is dosage calc. necessary?

jadu1106 · Jul 24, 2008

imo, i hink you should take the class even if it isn't required. even if your good at math and numbers, you will definately benefit from the course. besides, dosage calculations usually turn up on lecture exams (at least 1) and quite possibly on your nclex when your done with nursing school.

if you decide not to take the course, i would recommend you learn how to do dosage calculations using the dimensional anaylsis method.

good luck with whatever you decide to do!

NightOwl0624 · Jul 24, 2008

I guess I'm in the minority...

I think if you are very good in math and have a solid understanding of the basics, and especially if you have ever taken Chemistry (dimensional analysis), you will be fine.

I would, however, buy a book such as Calculate with Confidence and work through the problems.

If you can do the basics and understand the methodology, you should be fine.

pagandeva2000, LPN · Jul 24, 2008

Dosage calculations was a mandatory pre-requisite for my program, but I am glad that I had to take it. Personally, I am poor in math, and needed to know how to do it. In addition, it will show you what you have to do to calculate things like IV drips, solutions that have to be reconstituted and such. I have not had to do it very often as a nurse (at least in my department), but I do hear that they use if often in pediatrics, for example.

I have encountered medical dosages, however, when applying for jobs; especially at agencies. In fact, I had to take an on line exam in pharmacology and had a great deal of calculation examples for IV medications. Hey, it can be an easy A, and they can also show you several formulas and you pick the one you like.

Vito Andolini · Jul 24, 2008

I don't know why schools stopped teaching this absolutely vital knowledge.

You have to be able to calculate dosages if you work in a facility that does not have 24/7 pharmacists, or in any facility where you work the ER or OR or ICU or L&D or anywhere that requires you to mix your own drips, draw up your own meds, or do any calculations at all.

Even if you work an area in a hospital that uses 24/7 pharmacists and has all unit dose, you still sometimes actually have to be able to calculate dosages.

It is a real disservice and a danger to students, nurses, and patients to skip this absolutely vital element in the curriculum.

nytnrs · Jul 24, 2008

We didn't have a specific course for dosage calculations, but had a separate "skills day" for it, at the end of which, we had to get 100% on our test to pass. It was extremely stressful, but very helpful. Take the class. You'll only be a safer nurse for it.

pagandeva2000, LPN · Jul 24, 2008

I think that if the class is not offered, it is usually thrown into the cirriculum somehow, during the nursing program. However, I always felt that pharmacology and medical dosages should be seperate courses. These are the things that rest assured, if you screw up, someone can be killed. Better to get all that you can; take the course and be safer.

MissERN · Jul 25, 2008

This is sort of along the same lines, but always check meds you get from pharmacy...they are human too and I've found mistakes! It can be really easy just to look at the rate they have calculated and go with that...but always double check. I would recommend the class...it can't hurt :) Whatever you choose I hope you have a good semester!

blondy2061h, MSN, RN · Jul 25, 2008

I'm surprised to hear about a school not requiring dosage calculations. Is it included as part of your regular nursing classes and the extra class is just a bonus? We had to pass a dosage calculations class every semester (with a 100%) before we could pass meds in clinicals. Everyone says you don't use dosage calculations in the real world, but we do a lot of mixing of our antibiotics on the floor and I have used it.

grammyr · Jul 25, 2008

One of the first questions on my NCLEX was dosage calculation. You also never know where you are going to be working so you may need to be able to calculate your own dosage.

Bottom line: TAKE THE CLASS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

hypocaffeinemia, BSN, RN · Jul 25, 2008

I don't think that anyone is saying we shouldn't know how to do the calculations- only that a class isn't necessary to do this. We had a dosage calculations section in the pharmacology class, and each semester we are required to pass a dosage calc test, but I think having an entire separate class for it is overkill especially if chemistry and it's associated dimensional analysis is a prerequisite. Dosage calculations is nothing but simple dimensional analysis.

november17, ASN, RN · Jul 25, 2008

It was a mandatory pre-req for us. I tested out of it. It was the easiest 2 credits I've ever gotten and it only took me 30 minutes! (and cost $50 but saved a lot of time and driving by not having to take to the class)