Afraid of any math!!!!! Heellpp!!!!

ASPIRING2BGREAT · Apr 5, 2013

Hello LALA_MA2bLPN,

I can't render any info as to what to look forward to, but I would love to see the responses. Looking to enter a program soon and i'm in the same boat as you. I completed my GED, so I didn't get or need much math. Math is my Gaint as well, more afraid of failing it. This is the only part of the TABE test I haven't passed yet. I've come to the conclusion and realization that the only person that can get me where I want to be is me. So that being said, we may never be math stars or genuises but we can help ourselves have a better understanding by simply studing it and staying on it.

I just purchased my a few study work books and tutoring will be helpful as well. We can conquer the gaint!

I wish you the best of luck and we can do it!

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Apr 5, 2013

Have you had algebra? Here is a site that might help you start DosageHelp.com - Helping Nursing Students Learn Dosage Calculations and dimensional analysis http://www.davesems.com/files/drug_dose_calculations.pdf

Know your conversion factors

The Short List 1 cup © = 8 ounces (oz)

1 dram (dr) = 60 grains (gr)

1 dram (fl dr) = 60 minims

1 gallon (gal) = 4 quarts (qt)

1 glass = 8 ounces (oz)

1 grain (gr) = 64.8 milligrams (mg)

1 gram (g) = 15.43 grains (gr)

1 inch (in) = 2.54 centimeters (cm)

1 kilogram (kg) = 2.2 pounds (lb)

1 liter (L) = 1.057 quarts (qt)

1 milliliter (mL) = 16.23 minims

1 minim = 1 drop (gt)

1 ounce (oz) = 2 tablespoons (tbsp)

1 ounce (oz) = 8 drams (dr)

1 ounce (fl oz) = 29.57 milliliters (mL)

1 pint (pt) = 16 ounces (oz)

1 pound (lb) = 16 ounces (oz)

1 quart (qt) = 0.946 liters (L)

1 quart (qt) = 2 pints (pt)

1 tablespoon (tbsp) = 3 teaspoons (tsp)

1 teacup = 6 ounces (oz)

1 teaspoon (tsp) = 4.93 mL

The Long list

1 central = 45,359 grams (g)

1 centimeter (cm) = 10 millimeters (mm)

1 cubic centimeter (cc) = 1 milliliter (mL)

1 cup © = 8 ounces (oz)

1 drachm = 3.55 milliliter (mL)

1 dram (dr) = 60 grains (gr)

1 dram (fl dr) = 60 minims

1 gallon (gal) = 4 quarts (qt)

1 gill = 4 ounces (oz)

1 glass = 8 ounces (oz)

1 grain (gr) = 64.8 milligrams (mg)

1 gram (g) = 1,000 milligrams (mg)

1 gram (g) = 1,000,000 micrograms (mcg)

1 gram (g) = 15.43 grains (gr)

1 hand = 4 inches (in)

1 inch (in) = 2.54 centimeters (cm)

1 kilogram (kg) = 1,000 grams (g)

1 kilogram (kg) = 2.2 pounds (lb)

1 liter (L) = 1000 milliliters (mL)

1 liter (L) = 1.057 quarts (qt)

1 meter (m) = 1,000 millimeters (mm)

1 meter (m) = 100 centimeters (cm)

1 milligram (mg) = 1,000 micrograms (mcg)

1 milliliter (mL) = 1 cubic centimeter (cc)

1 milliliter (mL) = 15 drops (gt)

1 milliliter (mL) = 16.23 minims

1 minim = 1 drop (gt)

1 ounce (fl oz) = 2 tablespoons (tbsp)

1 ounce (oz) = 20 pennyweights (dwt)

1 ounce (oz) = 24 scruples

1 ounce (oz) = 31.1 grams (g)

1 ounce (oz) = 480 grains (gr)

1 ounce (oz) = 8 drams (dr)

1 ounce, fluid (fl oz) = 29.57 milliliters (mL)

