Calculating Drug Dosages: A Patient-Safe Approach to Nursing and Math / Edition 1

by Sandra Luz Martinez de Castillo RN, MA, EdD, Maryanne Werner-McCullough RN, MS, MNP

Overview

Awarded second place in the 2017 AJN Book of the Year Award in the Medical-Surgical Nursing category Master math concepts. Ensure patient safety. Conquer your fears and understand the most common math concepts used in nursing practice today. Step-by-step guidance shows you how to accurately calculate drug dosages using all four methods. Build your confidence with thousands of review questions in the text and interactive exercises online at DavisPlus. “The text Calculating Drug Doses is very helpful in teaching dimensional analysis. I was able to help 4th semester students with their clinical drug test achieve 100% with the examples in the book! I would recommend this text for beginning and advanced RN students.” – Pamela Vogel, RN MSN WHNP, Fresno City College

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780803624962
Publisher:	F.A. Davis Company
Publication date:	09/27/2016
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	576
Product dimensions:	8.40(w) x 11.00(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Professor Emeritus, Contra Costa College Nursing Program, San Pablo, CA

Professor Emeritus, Contra Costa College Nursing Program, San Pablo, CA

Table of Contents

I. Safety in Medication Administration 1. Safety in Medication Administration 2. The Drug Label II. Systems of Measurement 3. The Metric System 4. The Household System III. Methods of Calculation 5. Linear Ratio and Proportion 6. Fractional Ratio and Proportion 7. Dimensional Analysis 8. The Formula Method IV. Administration of Medications 9. Calculating Oral Medication Doses 10. Syringes and Needles 11. Calculating Parenteral Medication Doses 12. Preparing Powdered Parenteral Medications 13. Administration of Insulin V. IV Therapy and Administration of Intravenous Medications 14. Intravenous Infusions and Infusion Rates 15. Calculating Infusion and Completion Time 16. Administering Direct IV Medications VI. Verifying Safe Dose and Critical Care Calculations 17. Verifying Safe Dose 18. Titration of Intravenous Medications VII. Intake and Output 19. Calculating Intake and Output 20. Parenteral Intake VIII. Dosages for Pediatric and Elderly Populations 21. Considerations for the Pediatric Population 22. Considerations for the Older Adult Population Appendix: Answer Key Credits & References Index Body Surface Area Nomograms

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Carol E Agana, MNSc, RNP, APRN (University of Arkansas)
Description: This second edition presents comprehensive information for learners of medical math. It includes four methods of calculation and demonstrates a step-by-step approach on how to solve practice problems, calculate dosages of various forms of drugs, and read drug labels. It also has an additional chapter showing differences in medication administration for the pediatric patient and the older adult patient. The accompanying website presents useful basic math tutorials, online exercises, practice problems, calculation tools, and resources for safe dosing.
Purpose: The purpose of this book is primarily to teach nursing students; however, the title includes "nurses." Nurses already in practice often come across medication calculation problems they need help with so this book can also serve as a resource. An objective in the preface includes reducing medication errors and prompting patient safety. The book hopes to develop competency in dosage calculations. The objectives are worthy and, in this second edition, additional activities are added. Is the book needed? Well, not necessarily. The print version of this book is ideal because of the practice problems. Calculations and answers can be made directly in the book and saved for future reference. The accompanying website helps to meet the objectives.
Audience: The title of the book says it is for nursing professionals; however, the preface says it is directed at nursing students. I think both groups can benefit from learning, practice, and using the book as a resource. The book certainly does meet the needs of the intended audience. The authors are credible: both are professors emeriti at the same California nursing program.
Features: The title of the book is very clear, stating first that it is about calculating drug dosages. Even though this book is for nurses, I think anyone who needs to calculate medication dosages could use it, i.e., physicians, physician assistants, PharmDs, etc. The subtitle explains one of the objectives of "providing a patient-safe approach to nursing and math." So, not only is the title clear in identifying the intended audience, but it also says what is inside the book. It is an excellent and very comprehensive book.
Assessment: This is a very good book that outshines Calculate with Confidence, 7th edition, Morris (Elsevier, 2018). This book is much more comprehensive and has better online resources. I would certainly recommend this book to nursing students.

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