How Do Nurses Use Math in Their Jobs?

Nurses require more than just attention to detail and a caring bedside manner. The nursing profession also requires knowledge of mathematics. Knowing formulas and simple calculations allows a nurse to effectively perform their duties from patient care to aiding doctors.

Medication

Administering medications requires math to calculate correct dosage such as pill size and intravenous fluid amounts.

Data

The recording of information such as fluid intake and output, times when medication is given and checking vital signs all require math.

Equipment

Nurses use devices that are both electronic (such as an ECG machine) and analog (such as thermometers and blood pressure cuffs). Simple math is required to achieve accurate results.

Specialties

While working in the prenatal discipline, nurses need to know how to calculate date of fertilization, expected delivery date and ovulation periods.

Laboratory

Interpreting lab results such as white blood cell levels involves simple arithmetic, as well as the possibility of converting units for the benefit of doctors and patients.