HMATH 100 - Math for Health Professions

Credits: 5
Variable Credit Course: No

Lecture Hours: 55
Lab Hours: 0
Worksite/Clinical Hours: 0
Other Hours (LIA/Internships): 0

Course Description: This course is non-transferrable and for health profession students only. Estimation and practical problem solving techniques explored through lecture, discussion and computer work. Topics include: medical abbreviations; conversions using metric, household, apothecary units and scientific notations; percentages; calculation of body statistics; medication dosages and intravenous flow rates.

Prerequisite: MATH 096 with a C or higher (or placement into MATH 097/WMATH 100).
Meets FQE Requirement: No
Integrative Experience Requirement: No

Student Learning Outcomes

Solve problems involving integers, fractions, percents and decimal numbers.
Use estimation and problem-solving strategies to check the reasonableness of calculated results.
Learn vocabulary, measurement units and make conversions between the Household, Apothecary and the metric measurement systems.
Solve practical problems involving linear equations in one unknown. (eg. Temp conversions).
Solve practical problems involving direct and inverse variation. (eg. tube feedings conversions).
Solve practical problems involving roots and radicals. (eg. body statistics conversions).
Solve practical problems involving scientific exponential notations.
Use basic mathematical skills to solve practical problems arising in occupational clusters. Calculate the preparation of oral doses based on strength, weight, and BSA. Calculate the preparation or strength of percentage solutions. Calculate the Intramuscular injection doses from vials, ampules and powders. Calculate the rate of flow and run time for Intravenous solutions, enteral medications and tube feedings.

Course Contents

Review of decimals, percents, ratio and proportions.
Introduction of medical abbreviations and medical equivalents.
Estimation techniques and dimensional analysis.
Reintroduce household, scientific, time and apothecary systems of measurement.
Introduction of metric system of measurement for solids, liquids, temperatures and lengths.
Converting amounts from one system to another: volume, weight, time and temperature.
Use equations and formulas to compute then measure oral and parenteral medications.
Calculate the preparation or strength of percentage solutions.
Compute body statistics using exponents and radicals.
Understand how to safely adjust medications based on age, weight, percent change or BSA.
Prepare and compute dosages from vials, ampules and powders.
Calculate the rate of flow and run time for infusions, enteral medications and tube feedings.

Instructional Units: 5