Easy Dosage Calculation Formula Pt 1 | Dosage Calculations Made Simple For Medical Assistants

Medical Assisting with Ms. K
19 Oct 202316:29
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRIn this informative video, Kendra, a medical assistant instructor, simplifies dosage calculations for both adults and children. She emphasizes the importance of understanding the metric system and introduces the D/H * Q method for calculating medication dosages. Kendra demonstrates how to convert between different units of measurement and stresses the significance of using scored tablets when dividing medication. The video serves as a foundational guide for medical assistants, with a promise of a follow-up on pediatric dosages and additional medical assisting formulas.

Takeaways
  • 📚 The video is a tutorial on dosage calculations for medical assistants, focusing on simplifying the process for those who dislike math.
  • 👩‍🏫 The instructor, Kendra, uses a relatable approach to teaching, sharing her own difficulties with math to connect with her students.
  • 📈 The primary method taught in the video is the 'D/H * Q' method, which stands for (Desired Dose)/(On Hand) * (Quantity)
  • 📊 Understanding the metric system is fundamental, especially the conversion between micrograms, milligrams, grams, and liters.
  • 🔄 When converting from a smaller to a larger unit, divide by the conversion factor (e.g., micrograms to milligrams). For larger to smaller, multiply by the conversion factor (e.g., kilograms to pounds).
  • 💊 It's crucial to use scored tablets when splitting medication in half to ensure even dosage distribution.
  • 🧪 The video provides practical examples of dosage calculations, including scenarios with solid and liquid medications.
  • 📚 When the prescribed dosage and available medication units differ, conversion is necessary to match the desired dosage.
  • 👶 The next video will cover pediatric dosage calculations, which involve additional steps like converting the patient's weight to kilograms.
  • 🛒 Kendra mentions additional resources, including a medical assistant group on Facebook and her website for medical assistant-related merchandise.
  • 🙏 The video aims to be helpful for medical assistants preparing for certification exams and for those looking to improve their skills in the field.
Q & A

  • What is the main topic of the video?

    -The main topic of the video is dosage calculations, specifically focusing on adult calculations before moving on to pediatric calculations.

  • Why does the instructor emphasize the importance of the metric table in dosage calculations?

    -The metric table is emphasized because it forms the foundation for conversions between different units of measurement, which is crucial in accurately calculating dosages.

  • How does the instructor simplify the process of converting between micrograms and milligrams?

    -The instructor suggests dividing the number of micrograms by the number of milligrams to convert from a smaller to a larger unit, and multiplying when converting from a larger to a smaller unit.

  • What is the D/H * Q method mentioned in the video?

    -The D/H * Q method is a dosage calculation technique where D represents the desired dose, H is the amount on hand, and Q is the quantity of the medication to be given. It helps to determine how much medication should be administered to a patient.

  • Why is it important to use scored tablets when dividing medication doses?

    -Scored tablets ensure that the medication is evenly divided, preventing uneven distribution of the drug which can lead to incorrect dosages. Unscored tablets, when cut in half, may not provide equal amounts of the medication.

  • How does the instructor handle situations where the doctor's ordered unit of measurement doesn't match what's available?

    -The instructor emphasizes the need to convert the ordered unit to match the available unit before proceeding with the calculation. For example, if the doctor orders in grams and the medication is available in milligrams, conversion is necessary.

  • What is the process for calculating liquid medication dosages?

    -For liquid medications, the calculation involves dividing the desired dose by the concentration of the medication in the liquid (usually given per milliliter) and then multiplying by the quantity of liquid that contains the specified amount of the drug.

  • How does the instructor suggest verifying the accuracy of dosage calculations?

    -The instructor suggests double-checking the answers by plugging the calculated dosage back into the original problem to ensure it matches the desired dose ordered by the doctor.

  • What additional topics will be covered in the instructor's future videos?

    -The instructor plans to cover pediatric dosage calculations and more formulas relevant to being a medical assistant, including foundational knowledge for certification exams like CMA, CCMA, or RMA.

  • What resources does the instructor provide for further learning and engagement?

    -The instructor has a Facebook group called the Medical Assistant Lounge and offers medical assistant t-shirts on her website, which can be found at www.shopwithmk.com.

  • What is the instructor's approach to teaching dosage calculations?

    -The instructor's approach is to simplify the process as much as possible, breaking down complex concepts into manageable parts, and emphasizing understanding the foundational formulas and concepts before moving on to more complex calculations.

Outlines
00:00
📚 Introduction to Dosage Calculations

This paragraph introduces the topic of dosage calculations, emphasizing the common challenge of math-related tasks faced by medical assistants and students. The speaker, Kendra, acknowledges the widespread dislike for math and aims to simplify the process. She outlines the plan to cover adult dosage calculations before moving on to pediatric calculations and stresses the importance of understanding the metric system as a foundational element for conversions and calculations.

05:02
🧪 Basic Conversions and Calculations

In this paragraph, Kendra discusses the basics of unit conversions, such as micrograms to milligrams and milliliters to liters, highlighting the need to divide when converting from a smaller to a larger unit and multiply when doing the opposite. She also explains the conversion between kilograms and pounds, providing formulas and emphasizing the importance of practice and understanding these conversions for accurate dosage calculation.

10:03
📊 The D/H * Q Method for Dosage Calculation

Kendra introduces the D/H * Q method for calculating dosages, explaining that D represents the desired dose, H is the amount on hand, and Q signifies the quantity. She simplifies the process by initially focusing on the D/H ratio and uses examples with solid medications to demonstrate how to determine the number of tablets or capsules to administer. The paragraph also addresses the importance of using scored tablets when dividing doses and the potential issues with uneven distribution when cutting unscored tablets.

