Question about med math classes

Nursing Students General Students

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Specializes in ED.

I just noticed our book for hospital measurements class was posted and it's called med math: dosages and solutions. When I went online to look it up I saw that it deals with ratio and proportions. I happen to like dimensional analysis. Does this mean that ratio and proportions is what my teacher will be teaching and it's what I will HAVE to use? I keep seeing on this site to use whatever you're comfortable

with.

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.

Dimensional analysis is the way to go.

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I don't think ratios and proportions are the same as DA. (Icould be wrong) We had ratio questions and proportion questions in my math for meds class and were able to use DA to answer those questions. I think ratios and proportions are a type of questeion and DA is a way of answering it. (I just woke up so I may not be explaining to make much sense, sorry).

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Specializes in ED.
I don't think ratios and proportions are the same as DA. (Icould be wrong) We had ratio questions and proportion questions in my math for meds class and were able to use DA to answer those questions. I think ratios and proportions are a type of questeion and DA is a way of answering it. (I just woke up so I may not be explaining to make much sense, sorry).

I thought they were both a way of setting up a problem. I'm probably wrong though. I just woke up. My sweet husband let me sleep in :)

I did look at ratio and proportions and it was easy. So, no big deal either way!

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Dimensional analysis is more like 65lbs x 1kg/2.2lbs x 1mg/kg You have ratios and proportions that tell you what your conversion factors are and you use them in your dimensional analysis. Like 1kg/2.2 lbs or 1kg/1000mg. I know how to use it, but not sure I am explaining it good.

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Honestly, what it really comes down to is that you get the math correct. I don't know if a school would require you to do it a specific way or not. If they do then you would have to learn it that way. However, in the world of nursing what matters is that the math is correct. There are some meds (peds, critical care especially) that just a little bit off can make a world of difference. I would ask your instructor. Again, I personally wouldnt think that it matters. The things that matters most is that the math is correct. The decimal is in the right place, use rounding rules properly, and understand leading and trailing zeros. Again, I would just ask your instructor. Just like if you had a question about a med order you would ask the provider.

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Specializes in Labor and Delivery.

We used dimensional analysis and its so super easy because it works for everything. I think we used the same book too but whatever takes you to the right answer is all that matters but I like DA because it always works. Math is the easiest part of nursing :) Don't stress it!

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Specializes in ED.

Thanks everyone! Were you all allowed to use calculators?

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We were allowed to use a calculator, but it had to be a basic calculator.

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Specializes in Cardio-Pulmonary; Med-Surg; Private Duty.

My school supplies calculators for exams -- it's a super-cheap, super-basic calculator. They get passed out for exams and then you turn it back in when you turn in your answer sheet.

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