MedMath Help

I have calculate with confidence... what exactly do you need work on?

I am trying to prepare for ALL the math required in the LPN program. I didnt know it would be that involved. Someone said the LPN math requirement is the same as the math requirement for the RN. Also, you cannot just pass the medmath, you must get 100 or 95 or something.

Can anyone give me the name of a good, helpful math book for nursing students? P L E A S E !!!

I know that calculate with confidence is supposed to be a good one. Also, google "math" and you will find a ton of sites. Here is a link that is also very useful https://allnurses.com/forums/f198/math-help-links-120539.html

Good Luck

Didn't you have to take a clinical math course before your main LPN courses?

We had to take a course in clinical math as a prereq. I thought most people had to but maybe not. Anyway, Calculate with confidence is a wonderful book and there are tons of links that are helpful too. Here are a few I used..

http://www.dalesplace.net/factor.htm

http://www.testandcalc.com/quiz/index.asp

http://www.indstate.edu/mary/tutorial.htm

No, it wasnt even mentioned. There is no such course at my school. The medical math is ONLY offered to the RN students...not even offered to LPN students! I have taken one college level math course of which I got an A...but I feel that doesnt matter because it is a different kind of math. Thank you for your recommendations, I will use them.

That interesting.. I'm glad it was required for me because you're right.. it's a different kind of math. I have fears that I will be the only nurse carrying around a calculator to figure out drip rates and everything else but as long as I know how to figure them out properly I guess that's all that matters.

Good luck with your math, you will get it in due time :)

Can anyone give me the name of a good, helpful math book for nursing students? P L E A S E !!!

I was required to purchase a book at my school. We spent a little time in class but most of it was on our own.

Don't get all stressed out. Drug calculations and drip rates are quite simple and are the same no matter if you are in PN or RN school. They are just basic algebraic expressions. Just like the NCLEX questions, there is sometimes non-relevant information in the problem/question.

The book we used is Dosage Calculations by Gloria D. Pickar.

That interesting.. I'm glad it was required for me because you're right.. it's a different kind of math. I have fears that I will be the only nurse carrying around a calculator to figure out drip rates and everything else but as long as I know how to figure them out properly I guess that's all that matters.

Good luck with your math, you will get it in due time :)

The math used in dosage calculations and drip rates is not "a different kind of math". It involves algebra and converting from one unit of measure to another. The later can be put into an algebraic form to make the conversion if you can't do it in your head.

We didn't have a seperate med math class. We bought a book and self-learned before our semesters even started. I was terrified too, but the book they required was very helpful to me. I just did a few chapters a week, and I have passed every math test the first time. (We have to pass every test within two tries, or we are out of the program) Here is what I used:

Math for Meds, Dosages and Solutions

Ninth edition

Anna M. Curren

Don't freak out. I am quite possibly the most math-challenged person I know. Good luck.

Also, you cannot just pass the medmath, you must get 100 or 95 or something.

I don't know why they do this...maybe to check for one's ability to handle stress AND math, too? I mean those poor folks with math anxiety already are going to have a problem with "pass or else" but to add "and with 95% or better or else" just seems to be designing a problem on top of another problem. There will be plenty of time to check for one's ability to handle stress during clinicals, believe me!

Anyway, as one who has no problem with math maybe I'm not the best to help with your problem, but know that this math isn't very complicated and at my school they gave us three trys to pass this test (a different test each time, but similar material.)

It's not algebra, trig, calculus or geometry so try to relax. Know your fractions, how to handle basic word problems and conversions between metric and non-metric systems and you should be fine. Practice, practice and practice some more.

Let us know how you do. I got a 100% on my "pass or else" math test and just about everyone else did, too. There was only one no pass and they passed their next try.

Regards,

Ken

The math used in dosage calculations and drip rates is not "a different kind of math". It involves algebra and converting from one unit of measure to another. The later can be put into an algebraic form to make the conversion if you can't do it in your head.

pardon me. different kind of math may not be the best way to put it.. it's different in general.. to the person who has never administered meds and/or started IV drips it can be difficult to understand.

Wether it's PO meds, liquid meds, or IV drip rates it involves the same math you learned in high school. The only difference is that it involves medication. Don't stress yourself out over it. It is quite simple.