University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing
Helene Fuld Pavilion for Innovative Learning
NURS 165 –Medication Administration
Dosages and Calculations
***Please Note that this assignment does not include anything that needs to be submitted
to your instructor, this is a self-learning module.
A comprehensive approach to education about dosage calculations is an important component of
all clinical experiences in nursing. This module will provide the foundation for content covered
in the Helene Fuld Pavilion for Innovative Learning relating to calculations of drugs and solutions
and the administration of medications
PROCEDURE:
1. Required textbook
Gray- Morris, D. (2018). Calculate with Confidence, 7th edition. St. Louis, MO: Mosby.
• All content areas within the suggested text by Gray-Morris will be reflected within the
Dosage and Calculation exam, except:
1. Chapter 20: Insulin
2. Chapter 21: Intravenous Solutions and Equipment
3. Chapter 22: Intravenous Calculations
4. Chapter 23: Heparin Calculations
5. Chapter 24: Critical Care Calculations
6. Chapter 25: Pediatric and Adult Dosage Calculation Based on Weights
2. National Standards Associated with the Administration of Medications
You are expected to know commonly used abbreviations along with 2020 Joint Commission
National Patient Safety Goals (NPSG’s) that specifically address the “Do not use list” and topics
related to medication administration and other patient safety issues. These elements will be
evident throughout the nursing program and clinical practice arenas. Please visit the internet site
for the information. In addition, when you begin clinical fieldwork experiences during the spring
2018 term, please visit the intranet site at your hosting institution for more specific details
related to these National Patient Safety Goals. Joint Commission Site:
www.jointcommission.org/
2021 National Patient Safety Goals:
https://www.jointcommission.org/standards_information/npsgs.aspx
Joint Commission Official “Do Not Use” Abbreviation List:
11/2020 ALG
, https://www.jointcommission.org/facts_about_do_not_use_list/
Note: A trailing zero may be used only when required to demonstrate the level of precision
of the value being reported, such as for laboratory results, imaging studies that report the
size of lesions, or catheter/tube sizes. It may NOT be used in medication orders or other
medication-related documentation.
3. Evaluation
GOAL = SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION = SCORE OF 100%
• Dosage & calculation exam will be held during your regularly scheduled lab times on
January 28th-January 28th
• All absences from examinations must be for a valid reason (religious holiday, illness,
personal or family emergency, death in family or other unforeseen event) and must be
reported to Ashly Gartenberg by email at least 12 hours before the scheduled exam time.
It is not acceptable to simply "no show" for an exam and doing so will result in a grade
of zero on the exam.
• Failure to take this exam will translate into a failure (grade = 0) for this exam
4. Complete Process
If you achieve 100% on this first medication calculation exam, you have successfully fulfilled
this requirement. Your score will be posted on the N165 Canvas site.
A. If you have not achieved a grade of 100% on this first attempt then:
• You will attend a brief exam review and retest the week of February 2nd.
• Sign up will occur through Canvas and once you have selected a date and time you are
responsible for showing up on that date AND on time. If you do not, it will result in a 0
for exam 2.
• The final score will be the average of the two exams. You must complete this second
exam in order to fulfill the requirements for the Dosage and Calculation module.
B. If you achieve a grade of 100% on the second attempt, then you have met the
requirement. Additional testing is not indicated.
C. A grade below 80% on the 2nd exam will require meeting one-on-one with course faculty.
5. Guidelines to Remember
• You should bring a BASIC calculator such as the one you will need for clinical
experiences. Please do not bring a calculator with advanced functions and the use of
cell phone calculators is not permitted.
11/2020 ALG
Helene Fuld Pavilion for Innovative Learning
NURS 165 –Medication Administration
Dosages and Calculations
***Please Note that this assignment does not include anything that needs to be submitted
to your instructor, this is a self-learning module.
A comprehensive approach to education about dosage calculations is an important component of
all clinical experiences in nursing. This module will provide the foundation for content covered
in the Helene Fuld Pavilion for Innovative Learning relating to calculations of drugs and solutions
and the administration of medications
PROCEDURE:
1. Required textbook
Gray- Morris, D. (2018). Calculate with Confidence, 7th edition. St. Louis, MO: Mosby.
• All content areas within the suggested text by Gray-Morris will be reflected within the
Dosage and Calculation exam, except:
1. Chapter 20: Insulin
2. Chapter 21: Intravenous Solutions and Equipment
3. Chapter 22: Intravenous Calculations
4. Chapter 23: Heparin Calculations
5. Chapter 24: Critical Care Calculations
6. Chapter 25: Pediatric and Adult Dosage Calculation Based on Weights
2. National Standards Associated with the Administration of Medications
You are expected to know commonly used abbreviations along with 2020 Joint Commission
National Patient Safety Goals (NPSG’s) that specifically address the “Do not use list” and topics
related to medication administration and other patient safety issues. These elements will be
evident throughout the nursing program and clinical practice arenas. Please visit the internet site
for the information. In addition, when you begin clinical fieldwork experiences during the spring
2018 term, please visit the intranet site at your hosting institution for more specific details
related to these National Patient Safety Goals. Joint Commission Site:
www.jointcommission.org/
2021 National Patient Safety Goals:
https://www.jointcommission.org/standards_information/npsgs.aspx
Joint Commission Official “Do Not Use” Abbreviation List:
11/2020 ALG
, https://www.jointcommission.org/facts_about_do_not_use_list/
Note: A trailing zero may be used only when required to demonstrate the level of precision
of the value being reported, such as for laboratory results, imaging studies that report the
size of lesions, or catheter/tube sizes. It may NOT be used in medication orders or other
medication-related documentation.
3. Evaluation
GOAL = SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION = SCORE OF 100%
• Dosage & calculation exam will be held during your regularly scheduled lab times on
January 28th-January 28th
• All absences from examinations must be for a valid reason (religious holiday, illness,
personal or family emergency, death in family or other unforeseen event) and must be
reported to Ashly Gartenberg by email at least 12 hours before the scheduled exam time.
It is not acceptable to simply "no show" for an exam and doing so will result in a grade
of zero on the exam.
• Failure to take this exam will translate into a failure (grade = 0) for this exam
4. Complete Process
If you achieve 100% on this first medication calculation exam, you have successfully fulfilled
this requirement. Your score will be posted on the N165 Canvas site.
A. If you have not achieved a grade of 100% on this first attempt then:
• You will attend a brief exam review and retest the week of February 2nd.
• Sign up will occur through Canvas and once you have selected a date and time you are
responsible for showing up on that date AND on time. If you do not, it will result in a 0
for exam 2.
• The final score will be the average of the two exams. You must complete this second
exam in order to fulfill the requirements for the Dosage and Calculation module.
B. If you achieve a grade of 100% on the second attempt, then you have met the
requirement. Additional testing is not indicated.
C. A grade below 80% on the 2nd exam will require meeting one-on-one with course faculty.
5. Guidelines to Remember
• You should bring a BASIC calculator such as the one you will need for clinical
experiences. Please do not bring a calculator with advanced functions and the use of
cell phone calculators is not permitted.
11/2020 ALG
