Copyright: Copyright © 1997


 Contents

Welcome to Teachers Tools:

A utility to accompany Drug Calculations for Nurses

By R. Lakeman (rlakeman@xtra.co.nz)

Working with the Drug Database

Working with Test Construction Set

Incorporating tests into Drug Calculations for Nurses Menu

Creating a paper test

Customising

Please Register this software!

Click on an under-lined word for help on a topic


 Creating your own tests

To include tests in the Drug Calculation for Nurses Menu:

Create your test, either using the question generation facilities or by manually entering test information.

Click the 'Test description' button. This will open a screen in which you may enter information about the test.

Title for test: This is the title that will appear in the Drug Calculations for Nurses menu.

A brief description of the test: This is the description that will appear bellow the selected item in the Drug Calculations for Nurses menu.

Test instructions: These will appear in the question box before the 'start' button is clicked in the Drug Calculations for Nurses program.

Include this test in the Drug Calculations for Nurses menu: This option must be clicked in order for the test to be included in the Drug Calculations for Nurses menu.

The test must now be saved as a "DCT" file, which is short for "Drug Calc Test". These can be stored anywhere, but they must be in the Drug Calculations for Nurses application directory in order to be included in the menu.

To create paper copies of a test:

 Create the test in the same way as you would for an online test. Select 'Save as' from the 'File' drop down  menu and select the 'text file' option from the dialogue box.

Under the 'File' drop menu there are also a number of options relating to text file tests. Select the options that you wish from the list before saving the test. These options relate to numbering style and what information to include in the test.

Open the saved test with the your notepad program or word processor.


 Customising

Selecting Change General Settings from the tool bar opens a screen which enables the user to change features of the program.

General Settings:

Question Construction

A 'tick' will appear in the check box if the option is enabled:

Use all metric units for metric conversion:

If unchecked only units, milliunits and microunits are used in the construction of metric conversion questions (these appear to be the most common units used in drug calculations). Various other units are used if this option is checked.

Use abbreviations for metric units:

If checked metric abbreviations e.g. 'ml' are used in tablet and fluid questions instead of prefixes e.g. 'millilitre'.

Use Generic and trade names for drugs:

If checked both generic and trade names may be used in tablet and fluid drug questions. If unchecked only generic names are used.

Appearance:

These options apply only to the Drug Calculations for Nurses program.

Disable animations for correct answers

If you grow tired of animations for correct answers select this option.

Textured background

On slow machines, or those with graphics settings set for low resolution or 256 colours, the textured background may cause the program to perform slowly. Choose this option if you would like a plain background.

Saving options:

The options chosen may be saved or just used for the current session. If at any time the user is unhappy with the selection then 'Restore default' will return values to the original values. The screen can be closed with no changes made, by clicking the terminate button on the top right hand side of the window.


Ordering and Registering

Teachers Tools and Drug Calculations for Nurses is shareware not freeware.

If you use and / or enjoy this software please register it. The complete package is registered together.

Registration will ensure that you are not bugged by 'pesky' reminders to register. It will also enable the author to continue developing software for nurses.

Support and enquiries:

The author welcomes enquiries and feedback about this software.

email : rlakeman@xtra.co.nz

WWW: http://www.osl.u-net.com/drugcalc/drugcalc

        	    http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/8517

The latest version is available from Simtel.Net:

  For Windows 3.1:

Via WWW: http://www.simtel.net/pub/simtelnet/win3/health/

Via FTP:     ftp://ftp.simtel.net/pub/simtelnet/win3/health/

  For Windows 95:

Via WWW: http://www.simtel.net/pub/simtelnet/win95/health/

Via FTP:     ftp://ftp.simtel.net/pub/simtelnet/win95/health/

Registration costs:

$50 Individual user licence *

This licence applies to individual users e.g. students.

$150 Site licence [$25 per additional computer] *

This licence applies to institutions such as hospitals, universities or polytechnics. Holders of a site licence may install this software on one machine for public access e.g. in a library. A cost of $25 applies for each additional computer this software is installed on.

* New Zealand Currency. Price by negotiation for site licences of 10 or more users or for group purchases by individuals.

How to register:

1. Drug Calculations for Nurses is distributed through a number of agencies:

            Register with the author:

Send cheque or money order to:

R Lakeman

100 Duchess Cres

HASTINGS

New Zealand

ph: (06) 876 2310

email: rlakeman@xtra.co.nz

           Or

            If in the United Kingdom contact:

Open Software Library

164 Windsor Road

Ashton-in-Makerfield

WIGAN WN4 9ES

ph: +44-(0)01942-712385

fax/BBS: +44-(0)1942-722984

email: Info@osl.u-net.com

WWW: http://www.osl.u-net.com/

3. Be to sure to include the following details with payment:

Registration Name (name of individual or institution - Max 35 Characters)

     Individual or site licence (indicate number of users)

Return address (snail mail or email)

Whether you wish to be notified of updates

4. A unique password will be sent to you (snail mail or email) which you can enter into the password field of the registration screen. You must be sure to enter both the name and password correctly on this screen.


