Formulas and methods
The methods behind every calculator, explained with nursing examples. Start with the cheat sheet, then pick the method your program uses.
- Dosage Calculation Formulas: Nursing Cheat SheetEvery formula you need for nursing dosage calculation exams on one page: tablets, liquids, IV rates, drip rates, weight-based doses, critical care drips, BSA and conversions.
- Dimensional Analysis for Nursing Dosage CalculationLearn dimensional analysis, the one-line method that solves every dosage calculation by cancelling units, with worked nursing examples.
- Desired over Have Formula (D/H × Q)The desired over have formula (D ÷ H × Q), also called the formula method, explained with tablet, liquid and injection examples.
- Ratio and Proportion Method for Dosage CalculationSolve dosage problems by setting up two equal ratios and cross-multiplying, with nursing examples for tablets, liquids and injections.
- Rounding Rules for Nursing Dosage CalculationWhen and how to round in nursing dosage calculation: tablets, mL, drops per minute, mL/hr, weights and BSA, plus leading and trailing zero rules.
- Nursing Conversion Chart: Metric, Household and TemperatureThe conversion factors used in nursing math in one chart: metric mass and volume, household measures, weight, length and temperature.
- Medication Abbreviations: Do Not Use List and Safe AlternativesThe Joint Commission's official Do Not Use list, other error-prone abbreviations flagged by ISMP, and the common abbreviations you will see in medication orders.
- IV Drop Factors: Macrodrip vs Microdrip TubingWhat the drop factor is, how macrodrip and microdrip tubing differ, when each is used, and how the drop factor enters the drip rate formula.