100% calculation exam/pass/fail

suzanne4, RN · Dec 29, 2007

All nursing programs have required math exams that need to be passed. The RN programs have it as well and you only get a couple of chances to pass it or you are out of the program.

Lives are at stake with one wrong mistake made in calculations. Doing a calculation for peds or the nursery is not any different than the calculations done for adults; just the doses are smaller.

APBT mom, LPN, RN · Dec 29, 2007

I'm in a LPN program our med calculation tests were graded just like regular tests. We did have a simulated med pour that was pass or fail and when we have our med pours at school any calculations that are done wrong can lead to you being dropped from the program. As for peds I have no idea because we aren't touching meds in that clinical since none of the hospitals in the area hire LPN's, the dosage calculations are different than adults, and none of our instructors have worked peds so they don't feel comfortable giving meds. I would go to B&N or Borders and see if you can find a ped med calculation book to practice some questions before you start the class.

Good luck. Don't think of if you fail but when you pass.

shock-me-sane · Dec 29, 2007

we have the same thing. It hasn't been for every quarter, I think we didn't have one for OB. We had to pass with a 100%, but we also had 3 chances to do so. I only had to do a retake on the memorization of drug classes for the psychotropic meds.

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Dec 29, 2007

there are links to practice problems and med calc tutorials on post #3 of this thread:

https://allnurses.com/forums/f50/nursing-math-thread-264395.html - the nursing math thread

i believe there is also a couple of sites to information about pediatric dosages listed there as well.

the reason for the high standard required in dosage calculations is because of the high number of medication errors that was tracked and discovered (and is still being tracked and discovered) by medicare who does statistical analysis from all inpatient hospital admissions. when they first started doing this the numbers were astounding. people were dying and having to staying in the hospital for days longer than their illness required because of medication errors that were being made. dosage calculation was part of it. this is part of why there is such a strong emphasis on this component of your nursing education. there are websites that post some of the more gruesome errors and a monthly newsletter for nurses on medication cautions. these sites are posted in stickys on the med savvy forum of allnurses (https://allnurses.com/forums/f279/).

Jules A, MSN · Dec 29, 2007

I had one every semester through LPN school and now the RN bridge program. I've been fortunate in that once I figured out how to do it I was good but in my program if you don't get the 100% first try you get another chance. Good luck!

Esther2007 · Dec 29, 2007

In real life, you do not have a second try. One drug error can kill a patient. Look at the 100% you need as a positive thing, rather than an obstacle. If you are a patient in a hospital, would you want your nurse to be less than 100% sure each time she is giving you meds?

*ac* · Dec 29, 2007

Had to do this on the very first day on nursing school and every semester after that. 100% required, however, we did get 3 tries before failing - and they didn't tell us that till after the first test. They also required that you get tutoring if you failed.

Just do a ton of practice problems, take your time and triple check your work. You'll get it. There were 100 in my class and only one did not make it because of this - and she basically gave up after the first try.

Jules A, MSN · Dec 29, 2007

I always go back and do every problem a second time which takes away the chance of making a stupid mistake or finding one if its there. I prefer means:extremes but I'll do D/HXQ for the second time just to double check. You have to be comfortable with the formulas and be able to plug right along to allow for enough time to do them twice.

nurz2be · Dec 29, 2007

My RN program has a 100% pharmacology pass/fail as well. There are 8 pharmacology tests and we are allowed to retake up to 3 of those 1 time. If we get less than 100 we are out. It is tough, but if you honestly think about the dangers, risk associated with medication administration, it is a necessity. It can be life or death for patients so I do understand why schools do this. I also know as a student how frightening it is to be told you have to make perfect scores on ANYTHING in nursing school.

GOOD LUCK to ya .

Irina2009 · Jan 9, 2008

WOW a 100%.

AT my BSN program we had to get a 90% or better and its also a pass or fail, and we had three chances.

beth66335, BSN, RN · Jan 13, 2008

Yes, you want a good nurse in the real world, but having worked with real world nurses I know that they ask someone to check their work to be sure...you can't do that on a test! Besides you can get 100% on every math test you take and still go out in the real world and make a mistake, no nurse will get it right 100% of the time no matter how she did in school...we are still human! Our school only requires 80% to pass, but you only get one chance, NO retakes and we have this test every semester. I guess this subject bothers me because I have test anxiety when it comes to math, but in clinicals or at home with no pressure I can do any kind of medical math problem you want. :twocents: :rolleyes: