Medical Dosage Calculations: A Dimensional Analysis Approach, 11th edition

Published by Pearson (December 30, 2014) © 2016

  • June L. Olsen College of Staten Island
  • Anthony Giangrasso La Guardia Community College
  • Dolores Shrimpton

MyLab

from$149.99

  • Reach every student with personalized support
  • Customize courses with ease
  • Optimize learning with dynamic study tools

eTextbook

$43.96

  • Anytime, anywhere learning with the Pearson+ app
  • Easy-to-use search, navigation and notebook
  • Simpler studying with flashcards

For courses in medical dosage calculation.

The field's most complete, accessible drug calculation text and workbook

Medical Dosage Calculations: A Dimensional Analysis Approach helps students develop dosage calculation skills so they can safely administer medication in a clinical environment. Using their pioneering dimensional analysis method, the authors progress from simple math topics to more complex ones. As students go, they build the core math skills needed to calculate drug doses accurately.

The 11th Edition has been fully revised for current practices and medication. It includes more than 1,000 problems to solve.

Hallmark features of this title

Easy-to-learn dimensional analysis method

  • Worked-out questions with solutions in each chapter demonstrate fundamental applications.
  • Diagnostic arithmetic test (Ch. 1) reviews basic math concepts and identifies areas for review.

More than 1,000 problems with answers

  • Practice exercises, cumulative review exercises and self-tests gauge students' mastery of the material.
  • Clinical case scenarios let students apply concepts and techniques presented in the text.

A focus on the drugs students will work with

  • Actual drug doses in all problems, plus drug labels and equipment, help students become familiar with the safe dosages of various drugs.
  • Real drug labels and realistic syringes familiarize students with the equipment they'll encounter in actual clinical settings.

New and updated features of this title

Ample opportunity to apply concepts

  • NEW: Keystroke Sequences (Ch. 1) let learners check their calculations.
  • NEW: New exercise questions and illustrative examples throughout give students more opportunities to problem solve and dig deeper on concepts.
  • NEW: New Dosage Calculation Online Application provides diagnostic testing and student remediation with hundreds of additional practice questions.

Updates to key medical data

  • UPDATED: Drug labels and examples for both trade and generic drug names have been updated.
  • EXPANDED: Coverage of titration tables and IV push has been expanded upon.
  • UPDATED: The latest information on calculations for insulin and heparin administration appears in this update.

Table of Contents

Unit 1: Basic Calculation Skills and Introduction to Medication Administration

  1. Review of Arithmetic for Dosage Calculations
    • Diagnostic Test of Arithmetic
    • Changing Decimal Numbers and Whole Numbers to Fractions
    • Calculator
    • Ratios
    • Changing Fractions to Decimal Numbers
    • Rounding Decimal Numbers
    • Rounding Off
    • Rounding Down and Rounding Up
    • Adding Decimal Numbers
    • Subtracting Decimal Numbers
    • Multiplying Decimal Numbers
    • Dividing Decimal Numbers
    • Estimating Answers
    • Multiplying Fractions
    • Dividing Fractions
    • Complex Fractions
    • Addition and Subtraction of Fractions
    • Same Denominators
    • Different Denominators
    • Percentages
    • Percent of Change
    • Summary
    • Practice Sets
  2. Safe and Accurate Medication Administration
    • The Medication Administration Process
    • Preventing Medication Errors
    • Six Rights of Medication Administration
    • The Right Drug
    • The Right Dose
    • The Right Route and Form
    • The Right Time
    • The Right Patient
    • The Right Documentation
    • Drug Prescriptions
    • Medication Orders
    • Types of Medication Orders
    • Components of a Medication Order
    • Medication Administration Records
    • Technology in the Medication Administration Process
    • Drug Labels
    • Combination Drugs
    • Controlled Substances
    • Drug Information
    • Prescription Drug Package Inserts
    • Over-the-Counter (OTC) Labels
    • Summary
    • Practice Sets
  3. Dimensional Analysis
    • Introduction to Dimensional Analysis
    • The Mathematical Foundation for Dimensional Analysis
    • Changing a Single Unit of Measurement to Another Single Unit of Measurement
    • Simple (One-Step) Problems with Single Units of Measurement
    • Complex (Multi-Step) Problems with Single Units of Measurement
    • Changing One Rate to Another Rate
    • Simple (One-Step) Problems with Rates
    • Complex (Multi-Step) Problems with Rates
    • Summary
    • Practice Sets

