How much math?

Nursing Students General Students

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Hi everyone! I am new here, and I am thinking about going into nursing this fall. However, I am wonder how much math is involved? I am 24 and have had no type of college classes or anything. Since high school I have just been working full time, but it's time I make a change. I am wondering if I should take some general math classes before I step into the world of nursing?

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.

Check into your schools requirements, most likely they will have a entrance type test you have to take and if you don't score well on the math they will require a refresher or some sort. Some nursing programs also have their own math class involved into the program before starting your dosage calculations. Mine did.

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Hey - I'm just finishing a nursing program and before I entered it I was HORRIBLE at math! At first it was a little intimidating but after reviewing the formulas and having a few class mates help me, I'm now a pro! You can definitely do it...its not too bad.

Good luck!

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Thank you :)

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There is two answers to this: what you need to apply/graduate and what you will use as a nurse. Usually intermediate algebra or college algebra or testing to that level is enough for an RN, and the same plus statistics for a BSN. Schools vary considerably, though, so check with the schools you are considering.

What you will need as a nurse is less variety in formulas and concepts than you would find in college algebra but you need to be rock solid on the ones you do need. For the most part even those who struggle with math can master what they need.

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Specializes in ICU.

My school has a dosages class first semester. I've been tutoring a few students for it. You need a strong basic math background. Fractions, percentages, setting up cross multiplication problems, etc. Some folks are really struggling. If you don't know how to calculate a percentage, then you're not going to be able to pass the dosing class. Our school also required an entrance exam that had a significant math portion to it. Check your school and see what they recommend. I'd rather be prepared for what I need to know than struggle once I'm there.

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Specializes in ER, progressive care.

At my school I just had to take a statistics course. During every clinical rotation, however, I have to take a dosage calculation test. I could not use calculators on some of the tests (the IV math test was one, and that one was really hard! Too much long hand division for me :uhoh3:) but on other tests I was allowed to (such as my critical care math exam...they actually encourage you to use calculators...you need to be precise with your calculations!!!) Nursing math is pretty easy...addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, decimals, fractions, percentages.

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At my school, when you take the placement test you'll either be required to take a basic math class or not. There's another math class that's part of the program and I'll take it this summer because I've been putting it off (fear of math). But as far as math in nursing goes....it's hard but if I can do it anyone can. I HATE math but dosage stuff is basically all formulas so once you know how to do them, it's not too bad....BUT still hard, lol. I don't know...it just depends on your math abilities and if you despise math (like me). Good luck though....definitely a field worth getting into. :)

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I hated math so much going into nursing. I took it as a part of core classes when I first started college and didn't touch it again until taking the NET.

What really helped me was learned dimensional analysis. I could never remember formulas and how to set up my fractions correctly. I can always follow the path now to get to the right answer. I actually like doing nursing math.

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