| Basic arithmetic is a sequentially dependent process. | | | | * The Logical Approach to the Solving Difficult |
| A student, who cannot do long division for example, | | | | Problems |
| will have difficulty with division of decimals, fractions, | | | | For many preparing to take this test, trying to learn |
| percentages, and ratio formulas. Therefore, the NET | | | | this from scratch may seem like a daunting task. |
| carefully evaluates basic operations in mathematics | | | | Indeed, for those with minimal to no knowledge math |
| that are essential for success in health professional | | | | this becomes a daunting challenge. Some students |
| programs. | | | | elect to take refresher math courses. These math |
| Nurses must perform dosage calculations when | | | | courses are misnamed, in the fact that they are not |
| administering medications and intravenous fluids. | | | | so much a refresher course but a course that only |
| Pharmacology math requires the nurse to know | | | | covers certain aspects of the math that is tested on |
| systems of measurement (metric, household, | | | | the Nursing Entrance Test. Depending on the teacher |
| apothecary, and avoirdupois) and how to convert | | | | and the learning curve of the rest of the class, this |
| within those systems of measurement. Other system | | | | may not help the student sufficiently. Many teachers |
| of measurements include units (common for insulin | | | | adjust the content of the class based upon the |
| and heparin), milliequivalents (mEq) (common for | | | | percent of the class that has a difficult time |
| some drugs such as potassium chloride), and | | | | comprehending the material. What this means is that |
| international units (IU) (common for vitamins). Since | | | | if there is a majority of the class that is having a |
| nurses need to accurately calculate medication | | | | hard time with basic principals, then the teacher will |
| dosages, it is essential to understand drug weights | | | | not completely cover all that is required. This is |
| and measures. | | | | unfortunate, because those who are picking up the |
| Math computation skills (addition, subtraction, division, | | | | material quickly are placed at an educational |
| multiplication, fractions, etc) are necessary to | | | | disadvantage and are not getting their moneys worth |
| calculate medication dosages. To interpret physician's | | | | of education. |
| orders, the nurse must also understand abbreviations | | | | Time and time again, students have sought out new |
| used to describe those units of measurement and | | | | materials on the market to better prepare them for |
| frequency of administration. Other instances in which | | | | the Nursing Entrance Test, only to be given bits and |
| the nurse may use math (pharmacology) includes | | | | pieces of information that is insufficient to pass with |
| calculating safe dosages of medications. Nurses may | | | | an acceptable score. Math is the enemy to many that |
| use basic math to determine intake and output. | | | | wish to be nurses and is a source of dread when it |
| The mathematical content that is tested in the | | | | comes to test performance. Much of this anxiety is |
| Nursing Entrance Test consists of solving the | | | | due to insufficient preparation at the college and high |
| following; addition, subtraction, multiplication and | | | | school level. The population of new nursing students |
| division of mixed and improper fractions, manipulation | | | | encompasses a wide age and educational disparity. |
| of exponents, decimals and percentages, word | | | | The typical nursing student is no longer the fresh high |
| problems, algebra problems including factoring, use of | | | | school graduate, or the young mother returning to |
| quadratic equation, slope of line, reading point | | | | school after her children reach preschool age. Now, |
| coordinates from a graph, solving for variables in the | | | | nursing students come from many diverse |
| first power and square roots. This may seem like a | | | | backgrounds, such as engineers, teachers, computer |
| lot to someone who is hoping to go into the nursing | | | | technologist and people with masters and doctorates. |
| field. However, this mathematical knowledge should | | | | Naturally, with so many degreed people entering the |
| be part of the repertoire for the student planning to | | | | nursing field, the bar has been raised for the score |
| take the Nursing Entrance Test. | | | | needed to pass the Nursing Entrance Test at many |
| A comprehensive Mathematics Review covering: | | | | nursing schools. This puts the typical nursing student |
| * The Easiest Math Review You'll Ever Read | | | | at a disadvantage. |
| * Solving for Variables | | | | So, the question can be asked, what is the person to |
| * How to Read Word Problems | | | | do about obtaining the skills necessary to pass the |
| * Keeping Probability Simple | | | | math on the Nursing Entrance Test? There is no |
| * Using the Right Formulas | | | | simple answer. However the best answer is to study. |
| * Graphing for Success | | | | Having the right tools is also necessary and you can |
| * Breezing Through Ratios | | | | find many through the Internet. |
| * Understanding Line Plotting | | | | |