Pavlov Rameau (Consultant from Mathematics) prameau@mdc.edu

Suzanne Austin (Consultant from Mathematics) saustin@mdc.edu

Miami Dade College

1. List all types of common medication questions.

Remind students to :

-When using the metric system don’t forget to move the decimal.

-If you know one equivalent within a system, then you can use ratio and proportion to solve conversions.

-Dosage ratios entered in a DA equation are called factors

The content of the course and test questions will be organized and magnified by the level of difficulties.

Ex I. IM medication is ordered for 1500 mg. The available solution is 500 mg per mL. How many mL you must prepare?

Ex II. Express the following solution strengths as ratios:

-1 part drug to 4 parts solution

-1 part drug to 7 parts solution

Ex III.  Thorazine 100 mg tab, if 150 mg is ordered. How many tablets are needed?

Ex IV.  Gara mycin inj. 20 mL in Multiple Dose Vial, the label shows 40 mg/mL.

How many mL would you need to prepare a 20 mg dosage?

Ex V.  Dextrose 50% (25 g/ 50 mL) 50 mL solution, if you are asked to prepared 20 mL. How much will you draw up in the syringe?

****Ex VI.  An IV 1000 mL is to infuse at 45 gtt/min using a set calibrated at 15 gtt/mL. Calculate the infusion time.

Ex VII. Bretyl 2 g in 500 mL D5W is to infuse at a rate of 2 mg/min. What are the mL/hr flow rates?

Ex VIII.  An IV of 1000 mL D51/4S with 40,000 U heparin is to infuse at 1200 U/hr via pump. What are the flow rates?

2. How to create the equations from various kinds of questions?

According to Bloom’s Taxonomy, students can demonstrate their knowledge by identifying and recall information on common conversions/ equivalencies, common abbreviations, ratio & proportion from lecture in beginning of the course.  Students will use information and concepts of reasoning situations or may use the concept theories of formula formation, which may be thought by MATH faculty as a collaborative relationship.

Ex IV.  Gara mycin inj. 20 mL in Multiple Dose Vial, the label shows 40 mg/mL.

How many mL would you need to prepare a 20 mg dosage?

The answer will be:

Ex VIII.  An IV of 1000 mL D51/4S with 40,000 U heparin is to infuse at 1200 U/hr via pump. What are the flow rates?

The answer will be:

3. Short cut and specific means to solve med equations.

Students can use formula from the above mean and learn to create new ones by generalize from the given facts to compare and discriminated between ideas.  This will allow students to compare and make choices based on reasoned argument.

Ex IV.  Garamycin inj. 20 mL in Multiple Dose Vial, the label shows 40 mg/mL.

How many mL would you need to prepare a 20 mg dosage?

      Medication 40 mg in                          1 mL

      Medication 20 mg in              à         =  0.5 mL

Ex VIII.  An IV of 1000 mL D51/4S with 40,000 U heparin is to infuse at 1200 U/hr via pump. What are the flow rates?

                  1000 mL contain 40,000 U

                   1 mL contains à     =40 U

                        40Uu in solution        1 mL (from above)

                        1200Uu      à           =30 mL                      

            The answer is  30 mL/hr

4. Develop effective teaching plans

4.1  MATH faculty may be a guest speaker for the session of formula calculation

4.2  Start with simple or single step of equations.

4.3  Tie to multiple or more complexity of problem solving.

4.4  Remind students to identify variables, descriptor or distracters from problem statement.

4.5  Be consistent with techniques, vocabulary and be aware of cultural context.

4.6  Assist students to translate problem into their single step equations.

4.7  Teach students to reverse reasoning, and meaning from the problem statement.

4.8  Identify the need to continue synthesis in the real world.

4.9  Provide students feed back about their progression.

4.10 Provide resources for further research