How much math is in nursing school??????

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Im taking my pre reqs right now.

Im going to be entering the program soon, and I was wondering if I should freshen up my math skills?

Is there alot of math in the program? and if so, how difficult is it? basic math? algebra? calculus??

Im really scared of the math aspect:crying2:

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Specializes in Cardiac Care.

Don't be scared; the math in school is very doable. And yes, you do need to know it. It's nothing on the scale of calculus; basic skills and foundational algebra will suit you fine. You'll need to know conversions, simple calculations for drugs and IV's, etc.

Very, very reasonable.

Wishing you much good luck!

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

I have been an LPN/LVN since early 2006, and I am presently attending an RN program. While there's not a great deal of math in the nursing programs that I have attended, they tend to place much emphasis on the students being knowledgeable in med math and dosage calculations. After all, you will be pushing these medications into real life patients after you graduate.

For example, my current nursing program will kick any student out who cannot pass the dosage calculation exam with a perfect score of 100 percent by the third attempt. Although it is basic 7th grade level prealgebra-style math, I still struggle with it. I was able to pass the first dosage calculation exam that they presented to us 6 months ago, but now they are making us take yet another math test with even more complicated problems. I plan to tackle the issue with plenty of practice, review, repetition, and prayer.

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Math has not been my strong point. I had to work extra hard in chem with math but did well. I finally bit the bullet and started at the bottom and took a beginning alg class. I AM SO HAPPY! I understand so much more AND am doing awesome. I learned a super easy way to do those darn solutions type problems and i'll post it as soon as I am able. Bottom line, take a refresher and you will feel so much better!!

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Math, especially clinical calculations, will be with you all the way through nursing school, the NCLEX and beyond. For those who are "math challenged" there's a great book available "Clinical Calculations Made Easy" that walks you through learning how to solve these problems using a technique called dimensional analysis. Since our school started using this 10 years ago, there has only been one student that failed their math test. Math was never a big struggle for me, but even I have found it extremely helpful. The older addition of the book is available on Amazon for less than $3.00 (vs, the $45 they want for the new edition) - and would work just fine as both a refresher and a way to help you with this through the remainder of school and your career. Here's a link to the Amazon page: http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0781748380/ref=dp_olp_1

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It's elementary school level math. Very, very, very basic.

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im taking my pre reqs right now.

im going to be entering the program soon, and i was wondering if i should freshen up my math skills?

is there alot of math in the program? and if so, how difficult is it? basic math? algebra? calculus??

im really scared of the math aspect:crying2:

when i went for my bsn at the university, we were instructed to purchase a great math book, math for meds, and although a little pricey, i was so impressed with it. this is one book where you can actually teach yourself. i actually found it fun to learn medical-type math. this is only my opinion. i teach math to ma and lpn students and am quite disappointed in all the math books the students have been provided in utilizing today. they get so frustrated and the books have so many errors, that learning is quite stressful for them. you could go on campusi.com to do a price comparison if you are interested.

best of luck in all your educational endeavors. :yeah:

ebabsrn

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Specializes in Case management, occupational health.

It is very basic math, however we have lost students because they could not do it. We have to take a dosage calcualtion test and pass with a 90% or better before we can start each semester. The test is not hard I think people just psych themselves out. There is 2 math questions on every test we take throughout the semester, but they are pretty easy. My program does not teach you dosage calc, you have to teach yourself from the suggested textbook, or take a class that does not count towards your major.

Here is a sample of what the questions are like:

Your patient needs an infusion of D5W at 75ml.hr tube setting us 20 gtt/ml, what is the drip rate?

The doctor orders Dilaudid 3mg IM q6hr prn for your patient. The medication is available in prefilled syringes of 4mg/ml, How many ml should you waste?

A patient weighs 124lbs, the medication is odered 2mg/kg/hours. The medication is only available in 20mcg/ml. How many ml should you give in 24 hours?

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Specializes in Cardiac Care.
Math, especially clinical calculations, will be with you all the way through nursing school, the NCLEX and beyond. For those who are "math challenged" there's a great book available "Clinical Calculations Made Easy" that walks you through learning how to solve these problems using a technique called dimensional analysis. Since our school started using this 10 years ago, there has only been one student that failed their math test. Math was never a big struggle for me, but even I have found it extremely helpful. The older addition of the book is available on Amazon for less than $3.00 (vs, the $45 they want for the new edition) - and would work just fine as both a refresher and a way to help you with this through the remainder of school and your career. Here's a link to the Amazon page: http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0781748380/ref=dp_olp_1

This is an EXCELLENT book!

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You don't have to be scared of the math. Trust me, I was... lol. In high school, I graduated with only a 7th grade level math understanding and was labeled as having a learning disability in math so I, like you, was VERY scared of the math aspect. I am in my 5th week of the nursing program and so far we only deal with pretty simple dosage calculations. It's simple algebra and most of the problems can actually be done in your head. I am doing my dose calculations right now... it's not that hard. It had been almost 3 years since my college algebra class and I rememberd nothing but after about an hour of refreshing myself, I was good to go.

Here is an example of some dose calculation... these are right from my book.

Dr. orderes morphine sulfate 30mg orally every 4 hours. available to the nurse is morphine sulfate 60mg/tab. How may tabs will you give?

You can figure that out in your head, right? It's not hard at all.

My advice, worry about REALLY knowing your anatomy and physiolgy, thats going to be super important

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Specializes in Urgent Care NP, Emergency Nursing, Camp Nursing.

It's pre-algebra type stuff. If you could do dimensional analysis in your chem classes in high school, you also won't need the cutesy "formulas" some instructors will want to teach you for med calculations.

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The math is not hard. Knowing how to set up the equation to get the correct answer is not always so easy...unless you use dimensional analysis. I learned dimensional analysis in a Health Careers Math class and there has yet to be a math problem that I couldn't find the answer to in a minute or two. Dimensional analysis will ALWAYS get you to the correct answer. The only math problems I have gotten wrong have involved stupid mistakes like labeling (i.e. a problem in mEq labeled as mL). Here's a good book: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0323030319/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_2?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=1401878016&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0SS8VRK5YCVNKF300C13

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