What kind of math/chemistry is actually used in nursing?

worf · Mar 28, 2009

Although I am not a nurse yet, I assume the Math is needed for Pharmacology calculations, and the Chemistry is needed, especailly Bio-Chem explain how different processes in the body work, and what "chemically" happens to the body.

diane227, LPN, RN · Mar 28, 2009

You are going to have to know how to do dose calculations so you will need at least basic algebra. You will have to know lots of chemistry so take a basic course. When I went to college they only required one semester of chemistry, but this may differ depending on where you are going to go to nursing school. You also need A&P and microbiology.

Before you go too far, you need to do a bit of research to see what these schools are requiring for admission and if your school credits will transfer.

vashtee, RN · Mar 28, 2009

The stoichiometry from chemistry (used to balance chemical equations and used in conversions) is the type of math used for drug calculations. The rest of the chemistry does not directly impact your personal day-to-day nursing practice (in my experience) other than give you the idea that ions/chemicals need to be balanced. Some programs don't even require chemistry, but I was glad I took it because it made the math for nursing seem very easy.

cruisin_woodward · Mar 28, 2009

You need a basic idea of chemistry...acids and bases...for example, you need to know things like: NaCl is normal saline, bicarb, CO2, just the basics...but a class or two is very helpful...I had 4...basic chemistry, advanced I & II, and biochem/organic...can't say I remember much more than the basics!

Algebra is a must!!

rn2bnwi, BSN, RN · Mar 28, 2009

Learn your conversions...... you will definately use it!

APRN., DNP, RN, APRN, NP · Mar 28, 2009

Ratios and Proportions have never failed to save my tukus yet. Know your conversions so that you can plug them into the Ratio and Proportions set up.

WKredz5 · Mar 28, 2009

What do you guys mean by Ratios and Proportions?

Magsulfate, BSN, RN · Mar 28, 2009

Ratios, proportions, etc.. like,, for example....

The doctor prescribed "dopamine IV drip, titrate for SBP > 100" And you have a bag of Dopamine that has 400mg in a 250cc bag. You need to start out at 3mcg/kg/min and can titrate up to 20 mcg/kg/min (max dose) . Depending on the blood pressure of course.

Now, in the age of technology, you will have a pump that will calculate all of this for you. However, you still need to know how to do this on your own, just in case you are put into a situation like I was put into a few weeks ago. Whereas the patient went into septic shock overnight and I came on the next morning to find them... doctor ordered this,, only... guess what..... we only had basic pumps and no critical care pumps to deal with. Guess what mags had to do? Get out the old calculator really really fast.

OR.....

Doctor's order says Give 300mg of (some crazy drug) and the pharmacy only has liquid prefilled doses of 500mg/2ml. Figure out how many ml's to give.

That is basic algebra.

As far as chemistry, yes you will need to know acid/base stuff.. and ions and blah blah.. lol ... I never had to take chemistry before nursing school, but it sure would have helped.

Also, we use microbiology everyday.. Anatomy and physiology is a given,, but I never realized how much I would be using micro until I got into nursing. We use it A LOT!

Music in My Heart · Mar 28, 2009

As stated before, rudimentary algebra.

A rudimentary understanding of acids/bases and ions is helpful in understanding physiology.

Beyond that, none of it's really *necessary*. But presuming that you want to be more than simply a technician who follows standardized protocols but somebody who actually understands the processes with which they're working then you'd want to have a solid grasp of the fundamentals of general chemistry, organic chemistry, and biochemistry... pretty much what you'd get in the typical (for California, anyway) 2-semester survey of chemistry course that are commonly offered for nursing and other allied-health students.

If you really, really want to understand it then you'd take 2 semesters of general chemistry, 2 semesters of organic chemistry, and 2 semesters of biochemistry -- very interesting but way beyond what is necessary.

Teresag_CNS · Mar 29, 2009

It would help you a great deal, at least if you were taking my Acute and Pharmacology classes, to know ratios and proportions, as said above, and to know (for example) what an enzyme is, what a protein is, & what it means to say that carbonic anhydrase catalyzes the conversion of HCO3 to CO2 plus water.

I'm curious, though: Why do you ask?

RedhairedNurse, BSN, RN · Mar 29, 2009

You will have a lot of medication math in nursing school; our school used dimensional analysis rather than ratio/proportion. I think places like ICU and peds actually have to do dosage calculations in their actual RN positions. I just come across very simple math, but that sure wasn't the case in school.