Need help learning how to do meds calculations

Nursing Students Student Assist

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:confused: I am a non traditional student (48 years young) but I am having a dickens of a time learning med calculations. Our classes officially start August 24. The school sent a packet out and it has a lot of practice test questions for this. I have the book they told us to get and I have been working in it. I am struggling with this. If any one has any suggestions to help I would very greatfully take them. Math is not my strong point. We have weekly quizes for this and I would like to get at least one right on my first quiz. I have to pass the med. calc. test with an 85% in mid October or be tossed out of the program. I have too much heart, time, and money invested up to this point to lose it all.

Thanks

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Believe in your self and get a nursing med practice book that you like and study from it. You can do it. Have confidence.

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I'm terrible at math. My school made us buy Calculate With Confidence by Deborah Gray Morris - it's an EXCELLENT book and it has really helped me. Just practice a little bit each day - don't overwhelm yourself all at once :)

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Specializes in orthopedics and telemetry.

I know how you feel when i first started the lpn program in 2007 i couldn't grasp the math we had to do and my pharmacology grade dropped down so far i couldn't bring it back up because the math scores is apart of the pharm class so i got dropped from the program so while i was out and deciding when to come back i bought a book its called math for nurses a kapln publishing the isbn is 978-1-4195-9955-2 this book has helped me tremendously i started the program again this january we have 3 pharmacology test left math part is done just 3 drug test but i am proud 2 say i passed all the math portion and i'm getting a 90% in pharmacology right now so i hope this book helps you as well as it has helped me

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

finallyhere. . .there are free online med calc tutorials that you can do that will give you another perspective and one of them just may click the lightbulb on in your brain for you. they are listed 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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Thank you so so much! I bookmarked the post. It is hard to do math after being out of school for 31 years. I love this site. I have been reading it while I was doing my pre nursing. I have my nursing acceptance letter framed and my kids laugh at me. I say let them laugh, one day they will accomplish their dream too and then they will understand.

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My mother told me this and it seems to work perfect for most computations; dose(what the Dr orders)over have (what you have) will equal how much to give. For example "A Dr orders 400mg of X and you have 25mg tablets, how many do you give? Dose-Dr ordered 400mg (over) % have (your 25mg) = 16 tablets would be given. Then if the problem has a volume such as mL it's dose over (%) have X the mL to equal what you give. I know this doesn't cover everything but will assure you get one or two right! I also have the book "Math for Nurses" I seen recommend and have been doing that as well. I'm also TERRIFIED of the math myself! Most of us are, so don't worry, your not alone in your math fear! Just remember it's just formulas that you don't know yet. But just like you can memorize words to songs or recipe's you can also remember formulas after you learn them. Best of luck to you.

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I was up till 3 am working on it. Thanks so much for the info. It is just so overwhelming to have to accomplish so much in such a short period of time. I stress more than I should, due to the fact I quit my job to do this. I left what is considered a great job in my area to do this. People would kill to have the job I left. All I can say about that is be careful what you wish for. I am a single mom with a 9 year old and a 27 year old that has had a hard time with the economy. I just don't want to fail. I have enough money set aside to last me for the duration of school, but if I flunk out on the dosage test in October, well I am up the creek without boat, paddle, or lifevest.

Once again THANKS EVERYONE!

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

staying up until 3 am isn't the way to stress yourself to learn. you will learn better if you break this up into shorter learning sessions and take breaks.

see the learning advice on http://www.studygs.net/ - study guides and strategies.

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I know, I am trying to make changes in my lifestyle so when I get to the point of giving advice to others I am following it myself.

Anything worth doing takes hard work and time. I will get it, I have till mid-October. I just worry about what will happen if I don't make it and have to leave the program.

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.
I just worry about what will happen if I don't make it and have to leave the program.

You have to stop thinking about those things. Think about what you have to do. Picture success. Have a Plan B, but work on Plan A.

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