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Drug Math |
Instructions for Practice Exam
The practice exam contains the same type of questions and follows the same blue print listed for the drug math exam. The practice exam is available for students throughout the year and can be accessed from any computer with most browsers and access to Internet. Thus, students can access the exam from home or through the Library Learning Resource Center (LRC), the Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) sites, and Hope campus in the Testing Center.
Please read before beginning the practice test:
The practice test can be accessed from a Web browser from any location. The URL is:
http://perception.uams.edu/q4/perception.dll
The names and passwords for the different test are:
| Test | Name | Password |
| Foundations I (summer) | 7 digit user ID (example: 1234567) | nursing |
| Foundations II (Fall junior year) | 7 digit user ID (example: 1234567) | nursing |
| Junior | 7 digit user ID (example: 1234567) | nursing |
| Senior | 7 digit user ID (example: 1234567) | nursing |
| RNs | 7 digit user ID (example: 1234567) | nursing |
After you have answered the questions and submitted your answers, you will see a feedback page with the questions, your answers, and the correct answers. You can print this feedback page to show to the drug math coordinator if you have questions or need assistance. You also save the feedback page and e-mail it as an attachment to the drug coordinator/ the course coordinator/ practicum faculty/ academic advisor. You must print or save for e-mailing before closing the feedback page! You may want to keep your scratch paper to discuss your calculations with the drug math coordinator/ the course coordinator/ practicum faculty/ academic advisor as needed.
Drug math coordinators are:
| Little Rock Juniors, Seniors, & RNs |
Jeff Martin (Jrs) & Teri Landrum (Srs) |
| Hope | Courtney Riggs (Jrs
& Srs); Barbara McGehee (Jrs - Foundations I & II) |
| Outreach | Directors of Nursing Education at each site |
All courses with a practicum component require successful completion of the drug math exam with 90% or higher by the end of the designated testing period. The drug math exam is a computer exam administered through the Library Learning Resource Center (LRC) during regular library hours. RN distance learning students can take the exam at the Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) sites. Students on the Hope campus can take the exam at the Testing Center, University of Arkansas Community College at Hope. The testing period for the exam is published under student information on the College of Nursing website. www.nursing.uams.edu/student_information.htm
The exam consists of ten (10) fill in the blank drug math questions, selected at random from a pool of questions. No two exams are alike. Students have three opportunities to pass the exam with a 90%. Students must take the exam(s) and have passed the exam by the deadline. Any student who does not take an exam by the published deadline receives an "F" for that exam. Any student who does not obtain 90% or higher on the first exam must wait at least until the next day to retake the exam. If a student fails the exam on their second attempt, they are not allowed to take exam for the third time until they have met with the drug math coordinator. If the student is unable to meet the 90% pass score after three attempts, the student fails the course and is not allowed to continue in the course. Students are not admitted late to another course.
Demonstration of the ability to give medications safely is a requirement of each course with a practicum component. The student cannot administer any medications until the drug math exam is passed.
Junior Level I Students
Summer 2009
Foundations I is considered a course with a practicum component. Therefore, students must complete the Drug Math exam requirement as detailed in the student handbook with modifications as listed below. Two computerized Drug Math exams will be given. There will be no minimum passing score for the two required exams. The purpose of this experience is to prepare students for the drug math requirement for the remainder of the College of Nursing curriculum. Failure to complete all of the components of the drug math requirement for this course will result in the student being administratively withdrawn from Foundations of Professional Nursing I (see student handbook, Drug Math Policy).
The Drug Math requirements for this course are as follows:
1) Complete practice quizzes until a minimum of ten (10) are completed with a score of 100%.
2) Complete computerized Exam 1 and Exam 2 during the exam dates listed below.
3) Complete remediation with Drug Math Coordinator for failure to score the minimum score on either Exam 1 or Exam 2 detailed below.
Prior to the exam periods listed below, students must do practice quizzes until they score a minimum of 100% on ten (10) quizzes. The practice quizzes are completed during the student’s own time at home or on any computer with internet access. Directions for accessing the practice quizzes are located on the College of Nursing website under “Current Students” and “Bulletin Board” then find “drug math” information.
The computerized drug calculation exams are proctored and taken in the Learning Resources Center (LRC) of the library. The exams must be completed during the normal business hours of LRC operation. The exam periods are listed above.
Exam 1
Students that score less than 80% on Exam 1 must meet with the Drug Math Coordinator for remediation prior to taking Exam 2. It is the students’ responsibility to contact the Drug Math Coordinator and set up a meeting time for the remediation.
Exam 2
Students that score 80% or less on Exam 2 must meet with the Drug Math Coordinator for remediation prior to the end of summer semester. It is the students’ responsibility to contact the Drug Math Coordinator and set up a meeting time for the remediation.
