Dosage Calculation Course

Lesson 1 • Metric System and Units

Introduces the metric system as the standard measurement framework in pharmacology. Covers prefixes, base units, and inter-unit relationships.

Lesson 2 • Interpreting Prescriptions and Orders

Translates written and electronic medication orders into actionable data for calculation. Covers standard abbreviations, frequency terms, and order components.

Lesson 3 • Mathematics Review for Healthcare

Refreshes fractions, decimals, percentages, and ratios as applied to medication math. Establishes the arithmetic base every subsequent calculation depends on.

Lesson 4 • Household and Apothecary Measures

Covers non-metric measurement systems still encountered in home-care and older prescriptions. Students convert between systems with confidence.

Lesson 1 • Ratio and Proportion Method

Teaches setting up and solving proportions to find unknown doses. This method forms the conceptual backbone for all other calculation approaches.

Lesson 2 • Formula Method

Applies the D/H × V formula to calculate doses from desired and available quantities. Students practice rapid, structured problem-solving with this widely used shortcut.

Lesson 3 • Dimensional Analysis Method

Uses unit cancellation to solve multi-step problems in a single equation. Reduces errors by making unit tracking explicit throughout the calculation.

Lesson 1 • Liquid Oral Dosage Forms

Determines volume in milliliters for oral suspensions, solutions, and elixirs. Emphasizes concentration interpretation and measuring device selection.

Lesson 2 • Pediatric Oral Dosing

Adjusts oral dose calculations for children using weight-based and age-based parameters. Highlights the heightened precision required in pediatric practice.

Lesson 3 • Enteral Tube Feedings

Calculates formula volumes and rates for nasogastric and gastrostomy tube administration. Connects oral liquid math to continuous and bolus feeding schedules.

Lesson 1 • Reconstituting Powdered Medications

Determines diluent volume and resulting concentration when reconstituting lyophilized drugs. Accurate reconstitution is prerequisite to correct dose calculation.

Lesson 2 • Intravenous Bolus Calculations

Computes volume and concentration for IV push medications given over short intervals. Covers safe concentration limits and administration time requirements.

Lesson 3 • Subcutaneous and Intramuscular Injections

Calculates injection volumes from vial and ampule concentrations for SC and IM routes. Addresses maximum volume limits and syringe selection.

Lesson 1 • Calculating mL per Hour

Derives hourly flow rates from ordered volume and time parameters. Covers both simple orders and orders requiring unit conversion before calculation.

Lesson 2 • Secondary and Piggyback Infusions

Calculates rates for intermittent IV piggyback (IVPB) medications added to a primary line. Addresses flow rate interaction between primary and secondary bags.

Lesson 3 • Infusion Time and Volume Calculations

Determines how long an infusion will run or how much volume will infuse in a given time. Supports clinical planning for fluid management and medication scheduling.

Lesson 4 • IV Infusion Fundamentals

Defines flow rate, infusion time, and total volume relationships for IV therapy. Establishes the conceptual framework before introducing rate formulas.

Lesson 1 • Pediatric Critical Care Dosing

Applies weight-based and concentration-based methods to neonatal and pediatric critical care. Addresses the narrow therapeutic windows and micro-volume precision required.

Lesson 2 • Concentration-Based Infusion Rates

Derives mL/hr from drug concentration in the bag and ordered dose in mcg/min or mg/hr. Builds the skill set for vasoactive and analgesic drip management.

Lesson 3 • Titration of Continuous Infusions

Adjusts infusion rates incrementally based on patient response and protocol parameters. Teaches systematic titration math and documentation of rate changes.

Lesson 1 • Renal and Hepatic Dose Adjustments

Modifies doses for patients with impaired renal or hepatic clearance using creatinine clearance and clinical guidelines. Prevents toxicity from drug accumulation.

Lesson 2 • Anticoagulant Dosing Calculations

Computes weight-based anticoagulant doses and adjusts based on laboratory monitoring values. Covers heparin infusion adjustments and low-molecular-weight heparin dosing.

Lesson 3 • Body Surface Area Calculations

Computes BSA using the Mosteller and DuBois formulas for dose individualization. BSA-based dosing is foundational to oncology and some pediatric protocols.

Lesson 4 • Electrolyte Replacement Calculations

Calculates replacement doses for potassium, magnesium, and phosphate based on serum levels and clinical protocols. Addresses concentration limits for IV electrolyte infusions.

Lesson 1 • Estimation and Reasonableness Checks

Uses mental math and benchmarks to verify that a calculated answer is clinically plausible before administration. Catches gross errors before they reach the patient.

Lesson 2 • Integrative Case-Based Practice

Applies all calculation skills to complex, multi-drug patient scenarios requiring sequential decisions. Consolidates competency across all prior chapters in realistic clinical contexts.

Lesson 3 • Independent Double-Check Protocols

Describes the structure and purpose of independent double-checks for high-alert medications. Students practice performing and documenting checks correctly.

Lesson 4 • Technology-Assisted Verification

Evaluates how clinical decision support, smart pumps, and barcode systems reduce calculation errors. Students understand both the benefits and limitations of these tools.