Unit 2: Systems of Measurement

  1. The Household and Metric Systems
    • The Household System
    • Liquid Volume in the Household System
    • Weight in the Household System
    • Length in the Household System
    • Decimal-Based Systems
    • The Metric System
    • Liquid Volume in the Metric System
    • Weight in the Metric System
    • Length in the Metric System
    • Summary
    • Practice Sets
  2. Converting from One System of Measurement to Another
    • Equivalents of Common Units of Measurement
    • Metric-Household Conversions
    • Volume Conversions
    • Weight Conversions
    • Length Conversions
    • Summary
    • Practice Sets

Unit 3: Oral and Parenteral Medications

  1. Oral Medications
    • Simple (One-Step) Problems
    • Medication in Solid Form
    • Medication in Liquid Form
    • Medications Measured in Milliequivalents
    • Complex (Multi-Step) Problems
    • Dosages Based on the Size of the Patient
    • Dosages Based on Body Weight
    • Dosages Based on Body Surface Area (BSA)
    • BSA Formulas
    • Summary
    • Case Study 6.1
    • Practice Reading Labels
    • Practice Sets
  2. Syringes
    • Parts of a Syringe
    • Needles
    • Commonly Used Sizes of Hypodermic Syringes
    • Insulin
    • Insulin Syringes
    • Types of Insulin
    • Insulin Pens
    • Insulin Pumps
    • Measuring Two Types of Insulin in One Syringe
    • Premixed Insulin
    • Insulin Coverage/Sliding-Scale Calculations
    • Prefilled Syringes
    • Safety Syringes
    • Needleless Syringes
    • Dosing Errors with Syringes
    • Summary
    • Case Study 7.1
    • Practice Sets
  3. Solutions
    • Introduction
    • Strengths of Solutions Using Explicit Units of Measurement
    • Strengths of Solutions as Ratios, Fractions, and Percents
    • Liquid Solutes
    • Dry Solutes
    • Determining the Amount of Solute in a Given Amount of Solution
    • Determining the Amount of Solution that Contains a Given Amount of Solute
    • Irrigating Solutions, Soaks, and Oral Feedings
    • Summary
    • Case Study 8.1
    • Practice Sets
  4. Parenteral Medications
    • Parenteral Medications
    • Parenteral Medications Supplied as Liquids
    • Parenteral Medications Supplied in Powdered Form
    • How to Use a Mix-O-Vial
    • Heparin
    • Summary
    • Case Study 9.1
    • Practice Sets

Unit 4: Infusions and Pediatric Dosages

  1. Flow Rates and Durations of Enteral and Intravenous Infusions
    • Introduction to Enteral and Intravenous Solutions
    • Enteral Feedings
    • Intravenous Infusions
    • Intravenous Solutions
    • Gravity Systems and Pumps
    • Calculations for Infusions
    • Finding the Flow Rate on a Pump
    • Finding the Volume Infused Using a Pump
    • Finding the Duration of an Infusion Using a Pump
    • Finding the Flow Rate (Drip Rate) Using a Gravity System
    • Finding the Volume Infused Using a Gravity System
    • Finding the Duration of an IV Using a Gravity System
    • Adjusting the Flow Rate of an IV
    • Fluid Balance: Intake/Output
    • Summary
    • Case Study 10.1
    • Practice Sets
  2. Flow Rates and Dosage Rates for Intravenous Medications
    • Intravenous Administration of Medications
    • Intravenous Piggyback Infusions
    • Finding the Dosage Rate
    • Converting IV Dosage Rates to Flow Rates
    • Converting IV Flow Rates to Dosage Rates
    • Safe Dose Range
    • Determining Infused Volume and Duration of Infusion
    • IV Push
    • Compound Rates
    • Adding Medication to an IVPB Bag
    • Titrated Medications
    • Summary
    • Case Study 11.1
    • Practice Sets
  3. Pediatric Dosages
    • Pediatric Drug Dosages
    • Oral Medications
    • Parenteral Medications
    • Dosages Based on Body Size
    • Dosages Based on Body Weight
    • Dosages Based on BSA
    • Determining Safe Dosage Range
    • Intravenous Medications
    • Using a Volume-Control Chamber
    • Calculating Daily Fluid Maintenance
    • Summary
    • Case Study 12.1
    • Practice Sets
    • Comprehensive Self-Tests

Appendices

  1. Answer Section
  2. FDA and ISMP Lists of Look-Alike Drug Names with Recommended Tall Man Letters
  3. Commonly Used Abbreviations
  4. Units of Measurement in Metric and Household Systems
  5. Celsius and Fahrenheit Temperature Conversions
  6. Diluting Stock Solutions
  7. Apothecary System

About our authors

June Looby Olsen began her nursing career in Burlington, Vermont, at Bishop De Goesbriand Memorial Hospital, where she graduated from its nursing program. She obtained her BS and MS degrees in nursing from St. John's University, New York. She was a staff nurse, as well as a nurse supervisor, and became head nurse at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Brooklyn, New York.

