Med-Math

From The Critics

Reviewer: Laurel A. Eisenhauer, RN, PhD, FAAN(Boston College School of Nursing)
Description: This is the second edition of a text-workbook on the basics of drug dosage calculation and drug administration. The first edition was published in 1991.
Purpose: The purpose is to teach students in all types of nursing programs the essentials of dosage calculation. It provides additional content beyond the traditional drugs and solutions book: content on basic pharmacology and principles and procedures for drug administration.
Audience: Its main audience is nursing students. However, it is also useful for nurses wishing a review and nurses returning to practice.
Features: This book is convenient in size for its text-workbook format. Copies of actual labels from a variety of drugs are used in the dosage sections, thus providing realistic practice. Valuable content includes review of basic mathematics for those students needing this, information on IV infusion pumps, and integration of principles of CDC Universal Precautions into the chapter on administration of medications. Other practical aspects are examples of computer printouts and use of military time. The chapter on pediatric dosages is updated to reflect the current emphasis on dosage calculation by weight (kg).
Assessment: This book would be useful for students in an introductory nursing course; it provides essential information about various types of dosage calculations and then provides many exercises for practice (answers are provided). The approach to problem solution used is that of the Want/Have formula and variations. Ratio and proportion as a mathematical calculation approach is not included. Particularly useful aspects are the use of actual drug labels, content on calculations related to infusions and infusion pumps. Depending on the curricular structure and level of program, this book could be used as an independent workbook by students or used in conjunction with a fundamentals text or pharmacology text.

Laurel A. Eisenhauer

This is the second edition of a text-workbook on the basics of drug dosage calculation and drug administration. The first edition was published in 1991. The purpose is to teach students in all types of nursing programs the essentials of dosage calculation. It provides additional content beyond the traditional drugs and solutions book: content on basic pharmacology and principles and procedures for drug administration. Its main audience is nursing students. However, it is also useful for nurses wishing a review and nurses returning to practice. This book is convenient in size for its text-workbook format. Copies of actual labels from a variety of drugs are used in the dosage sections, thus providing realistic practice. Valuable content includes review of basic mathematics for those students needing this, information on IV infusion pumps, and integration of principles of CDC Universal Precautions into the chapter on administration of medications. Other practical aspects are examples of computer printouts and use of military time. The chapter on pediatric dosages is updated to reflect the current emphasis on dosage calculation by weight (kg). This book would be useful for students in an introductory nursing course; it provides essential information about various types of dosage calculations and then provides many exercises for practice (answers are provided). The approach to problem solution used is that of the Want/Have formula and variations. Ratio and proportion as a mathematical calculation approach is not included. Particularly useful aspects are the use of actual drug labels, content on calculations related to infusions and infusion pumps. Depending on the curricularstructure and level of program, this book could be used as an independent workbook by students or used in conjunction with a fundamentals text or pharmacology text.

3 Stars from Doody