Math involved in cardiac nursing

Spatialized · Apr 4, 2007

Please forgive my lack of knowledge in this, I'm just finishing up my first year in my two year fast-track RN degree. I'm interested in cardiac nursing, I think, but was wondering what sort of math is involved in taking care of the patients. Some of the math we are studying right now was said to be something we'd only see if we went into ICU, so I wondered what the normal, every-day calculations for meds are that cardiac nurses have to do? You know, give me a "for instance" of calculations you do on a regular basis that are things I should get really good at.
Thanks!
Cara

Most common would be drip calculations. For example, MD orders dobutamine @ 3mcg/kg/min, pt weighs 117kg, what is the rate to set the pump at? Things like that. Others would be calculating the corrected Q-T interval (QTc) in determining is the Q-T interval is getting longer with drugs like Tikosyn. Also the simple math of heart rates from monitor strips. You won't be doing differential equations, but basic nursing math.

Hope this helps,

Tom

jmgrn65, RN · Apr 4, 2007

drips usually can be done on the computer with the use of programs. I have worked in cardiac and icu for the past 15 years and we really don't have to use math very often. QTC needs to be calculated but that is sometimes done on the EKG itself, depends on the program

jonzey · Apr 6, 2007

I work on a cardiac unit,just the basic math stuff.For instance,Morphine 10mg/ML available,4mg ordered,amt ML given.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Apr 6, 2007

please forgive my lack of knowledge in this, i'm just finishing up my first year in my two year fast-track rn degree. i'm interested in cardiac nursing, i think, but was wondering what sort of math is involved in taking care of the patients. some of the math we are studying right now was said to be something we'd only see if we went into icu, so i wondered what the normal, every-day calculations for meds are that cardiac nurses have to do? you know, give me a "for instance" of calculations you do on a regular basis that are things i should get really good at.

as long as you have computerized charting, programmable iv pumps and a cardiac output computer, not much math is required. but should your computer go down (it happens!) you may be doing a lot more math! simple addition and subtraction for intake and output. you'll have to multiply and divide for drip calculations. (your epinephrine is mixed 2 mg/100cc and your patient weighs 113.8 kg. what rate would you set the pump at to deliver .2 mcg/kg/min of ephinephrine?) even if you have programmable pumps, i always teach my orientees to calculate drip rates by hand. it helps to understand the relationships.

his temp is 38.4 c, and his wife wants to know what that is in "real numbers" (meaning farenheit). you'll need the equation to convert celsius to farenheit and vice versa. he weighs 264 pounds, so how do you calculate mcg/kg/min for drips? you'll need to convert pounds to kilograms and back. also inches to centimeters.

so your computerized charting is off-line, and you've just done a full set of hemodynamic numbers. your cardiac output is 4.0 -- is that a good one? well, you'll need to figure out is cardiac index to know -- so you'll have to figure out his body surface area. and you'll have to calculate your systemic vascular resistance by hand which will require multiplying and dividing. if you really want to understand cardiac outputs, the machine is measuring the area under a curve -- so calculus helps.

you might be able to slide by in ccu without doing a whole lot of math as long as your computers are working. but if you understand the equations involved to figure out cardiac index, mean arterial pressure, svr, an epinephrine drip you'll understand the relationships much better and how things fit together. at the very least, you'll be adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing. if your preceptor is like me, she'll hand you a paper towel and have you figure out the equations yourself.