Foundations of Nursing Calculations and IV

This 0.25 Carnegie Unit establishes foundational mathematical, pharmacologic, and clinical skills required for safe medication administration and introductory IV therapy. Students will develop competency in metric conversions and dosage calculations, vital sign interpretation, basic injection/venepuncture techniques, infection control, legal/safety principles, and recognition of adverse reactions to prepare for more advanced IV practice.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze and convert between metric units, fractions, percentages, moles/millimoles, and common household measures to accurately perform medication dosage calculations for oral, injectable, and IV preparations
• Apply medication safety principles, legal/ethical requirements, and aseptic non-touch technique (ANTT) to prepare and administer medications and set up basic IV equipment while minimizing risk of error and contamination
• Demonstrate correct techniques for measuring and interpreting vital signs, drawing blood (venepuncture), selecting appropriate injection types and IV access devices, and adapting procedures for special populations such as infants
• Evaluate patient responses including adverse drug reactions, compatibility (basic blood typing concepts), and pain indicators, and implement immediate nursing actions and documentation to mitigate complications