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Medication Calculations

Learn the three steps of medication calculations - convert between measurement systems, simplify to lowest terms, and calculate dosage quantity. Use the D/A method for clarity and consistency. Practice converting units and calculating oral doses.

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Medication Calculations

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  1. Medication Calculations Introduction to clinical calculations using DA

  2. Calculating dosages Three steps: • 1. Determine whether drug dosage desired (written order) is in the same measurement system as the drug dosage available. If not, convert between two systems. • 2. Simplify by reducing to lowest terms whenever possible. • 3. Calculate dosage quantity to be administered.

  3. Conversion between systems 1. Convert to the unit used on the container or bottle so your answer is in the system of the drug to be dispensed. • E.g. label is mg, order is grains, conversion from grains to mg.

  4. Conversion between systems • Several methods may be used to convert from one system to another • fractions, ratios or proportions or desired over available methods. • Most conversions can be done using proportion or D/A

  5. Calculate dosage quantity to be administered • Three general methods for calculating drug doses: • Basic fraction method • ratio and proportion. • D/A x Q • Select one method and use that consistently. • Focus on D/A x Q

  6. DESIRED over AVAILABLE or HAVE Method combines conversion and computation into one step. Desired units X conversion factor X quantity available Desired (caps, tabs) Have available (caps, tabs) = Q (quantity given)

  7. Desired over available method • Ordered: 10 gr • Available: 300 mg tablets

  8. Desired over available method Step 1 Set up and Convert to same equivalance 10 gr x 60 mg x 1 tab = ? 1 gr 300 mg Step 2 solve 10 x 60 x 1 = 600 = 2 tablets 1 300 300 Give two 300 mg tablets

  9. Steps to convert one unit to another with unit equivalence • Canceling unwanted units • Identify the desired unit dimension or units • Keep desired unit dimension in proper numerator/denominator orientation. • Identify link or unit equivalence • Identify unwanted dimension or units • Cancel unwanted units • Perform arithmetic

  10. Choice of methods • Fraction or ratio/proportion or desired over available • All use same information and same format for solving problems. • All do same thing. • Always use method for drug calculations that makes most sense and is closest conversion to what you want to give.

  11. Calculating oral doses • Capsules, tablets or liquids • Need to calculate proper drug dosage when using open stock or an individual dose • (not in unit dose system) • Use when drug available is • in a smaller dose than that ordered. • In a larger dose than that ordered. • In a different unit of measure than that ordered.

  12. Calculations • Prepare a 0.6 g dose. • Available 500 mg / 5 ml

  13. ASSIGNMENTS • DO WORKSHEETS- Administration of oral medications

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