Reflection paper - Essay Example

Math MEDICAL MATH OBSERVATION April 12, 2013Introduction This is a project that would be good for a Medical Math course and a Medical Terminology course. The activities that I participated in while on this observational serve were as follow: 1. Answering phones. 2. I read to the children to keep them occupied so that they were not running around the office. 3. I observed the staff while they conducted various examinations when permitted. 4.

I also helped to do an inventory of vaccines checking Lot No., Expiration dates, etc. Activities accomplished The last activity is the one that fits well with a Medical Math course for it gave me practice with taking an inventory and using the various forms for an inventory. I read many medical terms while completing this activity. The words or abbreviations were PRN, vaccine, injection, body surface area, means and extremes, milliequivalent , proportion and ratio. This observational serve taught me to follow these very simple rules.1. There is no room for error in calculating dosages.2. Check math work with another nurse or staff person.3. Work problems systematically and carefully on paper.4. Reduce distraction while working problems.5. Is the answer reasonable?

(Christensen, p.393) These five steps could be used in various problem solving situations, for example they remind you to ask questions when help is needed. They also reminded to do what needs to be done and that I should show initiative and be a team player. Dealing with Medical math this observational serve introduced me to some Pediatric considerations in dealing with medications and where Medical Math is used. Here are some of the various formulas that are used for calculating dosages for children.

They are Young’s Rule, Clark’s Rule, Fried’s Rule and Body surface area. I also learned the Five Rules for Medication Administration and they are right dose, right time, right route, right medication, and the right patient. I learned the routes of administration as well and they are enteral, percutaneous, and parenteral. (Christensen, p.395)Conclusion This assignment of doing an observational serve would be good for a Medical Math course for it gave me practical knowledge and practice using my math skills, for example means and extremes.

It also gave me a chance to show what I can do in a Pediatric type office. I found out that I liked working with the children. This observational serve showed me how to use the various problem solving skills in an academic way along with dealing with social issues when I was reading to the children and some of them were afraid and I read a children’s book about visiting the doctor’s office. ReferenceChristensen, Barbara & Kockrow, Elaine. Foundations of Nursing. Chapter 20 Mathematics Review.

Second Edition Mosby (1995) p. 393-395.