Medication Administration & Calculations

This unit advances students’ ability to safely interpret medication labels, document dispensation, and apply multiple calculation methods for accurate dosing. Learners practice oral and parenteral dose computations, prepare injections, and reinforce safety checks that build on foundational concepts and prepare for clinical application in Unit 3.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze medication labels, patient identifiers, and clinical information to identify correct drug, dose, route, frequency, contraindications, and potential medication errors prior to administration
• Apply standard procedures for accurate medical documentation and dispensation by completing medication administration records, interpreting prescriptions, and using accepted abbreviations and legal documentation practices
• Demonstrate mastery of multiple calculation methods (ratio-proportion, dimensional analysis, and formula) to compute oral dosages for tablets, capsules, and liquids, including unit conversions and appropriate rounding conventions
• Perform parenteral injection calculations and preparation steps—calculating doses, dilutions, and administration volumes for subcutaneous and intramuscular injections—while evaluating and implementing patient safety measures and correct equipment selection