Accepted into ADN program and need advice about my fears

[goheels2010]

Hi! I am entering the Fall 2012 ADN and I have a few questions about it. Lately, I have worried about the fact that BSN are preferred to ADN as I am taking a lot of debt just for the ADN. My grades are not quite good enough for the competitive BSN, so I plan to take that while I am working as a nurse (fingers crossed). During this summer, they want us to complete a Calculating Drug Dosages book and after spending many hours on it, I am getting it. My main concern is I know how crazy the floor can get and I am worried having to sit and do longggggggggg math calculations for each drug as I am doing in this book is going to make it take forever to deliver meds. In the " real world" are these long household and metric calculations done for you or do you have to do an algebra equation each time. Please help!

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

Congratulations on your acceptance into the program. In the real world, pharmacy and computer programs will do complicated calculations for you.

However...we need to know the math. Employers will require you to prove you can perform the calculations.We do have basic drug calculations we perform every day.

You can do this. You have many sources during your studies to help you with this math. It is "just" basic algebra.

Request a tutor if you need one.

Good luck.

[iluvhrts]

Congratulations! I have an ADN and am working on my BSN while working full time. I despise math. HATE IT. Frankly, I was terrified of Clinical Calculations. I was more frightened of that than the actual nursing program. That said, I applied myself with the same determination I used to get into school, and passed with an A and never failed a med test in school or for a job. In the real world, your IV pumps calculate it, your smartphone app can calculate it or the pharmacy. But, you need to know how to do it because there will be times that you want to double check calculations.

Good Luck!