Dosage Calculations

Gloria D. Pickar, R.N., Ed.D., is President and Chief Academic Officer of Compass Knowledge Group in Orlando, Florida. She is a former Academic Dean at Seminole State College in Sanford, Florida. She is also the author of nine editions of best-selling DOSAGE CALCULATIONS. Amy Pickar Abernethy, MD, is Associate Professor of Medicine and Nursing at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina.

Part I: MATHEMATICS REVIEW.
1. Fractions and Decimals.
2. Ratios, Percents, Simple Equations, and Ratio-Proportion.
Part I Self-Evaluation. Mathematics Diagnostic Evaluation.
Part II: MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS, DRUG ORDERS, AND DRUG LABELS.
3. Systems of Measurement.
4. Conversions: Metric, Apothecary, and Household Systems.
5. Conversions for Other Clinical Applications: Time and Temperature.
6. Equipment Used in Dosage Measurement.
7. Interpreting Drug Orders.
8. Understanding Drug Labels.
9. Preventing Medication Errors.
Part II Self-Evaluation.
Part III: DRUG DOSAGE CALCULATIONS.
10. Oral Dosage of Drugs.
11. Parenteral Dosage of Drugs.
12. Reconstitution of Solutions.
13. Alternative Dosage Calculation Methods: Ratio-Proportion and Dimensional Analysis.
14. Pediatric and Adult Dosages Based on Body Weight.
Part III Self-Evaluation.
Part IV: ADVANCED CALCULATIONS.
15. Intravenous Solutions, Equipment, and Calculations.
16. Body Surface Area and Advanced Pediatric Calculations.
17. Advanced Adult Intravenous Calculations.
Section IV Self-Evaluation.