I'm interested in finding out how many nurses from allnurses.com use dosage calculators at work.

If you do use one is it frowned upon by the veteran nurses? Do you find it to be fool proof? Do you find it to be less time consuming to use a dosage calculator as opposed to writing out formulas or doing them in your head?

If you do not use one, why not?

I don't and don't think i want to, simply cause i trust my brain first and foremost. We have standard formulas for figuring out drip rates of Milrinone, dopamine , nitro etc and i will do it myself and get a second eye to do it also and confirm my calculation. Math has never been an issue for me so most of the calculations for drugs other than the dose/kg/min ones i just do in my head. But whatever you are comfortable with , go with, math is certainly not everyones forte. I don't think you would be frowned upon for doing so.

I've never found the math in nursing to be difficult, so I'll usually do it myself and use the dosage calculators as a double check. If I get a different number, I go to another nurse or call the pharmacy. I don't think there's anything wrong with them, I would just find a way to double check. :)

I'm interested in finding out how many nurses from allnurses.com use dosage calculators at work.

If you do use one is it frowned upon by the veteran nurses? Do you find it to be fool proof? Do you find it to be less time consuming to use a dosage calculator as opposed to writing out formulas or doing them in your head?

If you do not use one, why not?

In ICU, we frown upon people who cannot do a cal factor. Sure, pumps and programs can calculate them, but what happens if those programs are down?

Know your calculations. There's no reason not to.

I used a plain calculator at work when I did my 6 week med-surg rotation. I basically know the equivilants in my head, but the brain gets jumbled when I try to figure out the dosages. And, forget about pediatric conversions for me. Although I have not worked in peds (nor plan to), I found that in school clinicals, it was easier for me to use the calculator than not to.

Irregardless to what others may think, you have to do what is best for you to ensure saftey when you are administering medications. It is YOUR license, and no amount of peer pressure should try to influence you out of your comfort zone. Also, in many cases, after awhile of working, you may wean yourself away from using a conversion calculator once you are more confident and familiar with the dosages.

I work in a PICU and one of the first things we do when we get report and walk into our patients room is check for bag and mask, code sheet, and then we re calculate and dbl check all the meds going (pumps, drips, IVs, etc).

We don't have them. There's one banged up calculator in the med room (if it's there) so it's paper and pen, and whatever is left of your brain at the time.

Pharmacy does most of our calcs on pre-labeled meds, but we're still responsible for checking them. And it's commonplace to see a nurse scratching out numbers on some scrap of paper :)

Good Answer about the second eyes! I use that prinicipal and have for a long time.