METHODS OF DOSAGE CALCULATION

Course overview

MEDICATIONS ARE NOT ALWAYS AVAILABLE IN THE STRENGTH OR DOSAGE PRESCRIBED. WHEN THE PRESCRIBED DOSAGE IS NOT AVAILABLE, YOU MUST CALCULATE THE AMOUNT OF MEDICATION TO BE ADMINISTERED BASED ON THE AVAILABLE DOSAGE. THIS COURSE PRESENTS THREE METHODS THAT CAN BE USED TO CALCULATE DOSAGES: THE FORMULA METHOD, RATIO AND PROPORTION METHOD, AND DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS METHOD. THE COURSE PROVIDES NUMEROUS EXAMPLES THAT ILLUSTRATE HOW EACH IS APPLIED. IT IS IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO SELECT ONE OF THESE METHODS AND TO USE IT CONSISTENTLY RATHER THAN SWITCH FROM ONE METHOD TO ANOTHER. THE JOINT COMMISSION AND THE INSTITUTE FOR SAFE MEDICATION PRACTICES (ISMP), HAVE IDENTIFIED MANY TYPES OF MEDICATION ORDERS THAT ARE PRONE TO MISINTERPRETATION AND ARE NOW LISTED ON THE "DO NOT USE LIST" (THE JOINT COMMISSION) AND “ LIST OF ERROR PRONE ABBREVIATIONS, SYMBOLS, AND DOSE DESIGNATIONS.”(49 MINUTES)