ECPI University College of Nursing
Course Description
This course reviews the fundamental mathematical concepts used in drug dosage calculations. This course prepares the entry level practical nurse with a realistic approach for preparing dosages and solutions, including calculating intravenous flow rates and pediatric dosages. Topics include Roman numerals, fractions, decimals, percents, ratio and proportions, word problems, metrics, household and apothecary systems of measurement, equivalents, abbreviations, conversions, oral meds, parenteral meds, intravenous rates, and pediatric dosage calculations. This is a calculations class, not a foundational math course. Upon successful course completion, students will be able to apply basic mathematical concepts to calculate accurate dosage calculations.
 
Course Information
Course Name NUR107 Dosage Calculations
Course Credit Hours 1
Lecture Hours 30
Lab Hours 0
Weekly Preparation Time Outside Class 12
Course Prerequisite None
Required Textbook:
Title: Dosage Calculations by Pickar
Edition: 9th Ed., 2013
Author: Pickar, G. & Abernathy, A.
Publisher: Cengage Learning
isbn: 9781439058473
Cost: 0.00


*Substitutions in text may occur due to teaching out of previous editions and campus retexting programs.
Additional Preparation
In order to facilitate successful completion of this course, expect to average 12 hours of additional preparation per week for study, homework, reading assignments, and assigned activities.
Program Outcomes Addressed
  1. Function within the role of the practical nurse in the delivery of care to clients and families. (I)
  2. Use critical thinking to safely perform requisite cognitive, psychomotor and affective nursing skills. (I)
[I = Introduced R = Reinforced M = Mastered A = Assessed]
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to
  1. Demonstrate skills of basic mathematical calculations including addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. (Program Outcome 1)
  2. Demonstrate a working knowledge of fractions, decimals, ratios, percents, and basic problem solving. (Program Outcome 3)
  3. Demonstrate knowledge of measurements in the household system, the metric system and the apothecary system. (Program Outcome 3)
  4. Demonstrate successful completion of common conversions. (Program Outcome 3)
  5. Accurately calculate dosages. (Program Outcome 1, 3)
Delivery Method
This course is delivered in the following formats:
  • Inseat
University Grading System
Numerical Grade Letter Grade Quality Points
93 – 100 A 4
90 – 92 A- 3.7
87 – 89 B+ 3.3
83 – 86 B 3.0
80 – 82 B- (see note 1) 2.7 (Passing for graduate students and nursing students)
77 – 79 C+ 2.3
73 – 76 C (see note 2) 2.0
70 – 72 C- 1.7
65 – 69 D 1.0
64 and below F 0
Notes:
  1. A score of 80 is passing for graduate students, Practical Nursing, core courses and COR101 in Associate Degree Nursing, and medical BIO courses including BIO105/ BIO105L Microbiology, BIO111/111L Anatomy & Physiology I with Medical Terminology, BIO116/116L Anatomy & Physiology II with Medical Terminology. Grades earned below the minimum of 80 in all of the above courses will be awarded an F.
  2. A minimum of 73 is required for courses with the following prefixes: DEN (Dental Assisting), DMS (Diagnostic Medical Sonography), EMS (Emergency Medical) ,HIM (Health Information Management), HCA and LTC (Healthcare Administration), RAD (Medical Radiography), PTA (Physical Therapist Assistant), and SUR (Surgical Technology) programs. NUR courses in the BSN program require a minimum grade of 73. A minimum of 73 is required for the following courses: Medical Assisting courses: MED159, MED158, MED229, MED232, MED239 and Massage Therapy courses: MTP107, MTP110, MTP114, MTP115. Grades earned below the minimum of 73 in all of the above courses will be awarded an F.
Grade Evaluation: Final grades evaluations are determined by a weighted average of course work.

Your grade will be calculated as follows:
 
Residential Grading Scale Category Percentage
Unit Tests70%
Quizzes/Homework10%
Final Exam20%
Total 100%
 
Grade required to pass this course: 80
Online and Hybrid Courses
Note: The online campus does not currently grade on participation/attendance specifically. Participation is included directly in a discussion forum grade and indirectly in collaborative learning activities.
Course Outline

Unit I Mathematics Review

  1. Fractions and Decimals
  2. Ratios, Percents, Simple Equations, and Ratio-Proportion
  3. Self-Evaluation

Unit II Measurement Systems, Drug Orders, and Drug Labels

  1. Systems of Measurement
  2. Conversions: Metric, Apothecary, and Household Systems
  3. Conversions for other Clinical Applications: Time and Temperature
  4. Self-Evaluation

Unit III Drug Dosage Calculations

  1. Oral Dosage of Drugs
  2. Parenteral Dosage of Drugs
  3. Using Ratio-Proportion to Calculate Dosages
  4. Self-Evaluation

Unit IV Advanced Calculations

  1. Pediatric and Adult Dosages Based on Body Weight
  2. Intravenous Rate Calculations
  3. Self-Evaluation
Methodology (for health sciences only)
    Lecture/discussion, Textbook assignments, Computer assignments using text related software, Worksheets, Group assignments








Created: | Revised: May 05, 2016 12:36 PM