Best math course for NS?

OBplease · Oct 7, 2010

Anybody know? Didn't want this to get lost down the page. Thanks!

ser2011 · Oct 7, 2010

I took remedial twelve years ago because of a four point failure on my college entrance test. I did well and had no problems and came out feeling good about it. However that was twelve years ago and I need a refresher. Not too confident with higher math but like simple formulas and words problems, graphs, geometry etc. I am wondering what math course will help me with any NS entrance exams I might take and NS and nursing in general. I have some books but I am just not disciplined enough to do independent study in math, along with my other classes. I think I need to add in a math class for next semester, so I can feel confident. What do you recommend?
PS. I am probably going to take pharm. next semester or maybe during the summer. Is there enough med. math in there? I am fine with problems like, "The patient was prescribed 7.5mg of x drug. This med. comes in 5mg tablets. How many tablets should be given?" But looking at an NCLEX review book IV math problem is somewhat confusing to me.

All of the medication math (even IV calculations) are mostly basic algebra and word problems. So maybe an algebra class would help if you really want to take a course. A good book to look at would be one of the Calculate with Confidence books. I really liked it a lot. Good luck!

Saysfaa · Oct 7, 2010

You could use the remedial class you took before as a guage to pick next term's class. If you use the remedial class as a guage, think about whether it was review and you were filling in a few gaps or whether you felt like you were understanding everything for the first time. I mean if missing the cutoff on the college placement test by just four points was where you were at your very best or if you weren't confident at math and the review wouldn't hurt but really you also having a bad day and could have passed the nonremedial class if you worked at it.

If you flew through the remedial class, take two levels up. If you worked at it but got it steadily and thoroughly (even though you don't remember everything now) then take one class up if you want a normal load for the amount of credits the class is or two levels up if you know you can spend more time on a few weeks spots. The class might cover those spots but you might need to do extra work on them to get them down solidly.

Hm, if your remedial class was intermediate algebra, I would not skip tow levels. I would take college algebra next no matter how easy the intermediate algebra was.

The other way to do it, is to take an assessment test (there are many free ones on line). Use it to tell which things you have down, which you need to review and which you need to learn. Then read the course descriptions to find something that fits.

Doing both of the above is fine also.

It is hard to get more specific without know which level you've already done.

There are a few other factors. If you know of a teacher that is really good with non-mathy students that could influence which class is best. If your school offers a 5 for 3 option (the class is 3 credits even though it meets for an hour five day per week), the extra class time could make a higher math level workable.

I don't know about your coming pharm class, I haven't had pharm yet.

ParkerBC,MSN,RN, PhD, RN · Oct 8, 2010

I would take a Basic Algebra course. Generally Dosage Calculations do not go above Basic Algebra. You will need to understand conversations. For example, how many mL are in 60L of water? Another example is how many mL did the client consume in an 8oz cup of coffee?

The other part is knowing how to set up ratios. For example…MD orders 30 mg of Lasix. You have Lasix 15mg/2mL on hand. How many mL would you administer to the client?

30mg/15mg X 2mL = 4mL

There are drip factors too, but not too much more difficult than the example problem above.

I hope this helps. Good luck to you.

OBplease · Oct 8, 2010

Thank you for all the suggestions.

ser2011- I will look for that book. I have heard a lot of good things about it. I have a couple of the Algebra for Dummies books right now and while I can understand the information pretty easily (it's pretty much a review of what I know), I am having a hard time being disciplined enough with math to just practice on my own.

Saysfaa- I will look for the assessment tests online and see how I do. I have done some tutorials online and did really good with the questions once looking at them once or twice, so I think I may just need a review but am afraid that I won't review all that I need to know, since I don't really like math and it's hard for me to stick with it on my own.

ParkerBeanCurd- Thanks for the examples. Ratios make pretty good since to me but I do need to work on just remembering simple things like conversions.

Thanks again!