15:05
💧 Dosage Calculations for Liquid Medications

This paragraph delves into calculating dosages for liquid medications, explaining how to handle situations where the prescribed dosage and available medication units differ. Kendra provides examples of converting grams to milligrams and micrograms to milligrams, emphasizing the need to adjust for different units of measurement. She also illustrates how to calculate the required milliliters of a liquid medication, incorporating the quantity (Q) factor into the D/H * Q formula and highlighting the importance of double-checking calculations for accuracy.

👶 Upcoming Pediatric Dosage Video and Additional Resources

In the final paragraph, Kendra wraps up the video by mentioning the next topic, which will focus on pediatric dosage calculations. She briefly touches on the additional steps required for pediatric calculations, such as converting weight to kilograms. Kendra also promotes her upcoming video on general medical assisting formulas and resources, invites viewers to join her Facebook group, and mentions her website for medical assistant merchandise. She concludes by encouraging viewers to provide feedback on the video's helpfulness.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡dosage calculations
Dosage calculations refer to the process of determining the correct amount of medication to administer to a patient. In the video, this concept is central as it is the main skill being taught, with the instructor providing methods and examples to calculate adult and pediatric dosages accurately.
💡metric table
The metric table is a reference guide for conversions between different units of measurement within the metric system. In the context of the video, it is crucial for medical assistants to be familiar with the metric table to perform accurate dosage calculations, especially when converting between smaller and larger units such as micrograms to milligrams or milliliters to liters.
💡desired dose
The desired dose is the specific amount of medication prescribed by a healthcare provider for a patient. In the video, the desired dose is a starting point for dosage calculations, and the instructor explains how to use this value in conjunction with the medication on hand and the quantity to determine the correct dosage to administer.
💡on hand
On hand refers to the amount of medication or supply available to the medical assistant at the time of calculation. This term is important in the video as it represents the actual quantity of a medication that is currently accessible for administering to a patient.
💡quantity
Quantity in the context of the video refers to the number of units (such as tablets, capsules, or milliliters of liquid medication) that make up the prescribed dose. It is a crucial component in dosage calculations, especially when dealing with medications that come in multiple units or require specific amounts to meet the desired dose.
💡conversions
Conversions in this context involve changing one unit of measurement to another, which is a fundamental skill for medical assistants when dealing with dosage calculations. The video emphasizes the need to understand how to convert between different units like micrograms, milligrams, grams, and liters to ensure accurate medication dosing.
💡scored tablets
Scored tablets are medication tablets that have a line or score down the middle, allowing them to be broken evenly into two parts. This is important for dosage calculations when a patient needs to receive a half dose or a fraction of a tablet, ensuring that the medication is divided accurately and safely.
💡liquid medication
Liquid medication refers to drugs that are in a liquid form, as opposed to solid forms like tablets or capsules. The video discusses how to calculate dosages for liquid medications, which often involves understanding the concentration of the medication in milligrams or micrograms per milliliter of liquid.
💡pediatric calculations
Pediatric calculations are dosage calculations specific to children, taking into account factors such as weight and age to determine the appropriate medication dosage. The video mentions that after understanding adult dosage calculations, medical assistants must also learn how to adjust these calculations for pediatric patients.
💡medical assistant
A medical assistant is a healthcare professional who performs both administrative and clinical tasks in healthcare settings, including taking patient histories, preparing patients for examinations, and assisting with dosage calculations. In the video, the instructor is a medical assistant and is teaching other medical assistants how to perform accurate dosage calculations.
Highlights

Kendra, a medical assistant instructor, shares her method for dosage calculations that is simple and effective for those who dislike math.

The foundation of dosage calculations is understanding the metric system, especially conversions between micrograms, milligrams, grams, and liters.

When converting from a smaller to a larger unit, divide by the conversion factor (e.g., micrograms to milligrams).

To convert from a larger to a smaller unit, multiply by the conversion factor (e.g., kilograms to pounds).

The D/H * Q method is introduced as an easy way to approach dosage calculations, starting with adult calculations before moving on to pediatric.

For solid medications, it's crucial to ensure that tablets are scored if they need to be halved to provide an accurate dose.

When the doctor orders a dosage in a different unit than what's available (e.g., grams vs. milligrams), conversion is necessary before calculation.

For liquid medications, the quantity factor (Q) becomes important as it represents the amount of liquid containing the medication.

The D/H * Q method can be applied to liquid medications by incorporating the quantity of medication per milliliter.

Double-checking dosage calculations is essential to ensure accuracy and patient safety.

Kendra plans to cover pediatric dosage calculations in a future video, emphasizing the importance of understanding adult dosages first.

The video provides practical applications of dosage calculations for medical assistants, with an emphasis on simplifying complex concepts.

Kendra's teaching approach is tailored to make complex topics more accessible, especially for those who struggle with math.

The video serves as a foundational guide for medical assistants preparing for certification exams, offering insights into essential knowledge areas.

Kendra's resources, including a medical assistant group on Facebook and her website, are available for further learning and community building.

The video concludes with a reminder of the importance of understanding basic dosage calculations for all medical assistants, regardless of the certification they are pursuing.

Transcripts

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Dosage CalculationsMedical MathHealthcare EducationPharmacy ConversionsMetric SystemMedicine AdministrationPatient CareMedical Assistant TipsKendra's TeachingPharmacological Safety