math tests?

Editorial Team / Admin · Oct 6, 2016

Medication calculations are a big part of nursing school. It's a patient safety issue- a misplaced decimal or a math error could place a patient in serious danger. Yes, there will be medication tests in nursing classes. Some schools require a 100% to pass; others may be a bit more lenient.

HIPAAPotamus, BSN, RN · Oct 6, 2016

We have a dosage calculation test at the beginning of every semester. The first one deals with conversions and drip rates, mostly. It's mostly algebra-based.

In our program, you must score at least a 90% to continue with school.

NICUismylife, ADN, BSN, RN · Oct 6, 2016

We were taught how to do dosage calculations as part of our pharmacology course. It wasn't a separate math class. We are also required to take a math test at the beginning of each semester and must score 100% on it to be allowed to go to clinical. This is a hospital requirement for the safety of patients. It is basic math, nothing to be afraid of.

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Oct 6, 2016

Statistics is required because one of the essential competencies of an RN is the ability to understand and apply research. That doesn't mean that staff nurses need to be experts at data interpretation and measurement... but they do need to understand the basics. FYI, there is increased emphasis on statistics in nursing graduate education. Doctoral curriculum includes even more, because that is the educational level at which researchers are prepared.

Don't be afraid of Stats - with the right instructor, it can be very interesting. A good instructor makes all the difference. My first Stats instructor included applications that were very engaging - such as the science behind how retailers determine how many of each size to order (many of us were enthusiastic shoe-shoppers - LOL) & how to compute the actual odds of winning in Vegas. DON'T take stats online unless you are very confident of your math skills.

You can do this.

Horseshoe, BSN, RN · Oct 6, 2016

I though statistics and college algebra where all you needed to get a BSN. I met a nurse who said its a requirement to take a math class at the beginning of school for dosages. Is anything other than the two math classes required? Are there online schools that don't require any extra math or math tests? How come most DNP programs require a course in statistics? Are there any that don't?

Math is an integral part of nursing, whether you are at the bedside or in research, or in advance practice or grad school. The good news is that it is not higher level math. If you did well in algebra, you will be fine.

My school required 100% on dosage calculations tests. The rationale for that is actually a question:

"What percentage of the time would it be acceptable to miscalculate the dose of a medication you are giving a patient?"

bookgirl667 · Oct 8, 2016

Med math is incorporated into my pharmacology course, but whether your school does it that way or as a separate course, it is unavoidable for all the aforementioned reasons of patient safety.

Also, stats is useful because it teaches you how to tell if a study is reliable, has a big enough sample size, etc. This may come in handy when a patient says s/he saw something on TV that says such-and-such is the best way to do self-care. You can give them an informed answer instead of a hunch.

NICUismylife, ADN, BSN, RN · Oct 9, 2016

I'm 4th semester and applying for jobs. The most recent one contacted me and required that I take a med math test and score 100% on it before they will interview me. I was suddenly thankful that my school had required that of me every semester because it made the employment one no big deal at all. Just an FYI.