Calculate with Confidence

by Deborah C. Gray Morris

Calculate with Confidence provides a clear consistent format with a step-by-step approach to the calculation and administration of drug dosages. It covers the ratio and proportion, formula, and dimensional analysis methods. This popular text focuses on enhancing the learning experience of students at all curricular levels by making content clinically applicable. Concepts relating to critical thinking, logical thinking, and nursing process are presented throughout. New practice problems have been added throughout this edition and rationales for the answers continue to be provided giving the students a better understanding of principles related to drug dosages. This fifth edition addresses the increasing responsibility of nurses in medication and administration; emphasizes the priority for client care, and presents material that reflects the current scope of the nursing practice.


A clear and consistent, step-by-step approach to calculations and administration makes it easy to understand.
Ratio and Proportion, Formula, and Dimensional Analysis content provides you with well-rounded coverage.
Pretest and post-test help identify strengths and weaknesses in competency of basic math before and assess your comprehension after Unit One: Math Review.
Points to Remember boxes highlighted in each chapter help you remember important concepts.
Critical thinking information that should be applied in the clinical setting to help avoid drug calculation and administration errors is boxed throughout the text.
Full-color illustrations, photographs, and drug labels familiarize you with what you'll encounter in the clinical setting.
Current recommendations from The Joint Commission and Institute for Safe Medication Practices are followed throughout.

Caution boxes identify issues that may lead to medication errors and strengthen actions that must be taken to avoid calculation errors.
Tips for Clinical Practice calls attention to information critical to math calculation and patient safety as well as issues related to practice.
Rule boxes familiarize students with information needed to accurately solve drug calculation problems.

Genres: Nursing, College, Textbooks

736 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Deborah C. Gray Morris is a Professor of Nursing at Bronx Community College.

Reviews

[Rae (semi-hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve never done as much dimensional analysis as I did in nursing school. There is a surprising amount of math involved, and if you’re giving insulin you’ll likely need to make calculations. This book is great for starting from the beginning and giving you clear step by step instructions on how to calculate dosages. There are many practice problems that helped immensely. Use this. I’m sure you’ll have calculation quizzes in one of your intro nursing classes.

[Theodore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Does exactly what it claims.

[Bobbi Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Apparently, I do dimensional analysis without thinking. Yay me.
This book makes you practice your skills with dimensional analysis. A lot. It also presents different ways you may have learned to come to the proper answers dimensional analysis gives you, but I didn't learn to do the algebra in those ways, so I ignored them. There's a few chapters about drugs that need particular care (insulin and heparin) which are worth a deeper read and a couple about conversion factors between measurement systems which are also worthwhile. Mostly I didn't bother even cracking the spine, except to verify I knew how to do the practice problems.

[Jacqui · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of typos and mistakes in the 7th edition.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

lots of practice and for a math book eerily interesting. I am a nursing student and will be able to use these skills for years to come.

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book!

[Claire Berslow · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was good at math before reading this, but ever since my prof forced us to do this baloney, my brain got confused as to just how on earth am i supposed to do this stuff?
If you need practice problems calculating the math, i guess it might work for you, but this book made me like 5x dumber, so, after a while i gave up and just copied the answers out of the back of the book and just did the math my way on the test and got all of the med calc questions right.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Breaks conversions and dosage calculations down to the most simple steps. I liked that they show all different methods of calculation so the student can choose his/her personal favorite. The CD that comes with it has plenty of practice questions to prep you for exams.

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was for class and not for fun, obviously. If you need a review of basic proportions and ratios, this book is for you.

[Patti · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the pre and post tests so I could just focus on the areas I needed practice on. This book has a ton of practice questions.

[Joni Morrow · Rating 2 out of 5]

More like Calculate with a lack of confidence. This book makes my brain "confused stew".

[Lauren orso · Rating 2 out of 5]

this really could've been condensed into one notecard.