drug calculations for nurses
Mar 11th 2010, 7:31 am
#1
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 219
drug calculations for nurses
i am just going through a drug calculation self assessment form that my place of work has posted to me ( i start on monday and have to sit a test of some sort ) the questions are manly about calculating mg into mcg and mcg/kg/min
do you think they would expect you to remember the formulas off by heart or would they give them you plus dose anyone know if you would be allowed calculators, as i am sure once on shift you are allowed to use them.
also i am practising the drip rate fomulas by long division, again dose anyone know if i will be asked about drip rates ( you give infustions through pumps, you dont free drip apart from blood ) and will i need to work them out in long divison or by calculator ?
i am giving myself a headache just thinking about it. i know we use drug calculations all the time at work in uk but i am used to using a calculator plus you have work collegues to figure it out with as all iv drugs are checked by two nurses.
i am worried that the test will be hard and i will fail and look a ****.
is there anyone out there who has sat a test resently that knows so i can stop stressing
Brisbane bound
do you think they would expect you to remember the formulas off by heart or would they give them you plus dose anyone know if you would be allowed calculators, as i am sure once on shift you are allowed to use them.
also i am practising the drip rate fomulas by long division, again dose anyone know if i will be asked about drip rates ( you give infustions through pumps, you dont free drip apart from blood ) and will i need to work them out in long divison or by calculator ?
i am giving myself a headache just thinking about it. i know we use drug calculations all the time at work in uk but i am used to using a calculator plus you have work collegues to figure it out with as all iv drugs are checked by two nurses.
i am worried that the test will be hard and i will fail and look a ****.
is there anyone out there who has sat a test resently that knows so i can stop stressing
Brisbane bound
Mar 11th 2010, 8:00 am
#2
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 683
Re: drug calculations for nurses
i am just going through a drug calculation self assessment form that my place of work has posted to me ( i start on monday and have to sit a test of some sort ) the questions are manly about calculating mg into mcg and mcg/kg/min
do you think they would expect you to remember the formulas off by heart or would they give them you plus dose anyone know if you would be allowed calculators, as i am sure once on shift you are allowed to use them.
also i am practising the drip rate fomulas by long division, again dose anyone know if i will be asked about drip rates ( you give infustions through pumps, you dont free drip apart from blood ) and will i need to work them out in long divison or by calculator ?
i am giving myself a headache just thinking about it. i know we use drug calculations all the time at work in uk but i am used to using a calculator plus you have work collegues to figure it out with as all iv drugs are checked by two nurses.
i am worried that the test will be hard and i will fail and look a ****.
is there anyone out there who has sat a test resently that knows so i can stop stressing
Brisbane bound
do you think they would expect you to remember the formulas off by heart or would they give them you plus dose anyone know if you would be allowed calculators, as i am sure once on shift you are allowed to use them.
also i am practising the drip rate fomulas by long division, again dose anyone know if i will be asked about drip rates ( you give infustions through pumps, you dont free drip apart from blood ) and will i need to work them out in long divison or by calculator ?
i am giving myself a headache just thinking about it. i know we use drug calculations all the time at work in uk but i am used to using a calculator plus you have work collegues to figure it out with as all iv drugs are checked by two nurses.
i am worried that the test will be hard and i will fail and look a ****.
is there anyone out there who has sat a test resently that knows so i can stop stressing
Brisbane bound
I posted the drip claculations on here and and it is quite straight forward if you remember whats for blood and whats for fluids. Also, infusions are NOT always given via pumps. I give infusions day in day out and have rarely used a pump. Im sure you will be fine. Stop worrying
and lots of luck for your test 
Mar 20th 2010, 1:24 am
#3
A roo in my top paddock!
Joined: Apr 2006
Location: On the Goldie....beautiful Queensland.
Posts: 233
Re: drug calculations for nurses
Hi Sarah,
I have just started working for Queensland Health (worked in the private sector for 18 months previously) and on my orientation week we had to do a drugs calculation test.We could use calculators and the questions were pretty easy if you know your formulas.Saying that i still made some silly mistakes as you do!
At work we use calculators all the time to calculate rates (i work in theatres) but i have to say we "free drip" a lot in theatres - mainly because we cant stand the alarms going off all the time on the pumps!
Anyway,dont stress im sure you ll be fine.
Janice.
I have just started working for Queensland Health (worked in the private sector for 18 months previously) and on my orientation week we had to do a drugs calculation test.We could use calculators and the questions were pretty easy if you know your formulas.Saying that i still made some silly mistakes as you do!
At work we use calculators all the time to calculate rates (i work in theatres) but i have to say we "free drip" a lot in theatres - mainly because we cant stand the alarms going off all the time on the pumps!
Anyway,dont stress im sure you ll be fine.
Janice.
