How many of you took Maths in Yrs 11 and 12?

rachelgeorgina · Feb 3, 2010

I did basic/easy maths - general maths in NSW. In my degree (B. Nursing @ UTS) we need to know basic calculations (in particular long division), be able to work with fractions and decimals and conversions (kilos to grams, grams to mircograms etc) in order to calculate drug dosages for oral, injection and infusion drugs as well as paediatric dose calculations.

Jess1990 · Feb 5, 2010

In queensland its compulsory for all students to take maths in years 11 and 12. i took maths B which would be a nsw equivalent of maths extension 1 (i think). however maths b hasnt helped me at all i nursing, maths a or trade maths would have been more than sufficient. in uni you'll get told all the formulas you need to know and with enough practice you'll be able to work out maths problems without a calculator.

If its any consolation, once your our on the wards, most pharmacies write how many tablets you need to give if its a complicated equation :)

jess112 · Feb 13, 2010

Thankyou for your answers. They have been helpful. If anybody else has any input they would like to share, don't hesitate please!! :)

Pedestrienne Ellie · Mar 4, 2010

This was a really useful thread for me too! I had maths difficulties all through school, but I was brought up to scratch through my Mum's tireless forcing of Kumon maths down my throat. (Yes, I gave her a very hard time as a 13-year old about it, but have since apologised profusely!) I did, however, fail "veggie" maths later in high school, mostly due to boredom and a complete lack of effort on my part.

However! Now that I want to have more solid math skills for an actual reason (I have just begun my first year of a BN with UTas) I have been putting some effort in. I'm currently working through this nursing numeracy book (promise, I'm not the seller) and I'm finding it very helpful.

WorkinperthAus · Apr 15, 2010

Yes you may be told how many to give but you must be able to check that order in itself is correct. You are the one about to give a medication and are responsible for your actions as a nurse. Dont ever accept an order as being correct.

Heinz beans · May 12, 2010

I dropped out of school in year 11 and hated maths to death. I got into nursing by a bridging program which had maths but was nowhere near as irrelevant and hard as year 11 maths. It is the best way to go (don't tell your parents or they will kill me). Go USQ

jack92 · Jun 27, 2010

I havent done maths since yr 11 and 12, however im able to do basic maths, is that sufficient enough at uni, do i need to no algerbra

carolmaccas66, BSN, RN · Jul 1, 2010

I absolutely LOATHED maths in year 11 and 12 and dropped it. But it was no big deal in the end. You can do day/night courses at TAFE (which I did), and most of my nursing maths I learned again at uni, and slogged/worked it out myself. I used to get D grades for all my maths tests, now because I worked really hard, I can pass all my medication calculation tests usually first go (though I always check the hard ones with an experienced senior RN).

It is not so bad once you get onto a ward, and if you don't understand a calculation, get someone senior to go through the whole process with you. Some tips to learn maths that helped me:

1) Do calculations every week/weekend to keep your mind fresh.

2) If you don't understand a calcuation, always schedule a meeting with your lecturer to go through the whole thing with you.

3) Don't just do the maths: try to understand WHY you are doing a calculation and how you arrived at the answer. Does the answer LOOK right? If it was wrong, why was it wrong.

4) Set your calculations out on a big piece of paper and use big numbers, and keep re-writing it if necessary. You are then less likely to get confused.

We all get stressed, so you probably did the right thing dropping maths. You can always go back to it later, so don't stress anymore!

You will be OK.