1. What is the Drug Dosage Formula?

The drug dosage formula calculates the volume of medication to administer based on the ordered dose, available stock strength, and volume. It's essential for safe medication administration in clinical practice.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the basic drug dosage formula:

Where:

• \( Ordered\ Dose \) — The prescribed amount of medication (mg)
• \( Volume \) — The volume of the medication (mL)
• \( Stock\ Strength \) — The concentration of the medication (mg/mL)

Explanation: The formula calculates the exact volume of medication needed to deliver the prescribed dose based on the available concentration.

3. Importance of Accurate Dosage Calculation

Details: Precise dosage calculation is critical for patient safety, ensuring therapeutic effectiveness while avoiding medication errors and potential toxicity.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the ordered dose in mg, volume in mL, and stock strength in mg/mL. All values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What if my medication is in different units?
A: Convert all values to consistent units (mg and mL) before calculation. For example, convert grams to milligrams (1g = 1000mg).

Q2: How should I round the final dose?
A: Follow your institution's policy, but typically round to 2 decimal places for volumes ≥1mL and 3 decimal places for volumes <1mL.

Q3: What about pediatric doses?
A: The same formula applies, but double-check weight-based dosing and always verify with a second clinician for pediatric patients.

Q4: When should I use this formula?
A: Use for liquid medications, IV medications, or any medication where you need to calculate the volume to administer based on concentration.

Q5: What safety checks should I perform?
A: Always have another nurse verify calculations for high-risk medications, and check that the answer makes sense clinically.