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