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Drug Calculations Reviewer for Nurses
This is your study guide to help you refresh or review what you know about drug dosage
calculations, including tips on answering them.
NCLEX Tips for Dosage Calculation Questions
The fill-in-the-blank question format is usually used for medication calculation, IV flow
rate calculation, or determining the intake-output of a client. In this question format,
you’ll be asked to perform a calculation and type in your answer in the blank space
provided.
Always follow the specific directions as noted on the screen.
The unit of measure you need for your final answer is always given.
There will be an on-screen calculator on the computer for you to use.
Do not put any words, units of measurements, commas, or spaces with your answer, type
only the number. Only the number goes into the box. Rounding an answer should be done
at the end of the calculation or as what the question specified, and if necessary, type in
the decimal point.
Nursing Responsibilities for Medication Administration
10 Rights of Medication Administration. Understanding the 10 Rights of Drug
Administration can help prevent many medication errors. Nurses, who are primarily
involved in the administration of medications, benefit from this simplified memory aid to
help guide them to administer medications safely.
Right Drug. The first right of drug administration is to check and verify if it’s the
right name and form. Beware of look-alike and sound-alike medication names.
Misreading medication names that look similar is a common mistake. These look-
, 2
alike medication names may also sound alike and can lead to errors associated with
verbal prescriptions. Check out The Joint Commission’s list of look-alike/sound-
alike drugs.
Right Patient. Ask the name of the client and check his/her ID band before giving
the medication. Even if you know that patient’s name, you still need to ask just to
verify.
Right Dose. Check the medication sheet and the doctor’s order before medicating. Be
aware of the difference between an adult and a pediatric dose.
Right Route. Check and verify the order (i.e., per orem, IV, SQ, IM)
Right Time and Frequency. Check the order for when it would be given and when
was the last time it was given.
Right Documentation. Make sure to write the time and any remarks on the chart
correctly.
Right History and Assessment. Secure a copy of the client’s history to drug
interactions and allergies.
Right Drug Approach and Right to Refuse. Give the client enough autonomy to
refuse the medication after thoroughly explaining the effects.
Right Drug-Drug Interaction and Evaluation. Review any medications previously
given or the diet of the patient that can yield a bad interaction to the drug to be given.
Check also the expiry date of the medication being given.
Right Education and Information. Provide enough knowledge to the patient of
what drug he/she would be taking and what are the expected therapeutic and side
effects.
Drug Calculations Reviewer for Nurses
This is your study guide to help you refresh or review what you know about drug dosage
calculations, including tips on answering them.
NCLEX Tips for Dosage Calculation Questions
The fill-in-the-blank question format is usually used for medication calculation, IV flow
rate calculation, or determining the intake-output of a client. In this question format,
you’ll be asked to perform a calculation and type in your answer in the blank space
provided.
Always follow the specific directions as noted on the screen.
The unit of measure you need for your final answer is always given.
There will be an on-screen calculator on the computer for you to use.
Do not put any words, units of measurements, commas, or spaces with your answer, type
only the number. Only the number goes into the box. Rounding an answer should be done
at the end of the calculation or as what the question specified, and if necessary, type in
the decimal point.
Nursing Responsibilities for Medication Administration
10 Rights of Medication Administration. Understanding the 10 Rights of Drug
Administration can help prevent many medication errors. Nurses, who are primarily
involved in the administration of medications, benefit from this simplified memory aid to
help guide them to administer medications safely.
Right Drug. The first right of drug administration is to check and verify if it’s the
right name and form. Beware of look-alike and sound-alike medication names.
Misreading medication names that look similar is a common mistake. These look-
, 2
alike medication names may also sound alike and can lead to errors associated with
verbal prescriptions. Check out The Joint Commission’s list of look-alike/sound-
alike drugs.
Right Patient. Ask the name of the client and check his/her ID band before giving
the medication. Even if you know that patient’s name, you still need to ask just to
verify.
Right Dose. Check the medication sheet and the doctor’s order before medicating. Be
aware of the difference between an adult and a pediatric dose.
Right Route. Check and verify the order (i.e., per orem, IV, SQ, IM)
Right Time and Frequency. Check the order for when it would be given and when
was the last time it was given.
Right Documentation. Make sure to write the time and any remarks on the chart
correctly.
Right History and Assessment. Secure a copy of the client’s history to drug
interactions and allergies.
Right Drug Approach and Right to Refuse. Give the client enough autonomy to
refuse the medication after thoroughly explaining the effects.
Right Drug-Drug Interaction and Evaluation. Review any medications previously
given or the diet of the patient that can yield a bad interaction to the drug to be given.
Check also the expiry date of the medication being given.
Right Education and Information. Provide enough knowledge to the patient of
what drug he/she would be taking and what are the expected therapeutic and side
effects.
