Untitled Flashcard Set
2 Medication Orders and Safety
Required parts of a medication order
• Medication name
• Dose
• Route
• Frequency or time
• Reason or indication when the medication is ordered as needed
When to stop and clarify
• The order is incomplete, ambiguous, illegible, or conflicts with the supplied product.
• The units do not make sense or the dose appears unsafe.
• An unsafe abbreviation is used, such as U or u for units.
• A common fraction is used instead of a decimal for a metric dose.
• The pharmacy supplies a different medication or a combination product that adds an unordered active
ingredient.
NR 2100 Dosage Calculation Exam Study Guide
Key safety concepts
Concept Meaning
Tall man lettering Selected uppercase letters distinguish look-alike drug names; it does not
identify a narcotic, warning, or route.
High-alert medication A medication that carries a heightened risk of causing significant harm if used
incorrectly.
Independent verification A second qualified person separately checks the medication or calculation
when policy requires it.
Rights of medication
administration
Verify the right patient, medication, dose, route, time, documentation, reason,
response, education, and right to refuse, according to course and agency
policy.
NR 2100 Dosage Calculation Exam Study Guide
3 Reading Medication Labels
Read every label from top to bottom and compare it directly with the order. Do not assume that similar names
represent the same medication.
Label element What to identify
Drug names Brand and generic names; confirm the ordered active ingredient.
Strength or concentration Examples: 25 mg per tablet, 125 mg per 5 mL, or 10,000 units per mL.
Dosage form and route Tablet, capsule, solution, suspension, injection, oral use, IV use, or SUBQ
use.
Combination product Two or more active ingredients listed with separate strengths.
Controlled-substance
schedule
The letter C and a Roman numeral identify a controlled-substance
schedule.
Single-dose vial Intended for one patient and one entry; follow policy and discard remaining
medication.
Multiple-dose vial May permit more than one withdrawal when stored, dated, and used
according to policy.
Scored tablet May be divided along the score when appropriate and permitted.
ER, XR, SR, or other modified
release
Do not crush, chew, split, or substitute unless the product information
specifically permits it.
Route review
Route Where the medication is administered
PO By mouth
Buccal Between the gum and cheek
Sublingual Under the tongue
Intradermal or ID Into the upper layers of the skin
Subcutaneous or SUBQ Into subcutaneous tissue
Intramuscular or IM Into a muscle
Intravenous or IV Into a vein
NR 2100 Dosage Calculation Exam Study Guide
4 Measurement Systems
Metric conversions to memorize
Relationship Conversion direction
1 kg = 1,000 g kg to g: multiply by 1,000; g to kg: divide by 1,000
1 g = 1,000 mg g to mg: multiply by 1,000; mg to g: divide by 1,000
1 mg = 1,000 mcg mg to mcg: multiply by 1,000; mcg to mg: divide by 1,000
1 L = 1,000 mL L to mL: multiply by 1,000; mL to L: divide by 1,000
1 cm = 10 mm cm to mm: multiply by 10; mm to cm: divide by 10
Dimensional check: When converting to a smaller unit, the number becomes larger. When converting to a
larger unit, the number becomes smaller.
Household equivalents used in this course
Household measure Metric equivalent
1 teaspoon or tsp 5 mL
1 tablespoon or Tbs 15 mL
2 tablespoons 1 fluid ounce
1 fluid ounce or oz 30 mL
Safety note: Use a calibrated medication device rather than a household spoon.
NR 2100 Dosage Calculation Exam Study Guide
5 The Formula Method
Amount to give = (Desired dose / Dose on hand) x Quantity
Symbol Meaning Where it comes from
D Desired or ordered dose Medication order
H Dose on hand Medication label
Q Quantity containing the dose
on hand Medication label, such as 1 tablet or 5 mL