Math Placement Exam

nurse-in-boots · May 12, 2003

the math test I had to take had decimals, fractions, and precentages on it. It was a math for nurses test. Also had IV drip rates, Dosage calculations, etc.

My nursing school MADE us all go thru a math for nurses class in the first semester, and now we have to take a math test each and every semester to stay in the program.

If its been that long since youve been in a math class, I would recommend that you take a refesher course. Math skills are a necessity in the nursing field.

Good luck to you.

niteshiftnurse · May 12, 2003

try this web site.. http://www.math.com

AmyLiz · May 12, 2003

Suzy,

I took a math placement exam before starting this past quarter. It wasn't "too" terrible. It had decimals, fractions, percentages, basic math (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division), metric & English measures (grams, ounces, etc) and some basic algebra.

At my school, they had some practice sheets you could study from, you may want to ask if your school has anything like that. And http://www.math.com is a great resource as well. :)

Good luck!

LeesieBug · May 12, 2003

Lord above, my math placement test was a nightmare! No basic math...all college level algebra. Lots of cubed roots, some trig., some calculus! At first I thought they were joking, but as it turned out they were quite serious! I have been out of school for 13 years and it was a rude awakening.

My placement test was for a university....that may make a difference in the kind of test they give.

camkib · May 12, 2003

The math test I took began with basic concepts and then progressed and adjusted according to whether you chose the correct or incorrect answer. I didn't study for it and placed in high school algebra I. I had to take I and II before I could take college level math. Whatever you do....please, please study for the test beforehand. Review as much as you can.

darby1 · May 13, 2003

I brushed up on my decimals, fractions, and percentages before taking the placement test at my community college a few years ago, and I'm not sure if it helped me or hurt me more. I had wished several times that I had taken the general math "refresher" course while struggling through Algebra. If you had time, I would reccomend just "winging it" and just take the test at face value without studying. That way you would really assess what you remember about math operations. You may have to spend your first semester taking remedial math, but you would be well prepared for college algebra the next semester. I jumped straight into Algebra, and had to fight it all the way! I made an "A" in that class, but wanted to throw that dern Algebra book through the wall many times! If you had someone to tutor you during Algebra, you could probably just start there, but a refresher course in general math would be so helpful if you have time. I'm an older student also and my first semester back to college had me taking Algebra and Anatomy and Physiology 1 together! Man, I was racking my brain for sure! Also, if you get that Algebra behind you it will help you with Chemistry (another hassle!). I think the best thing to remember from your remedial math courses would be how to "solve for X". I use cross multiplication all the time to do dosage calculations, and still seems to be the most simple way, at least for me. It works every time, and is easy to set up and remember. I haven't used any "Algebra" since I finished that class two years ago, nor have I used any Chemistry. It seems like a lot of extra stress just to get some of those prerequisites behind you, but it's required in most programs. Good luck, and let us know if we can be of any further help. Be cool, Darby.

Nurse2bSandy · May 13, 2003

I was so scared to take the placement test, but I didn't test out at the bottom. I did have to take pre-algebra and then college algebra, but I'm glad to have done it through the college and not tried to brush up on my own. Don't be intimidated... take the test. I was so afraid to not score high enough that I put off college for years... I could have taken 16 or so semesters of math while I was waiting around to get my nerve up! I say, Just Go For It! And if you have to take remedial math, then you will really know your stuff when you need to use it!

suzy253, RN · May 13, 2003

Thanks everyone for your advice and wishes. I am already accepted at a 3-year nursing school and this math placement test will be at the local community college. I asked a lady at the counseling center where the test will be held what I can expect and she said it was arithmetic and some intro algebra (no calculators allowed!). I already passed the HESI admissions test to nursing school and if I don't do well on the math placement (they want to see where to place you for the Drug Dosage & Calculations course which is taken at the community college), I will take a refresher course during the summer on math. So either way I think it is a win/win situation. I would just truly like to pass this and I have been refreshing my decimals, fractions, percentages and intro algebra with a mathematics book that I purchased. I'm just afraid that I will forget everything!!! I'm also going to study a bit more at math.com--that seems like a great website.

Thanks again.