An RN who isn't good at math?

TransportJockey, EMT-P · Apr 12, 2015

I hate math. I have taken college algebra twice in the past and trig once. But I can do med math in my head and have no issues doing the math that being a nurse or medic requires (med calc is the same no matter which position I might do now or in the future). I'm doing beginning algebra for my EC requirement.

CamillusRN, BSN · Apr 13, 2015

Solution: Carry a calculator and memorize the small handful of formulas you'll ever use. Or even carry a cheat sheet. 3/4 of my graduating class admittedly sucked at math, but they didn't let that stop them. Over the summer? Try getting together with someone who has experience with drug/drip/dose calculations and start mathing away. Once you have the formulas down, there's nothing to it except making sure your units cross out. Best of luck to you!

Nibbles1 · Apr 13, 2015

My nursing math instructor told us this: It's 2 am in the morning and you have to convert a formula. What do you do? Answer: grab your calculator. It's 2pm in the afternoon what do you do? Answer call the pharmacy. I dislike math and I made it through. Statistics is hard. Not gonna lie. You can do it.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Apr 13, 2015

I don't dislike math or anything of that sort. However, I estimate that my numeracy skills are at a 4th grade level at the most. It is nothing I am proud of, but after more than a decade of remediation to no avail, I've decided to focus on other things.

I can attain a perfect 100 percent score on a dosage calculations quiz, but flounder with basic topics such as fractions, the order of operations, integers, and absolute value. I am also extremely distractible, which does not help.

Anyhow, I've been a nurse for nine years. I stair-stepped my way up the nursing career ladder, mostly because of my deficient math skills. I started as an LVN, then earned an ASN degree and resultant RN license, then earned a BSN degree recently.

The LVN and ASN programs required no college level math coursework whatsoever. The BSN program required a basic statistics course which involved mostly theory and virtually no calculations, so I was able to get through it.

I know why many nursing programs require college algebra: it helps students develop higher-order cognitive skills that pertain to abstraction. However, I am an example of someone who has been able to get through life and nursing without a solid mathematical foundation.

By the way, I am a product of social promotion. I took prealgebra in 7th grade and algebra I in 8th grade. In high school I took algebra II, geometry, trigonometry, statistics and precalculus, but didn't learn didley squat because I had arrived at high school without basic arithmetic skills such as subtracting fractions. After a decade in remedial and developmental courses at community colleges in two different states, it still isn't clicking.

Good luck to you.

nursingjourney · Apr 13, 2015

Thecommuter, Well maybe that gives me some hope then. Thank you!

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · Apr 13, 2015

Have you taken any remedial algebra? Do you have to take an entrance exam? I took the Teas and there was nothing harder than algebra I on it.

I sucked at at higher level math when I was younger. My first semester back I took algebra I and got an excellent teacher who got me to finally get it. College algebra was a prereq for my program.

Med math is basic math. If you can divide, multiply, and convert, you should be fine. It is a requirement that all tests have at least 5% math on them if they are accredited. So you are going to have to do it, and you will need to become proficient. With computers these days doing most of the work, I can't see how much you will need it, but you need to know how to do it. Look at Khan Acadmey online. It may help. I'm thinking the reason the advisor told you to pick another major is that math is a big part of the program. But it's not algebra level stuff. It's multiplying and dividing.

JustKeepSmiling, ADN, BSN, RN · Apr 13, 2015

IMHO math isn't a "huge" part of nursing.

Knowing how to calculate a drip is important but its not statistics or calculus.

Nowadays pharmacy calculates everything for you but when in doubt, especially in critical care, double check not only with your own math but another nurse!

And for that matter - any high risk med requires another nurse to cosign with you anyway.

And on this subject matter you get to know what is normal and not. For instance if I had an order to start an insulin drip at 100ml/hr I would freak out and call pharmacy immediately.

I want to elaborate on the above for a minute. This IS a huge part of nursing. When a nurse gets an order that has a questionable dose, that is where math is important. It isn't so much as can you figure out the odds of pulling a spade (statistics) or plotting X and Y as in algebra, it's having the intelligence to recognize something is not right for YOUR patient and taking the correct action. I would not expect a general college counselor to understand this. I don't know you personally either.

One time in medsurg we were in the middle of rapid responsing a very symptomatic bradycardic patient, I looked at the new doc at the bedside and asked if he wanted any meds started? He stared back and said he didn't know what we could do on the floor. I said you tell me what you need. He still looked flustered so I said how about dobutamine and we'll start at 5mcg/kg/min? He agreed, got the drip started and got the heart rate up to 50's within a few minutes. Patient was transferred to ICU.

