How do you remember calculations?

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Okay, so I did well in my dosage calculations class.....I got an A; however, I am worried that I will not remember when it comes down to the real deal in clinicals. Have you ever felt that way? Should I constantly review IV rates, titrations, hep infusions...etc. I feel like even though we are done for the semester, I dare not rest....kinda like keep my brain in "school mode" esp since this will be my first semester of nursing school.

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Depends on what you mean by in clinicals. In real life, those calculations are already done for you, the pharmacy does them. You just need to check them. When we do our prelab we have time to sit down with the calculations and figure things out, and for us, we could use notes, it wasn't the test!

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Depends on what you mean by in clinicals. In real life, those calculations are already done for you, the pharmacy does them. You just need to check them. When we do our prelab we have time to sit down with the calculations and figure things out, and for us, we could use notes, it wasn't the test!

Thanks, for me it will be the test before the student clinicals. I figure once I become more familiar with it, I will feel more confident. I think I will continue to do a few calculations while on break since I am choosing this as a life long career and just not something to "pass the test"

Oh yeah, the notes will be a good thing!!!!;)

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Specializes in Critical Care, Cardiothoracics, VADs.

I used to keep common IV rates and calculations on a card I laminated and wore with my hospital ID badge.

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

this is what i have to say to you after 30 years of experience in nursing. the only things i've needed to know is the formula: dose desired divided by the dose on hand and where the pdr or the nurse drug guide is on the unit where i am working. knowing the extension for the pharmacy works too!

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Daytonite! Great advice!

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Specializes in Mostly peds as a tech.

i carry a folder that has helpful hints and cheat sheets. i am probably one of the worst math students on earth ( i freeze the second i see numbers)....it took me a long time to undertand my math calculations. last year (my junior year), everything just clicked one morning, and i haven't had a lot of problems since. sure, i still freeze...just give yourself the credit you deserve and don't be afraid to look it up! repetition is key.

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I understand how you feel. I did really well on all my math tests and believe it or not never had to hang an IV during any of my clinical rotations until the last day of this semester (graduate in May). Let's just say I totally choked (wasn't ready, intructor brought me a bag and said "what's the rate" while I was doing something else. I was wrong." So now one semester away from graduating I have to go to the lab and re-check off IV calculations. I say practice, practice, practice. I was angry at first, but you know what. I should know this stuff so I will go to the lab and practice, practice, practice and hopefully will now choke again. The only thing its costing me is time and a little embarrassement. lol Next time, I'll be ready though.

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rochelleus, do you mean even a piggyback?

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