 Test Construction Set

The Test Construction Set is a utility to allow you to create your own tests. These may be included in the Drug Calculations for Nurses menu and / or saved as text files.

Opening an existing test

Select 'Open' from the file drop down menu. Tests have the extension "DCT". Select a file using the dialogue box. Alternatively a list of files available in the Drug Calculations for Nurses application directory will also be available from the file menu.

Creating a new test

Select 'New' from the file menu. Alternatively if the opening screen says "Question 1/1" and no navigation buttons are present, you are ready to create a new test.

Navigation

Use the buttons on the bottom right of the screen to move forward and backwards. These will disappear if fields have not been completed. At least a question and answer must be provided for each question. Click the trash can to delete a record. You may need to do this if the last record in the test is blank and you wish to view other records.

N.B. Incomplete records can create problems. Ensure the answer and question fields are completed.

Question Creation Options

These options enable the user to generate questions using the question generation facilities provided by Drug Calculations for Nurses. At least one box for Metric Conversions, Fluid Dosages, Tablet Dosages, or IV drop rates must be checked. If more than one type of box is checked questions will be randomly generated from the selection. Select 'Change General Settings' from the 'Options' menu to change such options as whether or not abbreviations are used in the questions generated.

The categories of drugs used to generate tablet or fluid dosage questions may also be selected from a list box. Press shift while using the arrow keys or the mouse to select multiple categories.

Click 'Create Question' to generate a question. More than one question can be generated at a time by entering the number in the box above the button. If the question is unsuitable then click the trash can to delete the question. Questions, help and answers may be edited.

Creating and editing questions

The question, help and answer fields may be edited much like a word processor. Only the question and answer fields are absolutely required for an online test. If the help / solution box is completed then this will be accessible via the 'ShowMe' button in the Drug Calculations for Nurses question screen.

See Also: Creating your own tests

File Names

Drug Calculations for Nurses tests must have the extension "DCT". For example a short test on common abbreviations which comes with the package is entitled "ABBREV.DCT". For these tests to be included in the Drug Calculations for Nurses Menu they must reside in the Drug Calculations for Nurses application directory. A test description must also be entered and the check box on this screen must be checked. Alternatively a test may be saved as a text file which have the extension "txt". These can be opened and changed by notepad or a word processor.


 The drug database

This utility allow you to change, add and delete drugs to a database which Drug Calculations for Nurses and the Test Construction Set  uses to create tablet and fluid dosage questions. The database files reside in the Drug Calculations for Nurses application directory and must not be moved.

Navigation

A set of buttons at the bottom of this screen allow the user to navigate forward or backwards through the database. The vertical bars take you to the beginning or end of the database.

Inserting a new record

To insert a new record go to the last record and click the forward button. All fields within the record will appear blank. If you attempt to alter a record but provide incomplete information the program will prompt you with a series of warnings.

Deleting a record

Click on the trash can and the record will be deleted

Saving a record

If information about a drug is altered the program will ask you if you would like to save changes when you attempt to navigate forward or backwards from that record.

Generic Name

A Generic name for drugs must be entered

Trade Names

You may provide two trade names for a drug

Drug Category

You may select or change a drug category for any drug in the database. Categories are used in the Drug Calculations For Nurses program so that a user may select the type of drugs s/he would like to be tested on. Categories are also used in the test construction set so that a user can generate a test based on one or more categories of drugs. Use the drop down menu to select an existing category or create your own by typing one into the box provided. It is a good idea to limit your categories.

Dose Range

You must provide a dose range for the drug in units of your choice. This is the typical dose range for a single dose e.g. A typical dose for chlorpromazine may be between 10 mg and 200 mg.

Fluid increments

This field must be completed if the drug comes in fluid dose forms e.g. for injection. The units for fluid increments are those of the lowest dose in the dose range e.g. If chlorpromazine has a dose range of 10 mg to 200 mg, the fluid increment may be 10 (mg). In this example a question may be generated asking the user to calculate the volume of chlorpromazine to be given for a dose between 10 and 200 mg in increments of 10 (e.g. 10,20,30,40...200).

Dose Form

For every drug in the database at least one dose form must be given. These may include tablets, capsules, solution, suspension, syrup, emulsion, liquid forte, elixir, IM, IV or SC injection. These dose forms may be selected by using the scroll bars and clicking on the form that the drug is available in.

Half Tablets

If you have chosen tablets as a dose form for a drug you may click on the check box which will automatically appear if the tablet is able to be halved.

Drug Dose

A dose and dose unit for the drug must be entered. The default unit is milligrams. Use the scroll bars to choose a new unit and click on the unit to confirm your selection.

Fluid Dose Units

For fluid dose forms e.g. elixir you must also select the volume which a given dose comes in. This is automatically in millilitres.