Drug Calculations Test

catzy5 · Dec 10, 2007

I was accepted into the RN program for spring, 2008 and just found out that we will have to take a drug/dosage calculations test and score 90% or better within the first two weeks of school...you have two chances to take it and if you can't get 90% then you fail out!!
I was so excited to get in but now I'm totally intimidated about this? Can anyone tell me what to expect???:uhoh21:

It's my impression that you are always on the chopping block in nursing school and this is why it is so stressful.

We had to take the TEAS exam once we were accepted you fail your out, then we will have to keep a GPA for each exam we have to get 75% on each exam or we are out, not an average for the semester but never get anything below a 75% period. they do however let you make up one exam, but from what my friends tell me you feel like you are always playing catch up if you have to retake even one exam. It's just how nursing school is, they have certain standards and we will have to keep up with them. The thing that keeps me going is that people DO get through this, it's a lot of work but others before me have done it so I will too, I will just do what is required of me and try and keep a positive attitude, many times it's all in the attitude! Good luck on your dosage test you have come this far!!!

Oh and fwiw I have taken a dosage calc class already and it was actually very easy.

WDWpixieRN, RN · Dec 10, 2007

Dosage calculations are not that complicated if you did fairly well in your regular algebra courses. I am 51 and never considered myself very savvy mathwise, and also didn't have a clue about the metric system.

As we moved in to 2nd semester and had IV calcs to do, things got a little more hairy, but it's not something that's impossible.

One of the books we used for our dosage calc class is something most of us agreed we couldn't live without:

Calculate with Confidence

I have seen others recommended on these threads. Maybe do a search for "dosage calculations".

Best wishes!!

beth66335, BSN, RN · Dec 10, 2007

I was accepted into the RN program for spring, 2008 and just found out that we will have to take a drug/dosage calculations test and score 90% or better within the first two weeks of school...you have two chances to take it and if you can't get 90% then you fail out!!
I was so excited to get in but now I'm totally intimidated about this? Can anyone tell me what to expect???:uhoh21:

They will teach you all you need to know and don't be afraid to ask the teacher for extra help after class or during office hours. We use Dimensional Analysis and Ratio and Proportion mostly and they are pretty easy to get the hang of. DA will be easy for you if you've had chemistry (but it was easy for me too and I never took Chem)and R&P is real easy too.You will probably do fine!

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Dec 11, 2007

not only will you have to do these drug calculations tests at school, but you will also be required to pass them as a requirement to be hired as an rn at pretty much every single rn job you get hired into at a hospital or nursing home. your school is rightlyfully preparing you for the workplace. the reason is because medicare has made this a national issue due to the huge number of patients who have been hospitalized or their hospital stays have been extended because of drug errors. medicare keeps statistics on this. allnurses has a forum that has links to the websites that address med errors at https://allnurses.com/forums/f279/ - med savvy forum this is a huge issue right now in the healthcare industry and this is one way the nursing profession is dealing with it.

there are links to websites that have instructions on how to do drug calculations along with practice problems on post #3 of this thread in this forum:

https://allnurses.com/forums/f50/nursing-math-thread-264395.html - the nursing math thread

catzy5 · Dec 11, 2007

Dosage calculations are not that complicated if you did fairly well in your regular algebra courses. I am 51 and never considered myself very savvy mathwise, and also didn't have a clue about the metric system.
As we moved in to 2nd semester and had IV calcs to do, things got a little more hairy, but it's not something that's impossible.
One of the books we used for our dosage calc class is something most of us agreed we couldn't live without:
Calculate with Confidence
I have seen others recommended on these threads. Maybe do a search for "dosage calculations".
Best wishes!!

oh yes I second that book, I took a dosage calculation class 1.5 years ago (hope I remember it all) we used that book, I loved it. My instructor wasn't very good, she never used the book but I did and did very well in the class, the book was so easy to understand. I gave mine away like a stupid head, however I have since seen it at barnes and noble and have considered buying it a couple times.

absred16 · Dec 11, 2007

i was accepted into the rn program for spring, 2008 and just found out that we will have to take a drug/dosage calculations test and score 90% or better within the first two weeks of school...you have two chances to take it and if you can't get 90% then you fail out!!
i was so excited to get in but now i'm totally intimidated about this? can anyone tell me what to expect???:uhoh21:

hi! we also have the same passing rate of 90% for our dosage tests. i guess the only difference is that there where no instructors who taught us how to compute it. what we did was to study on our own and if we find an item confusing we study as a group. i guess the first thing you have to do is try to explore what method will be easier for you to compute (ratio-proportion,etc.) then practice a lot of times. it seems tiresome but it helps a lot and soon you will get used to it. you can do good!! trust yourself and don't be afraid!! our class made it even if not all of us are math genius.

suki07 · Dec 11, 2007

http://www.testandcalc.com/quiz/testiv.htm hi there check out this website it might help you it's really not that hard!

allthingsbright · Dec 11, 2007

Actually, I am horrible at math and this was my biggest fear. Now I can honestly say it is a strong point for me in school. I used the book Math for Nurses (didnt find Calculate with Confidence to be overly helpful). I also didnt like Drug Calculations made Incredibly Easy.

May I suggest you learn Dimensional Analysis? It is the best way IMHO to get through nursing math. Here are some links:

http://www.nursesaregreat.com/articles/drugcal.htm

http://www.chem.tamu.edu/class/fyp/mathrev/mr-da.html

http://classes.kumc.edu/son/nurs420/clinical/basic_review.htm

http://www.testandcalc.com/quiz/index.asp

Also, we had "tutors" in our class who were Math buffs. Start off working with these people right away.

I have gotten 100% on all my math quizzes. And I am a very poor Math student overall. (Have my GED, only made it to Algebra I in HS, never taken a college math class as my program doesnt require it. I have just studied hard and studied smart.)

Best wishes!