Need some encouragement... It could be over for me!!!

NewmanFamily6 · Jan 24, 2009

Take a deep breath! Do some practice problems and do not speed through them. Make sure your answer is complete before moving to the next question. You can do this and you will do this:) You have come too far to let nerves get you now! Just remain calm, focus, and take your time.

rn4lyfe08 · Jan 24, 2009

Calm down. Take your time. I was always taught in my math classes to work your problems forwards AND backwards. Once you get an answer,work the problem in reverse and see if u get what u started with. It also helped me to put a box around my final answer after I worked it out on paper. Ten it was easy to check my boxed answer against the one I put on the line for the final answer. Hope it helps and good luck.

Fermin Hernandez, ADN, ASN, RN · Jan 24, 2009

Focus.

Figure out what went wrong, fix it.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Jan 24, 2009

Read the question and find out exactly what you are looking to determine (mg per dose, mL/hr, centrigrade, hours and minutes, etc.). Write that out in your answer field--that'll put your units where they need to be, so you can't forget to add them.

Then work out the problem and make sure that the answer you come up with is in the terms you're looking for (so you don't stop at mg when it should be in mcg). Then work the problem again. If you answers match, move to the next question.

If you're still fuzzy or uncertain about a question, work it backwards from the answer you got and see if it works.

Remember that you may not have to use every single piece of data given to you in order to answer the question. Some pieces of data are simply not needed and are there as red herrings. That's why you read through the question first to find out exactly what you are looking for before you even begin.

Take your time: you don't have to finish first to pass, so don't race yourself or any other student.

Do not forget your rounding rules! And remember: do NOT round after each step in your calculations. Round only at the very end of the problem unless your school specifically tells you to do otherwise. Ask them if you're not certain.

NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN · Jan 24, 2009

The same that happened to me ! Minus the failing part.

I was one of those students who were very good at doing those drug calc problems. I knew my conversions by heart and can work out a problem in my sleep. I had NO worries about that drug calc exam. I would also take 15 minutes before lecture to teach my fellow classmates how to break down those problems. Some of my classmates would fret about the upcoming drug calc exam, but after a couple hours with me, they had no worries. So I took my exam, felt like I did well as a matter of fact I knew I got an A... However a couple hours later I got knocked off my high horse ! We needed an 80 to pass, and I got that 80 ! I was glad I passed, however I couldn't believe I got so many wrong, when I knew what I was doing. So the lesson I learned was to double,triple check my work, take my time, and be confident but not overly confident. And the students that I turtored all got A's ! I was very proud of them :)

Jules A, MSN · Jan 24, 2009

I used to do all my math exams twice and more than once found a stupid mistake! Wishing you well, try to relax and know that you can do this.

Cilantrophobe · Jan 25, 2009

I have no idea how the format of the tests are but if you have time then why don't you take the test twice, just working out all the answers on 2 separate pieces of paper and then compare the two pieces of paper...? That way you don't see your original thoughts when you revisit the problem. Just don't forget to leave yourself enough time to go back and fill in all of the answers on to the test!

Just relax and take your time, ALL the time provided if you have to. Good luck. Try not to worry. YOU KNOW THIS STUFF! :)

lizlafoe · Jan 25, 2009

Go see your teacher in private during office hours. Calmly explain that you have test anxiety and see if you can work some problems together with your teacher, or maybe just do the problem you missed, instead of retaking the entire test.

I am excellent at doing med math in clinical and I Always get the med math questions right on exams...but I have never passed a med math test on the first try and I think I failed the one for pharm four or five times.

Nurse Allison · Jan 25, 2009

I feel your pain. I just took my math calc test on Friday and needed an 80 to pass. I'm rethikng all my answers and realizing I made some very stupid mistakes. I'm praying for that 80 on Monday, but highly doubt it's going to happen. I loved math in high school, always took advanced courses, but feel like I'm choking on these easy problems due to anxiety. :no:

CandyGyrl · Jan 25, 2009

Thanks everyone! I am sure going to take all of your the advice to do more practice problems even if I feel like I know it (you can never be too sure) take the units requested and put them in the final answer, put a box around my answers so I can check those against my final answer, take the test twice, work the problem backwards just to make sure, take my time (most importantly).

This has never happened to me before and I really think I had an acute case of test anxiety. The first time around I completely freaked out, I couldn't remember anything, I broke out into a sweat, I was shaking, I felt like standing up and screaming in the middle of the classroom! We have to get a 90% to pass which means no more than 2 wrong is the limit. I will try to relax, focus on the upcoming exam and come out on top. Thanks again for the encouragement.

inland18mempire · Jan 25, 2009

It sounds like you are TOO confident to me. All this "I was the FIRST one done" and "I knew I had it!" That kind of attitude will crush you. This is your last and final time to take the test. Go in. Take your time. It is not a race. Read everything thoroughly. Read your work and answers thoroughly.

Just on a side note, guys. You shouldn't be allowed to miss even one question. When you're in the hospital setting your employer doesn't say "Well, as long as your calculations are right and you give the right dosage 80% of the time, then that's OK". The fact that your school is allowing its' students to miss even one questions is VERY generous.