1 palm = 3 inches (in)

1 pennyweight (dwt) = 24 grains (gr)

1 pint (pt) = 16 ounces (oz)

1 pint (pt) = 4 gills

1 pound (lb) = 16 ounces (oz)

1 pound (lb) = 350 scruples

1 quart (qt) = 0.946 liters (L)

1 quart (qt) = 2 pints (pt)

1 scruple = 20 grains (gr)

1 stone = 0.14 cents

1 tablespoon (tbsp) = 3 teaspoons (tsp)

1 teacup = 6 ounces (oz)

1 teaspoon (tsp) = 60 drops (gtt)

1 teaspoon (tsp) = 4.93 mL

LALA_MA2bLPN · Apr 5, 2013

@aspiringtobegreat I wish you all the best. You will be great!!!! I will buckle down and do this....we're going to just fine....im too stubborn to fail ;-)

LALA_MA2bLPN · Apr 5, 2013

@esme12 thank you thank you!!!!!! Ill keep everyone posted :-D

RLtinker, LPN · Apr 6, 2013

Dosage cal, isn't to complicated and you certainly shouldn't be scared of it. For the most part it is conversions and there are a few you will use over and over again.

lb to kg

mcg to mg to g to kg

tsp to mL

Tbsp to mL

Ounces to mL

grains to mg (still don't know why we still have to learn this, since it is antiquated)

in to cm

ft to in

ft to cm

ounce to cup to quart to pint to gallon

gtt to mL

min to hr

or

2.2 lb to 1 kg

1000 mcg to 1 mg

1000 mg to 1 g

1000 g to kg

5 ml to tsp

and since there are 3 tsp to a Tbsp and 2 Tbsp to ounce and 8 ounce to a cup there are 15 ml in a Tbsp, 30 ml in a ounce and 240 ml in a cup, approximately. In reality a tsp is 4.9 ml, but most likely you will being using the 5 ml conversion for simplicity.

cc is the same a mL

Know your schools rounding rules, usually for adults you will round to the tenth and for peds, you will round to the hundredth. There are a few formulas, but not many. The most common is IV drip rates. In peds you may need to know fluid maintenance and that again is just memorizing a few numbers.

A grain is part of an the apothecary system, it is rarely used any more, but the typical conversion is 1 grain = 60 mg (64.8 would be more accurate but harder to remember). These problems are usually presented in a fraction such as 1/200 grain = 0.3 mg.

1 inch = 2.54 cm

12 inches to a foot

2 cup to pint, 2 pints to a quart, 4 quarts to a gallon

gtt to ml depends

60 minutes to an hour

More then likely, when you start classes your school will give you list of conversions. But if you know these you should be in pretty good shape.

LALA_MA2bLPN · Apr 6, 2013

Thank you all!!!!! Im studying my butt off now and getting help from the np I work with. I hope ill be ok by October :-D

Philly_LPN_Girl, LPN · Apr 7, 2013

Buy a dosage and calculations book mines is very good, breaks everything down, and even breaks down the answers in the book nursing math is very easy its just conversions

ChristopherEndicott · Apr 7, 2013

A very simple calculation that hasn't failed me yet is: D/H X Q = X D is doctor order, H is what you have on hand and q is the quality.

For Example: A doctor has ordered 2mg of morphine and you have a vial that reads 1mg/mL. How much mL will you adm.?

2(d)/1(h) x 1(q) = 2 mL

D was 2 mg

H was 1 mg

Q was 1 mL

Hope this helps

pnkgirl25 · Apr 15, 2013

Coming from a person who failed algebra 8 times and finally had to go to another school to take it in order to pass, I can honestly say the math is not that bad at all. It's mostly D over H times Q and IV infusion rates. Once you get the hang of it it's very easy. It took me a few days to nail it down but after that it was a piece of cake. I actually just took a math test in order to move on to the next term. Out of 80 questions I only missed two. If you can add, subtract, divide and multiply you can do this math. I actually enjoy math now.