Nursing Calculations E-Book , livre ebook

Nursing Calculations
Eighth Edition

J.D. Gatford
Mathematics Tutor, Melbourne, Australia

N.M. Phillips, DipAppSc(Nsg) BN GDipAdvNsg(Educ) MNS PhD MRCNA
Senior Lecturer, Director of Undergraduate Studies, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Deakin University, Burwood Campus, Victoria, Australia
Churchill Livingstone
Front matter
Nursing Calculations
Commissioning Editor: Ninette Premdas
Development Editor: Nicola Lally
Project Manager: Srikumar Narayanan
Designer: Kirsteen Wright
Illustration Manager: Bruce Hogarth

Nursing Calculations
Eighth Edition
J. D. Gatford , Mathematics Tutor, Melbourne, Australia
N. M. Phillips DipAppSc(Nsg) BN GDipAdvNsg(Educ) MNS PhD MRCNA, Senior Lecturer, Director of Undergraduate Studies, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Deakin University, Burwood Campus, Victoria, Australia
Copyright

Longman Group Limited 1982, 1987, 1990: ©, 1994
© 1998, 2002, 2006, 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Details on how to seek permission, further information about the Publisher’s permissions policies and our arrangements with organizations such as the Copyright Clearance Center and the Copyright Licensing Agency, can be found at our website: www.elsevier.com/permissions .
This book and the individual contributions contained in it are protected under copyright by the Publisher (other than as may be noted herein).
First edition 1982 Fifth edition 1998
Second edition 1987 Sixth edition 2002
Third edition 1990 Seventh edition 2006
Fourth edition 1994
ISBN 978-0-7020-4452-6
1 British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
2 Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
A catalog record for this book is available from the Library of Congress

Notices
Knowledge and best practice in this field are constantly changing. As new research and experience broaden our understanding, changes in research methods, professional practices, or medical treatment may become necessary.
Practitioners and researchers must always rely on their own experience and knowledge in evaluating and using any information, methods, compounds, or experiments described herein. In using such information or methods they should be mindful of their own safety and the safety of others, including parties for whom they have a professional responsibility.
With respect to any drug or pharmaceutical products identified, readers are advised to check the most current information provided (i) on procedures featured or (ii) by the manufacturer of each product to be administered, to verify the recommended dose or formula, the method and duration of administration, and contraindications. It is the responsibility of practitioners, relying on their own experience and knowledge of their patients, to make diagnoses, to determine dosages and the best treatment for each individual patient, and to take all appropriate safety precautions.
To the fullest extent of the law, neither the Publisher nor the authors assume any liability for any injury and/or damage to persons or property as a matter of products liability, negligence or otherwise, or from any use or operation of any methods, products, instructions, or ideas contained in the material herein.


Printed in China
Preface to the Eighth Edition
The continuing feedback on our well-established book is most encouraging and much appreciated.
In this new edition, all questions have been reviewed and updated where necessary and terminology revised, to reflect current practice. Some additional questions have been included.
Reference list of abbreviations has been added at the front of the book. The format of each chapter has been reviewed and specific topic headings included throughout. The setting out of several worked examples has been significantly revised to facilitate understanding. There are three new sets of syringe diagrams to give additional practice in reading syringes accurately.
Please note that the aim of Nursing Calculations is to teach relevant skills in arithmetic ; the book is not meant to be used as a pharmacology reference.

John Gatford, Nicole Phillips
Melbourne 2010
Preface to the First Edition
This book was written at the request of nurse educators and with considerable help from them. It deals with elements of the arithmetic of nursing, especially the arithmetic of basic pharmacology.
The book begins with a diagnostic test which is carefully related to a set of review exercises in basic arithmetic. Answers to the test are supplied at the back of the book, and are keyed to the corresponding review exercises.
Students should work through those exercises which correspond to errors in the diagnostic test. The other exercises may also, of course, be worked through to improve speed and accuracy.
Throughout the other chapters of the book there are adequate, well-graded exercises and problems. Each chapter includes several worked examples. Answers are given to all questions.
Suggestions and comments from nurse educators and students on the scope and content of this book would be welcomed. The hope is that its relevance to nursing needs will be maintained in subsequent editions.

