PARA1500 Drug Calculations Course description

Admission to the programme.

After completing the course, the student is expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student

• has knowledge of the key concepts in drug calculations

• has knowledge of the role of drug calculations as part of drug administration and how it is regulated by acts and regulations

Skills

The student

• masters drug calculations in that he/she is capable of:

  • using international standards and unitary systems in drug calculations

  • calculating dosages, concentrations or amounts

  • calculating injection and infusion rates (dr/min and ml/hr)

  • calculating timing of dose distribution over a specified time interval, within a specified time period

  • calculating prescribed doses in ml or drops per time interval (0.125 mg/ml or 0.15 ml/kg/min)

  • calculating prescribed doses in relation to body weight (in kg or body surface in m2)

  • calculating the dilution of drugs in liquid form or the dilution of drugs added to solutions for injection/infusion

  • assessing and controlling their own and other people's calculations

The work and teaching methods in the course entail student-active work and teaching methods in addition to lectures.  

The following required coursework must be approved before the student can take the exam:

• Passed qualifying arithmetic problems in the form of multiple choice questions within a set time before the exam  

The student has up to three attempts to pass this requirement before the ordinary exam, and up to a further three attempts before a resit/rescheduled exam.

If a student takes more than one academic year to take the exam after the required coursework is approved, the faculty can order the student to repeat previously approved compulsory coursework before the student can take the exam in the course.

Exam content: The learning outcomes

Exam form: Supervised individual written exam, 3 hours

Examiners: All papers are assessed by two internal examiners

Assessment: Pass/fail To pass the exam, the student must submit a faultless exam paper.

The student has three attempts at the exam. If the student does not pass the exam at the third attempt, he/she can apply for a fourth and final attempt.  

Calculator handed out by the university.