Jan. 2015
Angelina College
Health Careers Division
PHRA 1309 Pharmaceutical Math
General Syllabus
I.
BASIC COURSE INFORMATION:
A. Course Description: PHRA 1309 Pharmaceutical Math: 3 hours credit Solving pharmaceutical
calculation problems encountered in the preparation and distribution of drugs. Learning outcome: Solve basic math
problems and demonstrate conversion between various systems of measurement including household, metric, and
apothecary; and perform adult and pediatric dosage calculations. Hybrid course for a total of 48 hours.
B. Intended Audience: Any health career major.
C. Instructor: Elaine Young
Office Location: Health Careers II Building room 222E
Office Hours: Thursday 3-4 pm or by appt. only Monday or Tuesday or Friday 8:00 am -12:00 noon
Phone: 936-633-5433
E-mail Address: eyoung@angelina.edu
Students may e-mail questions to the instructor at any time. The instructor will attempt to reply to all e-mail
within 24 hours during the weekdays or by Monday afternoon for weekend e-mail. Fridays are available for
one-on-one meetings with the instructor if desired from 8:00am-12:00 noon or for questions about the
lecture & activities for the hybrid course.
II. INTENDED STUDENT OUTCOMES:
A. Core Objectives Required for this Course
1. Critical Thinking: to include creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis, evaluation
and synthesis of information
2. Communication: to include effective development, interpretation and expression of ideas
through written, oral and visual communication
3. Empirical and Quantitative Skills: to include the manipulation and analysis of numerical data
or observable facts resulting in informed conclusions
4. Teamwork: to include the ability to consider different points of view and to work effectively
with others to support a shared purpose or goal
5. Social Responsibility: to include the ability to connect choices, actions and consequences to
ethical decision-making
6. Personal Responsibility: to include intercultural competence, knowledge of civic
responsibility, and the ability to engage effectively in regional, national, and global
communities
B. Course Objectives for all Sections1. Describe systems of weight, measure, and temperature used in pharmacy practice.
2. Accurately convert between the different systems of measurement.
3. Identify common medication errors involving calculations.
4. Accurately compute formulas used to compound medications, number of days prescription will last,
volume or quantity to dispense, dilutions, drug dosages, and percent contractions.
Revised: 12/12/14
C.
Course Objectives as determined by the instructorUnit 1
Chapter 1: Understanding Subdivisions of Numbers, Number Systems, Estimating, and Accuracy, as
stated on page 1 in textbook.
Chapter 2: Using Ratios, Percents, and Proportions, as stated on page 43 in textbook.
Unit II
Chapter 3: Developing Literacy Skills, as stated on page 73 in textbook.
Chapter 4: Applying Metric Measurements and Calculating Doses, as stated on page 97 in textbook.
Unit III
Chapter 5: Using Household Measures in Pharmacy Calculations, as stated on page 133 in textbook.
Chapter 6: Preparing Injectable Medications, as stated on page 175 in textbook.
Unit IV
Chapter 7: Preparing Parenteral Solutions, as stated on page 211 in textbook.
Unit V
Chapter 8: Using Special Calculations in Compounding, as stated on page 241 in textbook.
III. ASSESSMENT MEASURES
A. Assessments for the Core Objectives:
1. Critical Thinking: to include creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis, evaluation
and synthesis of information
2. Communication: to include effective development, interpretation and expression of ideas
through written, oral and visual communication
3. Empirical and Quantitative Skills: to include the manipulation and analysis of numerical data
or observable facts resulting in informed conclusions
4. Teamwork: to include the ability to consider different points of view and to work effectively
with others to support a shared purpose or goal
5. Social Responsibility: to include the ability to connect choices, actions and consequences to
ethical decision-making
6. Personal Responsibility: to include intercultural competence, knowledge of civic
responsibility, and the ability to engage effectively in regional, national, and global
communities
B. Assessments for Course Learning Outcomes
CORE COMPETENCIES: SCANS – (Secretary’s Commission on Academic Necessary Skills)
Students are expected to demonstrate basic competency in academic and workforce skills. The following
are competencies with evaluation are included in PHRA 1309.
SCAN Skills
Assessments
Foundation Skills
Written Assignments/case studies
Oral Presentations
Required Readings
Critical Thinking/calculation problems
Demonstrated Competency in lab/practicum
Workplace Competencies
Computer Assisted Instruction
Application of knowledge & skills in lab
Demonstrated Competency in lab/practicum
IV. INSTRUCTIONAL PROCEDURES:
A. Methodologies common to all sections
Revised: 12/12/14
Discussion, demonstration, return demonstration/performance, video.
