NEED HELP DRUG CAL.

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I am not real good in math and starting drug cal. The beginning of april. Could someone give me some hints on how to to figure out problems b4 i start class so im not left behind. I dont even know where to start. Math just makes me nervous. Thanks so much.

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

there are tutorials on post #2 of this sticky thread: https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-student/nursing-math-thread-264395.html - the nursing math thread

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My best advice is to use dimensional analysis as your method for solving the calculations. Some people use ratio/proportion, etc; but as the calculations get more difficult you will be glad you learned dimensional analysis. Also, you could try to find out what conversions your school expects you to learn and go ahead and learn them. And last, buy you a good Med Calculation book and work through it.

One good book published by Mosby is titled Calculate with Confidence, by Deborah Gray Morris.

Student-RN

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Thank you. I do believe i will get that book. I just need to take one step at a time. I always seem to get ahead of myself. A work book would be great. I have just been accepted into the lpn program and very excited but very nervous, mainly with my math skills. Thanks again for your advice.

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Personally, dimensional analysis really confuses me, but everyone is different and if that method works for you, then use it! I also highly recommend the Calculate With Confidence book. We were required to buy it and it is excellent. It has A LOT of practice problems (and it includes a CD with more practice problems!) and it also shows you each way for figuring out a problem - it will show you examples on how to solve using dimensional analysis, ratio/proportion, etc. http://www.dosagehelp.com is also a nice site for drug calculations. :)

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.
Thank you. I do believe i will get that book. I just need to take one step at a time. I always seem to get ahead of myself. A work book would be great. I have just been accepted into the lpn program and very excited but very nervous, mainly with my math skills. Thanks again for your advice.

Why buy a book when there are complete course tutorials online that you can access completely free? Have you checked them out?

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Specializes in CNA.
My best advice is to use dimensional analysis as your method for solving the calculations. Some people use ratio/proportion, etc; but as the calculations get more difficult you will be glad you learned dimensional analysis. Also, you could try to find out what conversions your school expects you to learn and go ahead and learn them. And last, buy you a good Med Calculation book and work through it.

One good book published by Mosby is titled Calculate with Confidence, by Deborah Gray Morris.

Student-RN

I found dimensional analysis to be very effective for me because i was able to do the conversions in the problem. I couldnt ever remember where to move the decimal. I was glad i learned it.

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Wow what great help. Thank all of you so much. Heck maybe math wont be that bad after all with all this help i am receiving. I am most thankful to all of you.

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Hey, I was nervous about drug calculations as well, but what really helped me was to listen and take good notes when it is explained, but when you get home, take a look at the information from the problem and write out any of the pertinent information. For example if the dose is 250mg, what you have on hand is 500mg, I take that information out of the word problem and write it down so it's easy to see what information you have. From there, I just think about basic algebra and what would make sense to me to solve it. There are so many ways to solve these types of problems, you just have to find what works for you. Do a lot of practice problems until you get a lot of them right on the first try. JUst keep working at it and don't get discouraged, you will be fine.

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Thank you amy. I like your name by the way lol. But really that is great advice . I got a c in math (my only bad grade) and i guess thats why im nervous. Thanks again. Amy

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I can really suggest starting to memorize those conversions values. 1 OZ=30ML. 1 G=1000 MG, etc.

You will be miles ahead if you get those memorized and can spend valuable time on the math only. Flashcards at all times to review while you have a free minute work well, like waiting to pick up kids, in line, etc. Good Luck. Kinda like learning alphabet for reading.

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thanks bnc1143 could you tell me if there is a place online that i could find the table of conversions? thank you. i will start working on that as soon as i find the table. great advice

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