Syllabus
Course Information CRN 51237 Section WC1
Summer 2008
Joan McDade, MSN, RN
Office: H311F
410-455-4453
jmcdade@ccbcmd.edu
Office hours: By appointment
Pre-requisites: See college catalogue
Successful completion of this course is a pre-requisite for NURN 150
Course Goals
A. Objectives:
At the end of the course, the student will be able to:
- Compute basic math problems without using a calculator.
- Perform computations with fractions and decimals (add, subtract, multiply and divide) without using a calculator.
- List the basic units of weight and volume used in the metric system and the household system (teaspoon, tablespoon, ounce, cup, and pint).
- Give abbreviations for the frequently used metric and household units and sub-units.
- Convert units of measurement within the metric system, and between the metric system and the household system.
- Interpret drug labels correctly.
- Select a dosage formula (either a basic formula solving for X, or ratio/proportion) for calculating drug dosage.
- Calculate amount of tablets, capsules, and liquid volume needed for administering orally prescribed drugs.
- Calculate dosages of drugs supplied in units or milli-equivalents.
- Calculate dosages of drugs for injection from solutions in vials and ampules.
- Compute weight-based dosage.
- Prepare and calculate medications in powder form for injectable use (reconstitution).
- Differentiate between syringes labeled as cubic centimeters and units.
- Calculate hourly flow rate and drops/minute rate of IV fluids.
- Tell time using the 24-hour clock (military time).
- Calculate all dosage problems according to the rounding rules provided.
- State the metric equivalent of household measurements (tsp, TBSP, ounce, cup, pint).
B. Major Topics:
- Math Review (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division)
A. Fractions
B. Decimals
C. Rounding
D. 24 - hour clock (military time)
- Units of Measure
A. Metric
B. Household
C. Conversion within the metric and household systems
- Drug labels
- Syringes
A. Syringes calculated in cubic centimeters
B. Syringes calculated in units
- Dosage formulas
A. Basic dosage formula
B. Ratio and proportion
- Calculating dosages
A. Oral administration
B. Injections from vials and ampules
C. Shading the syringe
- Weight-based dosage problems
- Reconstitution of powdered medications for injection
- IV fluid flow rate
A. ml/hour
B. drops/minute
C. Rationale:
This course is designed to instruct the healthcare worker in methods of calculating medication dosages efficiently and with accuracy. The emphasis is on providing the student with the mathematical skills needed to safely prepare medications for the adult and pediatric population. Current drug preparation practices and procedures will be used to ensure an increased comfort level for the healthcare worker who will be preparing and administering medications.
Evaluation
A. Requirements:
This is a zero credit course. Successful completion of the Dosage for Nurses NURN 005 course is required prior to entering NURN 151, Foundations of Nursing Concepts.
B. Grading Policy:
In order to successfully complete the course students must achieve a 95% or greater on the dosage test. Students are given a maximum of four (4) opportunities to achieve 95% or greater on the dosage test. If a student misses the first date, there will be three (3) remaining opportunities to pass the test. If a student misses the first 2 dates, there will be 2 remaining opportunities to pass and so on. It is the student's responsibility to start testing at the first scheduled testing opportunity in order to take advantage of all four (4) tests. Students who are not successful on the first two (2) attempts are required to attend the remediation class prior to taking the third test. If the student is not successful after the third test, an additional remediation will be required prior to taking the final test. If the student is not successful on the 4th opportunity, the student will not be permitted to begin NURN 151 Foundations of Nursing Concepts. See class schedule for dosage testing and remediation dates and times.
C. Attendance Policy: Students are required to be on campus for dosage testing and remediation sessions only.
Course Procedures
A. Required Textbook:
Pickar, G. D. (2008). Dosage Calculations (8th ed.). Albany, NY: Delmar Publishers
Packaged with:
3-2-1 Calc on-line access
Students are expected to begin the course having reviewed basic math concepts such as ratio and proportion and addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of fractions and decimals.
B. Testing Procedures:
Students will be permitted to take only one test per day. A maximum of 90 minutes will be allowed for completion of each test. CCBC calculators only will be allowed during any dosage testing.