You don't need algebra or statistics for that. You need good nursing education and experience.

I barely passed statistics. I am not fantastic at math. I barely remember any algebra. I have an ASN and BSN, practice as a staff & charge nurse and am starting ICU next week.

nursingjourney · Apr 13, 2015

IMHO math isn't a "huge" part of nursing.
Knowing how to calculate a drip is important but its not statistics or calculus.
Nowadays pharmacy calculates everything for you but when in doubt, especially in critical care, double check not only with your own math but another nurse!
And for that matter - any high risk med requires another nurse to cosign with you anyway.
And on this subject matter you get to know what is normal and not. For instance if I had an order to start an insulin drip at 100ml/hr I would freak out and call pharmacy immediately.
I want to elaborate on the above for a minute. This IS a huge part of nursing. When a nurse gets an order that has a questionable dose, that is where math is important. It isn't so much as can you figure out the odds of pulling a spade (statistics) or plotting X and Y as in algebra, it's having the intelligence to recognize something is not right for YOUR patient and taking the correct action. I would not expect a general college counselor to understand this. I don't know you personally either.
One time in medsurg we were in the middle of rapid responsing a very symptomatic bradycardic patient, I looked at the new doc at the bedside and asked if he wanted any meds started? He stared back and said he didn't know what we could do on the floor. I said you tell me what you need. He still looked flustered so I said how about dobutamine and we'll start at 5mcg/kg/min? He agreed, got the drip started and got the heart rate up to 50's within a few minutes. Patient was transferred to ICU.
You don't need algebra or statistics for that. You need good nursing education and experience.
I barely passed statistics. I am not fantastic at math. I barely remember any algebra. I have an ASN and BSN, practice as a staff & charge nurse and am starting ICU next week.

Thank you taking the time to answer in such depth. Your answer was very informative and really helped me a lot!

nursingjourney · Apr 13, 2015

Have you taken any remedial algebra? Do you have to take an entrance exam? I took the Teas and there was nothing harder than algebra I on it.
I sucked at at higher level math when I was younger. My first semester back I took algebra I and got an excellent teacher who got me to finally get it. College algebra was a prereq for my program.
Med math is basic math. If you can divide, multiply, and convert, you should be fine. It is a requirement that all tests have at least 5% math on them if they are accredited. So you are going to have to do it, and you will need to become proficient. With computers these days doing most of the work, I can't see how much you will need it, but you need to know how to do it. Look at Khan Acadmey online. It may help. I'm thinking the reason the advisor told you to pick another major is that math is a big part of the program. But it's not algebra level stuff. It's multiplying and dividing.

I took a developmental math class when I first started college. And I had to take the TEAS test as an entrance exam and I actually received a 90.4 on the math section... A little contradicting I know, but like I said, I'm just really uncomfortable with math. I never feel sure about my answers. I constantly second guess myself. I know that my program does have a couple (I cant remember how many but at least 2) math tests, which makes me very anxious. But luckily, I know how to divide, multiply, and convert. Conversions are a little on the iffy side for me so maybe that's something I should be concentrating on over the summer.

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Apr 13, 2015

Hang on a sec. The amount of math 'understanding' you need for your nursing practice is very dependent upon the area in which you practice. In order to achieve critical care expertise, a nurse needs to understand some fairly sophisticated mathematical principles related to hemodynamics, vascular perfusion and pulmonary function. Titrating multiple vasoactive drips & fluids to achieve desired targets does require a working knowledge of all the factors involved.

Math skills are also required for chemistry... another essential area of 'understanding' to manage acutely ill patients.

So - while there are many clinical areas in which math skills are a non-issue, it's not a one-size-fits-all.

nursingjourney · Apr 13, 2015

There doesn't seem to be a perfect answer to my questions, not that I really expected one. But thanks to everyone who took the time to answer the questions of a concerned student! It sounds like I just need to buckle down and force myself to become familiar with basic, and possibly more advanced, mathematical concepts.

Heres another question... (similar to what I asked already) Since I plan on starting RN school in the fall, should I take Algebra instead of statistics in the fall along with starting my nursing classes (Considering that I do want to work in an ICU type environment)? As I mentioned above, algebra is not a requirement for my program, nor for the RN-BSN program I plan on attending after I have completed my ASN. Statistics is. But I am nervous to miss out on information that I might need later on. I of course understand that there is no right or wrong answer here but I appreciate any advice given! I want to become more comfortable with the concepts that I need to be a successful RN, but I also don't really want to waste my time and money on a class that I don't necessarily need. Thanks in advance!