Why Math Skills Are Important to Becoming an LPN (2024)

Nursing

NursingJune 18, 2018

Do you need basic math skills to become a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)? In a word: “Yes!”

While it’s true programs, pumps and calculators may do most of the math work for LPNs day-to-day, if you need to treat patients at the scene of an accident or the equipment is down because of a power glitch, you’ll be expected to accurately do required calculations to ensure the health and safety of patients.

All nursing revolves around a few basic math skills – adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing decimals, fractions and whole numbers, and converting numbers from the English system to a metric one, among them. As Americans, we think in terms of pounds, ounces and inches. Not so in the medical field, where measurements are based upon the metric system and a nurse’s conversions skills come into play.

Those skills are especially important when a nurse is told to administer 750 mg of medication every four hours, but the tablets are 250 milligrams each. Perhaps you must give a patient 7.5 mg, but the vial says “5 mg per cc.” Or, you have to calculate the number of drops to administer per minute if ordered to “give 500 mg over 30 minutes” through an I-V drip. Simple enough…if you know your math! If not, your patient’s safety could be in jeopardy.

Nurses also may be called upon to calculate a patient’s intake and output, body mass index, glycemic index, ovulation dates or due date if the patient is a pregnant woman. These are all cases in which good math skills are required.

You don’t need to be a math major, but nursing does involve a degree of basic mathematical skill. If you’re not dissuaded from considering a nursing career…whether as a practical, or vocational, nurse or an RN – congratulations! The medical field needs you.

Fortis Colleges and Institutes are part of a strong network of recognized nursing programs. Why not check out our Nursing pageto see if you’re a match for each other? As a nurse, you’ll feel gratified by helping people in need of quality medical care…and your math skills won’t be a forgotten subject. They just may play a big part in your success.

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Why Math Skills Are Important to Becoming an LPN (2024)

FAQs

Why Math Skills Are Important to Becoming an LPN? ›

Simple enough…if you know your math! If not, your patient's safety could be in jeopardy. Nurses also may be called upon to calculate a patient's intake and output, body mass index, glycemic index, ovulation dates or due date if the patient is a pregnant woman. These are all cases in which good math skills are required.

How is math used for an LPN? ›

Math is an essential skill for nurses to have because they use formulas to help them determine how much to put into intravenous therapy (IV) fluid drips, injections and oral medications.

Why is math important for nursing? ›

In the medical field and being a floor or Intensive Care Unit nurse you often have to calculate IV drips. Nurses need to know the amount of medication the patient is to receive, the overall time period for administering it and how much medication will be given each hour.

Why are basic math skills needed in a healthcare career? ›

RTs use math when calibrating equipment for breathing treatments, reading graphs and performing temperature conversions. They also use math for counting pulse and breathing rates, calculating medication dosages, and determining things like minute ventilation and the patient's ideal body weight (IBW).

How good at math do you have to be to be a nurse? ›

It is a good idea to know the types of math you need to be able to do, but it is not necessary to know advanced algebra or calculus. As long as you are taught correctly and have a basic knowledge of math, most nursing students will do just fine without having to take high-level math classes.

What is the hardest class in the LPN program? ›

What is the Hardest Class in Nursing Courses?
  • A&P Class (1&2) Nursing professors expect you to know more than what was covered in high school about human anatomy & physiology. ...
  • Organic Chemistry. Find organic chemistry solutions here. ...
  • Pathophysiology. ...
  • Pharmacology. ...
  • Medical Surgical 1 (Adult Health 1) ...
  • Evidence-Based Practice.

How can I be successful in LPN school? ›

10 GOLDEN STUDY TIPS FOR LPN STUDENTS
  1. 1) Study Daily. ...
  2. 2) Make the Best Use of Study Guides. ...
  3. 3) Enroll in a Study Group. ...
  4. 4) Do Not Mug Up or Memorize. ...
  5. 5) Prepare Strategically. ...
  6. 6) Make Sure to Take a Coffee-Break. ...
  7. 8) Read the Right Reading Material. ...
  8. 10) Make Summary Notes and Flashcards.

How is math used in healthcare? ›

Some examples of when doctors might use math include: Calculating medication dosages. Interpreting medical research. CAT scans and X-rays.

What medical field does not need math? ›

Healthcare Careers that Don't Require Math or Chemistry
  • Ultrasound Technician. Ultrasound technicians use sound waves to examine internal body structures or a developing fetus in the womb. ...
  • Radiology Technologist. ...
  • Medical Social Worker. ...
  • Medical Secretary. ...
  • Dental Assistant. ...
  • Phlebotomist. ...
  • Medical Assistant.
Apr 29, 2020

What math does a nurse anesthetist need? ›

College algebra and statistics are the two core classes that make up the CRNA math requirements. These mathematical topics give you the groundwork required to take on the intricate computations and analytical reasoning involved in anesthetic administration.

What are examples of math in nursing? ›

To safely prepare and administer medications, the nurse performs a variety of mathematical calculations, such as determining the number of tablets, calculating the amount of solution, and setting the rate of an intravenous infusion. Dosage calculation in clinical practice is more than just solving a math problem.

Does nursing require calculus? ›

Often, a college-level math course is required as a prerequisite to beginning a nursing program. Most often these programs will require a statistics course, but occasionally they'll require calculus instead. Again, program requirements can vary.

Why are hard skills important in healthcare? ›

Hard skills are more quantifiable and allow healthcare professionals do their jobs effectively and efficiently. Soft skills are more qualitative and help you build relationships with patients and colleagues.

What kind of math do LPNs use? ›

In that case, you must perform the calculations required to ensure patient safety and health in a clinical setting & healthcare facilities. In nursing, Basic mathematical knowledge, such as decimal, fractional, and whole number arithmetic, subtraction, and multiplying, is crucial in the nursing curriculum.

Can I be a nurse if I'm bad at science? ›

To be an effective nurse, you need a good understanding of how biology and chemistry work in the human body. Nursing programs are designed so students learn everything about science they need to know in order to achieve this outcome.

What is a nurse in simple words? ›

: a person who cares for the sick or infirm. specifically : a licensed health-care professional who practices independently or is supervised by a physician, surgeon, or dentist and who is skilled in promoting and maintaining health compare licensed practical nurse, registered nurse.

Is LPN test hard? ›

Yes, the NCLEX is Hard, BUT

With some planning, it can be passed. It is easier said than done not to stress or psych yourself out. This is a prominent exam with pressure attached.

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