Her teaching career began at Staten Island Community College, and she retired as full professor emeritus from the College of Staten Island of the City University of New York. In addition to this textbook, Professor Olsen has written Fundamentals of Nursing Review and Dosage Calculation, both published by Springhouse. She was a recipient of the Mu Epsilon Leadership in Nursing award.

Anthony Giangrasso was born and raised in Maspeth, New York. He attended Rice High School on a scholarship and in his senior year was named in an annual citywide contest by the New York Journal-American newspaper as New York City's most outstanding high school scholar-athlete. He was also awarded a full-tuition scholarship to Iona College, from which he obtained a BA in mathematics, magna cum laude, with a ranking of sixth in his graduating class.

Anthony began his teaching career as a 5th grade teacher in Manhattan, as a member of the Christian Brothers of Ireland, and taught high school mathematics and physics in Harlem and Newark, New Jersey. He holds an MS and PhD from New York University and has taught at all levels from elementary school through graduate school. He is currently teaching at Adelphi University and LaGuardia Community College, where he was chairman of the mathematics department. He has authored nine college textbooks through 25 editions.

Anthony's community service has included membership on the boards of directors of the Polish-American Museum Foundation, Catholic Adoptive Parents Association, and Family Focus Adoptive Services. He was the president of the Italian-American Faculty Association of the City University of New York and the founding chairman of the board of the Italian-American Legal Defense and Higher Education Fund, Inc. He and his wife, Susan, are proud parents of three children-Anthony, Michael and Jennifer, and grandparents of Calvin and Jackson. Anthony enjoys tennis and twice has been ranked #1 for his age group in the Eastern Section by the United States Tennis Association.

Dolores M. Shrimpton is Professor Emerita of Nursing at Kingsborough Community College (CUNY), where she was Chair of the department for 13 years. She received a diploma in nursing from Kings Country Hospital Center School of Nursing, a BS from C.W. Post College, an MA in nursing administration from New York University, and a post-master's certificate in nursing education from Adelphi University. She is a member of the Upsilon and Mu Upilson s of Sigma Theta Tau. She has taught a wide variety of courses in practical nursing, diploma, and associate degree nursing programs. She has authored three college nursing books through seven editions.

Dolores has held many leadership positions in nursing, including Board Member, Vice-President, and President of the NYS Associate Degree Nursing Council. She was the Co-Chair of the CUNY Nursing Discipline Council, and Member of the Board of Directors and Co-President of the Brooklyn Nursing Partnership. She has served on a number of Advisory Boards of LPN, associate degree, and baccalaureate degree nursing programs. She is a recipient of the Presidential Award in Nursing Leadership from the Nurses Association of Long Island (NACLI) as well as of the Mu Upsilon award for Excellence in Nursing Education and Excellence in Nursing Leadership. The Brooklyn Nursing Partnership has also recognized her for her commitment to nursing.

Dolores lives in Brooklyn, New York, and enjoys cooking and spending time with her grandchildren, Brooke Elizabeth, Paige Dolores, Jack Paul, and their parents, Kim and Shawn. She also enjoys traveling and spending time with friends and family in Harwich Port, Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

Need help? Get in touch

MyLab

Customize your course to teach your way. MyLab® is a flexible platform merging world-class content with dynamic study tools. It takes a personalized approach designed to ignite each student's unique potential. And, with the freedom it affords to adapt your pedagogy, you can reinforce select concepts and guide students to real results.

Pearson+

All in one place. Pearson+ offers instant access to eTextbooks, videos and study tools in one intuitive interface. Students choose how they learn best with enhanced search, audio and flashcards. The Pearson+ app lets them read where life takes them, no wi-fi needed. Students can access Pearson+ through a subscription or their MyLab or Mastering course.

Video
Play
Privacy and cookies
By watching, you agree Pearson can share your viewership data for marketing and analytics for one year, revocable by deleting your cookies.

Empower your students, in class and beyond

Meet students where they are with MyLab®, and capture their attention in every lecture, activity, and assignment using immersive content, customized tools, and interactive learning experiences in your discipline.