Dosage Calc

[jschut, BSN, RN]

I just started taking Dosage Calc.

Any ideas? Any suggestions? Any complaints? For us students, of course... I want to go on to RN, and have already passed my Algebra courses, but I am afraid when I get to the point of taking my RN entrance exam, I'll have forgotten. Is RN math about the same as LPN math? Dumb question, I know, but could someone tell me please?

Thanks to all of you!

Julie:)

[BrandyBSN]

Hey Julie!! :)

hmmm...

Honestly, I cant tell you for sure, since I dont know what LPNs are taught, but I can tell you what RNs are taugh, and then you can compare the two? OK? :)

Most nursing math is pretty basic. Like if there are 5mg of medicine in a 10ml vial, and your patient needs 3 mg, how much would you give. Stuff like that. IV Drip rates are not hard to do, almost everything is divided into minutes.

Its very little advanced algebra. Mostly ratios and proportions. Those are really the keys to drug calcuations.

Im fairly sure that LPNs learn the same thing. And once you start using it, I dont think drug calc is a skill you will forget :)

Good Luck!

Brandy

[Mito]

Hi Juliee,

My advice would be to take your time learning the procedure of the required steps for drug calculation. Becareful with decimal plancement and conversion within the system itself ie if the answer is expressed in grams the decimal will be farther to the left as opposed to if it is expressed in milligrams where the decimal is farther to the right. see the relationship ; the larger the unit the smaller the division of that unit required for the dosage, the smaller the unit the larger portion of that unit required for the dose.

First get good then get fast.

HTH

Mito

[MRed94]

There are a bunch of dose calculation helpers out there on the net, I'll see if I can scare up a site or two for you.

Most of it is basically the same, but IV drip rates might be snuck in there.. Ratios and proportions....buggers both. But, polynomials are worse....

Have fun! :)

Marla

[Katnip, RN]

Julie, if I can pass that dosage calculation exam, anyone can. I am the biggest math-phobe on Earth. We didn't have a class in it, they just told us to get a book and we took the test on the first day. I did miss one. There are several formulas to use, pick the one that's easiest for you. And memorize those apothecary and household conversions.

Have faith.:)

[Cindy_A]

If you have a book with practice problems in it, then my suggestion is PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!!!!!

Good Luck!!