Ivy Tech: Dosage Calc. & Medical Terminology

Dannelboo · May 17, 2008

Hi! I have taken dosage calculation through Ivy Tech and it was, in my opinion, a waste of time unless you are looking for a "filler" class for financial aid or something. I just finished my first semester of nursing clinicals and they integrated dosage calculation into the program. I got a 100% on the dosage test they gave on the sixth week, just by using what they taught us and it wasn't that difficult. I didn't take med term, however, I think it might be helpful, especially if you haven't been exposed to the medical field.

stupidcancer · May 18, 2008

Hi! I have taken dosage calculation through Ivy Tech and it was, in my opinion, a waste of time unless you are looking for a "filler" class for financial aid or something. I just finished my first semester of nursing clinicals and they integrated dosage calculation into the program. I got a 100% on the dosage test they gave on the sixth week, just by using what they taught us and it wasn't that difficult. I didn't take med term, however, I think it might be helpful, especially if you haven't been exposed to the medical field.

Thanks Dannel. I am glad info for dosage cal. is included in the nursing courses, I figured it would be. Right now I am a clinical social work in a psychiatric hospital, so I am kind of in the medical field but not so much. However I did check out quite a few textbooks from the library about medical terminology so I think I'll try to teach myself and see how that goes, rather than shelling out the cash for another course. Or like you said, save it in case I need it for FA issues some day. Thanks again for your input.

FireFly07 · May 18, 2008

I took medical terminology as a filler class a couple years ago. I think it was helpful and I'm glad I took it. It's nothing earth-shattering, but it has definitely come in handy. As for dosage calc-if you need help with math, then it will be helpful. But if you get math-it would probably be boring.

IndyMitchell · May 18, 2008

Just wondering if anyone out there has taken Dosage Calculation and/or Medical Terminology at Ivy Tech. I am considering taking these even though they aren't required for the Nursing program. I am worried that I'll need to know the information, but not sure if it's integrated into the nursing courses. Any feedback would be much appreciated. Thanks so much!! :)

I agree with some of the others. I just finished my 1st semester of Nursing. I wish I would have taken Med. Term. since I do not work in the medical field. But dosage Calc. you will learn in the first semester, BUT it is more or less self taught. So if you need a filler class take it.

Good luck

TINA:nurse:(one of these days)

jackson145 · May 19, 2008

My Med Term class has really come in handy for NS. We didn't have the option of a dosage calc class at Bloomington. We were given a Dosage calc book during the 1st week of 1st semester and told to work our way through it on our own. We took the test around week 6 and it was so easy. It's simpler than Mat 050 was.

sunnysideup09 · May 19, 2008

My friend just got done with OB/Peds. He said that the clinical instructors spent quite a bit of time in postconference going through problems that way it wasn't self-study. The Peds and OB dosage problems weren't like anything he was exposed to before and was very appreciative of the instructor's help.

WickedRedRN, BSN, RN · May 19, 2008

I took both as filler classes when I was waiting to apply for the PN program. IN hindsight, I could have done without them, but the dosage calc class helped me get over my math anxiety.

Not bad classes if you just need to pick up something, and certainly won't hurt you at all in the long run.

Good Luck!

montinurse, BSN · May 23, 2008

I took both classes, and recommend both. Even though the dosage calc was boring at times, it has helped me numerous times through the PN program and now in my RN program. It's also made it easier for me to help my other nursing students that struggle with math. I used to have math anxiety, so I am a firm believer in refresher courses.

Good luck, Jenny

beckersSN · Jun 6, 2008

I took med term and it was awesome. Everyone keeps saying that it's a good filler class and that just isn't true. This class should be required for the nursing program. It makes everything that could be gibberish to you clear. When instructors are talking a mile a minute about things you have never heard of many times you can put together what they are talking about with your understanding of medical terminology. Take it! It is a time saver once you are in the nursing program so you don't have to stop and ask what they are talking about every 5 seconds. It is a pretty interesting class as well.

FireFly07 · Jun 6, 2008

I took med term and it was awesome. Everyone keeps saying that it's a good filler class and that just isn't true. This class should be required for the nursing program. It makes everything that could be gibberish to you clear. When instructors are talking a mile a minute about things you have never heard of many times you can put together what they are talking about with your understanding of medical terminology. Take it! It is a time saver once you are in the nursing program so you don't have to stop and ask what they are talking about every 5 seconds. It is a pretty interesting class as well.

I absolutely agree with this. In my experience in nursing school so far-they've not gone over the prefixes and suffixes of words or root words and if you don't know those IMO it takes a lot more time to catch on. I am so glad I took this class and I also agree that it should be required for the nursing program. I really enjoyed this class.

kitkat260, MSN · Jul 4, 2008

I took Medical Terminology Fall '07 semester on the recommendation of a friend of mine that is a RN. It has already helped me out when I took ANP 101 & 102. I was already familiar with many things that my instructors were lecturing about.

She suggested this class because she said it would help to know this stuff before becoming a nurse, instead of struggling to learn it later when you are working at your first nursing job.