Do nurses use calculators?

[lilybean]

So, I've been begrudgingly working through my pre-clinical dosage calculation class without a calculator, as required. It has me wondering, I know as nurses we wont always be able to use a calculator, but is it true that we will NEVER use them??? That's what my instructor would have us believe, but that sounds pretty stupid to me.

[RNMom2010]

Wow no calculator?? Our instructors told us that since we can use calculators on NCLEX we can use them in any nursing class/clinicals for math problems. I have never seen a nurse work a problem with pen/paper. Then again, I have never seen a nurse calcuate a dosage, thats what pharmacy is for. We were told that more than likely unless we are in a smaller hospital we will not use dosage calcs on the floor.

[EricJRN, MSN, RN]

I use a calculator every shift (for things like intake and output, and determining if a drug dosage is within the acceptable range), since all of our stuff in the NICU is based on things like mg/kg or mL/kg.

[CT Pixie, BSN, RN]

We weren't allowed a calculator at all ever, during my schooling. I know how to do math (graduated doing trig in high school). I just wanted to double check my answers and couldn't use a calculator..drove me crazy.

The rationale as explained to us was that they didn't want calculators used so they could make sure the people in the class could do basic math (sadly, quite a few in that class couldn;t do basic multiplacation and were totally lost with long division). I finally piped up and asked the director of the program, then why was it that when taking the schools entrance exam we were allowed a calculator, if they wanted to make sure that people could do basic math they should do that BEFORE they allow the person into school..no? I also said, they have a calculator for the NCLEX too.

Our class was the last class to not be able to use calculators. The incoming class took the entrance exam without calculators, took a math test in the beginning of the program when they were admitted, and were allowed calculators for all tests afterward..

To answer your question, we DO use calculators as nurses. I had to do a dosage calculation. I did it long hand with no calculator, double checked it with the other nurse working the floor with me and then we both did it on her cell phone calculator to be extra sure

[lainith]

The only time we were not allowed to use calculators was in our assessment test at the very beginning of pharm. Our instructor basically said that since they are allowed on the floors and for NCLEX, we're allowed to use them. Some calculations are just too tedious to mess with long-hand.

[CountyNS]

I brought a calculator with me to clinical everyday that I was doing my pediatric nursing rotation to double check my IVF rate :nurse:calculations. My instructors did not mind.

[truern]

Heck yeah, I use them. I even bought magnetic calculators to put at each fold down in each foyer so everybody had access to one.

[JudithL_in_NH]

In testing situations in school they were not allowed. However, on the floor in clinical we were required to check all calcs with a calculator.

Personally, I think it's irresponsible practice to not check your math with a calculator, even if another RN will check your math behind you. If you make a mistake in an insulin drip rate, as well as with any # of other meds, there can be dreadful outcomes.

I always have one in my scrub pocket.

[JBudd, MSN]

I have never seen a nurse work a problem with pen/paper. Then again, I have never seen a nurse calcuate a dosage, thats what pharmacy is for. We were told that more than likely unless we are in a smaller hospital we will not use dosage calcs on the floor.

That comment bothers me a bit. Nurses calculate dosages all the time, and are responsible for knowing the dose is correct even if pharmacy has calculated a dose. Pharmacists are human too, there is no excuse for giving the wrong dose because "pharmacy said it was okay". The nurse is ultimately responsible for every drug and dose (not to mention all the other "rights" of med giving) she gives.

Nurses also titrate various drips, just because I punch the numbers into the IV pump dose calculator, I should still have an idea in my head if that drip rate seems right. Our hospital even has a policy that 2 RNs must double check each other's pump setting for med drips.

We use calculators all the time, but you should definitely be able to do the math on your own. Machines fail, batteries go dead, the floor calculators often disappear. If you can't do the math, you cannot estimate in your head the approximate range you should be in to know that you have punched in the correct numbers as well.

[MB37]

They should definitely make sure that everyone is able to do basic math by hand, since as stated you can have a disaster situation, power outage, etc. when you don't have access to a calculator, computer, or cell phone. At least at my hospital everyone uses them whenever necessary, and we were allowed to in school/clinical as well. For exams they passed out the 99 cent kind that ONLY does basic math - no memory, no parentheses, no square root key - but at least we could use them. We couldn't use our own because of course they've had issues with cheaters in the past.

[Feels Like JD]

It's just like being back in grade school. They need to know that you could take of business if the lights went out. But in real life I can assure you, from what I've seen on the clincals I've been to plenty of Rns are using calculators. They have no good reason not to. Safety first.

[Do-over, ASN, RN]

I am far more likely to get in trouble for NOT using a calculator in class / exams.