NCLEX Prep: Medication Calculations
Here are some tips and resources to help you prepare for medication calculation questions on the NCLEX:
Review basic math skills: Before you start practicing medication calculations, make sure you have a strong foundation in basic math skills like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. You may also need to know how to convert between different units of measurement (e.g., grams to milligrams, pounds to kilograms). The NCLEX exam will provide you a calculator to use on your computer.
Understand medication orders and dosages: Familiarize yourself with the different types of medication orders (e.g., Q6H, PRN, STAT, etc.) and the components of a medication order (e.g., drug name, dosage, route, frequency). Also, know how to calculate dosages based on a patient's weight, age, or other factors.
Practice, practice, practice: Practice as many medication calculation problems as possible to build your confidence and improve your speed and accuracy. There are many online resources and NCLEX study guides that provide medication calculation practice problems. Many of these resources are provided in the bottom of this blog post.
Use medication calculation formulas: Memorize the most common medication calculation formulas, such as the formula for calculating IV drip rates, pediatric dosages, and dosage based on body weight. Keep in mind that some questions may require you to use multiple formulas.
Double-check your work: Always double-check your calculations to ensure accuracy. One small mistake can lead to a big error in medication dosing, which could have serious consequences for a patient.
Medication Dose Calculation Formula:
The most common formula used for medication dosing is the ratio and proportion method. Here is an example of how to use this method using the order “A patient is ordered 50mg of Amoxicillin PO Q6H (available as 25mg/ml)… how many much Amoxicillin in ml will you administer per dose?:”
Identify the ordered dose: This is the dose of medication that the healthcare provider has ordered for the patient (50mg)
Identify the available dose: This is the dose of medication that is available in the medication form (25mg)
Identify the unit of measurement: Make sure that the ordered dose and available dose are in the same unit of measurement. For example, if the ordered dose is in milligrams (mg), make sure that the available dose is also in milligrams.
Set up the proportion: Place the ordered (desired dose) as the numerator (top) and the available dose as the denominator (bottom) and multiply by the volume the medication is available in. E.g. 50mg/25mg x 1ml
Simplify the ratio and cross-multiply: Simplify the ratio by dividing both sides by a common factor. In this example 50mg/25mg x 1ml = 2mg/1mg x 1ml = 2ml of Amoxicillin to administer per dose
It is important to always double-check your calculations to ensure that you have the correct dose. Additionally, be sure to review medication dosing guidelines for different age groups and conditions to help you determine appropriate dosages.
Here are some resources that may help you practice medication calculations for the NCLEX:
Remember that medication calculation questions are a crucial part of the NCLEX exam, and it's important to be well-prepared. With practice and dedication, you can develop the skills and confidence you need to succeed on this portion of the exam.
