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NRSG 3421, ADULT HEALTH 2 – SPRING 2020
OPTIONAL MEDICATION CALCULATION EXAM – STUDY GUIDE
A grade of 90% must be achieved in order to pass the Med Calc Test for NRSG 3421.
Students must pass this test before administering medications in the clinical area. You will
have two opportunities to take the exam but the initial grade is what will be counted in
your grade average. The Med Calc Exam is Friday January 10 at 12:30 pm which will
immediately follow a brief course meeting at 12:00. The retake exam is Friday, January
17 at at 10 am.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE EXAM:
• Read the question carefully and completely before answering the question.
• You may use a calculator but all calculations must be shown in the
space provided if the problem requires calculation.
• Pay special attention to problems that require conversion.
• Remember to round off drip rates to the nearest whole number. (You
cannot administer part of a drop!!)
• You must know how to do conversions and this exam assumes that you
know basic principles of medication administration.
The following areas for review are included in this study guide:
1. Abbreviations
NRSG 3421, ADULT HEALTH 2 – SPRING 2020
OPTIONAL MEDICATION CALCULATION EXAM – STUDY GUIDE
, 2
NRSG 3421, ADULT HEALTH 2 – SPRING 2020
OPTIONAL MEDICATION CALCULATION EXAM – STUDY GUIDE
2. Conversions
3. Dosage calculations
4. Safe practice in medication administration
5. A few noteworthy real Massachusetts cases of medication errors and
consequences. These cases will not be on this exam but there is sadly an important
medication safety lesson in each of these cases. In your opinion, what was the
cause of error in each of these cases?
NRSG 3421, ADULT HEALTH 2 – SPRING 2020
OPTIONAL MEDICATION CALCULATION EXAM – STUDY GUIDE
, 3
NRSG 3421, ADULT HEALTH 2 – SPRING 2020
OPTIONAL MEDICATION CALCULATION EXAM – STUDY GUIDE
MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION
THE 5 RIGHTS OF MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION INCLUDE:
1 RIGHT ROUTE
2 RIGHT DOSE
3 RIGHT DRUG
4 RIGHT PATIENT
5 RIGHT TIME
NOTE: SOME RESOURCES NOW CITE 10 RIGHTS OF MEDICATION
ADMINISTRATION:
1. Right Safety measures
2. Right medication
3. Right time frame
4. Right dose and strength
5. Right route and method
6. Right patient
7. Right of patient to understand all medications
8. Right observations (about patient response to medications)
9. Right interventions and notifications
10. Right documentation
KEY ASPECTS OF MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION
1. Indication /Action
2. Side Effects
NRSG 3421, ADULT HEALTH 2 – SPRING 2020
OPTIONAL MEDICATION CALCULATION EXAM – STUDY GUIDE
, 4
NRSG 3421, ADULT HEALTH 2 – SPRING 2020
OPTIONAL MEDICATION CALCULATION EXAM – STUDY GUIDE
3. Associated Laboratory Tests – What lab results or clinical data are
essential to know prior to administration of specific types of drugs?
4. Contraindications
5. Antidotes
6. Patient Teaching
7. Nursing Interventions
8. Drug Interactions (drug-drug, drug-food, drug-alcohol)
9. Multiple medication administration, timing, scheduling
10. Legal Aspects of Drug Administration
11. Administration Techniques
12. Correct calculations – Use calculators and colleagues to validate
when indicated.
Be aware if co-sign is needed for calculations e.g. IV medication
drips/insulins.
13. Institutional specific medication policies – Always review these at
your clinical site.
14. Monitor and Assessment
a. Is status of patient appropriate to receive medication?
b. What are the effects observed post-administration?
c. What should be the expected response post-administration?
15. When in doubt, about any aspect of the medication administration,
do NOT proceed! and seek assistance.
CONFIRMATION OF IDENTIFICATION:
Safe medication use necessitates the confirmation of identification—
NRSG 3421, ADULT HEALTH 2 – SPRING 2020
OPTIONAL MEDICATION CALCULATION EXAM – STUDY GUIDE
NRSG 3421, ADULT HEALTH 2 – SPRING 2020
OPTIONAL MEDICATION CALCULATION EXAM – STUDY GUIDE
A grade of 90% must be achieved in order to pass the Med Calc Test for NRSG 3421.
