Numeracy in Nursing and Healthcare

Chapters Chapter 1 Basic Arithmetic Skills The things you don't want to ask about but need to know. Addition, subtraction, multiplication and division from the beginning to give you confidence for tackling the chapters involving drug calculations. Chapter 2 Decimals and Other Fractions How to deal with the bits and pieces. Using the skills from chapter 1 to calculate vulgar and decimal fractions in preparation for calculating small drug doses. Chapter 3 SI Units How's your French? You only need one phrase Systeme International d'Unites'. Learn about units that are used to record patients' height, weight, temperature and fluid balance as well as measurements used for drug therapy. Chapter 4 Drug calculations Pills, potions and pinpricks. Calculating all types of drug treatments tablets, medicines and injections Chapter 5 Drug concentrations The jokers in the pack. Calculating drugs that are not measured in SI units. Chapter 6 Per cent, percentage and ratios Hundreds and thousands and much more. Find out how much 20% off really means and learn to calculate the amount of drug is in a percentage solution. Chapter 7 Intravenous fluid and drug administration Drips, drops and devices Intravenous fluids need to be given over a prescribed period of time. This chapter shows you how to do the calculations using different types of fluid administration devices. Chapter 8 Common Clinical Measurements Charting, charting and more charting. Taking and recording patients' vital signs forms an important part in monitoring their progress to recovery. This chapter shows you how to record this information accurately. Chapter 9 Physiological Measurements Blood, but no sweat and tears. Get to know what is normal and recognise the abnormal. Monitor patients' nutritional status and be aware of the energy value of food. Chapter 10 Statistics and reading research articles No ostriches here please. A gentle introduction to some of the terms used in journal articles and knowing what to look for when reading articles in preparation for assignments and completing portfolios. Appendices I Roman numerals and their Arabic equivalent II Multiples and divisions of SI units III Important elements in the body. Isotopes and Avogadro's constant. IV Physiological reference values for adults V Abbreviations used in prescribing VI An example of a medicine chart VII Peak flow measurements VIII Body Mass Index and Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) IX Nomogram for calculating body surface area X Weight conversion chart XI Summary of methods for drug calculations