math test, everyone failed

Tharem · Nov 16, 2008

I don't know. Different schools have different methods. At my school there's a dosage calc course that everyone has to take which pretty much prepares you for any type of calculation. You can take it either in the first clinical semester or you can take it during your pre-reqs before you actually enter the program. Once you're in the program there's a dosage calc test each semester that you have to pass in order to move on. I think we get two chances to pass it.

Is this your first dosage calc test? That seems strange since you're 4 weeks from graduation. Is there a course or a book they recommend or something? They never showed you those kinds of calculations before? I guess 3 chances to pass is enough to learn whatever you need but it seems kind of wierd to expose you to it for the first time on your first test. Can you give some examples of the type of problems there were?

sunnysideup09 · Nov 16, 2008

Due to time constraints, dosage is usually self study. Once you're hired at a hospital, you usually have to take another math exam and get 100%.

Ask a faculty member to hold a review session - usually if you ask, they are happy to oblige, but usually won't just offer it, since students usually don't show up.

AtomicWoman · Nov 16, 2008

Can you get a copy of the test and your answers, so you know where you messed up? Otherwise, how will you know what areas to study?

margaretofcastello · Nov 17, 2008

Thank you, everyone, for your good input. We took a test in our first semester, and the teacher we had at the time prepared us well for it. Most of us passed on the first try, no problem. This test seemed to have content on it that is more for RNs than LPNs (which we are) so we haven't had that in class yet. They did recommend a book, and I have done most of it without any problems at all. I am actually pretty good at math in general; I got a 30 on the ACT, so I didn't think I would have this much trouble with it. It isn't the calculations, actually, it is the rules (rounding rules, peds rules, etc.) and we have had one or two teachers who couldn't remember the rules or did it their own way, so we have been really messed with in a way. The two problems I remember having trouble with with regarding IVs. In one problem, the doctor said blood should run for three hours. The nurse started the hydration at 2 1/2 hours. I didn't know if we were supposed to assume that the blood went fast, or that the nurse didn't give all the blood. The second one I had trouble with was an IVPB. Do you count the D5W together with an IVPB or does only one run at a time? I didn't think LPNs were allowed to do IVs, we have never done them in clinicals, and never did the math in class for them. So I was stumped.

Nurse 2009 · Nov 17, 2008

Yesterday our class took a math test (dosage calculations) that we are supposed to pass in order to graduate in four weeks. No one passed. There were things on the test that we never saw before. I don't know why we were not prepared for this, and why they have waited so close to graduation to test us. Does every nursing school do this and how do people get through it? We have two more chances to take it, but I just don't understand why they didn't prepare us for it better. Don't they want us to pass it?

In my program we took a math test in the beginning of pharmacology first semester. We also have always had math on our tests, no matter what class it was. We took another one this last semester in the beginning of the first 8 week rotation and beginning of the second 8 week rotation. I think it is weird that they have waited so long in your last semester. Do you have a dimensional analysis math work book? I have used that bookk every semester to refresh my math skills. I graduate in 3 weeks. The only thing I have left is ATI's and finals.... woo hoo.... :yeah:

uscstu4lfe · Nov 18, 2008

nursing math is basic math. it is a scary to think that no one passed, not even one person

senecagirl · Nov 18, 2008

it seems strange that this kind of math (very important!!) is self study! what kind of school is this?

at my school, we all have to take a special math class, and then a math for meds class and then we have math quizzes in pharm, clinicals and whatever other random class they feel like. For clinicals, we need a 100% or we fail the clinical. no second chances either.

a small error in a calculation could kill someone....

yikes! i'd be asking some questions at your school:o

Tharem · Nov 18, 2008

nursing math is basic math. it is a scary to think that no one passed, not even one person

The arithmetic is basic but the methodology isn't necessarily straight forward. It requires some teaching or at least learning from a medical dosages textbook to fully grasp the concepts.

amjowens · Nov 18, 2008

I agree that accurate med calculations are a MUST for nurses. We have to pass a math exam the first day of class every semester (first semester was a few weeks into program). We had a few chances to pass after remediation, but if didn't, couldn't attend clinical, so failed course. In addition, until passed the math, couldn't pass meds (appropriately, in my opinion). I'm in a LPN program, and in my state, we are able to start and hang IVs-it's state-specific. I'd seriously be wondering about your program-if nobody passed the test. VERY scary that so close to graduation, too. Good luck.

avahnel, ASN, RN · Nov 19, 2008

I am in an ADN program, and we have to pass a dosage calc test with a 90%, or we cannot get into the program. (One of the main reasons that they can say that our program does not have a waiting list-so many people do not pass the test.) It is all self-study, or you can take a class that one of the nursing instuctors teaches (4 one hour classes) for 45$. We also have 10 math questions on each exam, so if you do not know the math it can really mess with your grade. So we have the math drilled into us for the whole two years, not just a few weeks before graduation. I got Calculate with Confidence. It is very user friendly, and you can do it all self-study. It goes through all nursing math.

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Nov 19, 2008

There's no medications math that RN's use that LPN's don't.

And the math is really simple arithmetic. They're just word problems and don't require anything more than addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.