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Discussion

NICU- how much math?

hi nurses

I have been a nurse for 23 yrs. did peds for the first 3 yrs. have always had NICU in my mind. for the last 9 yrs I've done med/surg & psych. in the other jobs I've had, I never considered myself my specialty; (psych nurse):banghead:

would love to dive into this & make it my specialty. my BF had her dtr in NICU & I volunteer at a women's clinic. BUT

math is not my favorite subject! I think ICU I think conversions etc. are there cheat sheets from drug co. & educators to help with this?

thanks

math hater:(

Featured Replies

Basic math! I hate math too. :)

You will use math on a daily basis for drawing up the correct dose of drugs, checking drips, and checking drug dosages, but it's basic algebra type stuff. On my unit, the big things like drawing up PRN narcotic doses and hanging drips need to be verified with another RN so someone else is double checking the math.

  • Expert

You will also have figure fluid and calorie intake since wt gain is a critical issue. You need to know that

Your calculator will be your friend, and you can write any cheats you need on labels, cards or any other handy place.

It's not something you would do on the 1st day, but eventually, you'll do plenty of math. I wouldn't let that put me off, just [as they say] "start liking it". None of it is all that complex--except drips math, you're gonna have someone double check that anyway.

Go for it, math girl!!

I am glad I am not the only person who hates math that wants to work in the NICU and now I am not worried about being a nurse because I suck at math.

Get a drug math calculation book, start working through it, and apply for that job! ;)

  • Expert

It will also depend on the facility where you work. I have worked in 4 NICUs with varying amounts of math done by the nurses. Everything from minimal, I mean MINIMAL calculations at one to the majority of the calculations where I work now. Here we do quite a few. The doctors very rarely give us a rate, rather a ml/kg/day volume and we do the rates out, though in reality it isn't that hard to figure out which kids are going to get 80 and which kids are going to get 100, etc. At some hospitals, especially where there are residents and fellows, they do a lot of the calculations and will give you the rates they want you to run the fluids at. The math is easy because it's almost always based on a formula, make yourself a laminated badge that has the formulas, especially those for calories and you'll have a much easier time.

Good luck

  • Expert

Calorie math tip: D1 = 0.034 cals/ml. If you know that, you can figure out any dextrose concentration the docs can think up.

All this math talk makes me really glad that we have our own NICU nutritionist with us during rounds every day! They are the ones who keep watchful eyes on all of the kcal/kg/day according to the growth charts and total fluid needs / restrictions and all of that.

Of course we all use math when double checking med doses. Thankfully we have standard concentrations for doPa/doButa/fent drips, so the calculations are much easier for us to double check. For example, our fent comes in either 10mcg/ml or 20mcg/ml - depending on how slow it ends up running...

Our doctors figure out all the feeding calculations and what dextrose to use. We do calculations for drips and to check dosages, but most of those are set forumlas and the 'smart pumps' are set at specific rates per the baby's weight and the dose of the med. Plus, most things have to be double checked by another nurse anyway.

I'm dyslexic, barely got through high school math, and I've rarely ever had a problem in the ICN.

Dawn

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