Students must pass this test before administering medications in the clinical area. You will
have two opportunities to take the exam but the initial grade is what will be counted in
your grade average. The Med Calc Exam is Friday January 10 at 12:30 pm which will
immediately follow a brief course meeting at 12:00. The retake exam is Friday, January
17 at at 10 am.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE EXAM:
• Read the question carefully and completely before answering the question.
• You may use a calculator but all calculations must be shown in the
space provided if the problem requires calculation.
• Pay special attention to problems that require conversion.
• Remember to round off drip rates to the nearest whole number. (You
cannot administer part of a drop!!)
• You must know how to do conversions and this exam assumes that you
know basic principles of medication administration.
The following areas for review are included in this study guide:
1. Abbreviations
NRSG 3421, ADULT HEALTH 2 – SPRING 2020
OPTIONAL MEDICATION CALCULATION EXAM – STUDY GUIDE
, 2
NRSG 3421, ADULT HEALTH 2 – SPRING 2020
OPTIONAL MEDICATION CALCULATION EXAM – STUDY GUIDE
2. Conversions
3. Dosage calculations
4. Safe practice in medication administration
5. A few noteworthy real Massachusetts cases of medication errors and
consequences. These cases will not be on this exam but there is sadly an important
medication safety lesson in each of these cases. In your opinion, what was the
cause of error in each of these cases?
NRSG 3421, ADULT HEALTH 2 – SPRING 2020
OPTIONAL MEDICATION CALCULATION EXAM – STUDY GUIDE
, 3
NRSG 3421, ADULT HEALTH 2 – SPRING 2020
OPTIONAL MEDICATION CALCULATION EXAM – STUDY GUIDE
MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION
THE 5 RIGHTS OF MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION INCLUDE:
1 RIGHT ROUTE
2 RIGHT DOSE
3 RIGHT DRUG
4 RIGHT PATIENT
5 RIGHT TIME
NOTE: SOME RESOURCES NOW CITE 10 RIGHTS OF MEDICATION
ADMINISTRATION:
1. Right Safety measures
2. Right medication
3. Right time frame
4. Right dose and strength
5. Right route and method
6. Right patient
7. Right of patient to understand all medications
8. Right observations (about patient response to medications)
9. Right interventions and notifications
10. Right documentation
KEY ASPECTS OF MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION
1. Indication /Action
2. Side Effects
NRSG 3421, ADULT HEALTH 2 – SPRING 2020
OPTIONAL MEDICATION CALCULATION EXAM – STUDY GUIDE
, 4
NRSG 3421, ADULT HEALTH 2 – SPRING 2020
OPTIONAL MEDICATION CALCULATION EXAM – STUDY GUIDE
3. Associated Laboratory Tests – What lab results or clinical data are
essential to know prior to administration of specific types of drugs?
4. Contraindications
5. Antidotes
6. Patient Teaching
7. Nursing Interventions
8. Drug Interactions (drug-drug, drug-food, drug-alcohol)
9. Multiple medication administration, timing, scheduling
10. Legal Aspects of Drug Administration
11. Administration Techniques
12. Correct calculations – Use calculators and colleagues to validate
when indicated.
Be aware if co-sign is needed for calculations e.g. IV medication
drips/insulins.
13. Institutional specific medication policies – Always review these at
your clinical site.
14. Monitor and Assessment
a. Is status of patient appropriate to receive medication?
b. What are the effects observed post-administration?
c. What should be the expected response post-administration?
15. When in doubt, about any aspect of the medication administration,
do NOT proceed! and seek assistance.
CONFIRMATION OF IDENTIFICATION:
Safe medication use necessitates the confirmation of identification—
NRSG 3421, ADULT HEALTH 2 – SPRING 2020
OPTIONAL MEDICATION CALCULATION EXAM – STUDY GUIDE
