[sschele]

Evening..I am a new LPN and have been reading some of the posts on here and I have noticed a few people mention they had to take a math test. What does that include? I am in the process of looking for a job, just wanted to know what I would be expecting.
Thanks!

[dopaminequeenRN]

The test I took pertained to dosage calculations such as "The doctor ordered morphine 4mg IV. You have a vial lableled 'morphine 2mg/ml.' How much morphine do you draw from the vial?" There were also drip factor and drops per minute questions. If this stuff was a breeze for you in school, don't fret. You should do fine. I was always terrible with math and still managed to pass the test at my current hospital. I hope this answered your question. Congratulations on becoming a nurse!!!!!!!!!

[Butterflybee]

Wow, i didnt know they tested you as part of the interview process...

[pagandeva2000]

From what I have seen, they are usually simple calculation questions that you got while in class. I did hear of one RN that described an exam to be similar to what she got in school. She said one of the questions asked which medication is measured by peaks and troughs and she forgot and chose digitalis, when the answer was vancomycin. And she got many calculation questions on IV drips. That was the worst I heard thus far. My job gave a test, but funny, they were desperate for nurses because they basically gave us the answers before we took the exam. One of the agencies I worked for gave an exam, but it was mixed with basic nursing questions, and a few meds-no calculations. I tend to try and avoid agencies that want tests at this point of the game because I am sick of them. The agency I signed up for recently did not require tests, thank goodness, and I am seeing that more of them are leaning away from it (I assume because most nurses must feel the same way I do about tests at this point in my life).

I suggest that before you go for an interview to review your calculations, especially if it is for pediatrics or other places that will really require that you do some basic math. That would be my basic plan if I chose to move on from where I am currently working. This seems to be almost the norm for nursing jobs. Congrats on becoming a nurse!