Main description:

Numeracy and Clinical Calculations for Nurses is a user-friendly introduction for student nurses that guides you from the basics to the core calculations required in a healthcare setting.

To qualify as a registered nurse you will need to demonstrate proficiency and accuracy when calculating dosages of prescribed medicines. The second edition of Numeracy and Clinical Calculations for Nurses features even more worked examples and practice tests, all designed to increase your confidence and competence in calculating drug dosages and performing other important clinical calculations - a critical issue in improving patient safety.

Key benefits:

Diagnostic test to assess your existing skills and knowledge.
Back to basics chapter uses a step-by-step approach to ensure understanding - tested by nursing lecturers and their students.
Self-assessment tests throughout each chapter enable you to monitor your progress.
Extensive worked examples use authentic scenarios to set learning in context.
Summary tests provide practice for numeracy exams.
Covers drug dosages and other clinical calculations such as pressure ulcer risk assessment tools, National Early Warning Score, hydration and fluid balance, Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool, BMI and ideal body weight.
Answers provided for all tests.

The book also features:

Error alerts pointing out common errors and why they are sometimes made.
Sense checks to help you avoid fundamental errors.
Tips to help with calculations and relate them to clinical practice.
Appendices covering safe administration of medicine, routes of administration, medication administration records, drug glossary, a handy multiplication grid and simple conversion tables.

Numeracy and Clinical Calculations for Nurses is required reading:

Before the numeracy test at your student nurse interview.
During your university course as you prepare for further numeracy exams.
In practice as you get to grips with drug doses, BMI, drip rates, fluid balance, etc.

Contents:

About the author; Preface to the second edition; Acknowledgements; How to use this book

1. Numeracy and calculation skills in the clinical environment

1.1 Why you need to know about numbers and calculations

1.2 Common calculation errors

1.3 Developing your calculation and numeracy skills

Self-assessment test 1.1

2. Back to basics

2.1 Introduction

2.2 The decimal system

2.3 Addition

2.4 Subtraction

2.5 Multiplication

2.6 Division

2.7 Factors

2.8 Fractions

2.9 Percentages

2.10 Ratios

2.11 Expressing large numbers

Self-assessment tests 2.1-2.9

3. The SI system

3.1 Introduction

3.2 Volume

3.3 Weight

3.4 Pressure

Self-assessment tests 3.1-3.4

4. Calculating drug doses

4.1 Reducing the risk of administration error

4.2 Calculating for oral administration

4.3 Calculating for administration by injection

4.4 Calculating intravenous flows

4.5 Drug calculations based on per kilogram of body weight

Self-assessment tests 4.1-4.7

5. Other clinical calculations

5.1 Introduction

5.2 The 24-hour clock

5.3 Organisation of care

5.4 Hydration

5.5 Nutritional status

5.6 Weight

Self-assessment tests 5.1-5.5

6. Further self-assessment tests

Tests 6.1-6.3: working in SI units

Tests 6.4-6.6: calculating drug doses

Tests 6.7-6.10: conversions, calculations, measurement, medication administration

Appendix 1: Administering medicines safely

Appendix 2: Routes of administration

Appendix 3: Medication administration records

Appendix 4: Drug glossary

Appendix 5: Multiplication grid

Appendix 6: Conversion tables

Answers to self-assessment tests; References