Is this a standard requirement?

Published

Hi Everybody,

For those who have started nursing program, is it a standard requirement that you receive 100% on Medication Calculation Proficiency Test. If you don't pass you have to do remedial assignments and retest. The second time you fail you would be dropped from nursing program. This seems real harsh! I understand the importance of giving the proper medications dosage but I am a little intimidated by this and it has me paranoid. Should I be concerned? Or is this a standard requirement?

mcg/min mcg in fluid

mL/hr = total volume

The way that the site displays this makes it difficult to follow. Could you repost in the following format?

(a/b) × (c/d) = x

Thanks.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency.
The way that the site displays this makes it difficult to follow. Could you repost in the following format?

(a/b) × (c/d) = x

Thanks.

Sorry, haha. Will do.

(mcg per min/mL/hr) x (mcg in fluid / total volume) = x. Typically they want to find mL/hr so this would be X.

So if it would say mg/hour in the order (often does), it would still be the exact same thing except you would not have to multiply 60 as it will already have been there.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, Med-Surg, Psych, Geri, LTC, Tele,.
When I think it out it does not make sense to choose a school based on this medication calculation proficiency standard. But if I had a choice I would go to a school with 90% accuracy rate and three opportunities to achieve it. But that is my fear of failure speaking now. I must just do what is required of me.

Sounds like you have anxiety related to fear that you'll fail nursing school. Lol! But not really.

I certainly empathize with you.

It's as if the more pressure they put on us, the more scared we get.

I felt similarly about my beginning of semester math test. The online thing and the rounding threw me off. I don't want to talk about it. It's over now. Thank goodness!

Do your best. Know that other students passed and so can you. Seek out your professors guidance during office hours if necessary. (I should have done this)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Neuro/NSGY, critical care, med/stroke/tele.

Yep, standard. We had 7 total in our program I think; all had to be >96% by try #2.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology.
Yes, I think as it has been mentioned before an error in a medication calculation can result in injury, sickness or death of a patient. So therefore it is imperative that doses are accurate. And I suppose in the nursing program this would lay the groundwork for error proof pharmacology. It just seems that a margin for no error indefinitely is impossible. May God be with me.☺

Again, the math is not hard.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am a B student and received a B in Algebra and Statistics. But was not 100% lol. But if the math was not hard. I suppose I should do fine.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Renal, Diabetic.

In our program, we have two math tests and they don't have to be 100%, but we had calculations on our PO and inj check off and those HAD to be 100% or we are not allowed to administer medications during clinical until we pass at 100%. I used to be atrocious at math but I love the dimensional analysis formula, as it makes it so easy to understand.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion