Math

Nursing Students General Students

Published

Specializes in ICU, Mother/Baby.

Are you timed on your Math tests? WE have to make a 90% to pass our tests and we are given 40 mins to do 40 fill in the blank dosage calculations. Our first test was yesterday and when she called the 3 minute warning I still had 5 questions to do:o I did finish but not sure if they are correct as I rushed. Im older student and I like to double check my work. My mind doesnt go as fast as some of our younger students but over half our class was still working problems when she called time. :uhoh21:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi Molly One Here Math Is A Nightmare For Me I Am An Older Student To Ao I Know About Not Being As Fast As The Younger Crowd So Yeah Anyone Out There Who Can Help Us Ppppppppplllleeeeeeeeessssdoooosoooooooooo!!!!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg, Tele, IM, OB/GYN, neuro, GI.

Yes our math test and dosage calculation exams are timed. We usually get double time ex. 50 problems= 1 hour 40 mins. I understand how it seems frustrating that you aren't able to finish in the time frame but it was explained to us that when you're on the floor and have to these calculations for your patients who each have four to five meds and only a short amount of time frame. I think it's just something you have to learn as you go. The more you get comfortable setting up and doing the problems the quicker you'll be able to do them and from what I've seen in clinicals the dosage calculations are few and far in between.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, Mother/Baby.
Yes our math test and dosage calculation exams are timed. We usually get double time ex. 50 problems= 1 hour 40 mins. I understand how it seems frustrating that you aren't able to finish in the time frame but it was explained to us that when you're on the floor and have to these calculations for your patients who each have four to five meds and only a short amount of time frame. I think it's just something you have to learn as you go. The more you get comfortable setting up and doing the problems the quicker you'll be able to do them and from what I've seen in clinicals the dosage calculations are few and far in between.

See...I think 40 mins for 40 problems is not enough time. Especially since its fill in the blank and if we dont get a 90 we fail. If we fail we do get to take the final exam but if we still cant do it that fast we fail and we are out of the program!

We are told what chapters to learn and we basically teach ourself and then the following week we arre tested.

My biggest peeve about this is that you could be thrown out of the program not because you dont know it but you werent fast enough.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I hate it, too.

We had a mandatory pass/fail math test at the beginning of this block, which is our last block, and I was the only person out of 12 students to fail.

It was all due to the fact that I had a major anxiety attack. I literally colapsed during the test and failed by one point.

I had to wait an entire week for the makeup test, and passing that one decided if I stayed and graduated or failed out.

When you consider that I am probably the best student in the class - making all B's and one A so far - no missed classes or clinicals, and no tardies - it was humiliating to fail that test.

So we had a 5 day break and while the other students were relaxing and enjoying their lives, I studied dosage calculations to the point of obsession.

I took the makeup test and because my teacher was sick, it took 5 days for her to check it. I passed!

What a relief, but I know how it feels. I completely understand.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Are you timed on your Math tests? WE have to make a 90% to pass our tests and we are given 40 mins to do 40 fill in the blank dosage calculations. Our first test was yesterday and when she called the 3 minute warning I still had 5 questions to do:o I did finish but not sure if they are correct as I rushed. Im older student and I like to double check my work. My mind doesnt go as fast as some of our younger students but over half our class was still working problems when she called time. :uhoh21:

I too am in a school with very similar restrictions. Our instructors explained to us like this. The reason we have to be so tight, time wise, and the grade has to be 90% is due to the fact that when, not if, we are in these pressure situations as nurses, we at times won't have 5-10 minutes to calculate a medication. As far as the requirement of a high pass rate is for medication accuracy. It is extremely nerve racking but in a real clinical setting when a patient's life is on the line, a 10% error gap is extremely high. Meaning 1 in 10 patients will or could receive the wrong dosage of medication which is a direct reflection on us, the nurse. I do understand the frustration but I also, thanks to our instructors explanations, understand the gravity of NOT being able to accurately and quickly calculate medications.

Good luck in your studies. CHIN UP.....

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg, Tele, IM, OB/GYN, neuro, GI.
See...I think 40 mins for 40 problems is not enough time. Especially since its fill in the blank and if we dont get a 90 we fail. If we fail we do get to take the final exam but if we still cant do it that fast we fail and we are out of the program!

We are told what chapters to learn and we basically teach ourself and then the following week we arre tested.

My biggest peeve about this is that you could be thrown out of the program not because you dont know it but you werent fast enough.

Ours are fill in the blank also and even though we get that amount of time there are still people who when the times called are not finished. If you fail you're out of the program and the finals don't usually save them. The instructors are training you for the real world so that's why the timeframe seems unfair. When you get to the floor and and have 50 meds to give and calculate for if you don't do it in the policy's time frame it's a med error and can cost you your job.

Once you get used to taking these exams you'll see that there is a pattern with alot of these questions. Now I'm able to look at a problem that states the MD orders 75 mg and the dose on hand is 50 mg so you'll know that you give 1 1/2 tabs. Then you have to write the problem out because if you dont show how you solved it it's wrong even if you have the right answer. That's why it gets easier.

Ask your instructor if s/he can give you some practice questions or if student services has practice dosage calculation exams and at home time yourself and see if you're able to do them in a set amount of time to get you used to taking these tests.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, Mother/Baby.

I forgot to mention that we were told that it would be a timed test the day of the test! She passed the test out and said it would be timed. The whole class went what! I still havent gotten my grade back but did hear that the teacher has graded them and that she was pleased with how many fail it. I know its due to time not lack of knowledege. I just pray I get fast enough for the final :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment