Skipping Nursing Calc?

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Is this possible? I've been offered an unexpected opportunity to transfer in to a very well respected program, but under the understanding that I can provide an unofficial transcript and can pass the med calc competency test. Assuming I am great with math, is this something where I could memorize a couple dozen medical equations and pass this?

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is this possible? i've been offered an unexpected opportunity to transfer in to a very well respected program, but under the understanding that i can provide an unofficial transcript and can pass the med calc competency test. assuming i am great with math, is this something where i could memorize a couple dozen medical equations and pass this?

yes you can study for this on your own, it's very simple math, but also it's things like measurement and conversions, there are some online sites. but i would also recomend getting a book and looking through that to self teach you.

here are some links i have on tutorials.

dosage calc

basic drug calculations review

nursing calculators

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

yes. there are tutorials listed on post #3 of this sticky thread:

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Specializes in 5th Semester - Graduation Dec '09!.
Is this possible? I've been offered an unexpected opportunity to transfer in to a very well respected program, but under the understanding that I can provide an unofficial transcript and can pass the med calc competency test. Assuming I am great with math, is this something where I could memorize a couple dozen medical equations and pass this?

You will be fine. Nursing math is VERY basic. It's ratio and metric conversion and never evolves more than multiplying and dividing.

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Specializes in Many.

I USE THIS SIMPLE EQUATION THAT WORKS FOR ALL DRUG CALCULATIONS AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO MEMORIZE DIFFERENT SOLUTIONS!!

EXAMPLE: ORDER: VERAPAMIL 60MG PO STAT. ON HAND IS VERAPAMIL 120MG TABLETS. HOW MUCH DO YOU GIVE?

THE ONLY IMPORTANT THING YOU NEED TO KNOW WITH (MY) SYSTEM IS--YOU NEED TO KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO GET, IE, PILLS, MLS, GTTS/MIN, MLS/HR. ONCE YOU HAVE WHAT YOU NEED TO GET YOU WRITE THAT DOWN. I PUT A LINE UNDER WHAT I NEED TO GET BECAUSE WHEN YOU START MEDS WITH ML/HR YOU WILL HAVE TO WRITE IT DOWN AS---ML YOU WITH ME SO FAR?

--------

HR

THE NEXT IMPORTANT STEP IS TO LOOK AT YOUR PROBLEM AND FIND OUT "PILLS". SO 1 PILL = 160MG.

NEXT IS THE ORDER OR WHATEVER HAS "MG" IN IT. SET IT UP LIKE THIS. NOW CROSS OUT THE MG'S AND YOU ARE LEFT WILL "PILLS". NOW MULTIPLY THE TOP NUMBERS AND DIVIDE IT BY THE BOTTOM NUMBER AND YOU WILL END UP WITH .5 PILLS OR ½ PILL. EASY HA!!

PILL= 1PILL 60MG 60

_____ ________ ________ ____= .5 PILLS OR ½ PILL

120MG 120

NOW LETS DO IV

THE POWER GOES OUT AND YOU MUST CONTROL THE IV FLOW RATE BY DRIP RATE. THE IV RATE SHOULD BE AT 40ML/HR. THE TUBING IS 15GTTS/ML. HOW MANY GTTS/MINUTE WILL DELIVER THE 40ML/HR.

WE NEED TO FIND GTTS/MIN. FIND GTTS AND PUT ON TOP.

GTTS 15GTTS 40ML 600

______= ________ ______ ______= 10GTTS/MIN

MIN ML 60MIN 60

YOU WILL GET THE CORRECT ANSWER AS LONG AS YOU START WITH WHAT YOU NEED.

I HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT WAYS TO GET DIFFERENT PROBLEMS AND THIS ONE HASN'T LET ME DOWN

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Specializes in Triage, MedSurg, MomBaby, Peds, HH.

Yes. Our school doesn't even have this as a separate course. We are instructed to purchase Deborah Gray Morris' Calculate With Confidence which comes with a helpful DVD program. We must pass 3 tests on Oral, Parenteral and IV calculations with 90% or above.

I am an absolute moron with math and these were sooooo easy. Congratulations on your acceptance and best wishes.

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My school doesn't teach medical math but, like wildchipmunk, had to self-study and pass prior to acceptance in the program. The school actually offers an online course, but the dean of health sciences said it is a waste and easy enough to study on your own. Personally, I found that funny as it is a class under her umbrella.

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Specializes in Many.

Use This Link Because When I Pasted It The Numbers Didnt Line Up Right. Just A Reminder This Is As Simple As It Gets. I Get 100% On Each Math Test And You Can Use This For Converting Mg-g And So Forth

MED MATH.doc

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We were expected to read and work through a book by Ogden (don't have ISBN handy) over break. If you can do basic algebra you can do med math. That's all it is, with conversions and fancy words added in. You'll need to learn the apothecary system, because you do get tested on that. Check your school or local bookstore or quick order any med calc book online and make sure it's for nursing. I'm sure they all cover basically the same material. If you only get to read one chapter, make sure you learn dimensional analysis - that's a method that works for pretty much any problem. My school recommended memorizing a lot of formulas instead, I ignored their advice and learned ONE way to solve everything. Also, check out the rules for rounding and significant figures - if you put 62.5 and they wanted you to round to 63, you get it wrong.

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We were expected to read and work through a book by Ogden (don't have ISBN handy) over break. If you can do basic algebra you can do med math. That's all it is, with conversions and fancy words added in. You'll need to learn the apothecary system, because you do get tested on that. Check your school or local bookstore or quick order any med calc book online and make sure it's for nursing. I'm sure they all cover basically the same material. If you only get to read one chapter, make sure you learn dimensional analysis - that's a method that works for pretty much any problem. My school recommended memorizing a lot of formulas instead, I ignored their advice and learned ONE way to solve everything. Also, check out the rules for rounding and significant figures - if you put 62.5 and they wanted you to round to 63, you get it wrong.

We use Ogden too. Was your way sufficient? I was thinking of doing the same thing.

Thanks

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