Dosage Calculation Policies

[nursingtodo11]

hi all! i am hoping you can help me out with this. i am currently enrolled in an adn program in ny. it was required that every student pass a dosage calculation exam on the first day of class with a grade of a 90. if a 90 is not achieved, then the student has the opportunity to take the test within one week, and must again achieve a grade of a 90. i unfortunately got a 70 and then an 80, so i am not allowed to enter my pediatrics class. it got the wheels turning and i have now set up a meeting with the dean to discuss improving the policies. i'm wondering what policies are in place at your school in regards to dosage. any ideas that you feeling truly work and any ideas that you have to improve the policies. thank you for your help!

[nursingtodo11]

Are you offered any review classes if you do not pass the exam with 100%?

[nursingtodo11]

I agree as well. The way I see it, being that dosage is so incredibly important, then it should be important enough for my program to teach, right now it is not taught at all after you get out of your first semester. The first semester focuses basically on adult dosages and very briefly goes over pediatrics. We do not cover the BSA method of dosage at all. How long is the test you take? When do you take the test? Are you given review courses?

[CuriousMe]

Are you offered any review classes if you do not pass the exam with 100%?

We have a book and an online resource (Calculate with Confidence). It's our job to remediate, there are no review classes.

First year we have three chances to get a 90%, after that we have two chances to get 100%.

[JROregon, ASN, BSN, RN]

It's very basic math. That's why students need to have taken a college level algebra before starting nursing school. The only instruction given to us was how to convert grams to mg and mg to mcgs. Also, tsp to mL and tbl to mL and lbs to kgs. We have math dosage test banks in our library for those who want a little practice. We have 3 chances to get 100% or we are out. If you got a lousy score the first time, there are books and on-line tools for practice. If you don't understand the math, there isn't a lot of time to squeeze in a math course specifically on medication dosage for the small group that didn't pass.

[javawren_23]

Our school requires passing with 100% at the beginning of each semester. If you don't pass in three tries, you're out of the program (so you could pass the first 3 semesters, but if you don't pass in 3 tries 4th semester, you're done). I did hear that one person requested to re-enter and the dean approved it after she wrote a letter explaining why she deserved to be there. She is now at the bottom of the waiting list.

[CrazierThanYou]

I've got one better. We have an IV calculations exam on Monday and we've had ZERO instruction. That's right. NO instruction whatsoever. So, I'm planning to spend this weekend teaching myself how to do the calculations and hope I pass with a 100.

No, we don't get any review or whatever if we don't pass. We just get the next test.

[CuriousMe]

I've got one better. We have an IV calculations exam on Monday and we've had ZERO instruction. That's right. NO instruction whatsoever. So, I'm planning to spend this weekend teaching myself how to do the calculations and hope I pass with a 100.

No, we don't get any review or whatever if we don't pass. We just get the next test.

We don't have instruction either....do some schools have instruction in this?

We have a book, but really it's pretty basic math.

[CrazierThanYou]

We don't have instruction either....do some schools have instruction in this?

We have a book, but really it's pretty basic math.

We have Math for Meds that we used last semester. We did get some instruction last semester but with the IV stuff we haven't.

[Junebugfairy]

"do you cover questions in class (we walk in the first day of the new semester and have to sit for the exam.) are there review classes offered if you fail the first test?"

we did not go over tests, nor were we given remedial information. we were told that this is adult learning, and that we needed to take responsibility for our education.

this is what *my* program told me.

we were also told that this is basic math..sounds like others were told this as well.

we were required to have taken chemistry and college algebra prior to our nursing classes.

[AbbyD]

To the OP, I know this has been a difficult time for you, and I hope you keep your head up and do well with the rest of your time in nursing school. However, many programs have the same format and strict if not stricter requirements for passing med math. At some point you need to take responsibilty for your own actions and not immediately fault the program. I know it is difficult to do. I just recently failed my first exam...ever. Many of the students were complaining because the highest grade in our class was an 86 and many more failed than usual. We are so quick to point blame at anybody but ourselves. The reality is that it was a very difficult exam, BUT it was fair. If you enact change in your program then good for you, but just remember that sometimes we need to take accountability for ourselves and change what we do instead.