Additional methods designed for remediation or enrichment may be individually tailored as needed.
B. Methodologies determined by the instructor-same as above
V. COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND POLICIES:
A. Required Textbooks and Recommended Readings, Materials and Equipment
Pharmacy Calculations for Technicians, Succeeding in Pharmacy Math, Fifth Edition, Ballington and Green
EMC Paradigm, 2014
Study Partner CD provided with textbook
Internet Resource Center www.emcp.net/pharmcalc5e
Pharmacy Technician math flash cards at www.flashcardexchange.com/tag/technician
The student will need a basic calculator for simple mathematical calculations.
Cell phones must be turned off during lecture and lab time. Student will sign and abide by cell phone policy
and procedure on the first class day.
B. Assignments
Week 1 & 2
Week 3 & 4
Week 5-7
Week 8-10
Go over
syllabus
Handouts
Pre-test
Chapter 1
Chapter 1
quiz mode
Chapter 1
practice
Chapter 2
Chapter 2
quiz mode
Chapter 2
practice
Unit I
Exam (1
&2)
Chapter 3
Practice 3
Quiz mode
3
Chapter 4
Chapter 4
quiz mode
Chapter 4
practice
Unit II
Exam-3,4
Chapter 5
Practice 5
Quiz mode
5
Case
Studies
Chapter 6
Chapter 6
quiz mode
Chapter 6
practice
Unit III
Exam-5,6
Case
Studies
Week 11 &
12
Chapter 7
Practice 7
Quiz Mode
7
Unit IV
Exam
Week 13 &
14
Chapter 8
Practice 8
Quiz Mode
8
Quiz Mode
grade
sheet due
Unit V
Exam
Week 15 &
16
Review
Chapters
1-8
Final Exam
C. Course Policies – This course conforms to the policies of Angelina College as stated in the
Angelina College Handbook.
Academic Assistance – If you have a disability (as cited in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
or Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990) that may affect your participation in this class, you
should see Karen Bowser, Room 208 of the Student Center. At a post-secondary institution, you must selfidentify as a person with a disability; Ms. Bowser will assist you with the necessary information to do so.
Angelina College (AC) admits students without regard to race, color, religion, natural origin, sex, disability,
or age. Inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies of AC should be directed to: Dr. Patricia
McKenzie, Vice President and Dean of Instruction, at 936-633-5201, Angelina College Administration
building, Room A 105.
1. Attendance – Attendance is required as per Angelina College Policy and will be recorded
every day. Any student with three (3) consecutive absences of four (4) cumulative
absences may be dropped from the class. Records will be turned in to the academic dean
at the end of the semester. Do not assume that non-attendance in class will always result
in an instructor drop. You must officially drop a class or risk receiving an F. This is
official Angelina College Policy.
Revised: 12/12/14
2. Additional Policies Established by the Instructor
VI.
COURSE CONTENT:
A. Required Content/ Topics –
Unit I
Understanding Subdivisions of Numbers, Number Systems, Estimating, and Accuracy
After completion of this unit, the student will be able to:
1. Understand fractions and be able to compare them, express them as decimals, and find
common denominators.
2. Manipulate fractions by adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing them.
3. Interpret Roman and Arabic numbers and convert values between the two systems.
4. Read scientific notation and convert large and small numbers to scientific notation.
5. Determine the value of a decimal and accurately round off decimal values.
6. Estimate drug doses in order to check the accuracy of final calculations.
7. Perform calculations while retaining accuracy and the correct number of significant figures.
Course Reading:
*Refresher course on basic mathematical operations. Visit www.math.com for review activities in addition,
subtraction, multiplication, division, fraction/decimal conversion, & metric conversion.
Submit recordable quiz mode Ch. 1 to eyoung@angelina.edu after completion of Unit I
lecture.
Unit II.
Using Ratios, Percents, and Proportions
After completion of this unit, the student will be able to:
1. Understand the use of ratios and proportions in the pharmacy.
2. Solve pharmacy calculations by using ratios and proportions.
3. Calculate percentage of error and evaluate measurements using percentage of error
Submit recordable quiz mode Ch. 2 to eyoung@angelina.edu after completion of Unit II lecture.
