What field of Nursing has the least, and most math?

Cuddleswithpuddles · Nov 2, 2011

I am going out on a limb and assuming you are making a decision on what specialty to enter.

It is my opinion that choosing a specialty based on how much math is involved is nothing short of limiting yourself.

I have never seen floor nursing involve math beyond basic algebra and memorizing or knowing what formulas to look up and use. Plenty of the math is done electronically or by the pharmacy. The convenience is there but, of course, the ultimate responsibility lays with you as a nurse.

Learning math is far from impossible and far from the most difficult thing you will encounter as a nurse. I say broaden your horizons completely, go where your heart tells you to go and not where you think your math class grade says you belong.

healthstar, BSN, RN · Nov 2, 2011

Adult ICUs omg, they have 20 pumps running at the same time, meds change frequently, meds are due frequently. I have been told that peds and OB requires less math, bc you don't pass a lot of meds.

sj73201, BSN, RN · Nov 2, 2011

i would think psych would be less math lol

CCL RN, RN · Nov 2, 2011

Adult ICUs omg, they have 20 pumps running at the same time, meds change frequently, meds are due frequently..

yup. Lots of math in the ICU that my lovely Alaris pumps do for me. Sure, there's a possibility I may have to do the math myself, and it's good to know the dosages and calculations and all, but in reality, my pumps do it for me.

Now, in the cath lab, I have to calculate the bolus and gtts on many different drugs on unstable pts at 2 am. I have to mix them myself too. Alaris can't help me there, and i dont get a label on the bag from pharmacy telling me rate, dose, etc. Also, we have to calculate and mix the concentrations on things like nitro, nicardipine, etc for the table for IC route.

If math is your worry, then I would stay away from any peds dept.

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Nov 2, 2011

Dimensional analysis is just about the only math I've ever used in the course of my career. However, most if not all nursing programs require candidates to be proficient in intermediate-level algebra or better, so I should think the OP would want to get those requirements out of the way before considering any nursing specialty...just sayin'.

Rodoon, BSN, MSN, RN · Nov 2, 2011

There is no field in nursing where you don't do some form of math calculation. Math phobias hold so many people back from a job they can really love. Go straight to the Khan academy and start where you already know you're weak. Heck, I work math problems in there all the time to keep my brain sharp. It's good for you and good for your kids. When you're done, you'll laugh. Go there now.

TiffyRN, BSN, PhD · Nov 2, 2011

I think possibly PICU/NICU would be more than regular ICU. In PICU/NICU pretty much all the meds from iron drops to dopamine are minimally mg/kg (okay, with dopamine add per min). And in many cases kilograms are done to the thousanths (or grams if you prefer).

wooh, BSN, RN · Nov 2, 2011

I have been told that peds and OB requires less math, bc you don't pass a lot of meds.

Peds is all math all the time. Everything is based on kg. There's no standard doses of anthing. You don't get to give a tablet of tylenol. You get to fraction up the tylenol suppository into something like 3/5. Or my favorite concoctions (usually for kids on ketogenic diets), "crush 1.75 tablets, mix with 5ml of water and give 2.2 ml." Followed by the next med which will be "crush 1.5 tablets, mix with 4 ml water and give 3.6 ml." And so on and so on...

Sarah010101 · Nov 2, 2011

you will encounter math on any unit. Heck the unit i work on rarely has enough iv pumps for the amount of patients... we have to go back to good old taping the bag and counting drops..... try that with a continuous infusion going, intermittent meds etc etc... best to know the basic equations for all situations

graceomalleyRN, RN · Nov 2, 2011

What VivaLasViejas said. By the time you're finished with nursing school, you'll be proficient enough at math that it won't really matter.

However, as TiffyRN pointed out, at most facilities the pharmacy doesn't send up the medicines precalculated -- YOU do it on the floor. I hated doing that so much in my Peds rotation that it eliminated that area for me permanently.

Aurora77 · Nov 2, 2011

I work med/surg and there's nothing but basic dimensional analysis. Most of our IV meds are hung over 30 minutes or an hour, so super simple basic math is required. The only exception is vanc, 250 mL over 90 minutes. Not hard to figure.