The test bank is comprised of eight categories. However, the categories and number of questions from each category are different for each of the three program levels (Level I: Foundations I, Level I Foundations II, Level II: junior and Level III senior). See test blue print below. The categories do not correspond to the chapters in a specific drug math book but rather how we believe drug math is operationalized in the clinical setting. Therefore, some categories go along with the chapters in the drug math book and others are parts of chapters. In addition to math calculation students must have a good understanding of Chapter 3, The Three Systems of Measurement and Chapter 4, Nurse's Role in Drug Administration and Appendix A: Common Abbreviations and Symbols Related to Medication Administration in Wilson, B. & Shannon, M. (1997). Dosage Calculations: A Simplified Approach. Appleton-Lange.
Click on these links to review PowerPoint Slides: Junior Summer Drug Math Review and Foundations II Drug Math Review
Drug Math Categories
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Household, apothecary, & metric conversions |
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Metric Conversions |
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Simple one step problems |
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IV Calculations |
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Heparin problems |
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Insulin problems |
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Complex problems (Level II Junior) |
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Complex problems (Level II Senior) ** |
**The senior multiple step problems are more complex critical care type questions that usually require 2-4 steps.
Test Blue Print
(The categories and number of questions from each
category)
Level I:
Foundations I (Summer)
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Level
I: Foundations II
(Fall- first rotation)
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Level II:
Junior Specialties
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Level III:
Senior Specialties
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Guidelines:
- Achieve 90% to pass.
- Three attempts to pass the exam.
- Adhere to the policy of waiting until the next day before taking the next exam if needed.
- Refer to the CON Website http://www.nursing.uams.edu for drug math dates and other information.
- Complete all exams by the designated deadline.
- E-mail your practicum coordinator when you pass the exam.
- If Exam III is indicated meet with the appropriate drug math coordinator prior to taking Exam III.
- Students are not allowed to take the exam without the UAMS CON picture ID badge.
- Simple calculators are allowed. Calculators that store formulas or clipboards with calculators are not permitted. A limited number of calculators are available in the LRC.
- Review the College of Nursing rounding rules. They are included in the computer instructions at the beginning of the exam. You can refer to the rounding rules at any time during the exam by scrolling to the beginning of the exam.
Procedure:
- Take the test during regular library hours. Distance Learning RNs can the exam at the AHECs during regular hours. Hope students can take the exam at UACC-Hope Testing Center. Hope faculty will announce the test times.
- Tell the appropriate personnel (LRC, AHEC, UACC-Hope) which exam you are taking: Foundations I, Foundations II, junior, or senior drug math exam.
- Show your UAMS CON picture ID badge to the appropriate personnel (LRC, AHEC, UACC-Hope) prior to taking the exam.
- The appropriate personnel will examine your ID badge, and ask you to sign a role sheet.
- The appropriate personnel will then access the computer test and enter your password.
- Use the scratch paper provided for recording the steps you used in calculations.
- Questions can be skipped, reviewed and returned to at any time by scrolling through the exam. Answers can be changed up until you click the submit button.
- After performing the calculations, enter the answer on the screen using only numbers and decimals. Do not use fractions or extra words such as cc, drops, ml, kg, and etc. Apply the CON rounding rules to your final answer.
- When you have completed the exam click the submit button.
- The computer will ask you to acknowledge an honor pledge. The honor pledge must be acknowledged before the computer will record your results.
- Click the submit button again.
- The computer will give you your score. At this point you will know if you have been successful on the exam.
- Once you have received your score, the computer will show you the questions that you missed.
- Complete the evaluation form if requested to identify any possible errors, any confusing or ambiguous questions. Please sign the form so we can easily review the specific test items, etc. correct any problems with the test.
Please sign and return all scratch paper to the appropriate personal (LRC, AHEC, UACC-Hope) before leaving so that we can discuss your calculations if necessary.
The drug math exam and the practice exam are available through the Testing Center, University of Arkansas Community College at Hope. The Hope Campus faculty provides specific test information and test dates. For information and directions for the practice exam see instructions for practice exam.
RN students enrolled in the RN to BSN or RN to MNSc program follow the same procedure (see Guidelines and Procedures) for taking the test as the students enrolled in the traditional BSN program. RN students demonstrate competency in drug math by taking and passing the drug math exam one time during their first semester of enrollment in N3301 Orientation for Advanced Placement. Exam test dates and deadlines for RN students are on the web and distributed during course orientation to N3301. If you would like to review your drug math before taking the actual exam, several sources are available. A computer practice exam is available and students are encouraged to take practice exam as desired prior to taking the real exam. In addition there are drug math computer assisted instruction programs available for practice as needed (see Computer Assisted Instruction Drug Math Programs). The textbook, Wilson, B. & Shannon, M. (l997) Dosage Calculation: A simplified Approach 3rd Ed should be available in the campus bookstore. However, any drug math textbook would be helpful.
The drug math exam and practice exam can be accessed from the AHECs or the UAMS LRC during regular business hours. RN students who are geographically closer to the AHEC's than to UAMS Campus may take the drug math exams and computer practice exam at the AHEC’s. Check with the director of the AHEC for specific office hours and availability of the AHEC computers for testing. The following is a list of AHEC and faculty numbers:
| Helena, AR...................... | Karan Cox..................................... | (870) 338-9100 |
| El Dorado, AR.................. | Janice Lewis................................. | (870) 881-4428 |
| Fayetteville, AR................ | Beth Vaughan-Wrobel.................... | (479) 521-8269 |
| Texarkana, AR................. | Gloria Mugno................................. | (870) 779-6041 |
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| University of Arkansas for Medical
Sciences College of Nursing |
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Rounding Rules for Drug Math |
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Whole Numbers |
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For College of Nursing testing purposes whole numbers that include
decimals and zeros after the decimal point in the answer is
counted wrong.