J.D.G.
Melbourne 1982
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank those nurse educators, nurses and pharmacists who provided advice and suggestions during the preparation of this eighth edition.
The authors wish also to thank Ninette Premdas, Senior Commissioning Editor, who recommended an eighth edition; Nicola Lally, Development Editor, who managed the project; Meg Bayley, Diabetic Educator; and Gavin Hawkins, for the syringe graphics.
We are grateful to the Sanofi-Aventis Group and to GlaxoSmithKline Australia Pty Ltd for permission to reproduce medication labels for inclusion in this book.
John Gatford wishes to thank his wife, Elaine, for her continuing support and patience during this ongoing project.
Thanks also, from Nicole Phillips, to Theo, Curtis, Taylor and Yvonne.
Formulae used in this Book
Table of Contents
Front matter
Copyright
Preface to the Eighth Edition
Preface to the First Edition
Acknowledgements
Formulae used in this Book
Chapter 1: A review of relevant calculations
Chapter 2: Dosages of oral medications
Chapter 3: Dosages of medications for injection
Chapter 4: Intravenous infusion
Chapter 5: Paediatric dosages
Chapter 6: Revision of nursing calculations
Chapter 7: Answers
Index
1 A review of relevant calculations

Chapter contents
Short list of mathematical terms 3
Diagnostic test 6
Multiplication by 10, 100 and 1000 10
Division by 10, 100 and 1000 12
Converting units 14
Comparing measurements 16
Multiplication of decimals 18
Factors 20
Simplifying fractions I 22
Simplifying fractions II 24
Simplifying fractions III 26
Simplifying fractions IV 28
Rounding off decimal numbers 30
Fraction to a decimal I 32
Fraction to a decimal II 34
Fraction to a decimal III 36
Mixed numbers and improper fractions 38
Multiplication of fractions 40
Multiplication of a fraction by a whole number 42
In this chapter, a list of mathematical terms is followed by a diagnostic test. This test is designed to pinpoint those areas of your arithmetic that need revising before you start nursing calculations. The test identifies what you already understand and what you need to review.
You should attempt all questions in the diagnostic test .
Answers are provided in Chapter 7 . According to the incorrect answers in your test you will be directed to particular review exercises.
For example, if you make an error in answering either test question 1 or test question 2, then you will be directed to do Review exercise 1A . Or, if your answer to test question 3 or 4 is wrong, you should do Review exercise 1B . You will not need to review any skills that the test shows you already know.
Remember that this test is designed to help you.
Refer to Inside front cover page for explanations of abbreviations.

Short list of mathematical terms

Whole numbers
Whole number:
A number without fractions.
e.g. 5, 17, 438, 10 592

Fractions
e.g.
Numerator :
The top number in a fraction.
e.g. In the fraction the numerator is 3.
Denominator:
The bottom number in a fraction.
e.g. In the fraction the denominator is 8.

Proper and improper fractions
Proper fraction : A fraction in which the numerator is smaller than the denominator.
e.g.
Improper fraction : A fraction in which the numerator is larger than the denominator.
e.g.
An improper fraction can be converted to a mixed number.
e.g.
Mixed number:
Partly a whole number, partly a fraction.
e.g.
A mixed number can be converted to an improper fraction.
e.g.

Decimals
Decimal:
A number that includes a decimal point.
e.g. 6.35, 0.748, 0.002, 236.5
Decimal places:
Numbers to the right of the decimal point.
e.g. 6.35 has 2 decimal places.
0.748 has 3 decimal places.
0.002 has 3 decimal places.
236.5 has 1 decimal place.
Place value:
To the right of the decimal point are tenths, hundredths, thousandths, etc.
e.g. In the number 0.962, there are 9 tenths, 6 hundredths and 2 thousandths.

Percentages
Percentage:
Number of parts per hundred parts.
e.g. 14% means 14 parts per 100 parts.
2.5% means 2.5 parts per 100 parts.
A percentage may be less than 1%.
e.g. 0.3% = 0.3 parts per 100 = 3 parts per 1000
0.04% = 0.04 parts per 100 = 4 parts per 10 000

Other terms
Divisor:
The number by which you are dividing.
e.g. In the division 495 ÷ 15, the divisor is 15.
Factors:
When a number is divided by