Pharmacy Calculations for Pharmacy Technicians

This book is divided into eight units containing 33 chapters and over 400 practice problems.

Unit 1: Essential Skills

As with any subject, you must master some basic material before you can tackle the main subject. The following topics are cover in Unit 1.

The Metric System
Apothecary/Avoirdupois/Household Systems
Ratios
Dimensional Analysis and Ratio Proportion
Rounding Numbers
Unit 2: Auxiliary Subjects

Unit 2 covers a few subjects which you may or may not need, depending on your school and/or practice.

Scientific Notation
Significant Figures
Roman Numerals
Unit 3: Unit Conversions

Converting between the various units of measurements used in pharmacy is an essential skill and mastering this unit will set you up for success in the more complex calculations.

Unit Conversions-The Basics
Unit Conversions Within the Metric System
Unit Conversions Within the Household System
Unit Conversions Between Metric, Household and Apothecary
Unit Conversions Involving Hours and Minutes
Unit 4: Dosage Calculations

This unit starts by covering the terminology then moves on to the various ways to set up and solve the problems. Three levels of problems follow, starting with easy, one-step problems, and moving on to more complex problems.

Dosage Calculations-The Basics
Dosage Calculations Levels 1, 2, and 3
Body Surface Area Dosing Calculations
Unit 5: IV Flow Rate Calculations

As with the dosage calculation unit, this unit starts off with the basics then moves on to calculations, starting with easy calculations and progressing to more complex calculations.

IV Flow Rate Calculations-The Basics
IV Flow Rate Calculations Level 1 and 3
IV Flow Rate Adjustments
Unit 6: Percent and Ratio Strength Calculations

As a pharmacy technician, you will encounter drugs expressed in a percent strength every day and it is important that you master this unit.

Percent
Percent Strength
Percent Error
Ratio Strength
Unit 7: Concentrations/Dilutions/Reconstitution Calculations

No pharmacy calculation course would be complete without a section on concentrations and dilutions. The knowledge gained in the previous unit will come in handy here.

Concentrations and Dilutions
Powder Volume Calculations
Serial Dilution
Unit 8: Miscellaneous Subjects

Be sure to take the self-assessment exam and work on any problem areas.

Milliequivalent Calculations
Temperature Conversion Calculations
Pharmacy Calculation Puzzles
Self-Assessment Exam