Drug calculations for nurses

May 29, 2008

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Kerri Wright a Senior Lecturer at the University of Greenwich, London, UK has written a series of two articles describing the issue of drug calculations.

Wright K. (2008) Drug calculations part 1: a critique of the formula used by nurses. Nursing Standard. 22(36), p.40-42.

Abstract:

“The role of mathematics is integral to nursing practice, and careful and accurate calculations are important to help prevent medication errors. This two-part article examines different methods for solving drug calculation problems. The first part critiques the commonly taught nursing drug calculation formula. Part 2, to be published next week, explores a range of other methods that are used in practice to calculate drug dosages” (Wright 2008).

Wright K. (2008) Drug calculations part 2: alternative strategies to the formula. Nursing Standard. 22(37), p.42-44.

Abstract:

“Drug calculations are an essential skill for nurses. The clinical skill of performing a drug calculation has come under recent scrutiny, resulting in the development of essential skills clusters in which pre-registration nurses must be competent before qualifying (nursing and Midwifery Council 2007). The focus on drug calculation skills places renewed emphasis on how these skills are taught in higher education institutions and how they are learned by students theoretically and in clinical practice. Part 1 of this article (Wright 2008) examined the frequently cited drug formula as a method of calculating drug dosages, demonstrating the complex mathematical knowledge and skills required to use this method and the potential problems that reliance on this method could pose. Part 2 outlines other methods and straegies that can be used to calculate drug dosages, while keeping the calculation close to the clinical context” (Wright 2008).