The Basics - Dose Calculations

First , this is our one and only formula. All the examples that follow are based on this one formula plus the rules about using the factor-label method that were discussed.

 

 

 

What to administer = What we want to know!

We're always going to start with what we want to know. And the minimum information we need to know is what was Ordered, The Available dose, and the Available form. This is all the math we need to work through most any dosage calculation, or rate calculation for that matter.

The other thing we need is a way to make sure we are thinking the problem all the way through. That's were dimensional analysis or the factor-label method comes in. It really has only one rule (see, not too much to remember) : labels attached to numbers must be manipulated in the same way as the numbers. They count the same as numbers and you use the same rules as with numbers to do something with them. When you have the same unit and only that unit on both sides of the equal sign,  you will have correctly solved the problem.  Assuming no arithmetic errors of course J.

 

©1997-2006 Dale Sampson, RN