The Nursing Math Thread

NMB107 · Aug 21, 2008

Thank you all for your help its truly appreciated. God bless:nurse: You guys are the best....

studymom39 · Aug 24, 2008

There are different methods for math, pick the one you feel you're most competent on and stick with it from start to finish. I, for example, prefer the dimensional analysis way (like what you learned in chemistry).

I have a very strong opinion about the void that our program had in reviewing math. The advisors stated, "math is an assumption if you passed chemistry" but for nontraditional students, I was not fresh out of high school and didn't remember the metric system. Furthermore, I researched the math class available to me and took 3, one was specific to the health field, and it barely touched the metric system until the end. It went over very basic stuff on decimals and stuff which I didn't need.

I got through nursing school but one teacher, in particular, was on a warpath for bad evaluations from students and had multiple methods of rounding that has never been pinned down to date, and she actually failed a girl one quarter off of it. Others were kicked out class but the Dean stepped in. When the dust settled, the teacher was in the hotseat because people had written proof to show the Dean that she gave different rounding rules that were inconsistent. The next year, she didn't dare fail a student or she'd have been fired. If there was confusion, she "remediated".

The math should be taught in each quarter. It wouldn't take much time at all. Also, get into small groups to teach each other.

Anubis · Aug 26, 2008

It's nice to know I'm not the only one out there who has math issues!

athina2004 · Aug 26, 2008

I have the same problem.All this was very helpful.Thanks a lot

ThinkRNin2009 · Aug 26, 2008

Total mental block on this math question....If someone can help me understand I would greatly appreciate it.

Dicloxcillin 1oomg po q6h is ordered for a child weighing 35kg. The recommended dosage is 12.5mg/kg/day for children weighing less than 40kg in divided doses q6h.

What is the recommended dose for this child?

my answer is 437.5mg per day

Is the ordered dose appropriate and safe?

my answer is "yes the ordered dose is safe but not appropriate it's too low of a dosage."

The answer key has the ordered ordered dose is safe and appropriate because the 10% rule is applied, but I still don't understand.

Ugh!!! totally easy question that I can't understand

Please help.

Thanks

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Aug 27, 2008

Total mental block on this math question....If someone can help me understand I would greatly appreciate it.
Dicloxcillin 1oomg po q6h is ordered for a child weighing 35kg. The recommended dosage is 12.5mg/kg/day for children weighing less than 40kg in divided doses q6h.
What is the recommended dose for this child?
my answer is 437.5mg per day
Is the ordered dose appropriate and safe?
my answer is "yes the ordered dose is safe but not appropriate it's too low of a dosage."
The answer key has the ordered ordered dose is safe and appropriate because the 10% rule is applied, but I still don't understand.
Ugh!!! totally easy question that I can't understand
Please help.
Thanks

12.5mg/kg/day x 35kg = 437.5 mg/day = 109.375 mg/four divided doses, the recommended dose for a 37.5kg child. A 100 mg dose would be appropriate and safe.

Check your textbook for the 10% leeway you can have in rounding off and giving the actual dosage. Giving 109 mg is not practical in actual practice, but 100 mg is.

http://www.drugs.com/pro/dicloxacillin.html - see the section on how it is supplied.

akana11 · Aug 27, 2008

I second that.

MissMissy · Aug 27, 2008

Hi everyone,

This is a great thread. Very helpful to me especially since my math is a bit rusty. Thanks, again.

Missmissy

Yayamaya, RN · Aug 29, 2008

The main block that I am having is when calculating dose is when to divide by the number of doses per day and when not to......

For example - Child is 22 kg. Dosage is 10mg/ml. Order says child needs 4mg/kg/day po 12 hours.

Here you would divide your answer by 2 right??????

Child is 60kg. Dosage is 2mg/2ml. Order says child need mg/kg divided into 8 equal doses.

Here you would divide your answer by 3 right?????

Child is 40kg. Order is 5mg/ml. Dosage is 5mg/ml. Order says childs need 5mg/kg po 4 hours.

Here you would NOT divide by 6 right?????? The po 4 hours is not relevant to solving the problem.

So is the key to look for the PER DAY??

Thanks!!!!

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Aug 30, 2008

child is 22 kg. dosage is 10mg/ml. order says child needs 4mg/kg/day po 12 hours.

here you would divide your answer by 2 right??????

"4mg/kg/day po

12 hours"

makes no sense and is very unclear. i would assume nothing. i would call the doctor to clarify the order. if this were on a test i would ask the instructor to clarify the question.

child is 60kg. dosage is 2mg/2ml. order says child need mg/kg divided into 8 equal doses.

here you would divide your answer by 3 right?????

i wouldn't. i would divide 24 hours by the 8 doses to get 3 hours/dose, meaning doses would be given every 3 hours.

child is 40kg. order is 5mg/ml. dosage is 5mg/ml. order says childs need 5mg/kg po 4 hours.

here you would not divide by 6 right?????? the po 4 hours is not relevant to solving the problem.

"5mg/kg po 4 hours"

is very unclear and i would assume nothing. i would call the doctor to clarify the order. if this were on a test i would ask the instructor to clarify the question.

JillFRN · Sep 1, 2008

Thank you everyone who has helped put this thread together!!! You have really helped me out tremendously on the little things I have forgotten!

elf5ft10 · Sep 2, 2008

Holy cow, im glad im not the only one. Man I just passed math last semester with an 84. My lowest grade ever. so don't feel bad, i had to get a tutor just to get that grade. Keep your chin up, it does get easier.