The Nursing Math Thread

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A member pm'd me the following question highlighted below. We created this thread for you guys to talk about math, solve math problems, and post math websites that you have found helpful.

I was wondering, is there a sticky or a special site that can be coordinated for "math sufferers". Perhaps, beginning calculations or shall i say the basics..simple to complex...step by step on how to calculate. I'm a visual learner, numbers and I don't work well. I am trying, but I've got a block!

Thank you so much, what scares me the most is the math tests give every semester in nusring school.

Just do what I have done/am doing...get on the math calc thread on here and visit the sites they recommend for practice; do all the problems they have then get a med math book and do all those problems. Do any practice test the school offers...over and over. Learn your conversions til you can do them in your sleep. Just practice until you don't have to think too much about it. I only have to do this 2 more times for school and I plan on tearing it up!:lol2:

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Thank you so much, what scares me the most is the math tests give every semester in nusring school.

Listen, don't psych yourself out before the fact. You already know math is a weakness for you, we all have them, now you have to work harder on that portion of your schooling. Find some math books, math testing banks and practice until you don't have to look to see if the answer is right, you KNOW the answer is right!

Remember the nursing math isn't about adding 1/4 cup too much of flour in a baking recipe, it is about medication administration and you want to be 100% sure you are on the money. It takes us all time to get the hang of it, but it will come with practice and more practice.

GOOD LUCK to you!

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ok, i've been having some trouble with some math problems, so here i am!

order: vitamin b12 0.75 mg im

supply: vitamin b12 1,000 mcg per ml

calculate the amount for one dose.

order: give zosyn 3.375 g in 50 ml ns over 30 minutes

drop factor: 15 gtt per ml

calculate the rate in gtt per min. round to nearest whole number.

any help would be great, thanks!

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ok, i've been having some trouble with some math problems, so here i am!

order: vitamin b12 0.75 mg im

supply: vitamin b12 1,000 mcg per ml

calculate the amount for one dose.

remember your conversions;1000mcg=1mg

1mg: 1ml :: 0.75mg: x ml

1x= 0.75

x= 0.75ml

order: give zosyn 3.375 g in 50 ml ns over 30 minutes

drop factor: 15 gtt per ml

calculate the rate in gtt per min. round to nearest whole number.

50ml x 15gtts = 750 = 25gtts/min

30min...1ml.......30

any help would be great, thanks!

in the second one don't worry about the medicine amount only the ns amount.

hope this helps!

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.
ok, i've been having some trouble with some math problems, so here i am!

order: vitamin b12 0.75 mg im

supply: vitamin b12 1,000 mcg per ml

calculate the amount for one dose.

order: give zosyn 3.375 g in 50 ml ns over 30 minutes

drop factor: 15 gtt per ml

calculate the rate in gtt per min. round to nearest whole number.

any help would be great, thanks!

order: vitamin b12 0.75 mg im

supply: vitamin b12 1,000 mcg per ml

calculate the amount for one dose.

by dimensional analysis (factor label method):
0.75 mg
(dose desired)
/1,000 mcg
(dose on hand)
x 1 ml
(amount the dose on hand comes in)
/1
(identity)
x 1000 mcg/1 mg
(conversion factor)
=
0.75 ml
(amount to give)

order: give zosyn 3.375 g in 50 ml ns over 30 minutes

drop factor: 15 gtt per ml

calculate the rate in gtt per min. round to nearest whole number.

by dimensional analysis (factor label method):
50 ml
(amount to give)
/30 minutes
(infusion time)
x 15 gtts/1 ml
(drop factor of iv tubing being used)
=
25 gtts/minute
(drip rate)

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I also used this book and it helped, however it was very similiar to the book we used in class. I think having been blessed with my awesome instructor is what helped me the most. That woman really went above and beyond to help us. I will always be grateful for my instructors. Also the math sticky thread on this site is WONDERFUL!!! Helped me bunches!

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I use the DA method for almost all of my med math problems. It is the best thing I could have learned in pharm. Thanks for posting this!

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hello. can someone please help me with this? order is Aspirin 325mg, label is gr x. how many tablets per dose?

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.
hello. can someone please help me with this? order is Aspirin 325mg, label is gr x. how many tablets per dose?

Dose Desired:
325 mg

Dose On Hand:
gr. x (10 grains)

Conversion Factor:
1 grain = 60 mg

Formula:
Dose Desired divided by the Dose on Hand times the amount that the Dose on Hand comes in will give you the Amount to Give the patient.

325 mg
(Dose Desired)
/10 grains
(Dose On Hand)
x 1 grain/60 mg = 0.541666
tablet, rounded off to
0.5 tablet
, or
half a tablet

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Hi I just wanted to ask you all who probably know how this particular problem would be set up using the DA method. I have been using http://www.dosagehelp.com for practice problems and can't seem to figure out how to put this type into a dimensional analysis formula.

Any help would be greatly appreciated as I am trying my best to teach myself as much about dosage calculations and methods before I get to it in school so that I won't stumble in the dreaded math area that is so important for pt safety.

Here is the problem...

Calculate amount of sodium chloride in 0.7 L 1/2 NS.

I can do it in the formula way (I think that's what it's called)

50% X 0.9% x700ml = 3.15 g or 3.2g

---------------------

100

Thanks for any help

Gabi

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Here is the problem...

Calculate amount of sodium chloride in 0.7 L 1/2 NS.

I can do it in the formula way (I think that's what it's called)

50% X 0.9% x700ml = 3.15 g or 3.2g

---------------------

100

Thanks for any help

Gabi

Okay, I looked up NS for the amount of saline and it says 200mg/L, so 1/2NS should have 100mg/L

100mg x 700mL = 70000 = 70mg/0.7L ( or 700mL)

1000mL....1.........1000

you can only get grams in your answer if it is a value in the equation. of course this is only correct if I have the right info on the mg in 1/2 NS, that I'm not sure about. But, this is set up in DA.:wink2:

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beth,

Thank you for trying:nurse:......according to http://www.dosagehelp.com NS is 0.9%..............(from their site- NS: Normal Saline (0.9% NaCl) )

I do know that the answer (again, according to their site) is 3.2g.....I got that using "formula"(shown in my post) and checking my answer on their site.

So with that being said, that the value of NS is 0.9% would that mean 1/2 of that? and then how would the equation/formula be set using DA?

For some reason I have been getting all of the others, Mass/Mass, Mass/Liquid, IV drop and flow rate but THIS style has me confuzzled.:bugeyes: I guess because I am not quite certain what I am actually reading in the 1/2 NS....

Thank you again beth :)

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