Example: Correct answer
is: 4 |
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| Basic Rounding: Decimals |
Remember: |
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With decimals numbers it is often necessary to round to the nearest
tenth or hundredth.
Rounding to the nearest tenth:
Rounding to the nearest hundredth: |
Round at the end of the problem. The exception to this rule is when you are converting pounds to kgs. Always convert and round to the nearest 10th and then complete the problem. |
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| Converting pounds and kilograms: | Drops (gtt) and Units: | |
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Round to the nearest 10th Example: 120 pounds = 54.54 kg |
Drops and units are too small to divide into parts. Always round to
the nearest whole number.
Example: 89.5 = 90 |
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| ml or cc: | ||
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Less than 1 ml / cc Infinite numbers If the answer is < 1 ml / cc round to the nearest 100th and place a zero in front of the decimal. For safe practice you must always place a zero in front of the decimal. Ex: 0.376 = 0.38 ml/cc
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Less than 1 ml / cc Finite whole numbers If the answer automatically rounds to the 10th place a zero in front of the decimal. It is not necessary add a zero to the last digit to round to the nearest 100th. For safe practice you must always place a zero in front of the decimal. Ex: .4 ml = 0.4 ml.8 ml = 0.8 ml
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Greater than 1 ml / cc If the answer is > 1cc/ ml round to the nearest 10th. Ex: 1.57 = 1.6 cc (or ml) *Exception to above rule When combining multiple drugs in the same syringe calculate each drug separately, round appropriately. Combine drugs in same syringe but do not round at this point. Ex: Drug 1 = 0.75 ml Drug 2 = 1 ml 0.75 + 1 = 1.75 ml (NOT 1.8 ml)
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| Tablets: | ||
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Tablets, as a rule, can be given whole or broken into halves, thirds,
or fourths. For College of Nursing testing purposes round to the
nearest half tablet (0.5)
Examples: 1.45 = 1.5 tablets 1.2 = 1 tablet 0.8 tablet = 1 tablet |
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| Converting grains and milligrams: | ||
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Use 1 grain = 60 or 65 mg.
The majority of drug math calculations use 1 grain = 60 mg conversion factor. However, there are a few examples where using 1 grain = 65 mg results in not having to apply the rounding rules. Example: One 5 grain
Acetaminophen tablet = 325 mg |
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| IV Calculations: | ||
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Intravenous infusions are calculated in drops per minute (gtt/min),
milliliters per hour (ml/h) or cc per hour (cc/h).
For College of Nursing testing purposes: Examples: 62.5 ml/h = 63 ml/h 33.3 ml/h = 33 ml/h 83.6 ml/h = 84 Note: Some IV infusion pumps can deliver tenths of a milliliter per hour (62.5 ml) In the clinical area, when the these IV pumps are used the infusion rate may be rounded to the tenths. Check with your instructor or buddy nurse. |
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Revised 8/14/01 SH
COMPUTER ASSISTED INSTRUCTION (CAI)
There are several computer assisted instruction (CAI) programs available on the 5th floor of the library at UAMS. Check with the AHECS and the Rupert Library on the Hope Campus for the CAI’s available at those sites. Please note that these programs are commercial programs that may not always follow the UAMS College of Nursing’s rounding rules. However, they are excellent resources for those students who need additional practice with drug math calculation.
- Calculation of Drug Dosages: This program has multiple practice problems for you to work.
- Med Math Master Review: This program includes
units on math calculation as well as
actual drug problems to work. - Nurse Procalc: This program contains many practice drug math problems.
- Dosage Calculation: A self paced tutorial that comes with the drug math text book, The textbook, Wilson, B. & Shannon, M. (l997) Dosage Calculation: A simplified Approach, 3rd ed. This tutorial reinforces the dimensional analysis method of calculating medication dosages and provides practice questions.
- Accu-Cal: Comprehensive Dosage Calculation: This is the newest CAI. Accu-Cal teaches three methods of calculating medications dosages: Ratio-Proportion, Formula Method (D/HxQ) and Dimensional Analysis.
LIBRARY
LRC HOURS
Fall & Spring
Monday - Thursday |
7:30 am - 10:00 pm |
Friday |
7:30 am - 6:00 pm |
Saturday |
9:00 am - 6:00 pm |
| Sunday | 2:00 pm - 10:00 pm |
Summer
Monday - Thursday |
7:30 am - 10:00 pm |
Friday |
7:30 am - 6:00 pm |
Saturday |
9:00 am - 6:00 pm |
| Sunday | 2:00 pm - 10:00 pm |
Drug Math Policy/KRS 7/30/09
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