Unit III
Developing Literacy Skills
After completion of this unit, the student will be able to:
1. Identify the elements of a complete prescription order.
2. Apply calculation operations in handling prescription orders.
3. Recognize the elements of a medication label.
4. Apply calculation operations to information on medication labels.
Submit recordable quiz mode Ch. 3 to eyoung@angelina.edu after completion of Unit III lecture.
Unit IV
Applying Metric Measurements and Calculating Doses
Revised: 12/12/14
After completion of this unit, the student will be able to:
1. Identify the basic units and prefixes of the metric system.
2. Convert units within the metric system by moving the decimal place, using the ratio-proportion
method, and using the dimensional analysis method.
3. Calculate drug doses using the ratio-proportion and dimensional analysis methods.
4. Calculate doses based on weight and body surface area (BSA)
5. Calculate a pediatric dose using the patient’s weight or age and the appropriate adult dose.
Submit recordable quiz mode Ch. 4 to eyoung@angelina.edu after completion of Unit IVlecture.
Unit V
Using Household Measure in Pharmacy Calculations
After completion of this unit, the student will be able to:
1. Identify units of household measure and convert between them
2. Solve medication problems by using household measure and the metric system.
3. Convert body weight between kilograms and pounds.
4. Determine pediatric doses using dosing tablets.
5. Calculate the amount of medication to be dispensed.
6. Calculate temperature conversions between Celsius and Fahrenheit.
Submit recordable quiz mode Ch. 5 to eyoung@angelina.edu after completion of Unit V lecture.
Unit VI
Preparing Injectable Medications
After completion of this unit, the student will be able to:
1. Calculate the volume to be measured when given a specific dose.
2. Calculate the amount of drug in a given volume.
3. Identify drugs that use units as a dose designation.
4. Calculate the volume of a substance that has an electrolyte as its primary ingredient.
5. Calculate the quantity of units in a given concentration and dose.
6. Calculate the volume of insulin to be administered.
Submit recordable quiz mode Ch. 6 to eyoung@angelina.edu after completion of Unit VI lecture.
Unit VII
Preparing Parenteral Solutions
After completion of this unit, the student will be able to
1. Describe percentage as weight in weight, weight in volume, and volume in volume.
2. Calculate the amount of medication in a solution based on a given percentage.
3. Calculate the percentage of medication in a given solution.
4. Describe the types of IV sets by drops delivered.
5. Calculate IV drop rates and flow rates using various sets.
6. Estimate and calculate time for IV administration.
7. Calculate rates of IV infusion and IV piggyback infusion.
Submit recordable quiz mode Ch. 7 to eyoung@angelina.edu after completion of Unit VII lecture.
Unit VIII
Using Special Calculations in Compounding
After completion of this unit, the student will be able to:
Revised: 12/12/14
1.
2.
3.
4.
Calculate the amount of drug in a final product that has been diluted.
Calculate the amount of concentrate and diluents needed to make a desired concentration.
Calculate the amount of two products needed to prepare a desired concentration.
Determine the least weighable quantity on a balance with a known accuracy and a given margin of
error.
5. Recognize when diluents must be added to an ingredient for weighing and measuring purposes.
6. Determine the amount of an aliquot in measuring diluted substances.
Submit recordable quiz mode Ch. 8 to eyoung@angelina.edu after completion of Unit VIII lecture.
Additional Content – This course includes the Modules 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 26 from the American Society
of Health System Pharmacists’ Model Curriculum for Pharmacy Technician Training( Second Edition)
VII. EVALUATION AND GRADING:
A.
Grading CriteriaRecordable quiz modes (8) (email to
eyoung@angelina.edu
200
Attendance/Participation/Homework assignment *
Case Studies
Unit I Exam
Unit II Exam
Unit IIIExam
Unit IVExam
Unit V Exam
Final Exam
40
60
100
100
100
100
100
200
*Assignments/Attendance quizzes cannot be made up. Twenty points will be deducted for each absence
(excused or unexcused) ALL INTERESTED PHARMACY TECH APPLICANTS MUST MAINTAIN 830
POINTS OR HIGHER OR RETAKE THE COURSE IF ACCEPTED INTO THE PROGRAM FALL 2015.
B.
Determination of Grade –
The alphabetic grading for this course is as follows:
A =900-1000 pts
B =830-899 pts
C =750-799 pts
D=700-749 pts
F= 699 points or below
The instructor may modify the provisions of the syllabus to meet individual class needs by informing the class in
advance as to the changes being made.
Revised: 12/12/14