If your afraid of killing someone, should you not pursue nursing?

Nurses General Nursing

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I want to be a nurse, I have the drive and personality for it. But as of now my math is horrible. I don't even know all of my times tables, and I know your going to say take some math classes and I'll be fine. But I have never been able to understand math. I am scared of getting into nursing and faced with a drug calculation, I'll make a mistake and hurt someone. Sometimes I think I have a handicap as far as math is concerned. Did any of you ever feel this way?

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I'm not the greatest in math either but I did learn a formula in chemistry that has never ever failed me. I know others who were in the same boat, they learned a formula that works for them.

As for fear of killing someone, we all have that fear deep down inside. The nurse who doesn't have that fear is a scary one.

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Specializes in ED, ICU, PSYCH, PP, CEN.

I have the math savvy of a third grader on a good day. I really had to work and be tutored to get the math. There is a great book that I have and revisit on a regular basis called "math for meds" It explains things very well.

I always go over math involved in pt care very carefully so I don't make any mistakes.

It is policy and procedure to verify with another nurse important drugs such as insulin, heparin, dopamine etc before giving them

Don't let math hold you back from being a nurse. I'm glad I didn't

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

I was horrible in math, but somehow earned an A in dosage calculations in nursing school. I think that using dosage calculations on a consistant basis depends on where you end up working. I know that pediatrics have to use it more often, and ICU, I believe. Most of the medications I have encountered were already pre-packaged, and I believe that since I became an LPN in 2006, I only used calculations maybe twice. Don't take this as false security, though.

There are several formulas you can use, and I would select the one that is easiest for me and stick to it no matter what. Personally, I always use dimensional analysis. It takes a bit longer, but I can see what I am doing and it has not failed me in school. While taking the math class, I made sure that I practiced for at least 1 hour per day if not an hour and a half. Of course, you do have to take administering medications seriously, and if you are not sure, you can ask another nurse to check with you. In fact, there are some drugs where policy dictates that two nurses have to check and agree (and the name of the other nurse has to be documented) before it is administered.

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Specializes in MPCU.

Great title, though misleading. Have you considered a career in journalism.

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Specializes in Medical Progressive Care Unit.

If your afraid to kill someone that is normal and if your not afraid to kill someone, well then, you are a murderer. No seriously, being afraid to kill someone is a healthy fear and having that fear is what keeps nurses on their toes. A good nurse is transparent when they are afraid, and asks questions until they get the right answer. A dangerous nurse is one who pretends they know the answers even when they don't.

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Specializes in Ortho, Neuro, Detox, Tele.

a good healthy dose of fear helps keep you grounded....we are always afraid before we do anything serious....if not, perhaps you need to pay better attention....

In terms of math, they teach it, and you just need to find the formula that works for you....

I.e. I use the "dog over house rule".....dose desired....divided by dose on hand x the units.....(20mg ordered...10 mg tabs.....20mg/10mg x 1 tab = 2 tabs.

Good luck, you can do it!

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LOL, I actually thought your post was going to be about something totally different, and I had all this advise pilled up. LOL.

But don't worry, fear is good, it'll make you think things more than twice, it will help you question orders and others procedures. Just trust yourself and that little voice inside that keeps you on your toes.

Good luck

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.

I'd be more worried if you weren't afraid of killing someone.

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when in doubt call the pharmacy.

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Measure twice and cut once is the best advice.

If you take the time to work through your med math book you will be just fine by the end of your training.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

Part of the problem is the way you talk about yourself to yourself. You've convinced yourself you're handicapped and you always will be unless you turn around your negative self-talk. Your math anxiety is a myth that you've bought into and it's hindering your goals in life.

First conquer this anxiety. There might be some books and articles out on the internet than can help you. Then tell yourself, "I might not have been a success at math, and I'll never be a rocket scientist, but I have enough about me and have the brains to become a nurse and I can pass the math requirements of nursing school." End of discussion.

BTW, I'm excellent at math, always have been, and I'm still afriad I'm going to kill someone.

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