![]() ![]() The pharmacy dispenses penicillin in 250 mg tablets. How about giving it a try? Using the DA method, calculate the following dosage.Īdminister penicillin 0.5 grams p.o. Divide the numerator by the denominator for the final answer with the correct label.Īnswer: Administer 2 mL of digoxin daily. Multiply numbers across the numerator, then multiply all the numbers across the denominator. Repeat this step sequentially until all unwanted labels are canceled out. Place information with the same label as the preceding denominator into the equation in the numerator to cancel out the unwanted labels. Place mL in the numerator and 0.25 mg in the denominator. In this example, we know that the drug concentration available is 0.25 mg/mL. Step 2: On the right side, place the information given with the same label needed in the numerator. Step 1: What unit of measure (label) is needed? Place this on the left side of the equation How many mL will you need to administer a 0.5 mg dose? The drug concentration available from the pharmacy is digoxin 0.25 mg/mL. Let’s take a look an example to illustrate this method.Īdminister digoxin 0.5 mg IV daily. Don’t round any numbers in the equation until you have the final answer. Calculate to determine the correctly labeled numeric answer.Repeat until all units of measure not needed in the answer are cancelled out. Build the equation by placing information with the same label as the preceding denominator in the numerator so that unwanted labels will cancel out.To set up the equation, start with the label or unit of measure needed in the answer. ![]() This method reduces errors and can be used for all dosage calculations. You can find a handy conversion chart in our Nursing Pocket Card: Common Calculations.ĭimensional Analysis (Cookson, 2013) Dimensional analysis (DA) or factor-label method uses a series of conversion factors of equivalency from one system of measurement to another but doesn’t require memorizing specific formulas. In Part 2, we take a look at dimensional analysis (DA) which is helpful in calculating weight-based dosing and more complex continuous intravenous (IV) infusions.ĭon’t forget, every nurse should be comfortable with basic metric conversions. In our first blog, we discussed the universal formula, or “desired over hand” method. In this blog series, we review several drug calculation methods. Facing Ethical Challenges with Strength and Compassion.Establishing Yourself as a Professional and Developing Leadership Skills.Ensuring Patient & Family Centered Care.Developing Critical Thinking Skills and Fostering Clinical Judgement.Alteplase Injection for Acute Ischemic Events.Lippincott Clinical Conferences On Demand.Continuing Education Bundle for Nurse Educators.Lippincott NursingCenter’s Critical Care Insider.Lippincott NursingCenter’s Career Advisor.COVID-19 2022 Update: The Nursing Workforce.An Unforeseen Path from Critical Care Nurse to Editor-in-Chief of American Journal of Nursing.When Nurses Speak, People Listen: An Interview with Pat Patton.Fostering a Safe and Healthy Work Environment through Competency-Informed Staffing.Innovation in Nursing Education Practice: A Conversation with Linda Honan.Clinical Judgment: The Doing that Happens after Critical Thinking.Debriefing: It Should Always Be About the Learner.Nurse Wellness Is Not Just About Resiliency. ![]()
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