My school doesn't have a Med Calc class :(

[student456]

I keep reading that almost every nursing School has a med calculation math class but mine doesn't! I have just started my third year of NS and the most we have done so far for med math is 10 questions in a year 2 module that wasn't graded we just had to do them on our own before clincal and we just looked at the questions together as a group. I wish we had a class because I bought a med math book and am trying to do it on my own and wish i had help!

:) ugh im jealous of you guys

[anc33]

We never had a formal med calc class. We were expected to know it before entering NS and had a quiz at the beginning of the program to make sure we had it down. Every so often they would throw in a random med calc question to keep us on our toes.

[purplemania, BSN, RN]

my school did not have a dedicated math/med class, but as we learned pharmacology we practiced dosing questions. There are math for med books available online and in book stores. I recommend one that gives lots of different types of problems so you can practice to your heart's content!

[student456]

yea ive talked to people that are in their last year and they havent had any additional med math stuff. So i guess we have to learn it mostly all on our own. We dont have any math quizzes at all during our 4 years of nursing like some schools do...this sort of sucks!

[suzanne4, RN]

Not all programs include a separate calculations course, most cover it in the nursing courses, such as your med-surg classes. You will still be required to pass the required medication calculation course that all nursing students must pass to stay in their program. You usually get three tries to pass it.

There is nothing in the regulations that states that it must be in a separate calculations class, just that it is covered.

[Jilaweez, BSN, MSN, RN]

We don't have a formal class either. We are doing an independent study along with our Fundamentals class. We had to buy a book to work through and we have small homework assignments each week. We will have a math quiz and then a test around week 10. We have to score 90% and we can take it up to 3x's. I am told this will be done each and every semester.

[student456]

no but we are not graded AT ALL during my 4 yr program. we dont take any tests that we have to pass in order to continue...my school has the teach yourself med calculation approach. The only thing related to med calc that we did was 10 questions in my med surg class but they were super easy ones like the order is 100 mg and the dose is 200 mg...how much do you give? they were seriously all like that lol

i know alot of schools have a med calc test that you have to pass with a 90% or 100% in order to stay in the program but we dont have any of that. our profs just expect us to self study and know it ourselves by the time we graduate in order to practice

[MikeyJ, RN]

Most schools actually do not have a formal med calc class. It is easier for students to learn it by themselves because most schools probably do not want to "waste" time with an entire class to teach their students. Our school made us do online modules our first semester that taught us med math.

I can't believe your school doesn't even make you pass math tests every semester. I thought all accredited nursing schools had to make their students take med math exams every semester to continue on. Either way, I think it is very scary that a school isn't even testing their students on a regular basis, regardless if they offer a class on med math or not.

[MB37]

I'm in 2nd semester, and we haven't had a class or exams on med math specifically. However, we all had to buy a book, and we have a lecture or two on it in a few weeks. We don't have to pass a calculation test each semester, but math questions will be integrated into normal exams one we've covered the methods. We're accredited, and usually have the highest NCLEX pass rates in the state. We are taking med term exams this semester, which are pass/fail and required to pass Fundamentals. We just had to buy the book and study on our own, no class is offered.

[Achoo!, LPN]

We don't either. It is all self study.

[smk1, LPN]

We don't have a dedicated class for it either. Intermediate algebra or higher was a prereq, so they assume you shouldn't have any difficulty. We have a calc test at the beginning of every quarter that you must pass to stay in the program.

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

Honey, you don't need a class.

You need to know the conversions and measurements - kilos to pounds, mLs and ounces, etc.

And you need TWO formulas:

desired/have - patient needs 500 mg you have 250 mg

500/250 = 2 pills!

and for calculating drip rates - volume to be infused x drip rate (which you get from the machine) / time in minutes

So.

250 ml x 15 gtt over one hour equals =

250 x 15 = 15000/60 = 62.5 gtt, or 63.

That. is. it.