Liquid and Weight Conversion used for Medication Administration: Learning Practice Activities
This material was originally developed through
Merlot as part of its collaboration with the SERC Pedagogic Service.
Initial Publication Date: January 7, 2011
Summary
The ability to calculate dosages that use weight and liquid conversions is a critical ability for nurses because patient lives are at risk. This learning activity is designed to give nursing students confidence and skill with weight and liquid conversions commonly used in the clinical setting. The learner will be introduced to terminology, liquid and weight conversions and potential patient safety hazards associated with medication orders. This learning activity is appropriate for students in LPN and RN nursing programs.
Learners will have an opportunity to apply knowledge with drill and practice examples.
CollapseLearning Goals
- Define terminology associated with the fluids and weights used for calculating medication dosages.
- Demonstrate competency associated with unit conversions (liters, milliliters, cubic centimeters, ounces, grams, milligrams, micrograms) used for medications orders.
- Discuss the do's and don'ts associated with writing decimals for medication orders.
Context for Use
This learning activity is designed to be supplemental to textbook and classroom information. It can be used in the classroom setting as individual and small group work. It can also be used for class preparation after review of textbook readings and prior to lecture.
Another use is as a remediation tool for students who demonstrate difficulty understanding abbreviations and equivalencies. I used the resource in a NCLEX prep course for remediation learning.
The scope of the activity is limited to weight and liquids abbreviations and equivalencies.
Another use is as a remediation tool for students who demonstrate difficulty understanding abbreviations and equivalencies. I used the resource in a NCLEX prep course for remediation learning.
The scope of the activity is limited to weight and liquids abbreviations and equivalencies.
Description and Teaching Materials
This learning activity provides a review of abbreviations, weights, and liquid conversions used for medication administration. It is designed to supplement, not replace, textbook and classroom information. The Flash module provides interactive learning using gaming techniques, Flash Cards, Fact Cards, and a 20-item multiple-choice quiz. There is also an optional print version of the quiz formatted as a Microsoft Word document and an associated answer sheet. The instructor, to meet classroom-learning outcomes, can modify the print version of the quiz easily.
Students should be instructed to download the Excel workbook and use it to check their conversion and calculation answers.
Students should be instructed to download the Excel workbook and use it to check their conversion and calculation answers.
- Excel Workbook Used to Check Calculations (Excel 68kB Aug30 09)
- Flash Learning Activities (Zip Archive 169kB Aug30 09)
- Conversion Practice Quiz - Print Version for Students (Rich Text File 50kB Aug30 09)
- Conversion Practice Quiz - Print Version for Instructors (Rich Text File 50kB Aug30 09)
Teaching Notes and Tips
The instructor should explain the variations in use of abbreviations and equivalencies to students. Students should be cautioned about variations in values when they use online convertors because they may find the differences confusing. Instructors should advise students to use the abbreviations and equivalencies identified by the textbook/instructor.
The students should also be aware of dangerous abbreviations and be knowledgeable about how to write whole numbers and decimals (see the information from the National Council of Medication Error Reporting and Prevention).
The zipped Flash module consists of three files. When using the Flash module on a web page or learning management system, upload all three files, but link to the file that ends with .htm.
The instructor should explain the variations in use of abbreviations and equivalencies to students. Students should be cautioned about variations in values when they use online convertors because they may find the differences confusing. Instructors should advise students to use the abbreviations and equivalencies identified by the textbook/instructor.
The students should also be aware of dangerous abbreviations and be knowledgeable about how to write whole numbers and decimals (see the information from the National Council of Medication Error Reporting and Prevention).
The zipped Flash module consists of three files. When using the Flash module on a web page or learning management system, upload all three files, but link to the file that ends with .htm.
The students should also be aware of dangerous abbreviations and be knowledgeable about how to write whole numbers and decimals (see the information from the National Council of Medication Error Reporting and Prevention).
The zipped Flash module consists of three files. When using the Flash module on a web page or learning management system, upload all three files, but link to the file that ends with .htm.
The instructor should explain the variations in use of abbreviations and equivalencies to students. Students should be cautioned about variations in values when they use online convertors because they may find the differences confusing. Instructors should advise students to use the abbreviations and equivalencies identified by the textbook/instructor.
The students should also be aware of dangerous abbreviations and be knowledgeable about how to write whole numbers and decimals (see the information from the National Council of Medication Error Reporting and Prevention).
The zipped Flash module consists of three files. When using the Flash module on a web page or learning management system, upload all three files, but link to the file that ends with .htm.
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Assessment
Learning can be assessed in several ways.
- Formative assessment using a multiple-choice quiz with knowledge and application questions.
- Demonstrated competency in the learning lab setting.
- Demonstrated competency in the clinical patient setting.
- Summative assessment on a unit exam.
References and Resources
Med-Calc - an online tutorial developed by Margaret Hansen.
Dangerous Abbreviations - a web site with a listing of dangerous abbreviations and the associated rationale.
Dangerous Abbreviations - a web site with a listing of dangerous abbreviations and the associated rationale.