Basic Math???? What!!

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Okay guys I was just going over my nursing school course outline and seen that in the first semester I have basic math. I have always been okay at math, not great but okay with it. But I freak out thinking about it!!!

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

Math is terribly important in all of nursing. If you are seriously freaked out- start working on it now, get a tutor, whatever it takes.

The good news is, nursing math really is not that complex. Practice, practice, practice!

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You will need that in dosage calculations. Do not freak out, just look for resources that help. I have mentioned this site so much on allnurses that people are going to think I am being paid (Im not lol) , but dr.math.com will seriously help a lot. It will break it down barney style.

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Thank you so so much. Lol

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Specializes in Maternal Child, Home Health, Med/Surg.

The math is not extremely difficult, thankfully. Most of what you'll be faced with is dimensional analysis, and being able to calculate medication orders and iv drip rates.

If you know that math is not your strong suit, I would advise going to Kahn academy and reviewing. I just finished the first semester/module, and here is some common math we were given.

Calculating Fahrenheit to Celsius and vice versa. Going from grams, to milligrams, to micrograms both directions. Ounces, teaspoons, tablespoons, calculating how many tablets you will give for a specific medication. That's all we have really done this far. Just review, get comfortable with decimal placing, multiplication, division, and like I said above - dimensional analysis! :)

You've got this! :)

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Thank you all so so much, I will start getting myself use to using it this summer. Thank you all so much for your advice and encouragement.

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It's basic math, no freaking required.

Trust me, there will be plenty of other, bigger things to freak out about later on! ;)

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Specializes in ICU.

believe me, math is the least of your worries. I've never been good at math but it's my strongest side in nursing school lol it's all about a few easy formulas. If you have any questions, reach out to me, I'll help you!

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believe me, math is the least of your worries. I've never been good at math but it's my strongest side in nursing school lol it's all about a few easy formulas. If you have any questions, reach out to me, I'll help you!

Thank you so, yes I sure will!! I'm just so ready to start, I start in September. So I'm sure I will be bugging you a lot!! Lol

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The level of math required is not hard. It's the kind of math seen in pre-algebra for the most part. Some programs have required higher levels of math as part of the degree though.

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Thank you so much for the info, I have started looking at some math. And I will start looking more at it now to be better prepared for what they throw at me.

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Specializes in Short Term/Skilled.

You can do it! I had to take a remedial class because it had been so long and I don't learn like others do. I asked my teacher friend for help on one of the assignments and she said. " Sure, I'm doing this with my 5th graders right now". I about cried, I felt so dumb. All I needed was a refresher and to calm down and think logically about what was being asked.

I just got a 96 on my med calculations exam. (I put a comma where it didn't belong or I'd have a 100).

Trust me, it's SO not that hard!

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