis, and the Formula Method.
■ Drug dosage problems that require the use of critical thinking and clinical judgment.
■ Emphasis on the implementation of evidence-based safe practices appropriate to the situation.
■ Updated simulated medication orders and electronic medication administration records.
■ Updated drug labels and excerpts from drug references that apply to the calculation of dosages.
■ Apply Learned Knowledge activities that reinforce the mathematical and clinical concepts presented.
■ Developing Competency drug dosage problems at the end of each chapter.
■ Additional drug dosage problems available online that reinforce the content of each unit.
■ NEW! Added content, including U-500 insulin administration, weight-based dosing protocols for IV heparin, and formulas for calculating pediatric maintenance IV fluid rates.
■ Advocacy for applying a “Vigilant Process” in medication administration for special populations such as the older adult.

We hope that this book is a valuable resource for you and your students. Sandra and Maryanne