I. General Information

1. Course Title:
Medication Administration Concepts

2. Course Prefix & Number:
NURS 1542

3. Course Credits and Contact Hours:

Credits: 1

Lecture Hours: 1

4. Course Description:

This course offers a basic review of math and dimensional analysis as applied by health care professionals. Topics include the metric system, preparation of solutions, pediatric dosage, intravenous solutions, and advanced intravenous titration of medications. Application will be made through subsequent nursing courses.

5. Placement Tests Required:

Accuplacer (specify test):

No placement tests required

Score:

6. Prerequisite Courses:

There are no prerequisites for this course.

7. Other Prerequisites
Admission to Traditional Nursing Program.

9. Co-requisite Courses:

There are no corequisites for this course.

II. Transfer and Articulation

III. Course Purpose

1. Program-Applicable Courses – This course is required for the following program(s):

Nursing - Associate in Science Degree

IV. Learning Outcomes

1. College-Wide Outcomes

College-Wide Outcomes/Competencies	Students will be able to:
Demonstrate written communication skills	Identify research and describe how evidence-based findings relate to promoting quality and safety with regard to medication administration.
Analyze and follow a sequence of operations	Calculate medication orders to ensure safe administration of medication and the prevention of errors and sentinel events.
Utilize appropriate technology	Describe risk factors and practices that contribute to medication errors, and evaluate one’s own techniques for best practice and quality improvement.

2. Course Specific Outcomes - Students will be able to achieve the following measurable goals upon completion of the course:

• Explain the role of advocacy and safety in medication management across the lifespan;
• Calculate medication orders to ensure safeadministration of medication and the prevention of errors and sentinel events;
• Describe risk factors and practices that contribute to medication errors, and evaluate one’s own techniques for best practice and quality improvement; and
• Identify current research, and describe how evidence-based findings relate to promoting quality and safety with regard to medication administration. 

V. Topical Outline

Listed below are major areas of content typically covered in this course.

1. Lecture Sessions

1. Arithmetic Review and Introduction to Dimensional Analysis
• Whole numbers, adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing
• Fractions, adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing, simplifying
• Decimals and percent
• Dimensional Analysis Introduction, using for simple math prob
2. Measures and Equivalents
• Metric
• Apothecary
• Household
3. Conversions
• Within metric system
• Between metric and household
4. Safety Considerations in Medication Administration,
• Medication Errors
• Medication delivery systems
• Six Rights
• Abbreviations
• Prevention of medication errors
5. Prescriptions and Medication Orders
• Interpreting orders
• Safety
• Transcribing
• Documentation
6. Reading Medication Labels and Syringes
• Oral medications
• Injectable medications
7. Reconstituting Parenteral Medications from a Powder
• Single dose calculations
• Multiple dose calculations
8. Calculations Using Weight and Body Surface Area
9. Intravenous Delivery Systems
• IV Equipment
• Types of fluid
• Safety
10. Intravenous Calculations
• Gravity flow
• IV pump
• Calculation of drip rates and mL per hour, time left for IV to run
11. Enteral Tube Feedings
• Delivery methods
• Types of formula
• Giving Medications through a tube feeding
12.  Insulin Administration
• Diabetes
• Insulin Delivery systems
• Calculation of correct insulin dose
13. Heparin Administration
• Anticoagulation therapy
• Safety
• Calculation of correct heparin dose
14. Critical Care Dosage Calculations
• Calculating infusion rates
• Titrating dosagages
15. Lifespan Considerations in Dosage Calculations
• General consideration for pediatric clients
• General consideration for pregnant and lactating clients
• General considerations for geriatric clients