Math Braniac Or No?

QuilterLPN · Jan 17, 2005

Math is pretty important, especially when you are calculating amounts of drugs that need to be given. If you can do high-school level algebra, you should be OK. And spelling helps too.

lil' girl, LPN · Jan 18, 2005

As long as you can divide and multiply you should be okay

LPN01112005 · Jan 22, 2005

You definitely need to be able to multiply and divide fractions. Once you are out of school, you can use a calculator, but while you are in school you may not be able to use them.

Take heart. I was an older student (38) and math was my weakest subject, when I started school I took a dev. math my very first semester, then moved on into Math 101, then Medication math and finally pharmacology without any problems. Actually, the hardest of the 4 above mentioned classes was the dev. math, because I was learning what I'd need to succeed in the other classes.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Jan 22, 2005

Anything beyond basic algebra, i've always been horrible with.

My nursing math classes, i got straight A's in.

I think it all depends on the individual. Maybe purchasing a pratice book at your local bookstore might give you an overview?

RNPATL, DNP, RN · Jan 22, 2005

Yes, you need to have a working knowledge of basic principles in math to be successful as a nurse. There are many medications that are single dose, but there are times when you need to titrate meds or drips and having the ability to calculate these drips is very important.

Where I work, we have pumps that do the math for you, but I believe in the double check system .... I calculate the drip first, then go to a peer nurse and ask them to calcuate for me and then I also calculate on the pump .... this way, I know my calculations are correct (I guess that would be a triple check ... anyway).

Nursing math is very different than general math .... but, it is very important. I am certainly no math wiz and in fact .... was very nervous that math would keep me from becoming a nurse. However, once you get over the anxiety and realize that math is nothing more than formulas ... it gets easier.

Try this site if you need to refresh your skills or just need help: http://www.math.com

Good luck!

RNKITTY04 · Jan 22, 2005

If you Google "Nursing Math" I think you will find exactly what you need. Good luck to you. "I feel your pain" :uhoh3:

SpecFuz · Jan 22, 2005

If you Google "Nursing Math" I think you will find exactly what you need. Good luck to you. "I feel your pain"

I was scared of the math in nursing and was a horrible math student. I can't stress enough how horrible. I just worked really hard at it and practiced, practiced, practiced, and got help from teachers and did very well. So if I can do it, anybody can. :)

KimberlyT · Jan 29, 2005

Hello,

I was absolutely terrified about the nursing math when I began nursing school. We had 3 exams that you needed to get 90% on or you automatically FLUNKED OUT! I had so little confidence in my mathematical ability. However, I am happy to say that it really was not that difficult at all and I always did very well on math questions. For one thing, it's a practical application. That seems to make much more sense. In our school we used a ratio and proportion approach and it works like a charm for most problems. And once you set up the proportion, you are just doing multiplication and division. So it's really not anything to worry about too much, if you ask me. But passing the NCLEX when I take it in 3 days -- THAT is something I'm a bit worried about!!