How hard is the maths to become a Registered Nurse?

Published

Hello,

I live in Australia. I am wanting to know how difficult the mathematics is in a Bachelor of Nursing degree? Is the mathematics component going to be insurmountable for me? I've never really a mathematics person but I am willing to learn. What mathematics do Registered Nurses use?

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Since the OP is in Australia, this thread has been moved to the Nursing in Australia / New Zealand forum with the goal of amassing responses that are local. Good luck to the OP.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Philippines for sure

I am sure there are others countries as well

UK is a minimum of 17 1/2 years but I think realistically you are looking at 18

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

OP, I hated maths at school but didn't really use it when in nursing school. Even now if I need to use it it generally involves basic maths

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks for the answers so far everyone. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Most of us are posting from the US. So our answers, as well as those regarding schools in the Phillipine, may not be at all applicable to your situation. I hope you get some help from people who are actual BSN prepared nurses in Australia.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have just completed bachelor of nursing in Australia. The maths is basic, no subjects on it. At my uni, we did have to do an online med calc test every semester of 20 questions and get at least 18 correct, but you got 3 attempts and could have access to calculators and formulas etc. Other than that, no other maths is assessed. In clinicals, you might have to do some med calcs though but again there's calculators and other nurses are happy to double check your calculations.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Mental Health, Gerontology, Palliative.
Many students start their BSN program at age 15 or 16 and Math doesn't tend to be a an issue.

Em nope. Nursing schools here wont generally accept students under the age of 18. There may be the one or two eceptions for a 17 year old but they would have to be fairly amazing.

Drug calculations are a fairly large part of the nursing program in NZ. As we have a reciprocal agreement with Australia (as in NZ qualified nurses can work in Australia fairly easily, eg we fill in the forms and submit the paper work and get registration) I would imagine the programs are similar. Bear in mind through the maths are fairly basic calculations

In our first week of year one, we had a maths test and I got like 8/20. I got the book Maths and Meds for nurses which takes you from the basic mathematical principles through to doing the actual drug calculations. When I sat my first drug calculations test six months later I got 100%

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cath lab, acute, community.

I was really bad at maths in high school, I did "general maths" for my year 12 certificate, and basically struggled through it! Then at uni, I had to focus, but it was mainly learning the algorithms and I somehow managed to get through. They started from the basics so that was good.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

i'd kind of like to know the opposite. What does it take to move to Australia and New Zealand? Visited Australia several times when I was in the Navy. A WONDERFUL country.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Surgical, quality,management.

First step is getting registered with AHPRA. No one is going to hire you without registration.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Very easy. I was worried too. don't even worry about it

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion