This is a two-credit course and can be completed within four to eight weeks. This online course will help you prepare for the Nursing Math Exam. In this course, you will be mastering the following: multiplication, decimals, fractions, percent, ratio & proportion, interpreting the language of prescriptions, drug labels & packaging, metric and household systems of measurement, drug preparations, calculation of oral medications, injections, IV drip rates, administering drug, and administration procedures.

If you do well in this course, you will be able to:

1. If you complete this course and do well, you will be able to:

   • Describe and demonstrate utilization of various sources of information regarding drugs;
   • Describe legal implications and liabilities in medication administration;
   • Interpret and properly express metric, apothecaries’ and household notation;
   • Convert from one unit to another within the same system of measurement, and from one system to another system of measurement;
   • Read and write medical notation by recognition of common abbreviations and their interpretations; be able to transcribe an order for medication in correct format;
   • Recognize and select an appropriate utensil for the drug, dosage, and route of administration ordered;
   • Read and understand the essential components of drug labels:
     • Brand vs. generic name
     • Dosage strength
     • Form (in which drug is supplied) vs. supply dosage
     • Total volume of container
     • Intended route of administration
     • Directions for mixing (preparing medication to supply required strength) and label alerts
     • Drug manufacturer
     • Expiration date
     • Lot number and other codes;
       
   • Calculate oral dosages of drugs by accurate conversions of units and selection of form (tablet vs. liquid) when choice is available;
   • Calculate parenteral dosages of drugs by accurate conversion of units, and reconstitute meds supplied in dry form and label correctly;
   • Calculate pediatric drug dosages by:
     • Accurate conversion of pounds to kilograms
     • Determination of recommended safe dose per kilogram of body weight from a reference source
     • Computation of accurate amount of drug to be administered by kilogram of body weight;
       
   • Convert the strength of an ordered solution expressed as a ratio or percent to a fraction and prepare the correct strength for an:
     • Infant or adult formula feeding
     • Irrigation solution
     • IV; and
       
   • Administer IV drug therapies by demonstrating the ability to:
     • Recognize various drop factors in drops per milliliter (gtt/mL)
     • Deliver gravity- or pressure-mediated infusions
     • Calculate IV drip rates
     • Correct timing for off-schedule IV fluids
     • Calculate IV med drip rate for specified time period

The required textbook for this course is:

• TEXTBOOK: Henke's Med-Math Dosage Calculation Preparation & Administration , 5th Edition, by Susan Buchholz and Grace Henke: Lippincott, ISBN: 0-7817-3634-X.

• CD-ROM: MED-MATH CD-ROM.
  (The CD-ROM comes with the textbook)

For information on how to order your textbooks, go to http://eli.nvcc.edu/books/

Your course grade will be determined by the introductory letter, 1 project and 4 exams, according to the following points:

There are 2 exams in this course. You are expected to take your examinations at one of the NVCC campus Testing Centers. Be sure to allow enough time to complete your exam before the Testing Center closes; Testing Centers have specific policies relating to the administration of ELI exams. You will need to take a photo ID, your NovaConnect empl ID number, and the appropriate Exam Pass when you go to the Testing Center.  

For Testing Center locations, hours of operation and policies, click here.

For information on taking exams outside of the metropolitan area, click here.

I am here to help you succeed in this course. Occasionally questions or problems may arise. Here is how to contact me when they do:

E-mail : nsharma@nvcc.edu
Telephone :
You may also call me to schedule a meeting in person, either at ELI or my campus office in 326G Medical Education Center

1. Use your web browser to connect to http://www.nvcc.edu/bbstart. Follow the directions to determine your email, Blackboard and VIVA account user names and passwords.
2. Access your email account and make sure you know how to use it; you will be required to use this account for all course-related email.
3. Log on to Blackboard at http://learn.vccs.edu.
4. Click on this course under "My Courses." Review the entire course to make sure you understand what will be required of you. Then start completing the assignments.

Please note that account generation takes approximately one week from the time of your paid registration. If you cannot log on after one week, contact the IT Help Desk. If you can log on to Blackboard, but your course isn't listed, please contact ELI or your instructor.