Do nurses use calculators?

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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.

We had cheap ones too, but they had a square root key so we could do the BSA formula for Peds...

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Specializes in Physical Rehabilitation, med-surg.

I don't have to use a calculator too often, but there are times that I do. For most basic conversions, I can write and calculate on paper just as fast. If it's not basic, I double-check my math.

A handheld calculator will probably be a thing of the past soon just like a typewriter is now. Most any facility has a computer or terminal with a calculator program on it that you can use.

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in my college days, we are not allowed to use calculators especially on dosage and solutions.. but in the real setting, like in the hospital, we are allowed. because solving without the use of calculator will take a lot of time.. remember in fundamentals.. be SMART, right?

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Specializes in Home Health, Case Management, OR.
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 much 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.

Perhaps because we are just in clinicals we do not see the nurses doing this. Like you said, they may be doing it in there head as to whether a dosage is correct or not.I just have never heard any of the nurses make mention of doing med calcs. Yikes now I am nervous too!! Thanks for letting me know that they DO do med calcs!!
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Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.
Yikes now I am nervous too!! Thanks for letting me know that they DO do med calcs!!

You're welcome. Being nervous about giving meds is a good thing. It keeps you on your toes, and being careful. Nurses look up meds all the time, its why we keep med books at all the med stations. Just thinking of all the new meds that have come out, or lost favor, in the 27 years since I took pharmocology, makes me nervous too.:coollook:

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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.

We were taught to always calculate our doses no matter what!! There have been incidences of pharmacy getting it wrong. Ultimately it is our responsibility and our license for giving the medication whether or not pharmacy did the calculation. I see nurses calculating doses all the time on the floor.

As for calculators...we are allowed to use them for calculations on exams and in clinical. However, we were required to get 100% on a 100 questions entrance calculation exam in order to get into the second year of the ADN program.

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However, we were required to get 100% on a 100 questions entrance calculation exam in order to get into the second year of the ADN program.

That's one hell of an entrance exam!!

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At the hospital that I used to work at and will again as a nurse there is a calculator built into the nurse charting system. And if I am not mistaken there is a calculator programed into the IV pumps too.

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