C. CCBC Code of Academic Integrity
The School of Health Professions acknowledges the authority of the College and the tenets of the CCBC Code of Academic Integrity. For the College to make its maximum contribution as an institution of higher learning, the entire college community must uphold high standards of integrity, honesty, and ethical behavior. In seeking the truth, in learning to think critically, and in preparing for a life of constructive service, honesty is imperative. Each Student has a responsibility to submit work that is uniquely his or her own, or to provide clear and complete acknowledgement of the use of work attributed to others. To these ends, the following actions are expected of students:
- Complete all work without unauthorized assistance
- Follow the professor’s instruction when completing all class assignments
- Ask for clarification when instructions are not clear
- Provide proper credit when quoting or paraphrasing
- Submit only one’s own work
Students who do not accept responsibility for the integrity of their own work will experience sanctions, including a written reprimand, failure of the assignment, failure of the course, and/or dismissal from the program. For repeat and extreme offenses, the College reserves the right to suspend or expel students. Suspension and expulsion are actions taken only by the chief student development officer on campus, or a designee.
If a student wishes to appeal a charge of having violated the code of academic integrity, the appeal must be filed within ten days of receiving notice of the offense. The appeal will be handled according to the procedures established for other academic appeals.
SHP Honor Pledge
Academic honesty and integrity are expected of students in the CCBC School of Health Professions. In recognition of the Honor Code, I certify that I will neither give nor receive unauthorized aid on this assignment/examination and that I will report all violations I observe.Definitions: School of Health Professions Honor Code
The SHP Honor Code applies to all activities that take place on the campuses of The Community College of Baltimore County, in the clinical settings, at off-campus professional activities, or in situations when the student represents the School of Health Professions. Violations of the SHP Honor Code consist of any form of academic dishonesty, including, but not limited to, the commitment of any of the following acts:Cheating: intentionally using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information, technology, or study aids in any part of the academic program, including copying from another student or allowing another student to copy.
Falsification: intentional and unauthorized changing or misrepresenting data or other significant information in any academic exercise.
Plagiarism: intentionally or knowingly representing the work of another individual as one’s own.
Bribery: the act of promising, giving, receiving, or agreeing to receive something of value with the corrupt aim of influencing a grade or receiving aid in any academic exercise.
Facilitating Academic Dishonesty:
intentionally or knowingly helping or attempting to help another to violate any provision of the honor code or failing to report any violations
All members of the SHP community share the responsibility and authority to challenge and make known any acts of apparent academic dishonesty. The complete SHP Honor Code, with information describing the purpose and procedures of the SHP Honor Council, is available on the CCBC SHP web site.
Services for Student with Disablilities
CCBC is committed to providing equal access to educational opportunities for all students by arranging support services and reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities. A student with a disability may contact the appropriate campus office for an appointment to discuss reasonable accomodations. An appointment must be scheduled within a time period which allows staff adequate time to respond t othe special needs of the student. The student must provide the appropriate office with proper documentation supporting the need for reasonable accommodations.
For more information, contact:
| CCBC Catonsville | CCBC Dundalk | CCBC Essex |
| 410-455-6946 | 410-285-9808 | 410-780-6741 |
| 410-455-4163 (TTY) | 410-285-9529 (TTY) | 410-238-4601 (TTY) |
Hints for Success
Here are some tips you should follow which will help you to succeed in this course:
- Set aside a specific time each week to work on this course. The estimated amount of time you should spend is 4 hours/week, more in summer/winter condensed semesters.
- Keep in touch with me and your classmates by frequently checking your course e-mail, bulletin board, and calendar. This will help build a sense of community among us. Using the various communications tools provided in this course effectively is the same as "raising your hand" and participating in class discussions.
- Be aware of the time lag that is inherent in most on-line courses. Although the communications tools make it appear that the transfer of information such as assignments is "instantaneous", it does not mean that the reply will be instantaneous. One of the hardest things about an on-line course is becoming comfortable with its asynchronous nature. In general, expect assignments to be returned within one week .
- Familiarize yourself with published deadlines.
- Ask for help when you need it.
- Remember that there are traditional ways for keeping in touch. Use the telephone, a fax, or make an appointment to meet with me on campus.
- Work off-line and save your assignments on your computer before submitting them electronically. You can use the saved version of your work to copy and paste to an on-line assignment or you can attach the saved file to an e-mail or bulletin board message. This will prevent a lot of frustration should your Internet connection or your system "fail".