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Drug Calculations using Safe Medicate

Guidance on the range of questions used on safe-medicate for exams across several courses.

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Introduction

Safe Medicate

Safe-Medicate is an online learning and assessment system Teesside University uses to administer drug calculation exams.

You can learn about a range of questions and techniques using the system and complete mock exams on the system before your actual exam.

In most cases you are required 100% to pass, so minimising errors is very important in your exam.

This module aims to look at a range of questions you can come across and provide general tips on how to minimise errors.

Please be aware that not all types of questions relate to all courses.
For example, in Midwifery, the formative exam in the first year will only be based on the content of the first video, whereas the summative exam in the 2nd year of Midwifery will be based on all of the videos in this series.
Under each video, you will find a list of courses it relates to.

Essential Skills

The Essential Skills module includes a wide range of basic calculations for nursing, these have been split into two videos below.

The first video covers volume calculations - calculating the correct injection or tablets to give based on a patient dose and stock medicine.

Video above applies to these courses:

  • FdSc Nursing Associate
  • BSc (Hons) Midwifery (Pre-Registration) (Years 1 & 2)

 

The second video focuses on infusions as well as drip calculations

Video above applies to these courses:

  • BSc (Hons) Midwifery (Pre-Registration) (Year 2)

 

Bodyweight Calculations

Another type of question that can come up on Safe-Medicate is a bodyweight calculation. This is where you will need to check that the dose has been calculated correctly based on the patient's weight.

Video above applies to these courses:

  • BSc (Hons) Midwifery (Pre-Registration) (Year 2)

Injectable Medicines

Another category of questions is the Injectible Medicines Therapy.

These are a collection of questions either focussed on infusions where the rate or duration will need altering to calculate the infusion rate for a volumetric pump or questions which combine bodyweight and infusion calculations.

Video above applies to these courses:

  • BSc (Hons) Midwifery (Pre-Registration) (Year 2)

General Tips

The video below looks at general tips to reduce errors on Safe-Medicate exams.

It looks at the full range of common questions - note that not all of these may apply to your course.
For example, drip calculations and IV calculations only apply to the 2nd year of Midwifery.

Video above applies to these courses:

  • FdSc Nursing Associate
  • BSc (Hons) Midwifery (Pre-Registration) (Years 1 & 2)

     

Safe Medicate Access

Ensure that you have access to Safe-Medicate for your exam. You watch training videos for the modules attached to your course and have a go at practice questions and mock exams.

If you don't yet have access, contact your module tutor as soon as possible.

Additional Support

If you require additional help, please contact the Student Success Team at studentsucess@tees.ac.uk

One-to-one and small group appointments can be arranged with one of our numeracy tutors to raise your confidence for the exam.

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