Drug Calculations class before Nursing School

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Help!!! I am terrible at math and I am soooo scared of Drug Calculations :uhoh3:. I was wondering if there was a on-line class that I could take this summer before the RN program starts in the Fall..My school does not offer one.....

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Specializes in Cardiology and ER Nursing.

If you can handle basic algebra you can handle drug calculations.

(Ordered dose/Dose On Hand) * Route = what you administer

Pumps are always set in mL per hour

To calculate drips (gtt) for either tube feeds or IVs

(Ordered amount * Calibration factor of tubing)/ ordered time in minutes= How many drops per minute

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Specializes in Med-Surg/urology.

My program had a Dosage Calculation class that we had to pass in order to be accepted into the program.

This is the book we used & I think it's great! http://www.amazon.com/Henkes-Med-Math-Calculation-Preparation-Administration/dp/tags-on-product/0781776287

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:heartbeatThanks for replying!!! My program just required College Alg. VERY different type of Math:lol2:

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Try this website for practice. They will even email you a question of the day!

I also would suggest getting a used med calculation book and practicing like crazy over the summer. You can get one really cheap on amazon or half.com. You don't need a new edition.

http://www.dosagehelp.com/

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If you can handle basic algebra you can handle drug calculations.

(Ordered dose/Dose On Hand) * Route = what you administer

Pumps are always set in mL per hour

To calculate drips (gtt) for either tube feeds or IVs

(Ordered amount * Calibration factor of tubing)/ ordered time in minutes= How many drops per minute

I agree. Dont stress over dosage cal. Im terrible in Math as well but I took the class Spring semester and I passed with a 92 ( im no smarty pants!) But its pretty basic.

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Specializes in Med Surg - Renal.
Help!!! I am terrible at math and I am soooo scared of Drug Calculations :uhoh3:. I was wondering if there was a on-line class that I could take this summer before the RN program starts in the Fall..My school does not offer one.....

Get a used Dosage Calculations book and start going through it. We used the one by Pickar and it has lots of great practice problems. Good explanations too.

We had to do like the first 5 chapters before the first day of nursing school.

Good luck!

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I was so scared too, I dislike math but always knew that I needed it to be a nurse. I just passed my first semester in nursing school and got a 100 on my first drug calculation exam. Just breathe and study the material, you will do just fine it is actually a bit fun because you start to build confidence when you practice and become better and better best of luck to you:D

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Thank you!!!! That makes me feel better.. and Congrats on the first semester!!!!

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Don't sweat it. Dosage Calc is really not that hard. Take it from someone that struggled with math in pre-reqs. It was my weakest subject and I had to take remedial math before I could take college level math. I like to use dimensional analysis, its almost impossible to mess up that way. We have to get a 100% on our dosage test every semester. Most people do that on the 1st try even though we get 3 attempts. I actually look forward to dosage problems. There are 5 on every unit test we have so if you get them all right, that is 10 points. They are like freebie points to me. Don't sweat it, its not calculus.

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If it makes you feel better, I know lots of nurses (including me... I hate maths) that are not math whizzes by any means! Like the others have said above, just know how to calculate. You will be fine and practice makes perfect. The more you do it, the more it will become second nature.

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AGREE with everyone here...Dosage is just multiplication and division. AND your allowed a calculater (well i am at my school).

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