How difficult is math in nursing school?

Nurses General Nursing

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Hey Ya'll!!!

I was wondering how difficult the math is in nursing school? I am really bad at math and was wondering what I am going to need to work on to be successful in the nursing program?

Thanks so much!

I really don't want the fear of math to keep me from fufilling my dreams. :/

Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.
Hey Ya'll!!!

I was wondering how difficult the math is in nursing school? I am really bad at math and was wondering what I am going to need to work on to be successful in the nursing program?

Thanks so much!

It is actually quite basic, elementary - middle school stuff.

The problem is, many people do not do math when they leave school. I balance my bank account by hand (no calculator) and until very recently, did my taxes by hand. I would check my taxes with a calculator right before sending it off, but would have done everything by hand before that. I also used to work in retail that required handwritten sales tickets and calculating the tax rates, adding them in.

Much of "bad at math" has more to do with "doesn't do math". I am not "wired" to do math, but force myself to do it anyway. Like eating brussel sprouts, and doing time on the cross trainer, I may dislike it or even hate it, and feel like I have no time for this, but know that it is good for me and do it anyway.

These days with people using calculators all the time, people forget or do not retain basic math skills. Math, like sports, requires practice.

Also, they allow themselves to be distracted by parts of the word problems that have nothing to do with answering the actual questions.

The questions involve conversions as well as fractions.

So start practicing.

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I pretty much agree with all of the posters. Last year (1st yr. of "real" NS), the math was simple conversions and stuff like that. We also had ordered and available oral medication problems-they were very easy. This semester we had to test on IV calculations. Hmmm...I can honestly say that after last week, I do not want to see another math problem until next semester. We have to test out with 100%. I failed my first try, got help from Daytonite and others, and passed my 2nd time. Can I float my own boat and say "I was the only one to pass the 2nd test"!?! Only 1 person passed the 1st test and I was the only one to pass the 2nd. I had been teaching myself and then the first day of class we were taught dimensional analysis-totally messed me up. So do what works for you-if you can use the dimensional analysis, go for it. I honestly feel like I could do any math problem they threw at me right about now but like I said earlier-not until next semester!!! Study your conversions and practice-with that, you will do fine.

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Specializes in Operating Room.
I would be curiouse to know how many nurses actually like math?? Honestly I dont think our brains our wired that way--I always said I hated math and was not good at it, but I made it through and so will you, your teachers will help you if your struggeling, it is just a matter of practice practice practice of the formulas..Good Luck

I like math. What I like about it is the fact that if you know what you're doing, it's either black or white, you get the answer or you don't.

I disagree that nurses aren't "wired" for math..if people are afraid of math, they've either had a bad experience or in the case of many girls and women, they bought into that stereotype that females are terrible at math and science. It's social conditioning. The good news is, there's ways around that. Take it from someone who got a "D" in Algebra at 14 and then went on in NS to get A's in every math class, you can get over the fear of math. Like I said before, it's the same math they do in middle school. Fractions, decimals, some elementary algebra. And common sense too.:clown:

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it's very basic and straight forward. with enough practice, you'll do fine. i may be biased because i liked math as well and so i took a ton of higher level classes, but really, it should not be a problem for you.

i like math because it's straight forward! it can be a little challenging at first when you're just learning the concept, but it feels great to have that "A-ha!" moment. challenging = means you grow more dendrites!

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Did anyone have or can you suggest any books that were helpful for you when you were a student? I was always lousy at math in school. I graduated High School in 1971. So it's been QUITE a long time since I've taken any math classes. I do know and understand how to add, subtract, multiply and divide and basically understand fractions. Any MATH for DUMMIES books or anything at all you could suggest so I can brush up on or get basic understanding of basic algebra and it sounds like more importantly the conversions? Thank you !!

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I liked Dosage Calculations Made Incredibly Easy! I am horrible @ math, but this book broke it all down for me!

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How difficult is math.....?? As most of the posters said..they 'suck' at math. For them, it could be considered tough. Me....you couldn't put me in a math class I couldn't do in my sleep! I was the one in HS Calculus with the 104 average that got torqued that the teacher only put 100 on my grade card!!!! I started with Calc in college. took 4 Calc classes...Math Methods in EE (you think this math is tough? Try IMAGINARY numbers when multiplied become REAL numbers! ***?!) I have one the highest grades in my statistics class (the average of the class right now is in the 60s and mine is 98).

It all depends upon your foundations.

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it's very basic math. elementary school kids are taught the exact same type of concept questions. you can do it!

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Honestly, I never thought that MATH is very vital in this course..VERRRRRRRRRRYYYY VITAL.. From knowing conversions of weight, height, pints, pounds, grains, mg, ml, liters, quarts to even drops!!! Oh my goodness.. If you are not a math person, your mind would definitely go crazy!!!

The more you will realize that NUMBERS and CALCULATIONS are very vital in pursuing this profession..Besides, the life of the patient depend on the RIGHT DOSAGE Calculation..

I was laughing with one of my classmate back then, she said the reason she took this profession because she's not good in math. Little did she know, everything about it needs calculating... Adult dose to infant, etcetera etcetera..

But, if Nursing is in your heart, you'll get the hang of it.. It's just math anyways, (Nothing we cant handle) jk:eek:..

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You know, maybe I'm not giving myself enough credit here. FLmomof5 I totally admire you and anyone else who understands math like that. Wow. It's always been a bit tough for me. But a lot of times I realize that after I sit down and try to figure something out, it wasn't as hard as I thought. So maybe it will be that way for me with math. And inland18mempire, I do know the basics... and YES I can do it!!! You guys made me feel more self-confident. Thank you!

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EXACTLY! Never sell yourself short! You have the intellect....obviously, you have gotten this far!

:up::up::up:

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When I was in high school I was my guidance counselor I wanted to be a nurse. She looked at my math grades and told me I should be a secretary. I was an honor student and I had a really awful Algebra teacher and sometimes, I just did not "get" math. It did not matter to her that my Sciences were strong and my typing skills dismal. I more or less said the hell with her I can do it, and I did. We had Posology in nursing school, math related to what I was doing, and I understood it. There are always co-workers that can calculate drug equations but for the most part the pharmacists and our pumps give us drug rates. Don't let math stop you from being a nurse!

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