Were you guys allowed the use of a calculator when you took your dosage test?

[Wannabe_Doc]

The nursing program at my school does not allow the use of a calculator.I find this extremely ridiculous, since you have to get all 10 questions correct without one. Did your school allow calculators?

[StudentOfHealing]

Idk man! I have yet to see anyone do it. But maybe I'm not looking hard enough

I've seen it many times. What unit are you on? (msurg? ICU? SNF? etc.) Insulin, levophed, heparin are usually pre-calculated, but the nurses always double check. These meds are pretty dangerous.

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

My school required a perfect score and no use of calculators for the initial classes. After we had proved that we could do the math and passed the initial courses, we were permitted calculators.

It is very basic math. The PTB need you to show that you can do the work. Much like you will be able to use references in real world nursing, but you still need to prove that you understand many concepts without assistance in school.

[NPOaftermidnight, MSN, RN, NP]

We were not allowed to use calculators for our math or med tests. It IS a little silly - on the floor I would never calculate a dose without using a calculator. On the other hand, I didn't think it was that big of a deal. If someone can't handle a little long division, that's a problem.

[THELIVINGWORST, ASN, RN]

I've seen it many times. What unit are you on? (msurg? ICU? SNF? etc.) Insulin, levophed, heparin are usually pre-calculated, but the nurses always double check. These meds are pretty dangerous.

I work med surg but I float to other places. I graduate this fall. But like I said, I don't follow the nurses around or ask them how often they check the pharmacies math on the meds. Insulin and heparin come in concentrations and the syringes have the units on them soooo they aren't given in mLs or anything. Maybe I'm missing something idk I am not omniscient

[CalRNtoBe2013]

I work med surg but I float to other places. I graduate this fall. But like I said, I don't follow the nurses around or ask them how often they check the pharmacies math on the meds. Insulin and heparin come in concentrations and the syringes have the units on them soooo they aren't given in mLs or anything. Maybe I'm missing something idk I am not omniscient

I work in ICU and the nurses have to calculate almost every titratable drip, usually by mg/kg/hr. They also have to do quick drug calcs when mixing drugs like Neo, levophed, etc during codes. If the drug is ordered, it will come from pharmacy mixed, but if it's needed for a code, they're mixing it... Very quickly.

[THELIVINGWORST, ASN, RN]

Yeah that makes sense in ICU but in my hospital at least, they if they need a heparin drip or something like that, they usually are upgraded to a higher level of care. Only in LD are the nurses allowed to titrate outside of ICU/IMC

[THELIVINGWORST, ASN, RN]

It would be nice though, if they did "code medication dosage" sheets like in PEDS and NICU/nursery. Maybe it's not practical. Idk

[Aurora77]

It's basic math, not that hard. It's scary to think nurses can't do simple dosage calculations without a calculator.

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

It's basic math not that hard. It's scary to think nurses can't do simple dosage calculations without a calculator.[/quote']

This!!!!

[cjdmomma]

I don't think anyone here said that they absolutely couldn't do a dosage calc without a calculator... lol... just that it is much faster (usually), safer to have a double check, and more realistic to the real world. Calm down.

[Ms_barnesRN]

Ours does also, math is a important factor of nursing and everyone should one it but long division, extra large num multiplication and a timed exam dnt mix.

[THELIVINGWORST, ASN, RN]

This!!!!

No one is saying they CAN'T do the calculations, but these are in testing situations. One decimal place left off can be the difference in the precise ness of your answer. That would be the main reason calculators exist. Precision without doubt of personal error