Med test

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Hey everyone I've been a long time reader on the forums and just recently made an account so that I can take part in some of the discussions. I'm a 2nd year nursing student and just took my first med test. At my school we need 100% on it in order to pass and i got 1 calculation wrong because I left my answer as 2.18 mL instead of rounding to 2.2 mL. So now I have to do math remediation and do the entire test all over. I was just wondering if this has ever happened to anyone/ what other people's facilities rules are about med testing.

Thanks!

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It has happened to more people than you think! When I was in my 1st semester, we had to get 90% and we got 3 tries. It took me all 3 tries to pass. I had problems with rounding and missed the 90% 2 times by only one question. I was devastated, I studied and then practiced some relaxation techniques and passed the last time with a 100%.

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

LIke many things, you have to follow directions to get it right. Some facilities will not allow rounding up and some prefer it, so when you are in the real world be sure to know what is applicable in that situation.

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Specializes in Medical Surgical/Addiction/Mental Health.

One way to remember is this…a 1ml syringe goes out to the hundredths place. In other words, I can draw up 0.68ml of a medication. The marks on a 3ml syringe and up are of the tenths place. In other words, a nurse would administer 1.8ml of a medication. In you r example problem, I am unable to give 2.18 ml of medication in a 3ml syringe because the marks are of tenths. Therefore, I would have to round up to 2.2ml. At your next clinical, ask to see the different syringes. I think it will help you to remember when to round and when not to round.

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Specializes in 10.

Good information. Thank you. I know we can not use calculators in my LPN class, but some RN schools, allow you to use calculators for your med test, but you verbally have to be able to explain what you are doing with the numbers.

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Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.
Hey everyone I've been a long time reader on the forums and just recently made an account so that I can take part in some of the discussions. I'm a 2nd year nursing student and just took my first med test. At my school we need 100% on it in order to pass and i got 1 calculation wrong because I left my answer as 2.18 mL instead of rounding to 2.2 mL. So now I have to do math remediation and do the entire test all over. I was just wondering if this has ever happened to anyone/ what other people's facilities rules are about med testing.

Thanks!

Yes, I take points off for not following directions. As I explain, we work on simple things (such as following simple directions) to prepare you for the complex things. When we hit the complex, you've got the basics down so that you can concentrate only on what is going on for the complexity.

And you can't get drugs calculated right only 90% of the time. You can get by with having a good 85-90% knowledge of a disease process, well enough to provide some pretty good care; but drug mistakes can be fatal.:idea:

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We have a similar test. Starting in November we have to take a Math/Med Practicum. We have to make 100% on this practicum in order to pass pharmacology. We have three tries to get 100%. Even if you have an A in the course and you don't pass the practicum...you fail the entire course!

The good news is that no student has ever failed it. So that makes me feel a little better about it.

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