How does a nurse use maths?

Quick answer

Nurses use maths every day to check medicine doses, measure patients' temperatures, read charts, and plan their shifts. They count, add, subtract, and sometimes multiply and divide to keep patients safe and healthy.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will understand how nurses use maths in their jobs and be able to solve simple problems like calculating medicine doses or reading time charts.

• You can add and subtract small numbers to find how much medicine a patient needs
• You can read a simple chart showing time or temperature
• You can work out how long a shift is by counting hours
• You can spot when a patient needs help based on their temperature or chart

Why this matters

Nursing is a job where numbers help save lives. When a nurse gives medicine, they must make sure the right amount is given. When they check a patient's temperature, they need to read numbers carefully. When they plan their work, they use time and schedules. All of this uses maths, and the more you understand maths, the better you can help others.

How it works

Nurses use maths in many different ways:

1. They check a patient's temperature using a thermometer and read the number
2. They work out how much medicine to give by reading the label and using simple addition or subtraction
3. They plan their shifts using a schedule and count how many hours they work
4. They record patient data in charts and look for patterns

Let's look at each of these steps in more detail.

Examples you can see

Example 1: Reading a temperature chart

Imagine a nurse is checking a patient’s temperature. The chart shows:

The nurse can see that the patient’s temperature went up and then went down a little. This helps the nurse decide what to do next.

Example 2: Calculating medicine

A nurse needs to give a child 10 ml of medicine. The bottle says: "Give 5 ml every 4 hours".

How many times does the child need to take the medicine in one day?

There are 24 hours in a day. If the child takes 5 ml every 4 hours:

1. 24 ÷ 4 = 6 times
2. So the child takes 6 doses of 5 ml each
3. 6 × 5 = 30 ml in total

But the bottle says to give 10 ml at a time. So the nurse must give 2 doses of 5 ml each to make 10 ml total.

Example 3: Planning a shift

A nurse works from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. How long is the shift?

From 8:00 am to 4:00 pm is 8 hours. This is a full shift.

Try it as a mini adventure

Mini Adventure: Nurse’s Daily Schedule

You are a nurse on a busy ward. Your shift is from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm. You must:

1. Check the temperature of 3 patients at 7:00 am
2. Give medicine to 2 patients at 9:00 am
3. Record the temperature of 1 patient at 11:00 am
4. Check the charts again at 2:00 pm

How many times do you check the charts in one shift?

Answer: You check the charts at 7:00 am, 11:00 am, and 2:00 pm = 3 times.

How many hours do you work?

From 7:00 am to 3:00 pm = 8 hours

Common mistakes

• Mistake: Adding the wrong numbers when checking medicine
• Why it happens: Not reading the label carefully
• Fix: Read the label twice and double-check the calculation

• Mistake: Confusing the time of a shift
• Why it happens: Not counting the hours carefully
• Fix: Use a clock or a number line to count the hours

• Mistake: Thinking temperature charts are not important
• Why it happens: Not understanding how numbers help patients
• Fix: Ask a nurse to explain why charts matter and look at a chart together

Parent and carer guide

As a parent or carer, you can help your child understand how nurses use maths by:

1. Playing a role-play game where you are a nurse and your child is a patient
2. Reading temperature charts together and asking questions like "What is the highest temperature?"
3. Using a clock to count how long a shift is
4. Practicing simple addition and subtraction with medicine doses
5. Looking at real charts in newspapers or books

Remember, learning maths is like learning to ride a bike. It takes practice, and it’s okay to make mistakes. Be patient and encouraging!

Practice questions

1. Question: A nurse checks a patient's temperature at 8:00 am and finds it is 37.2°C. At 12:00 pm, it is 38.1°C. How much did the temperature go up?
2. Answer: 38.1°C - 37.2°C = 0.9°C

2. Question: A nurse gives 15 ml of medicine every 6 hours. How many ml does the patient get in one day?
3. Answer: 24 ÷ 6 = 4 doses. 4 × 15 ml = 60 ml

3. Question: A nurse works from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. How many hours is the shift?
4. Answer: 8 hours

4. Question: A patient's chart shows temperatures of 37.0°C, 37.5°C, and 37.3°C. What is the average temperature?
5. Answer: (37.0 + 37.5 + 37.3) ÷ 3 = 37.2°C

5. Question: If a nurse gives 25 ml of medicine every 8 hours, how many ml in one day?
6. Answer: 24 ÷ 8 = 3 doses. 3 × 25 ml = 75 ml

FAQ

How does a nurse use maths in real life?

Nurses use maths to give the right amount of medicine, check patient temperatures, plan their work, and read charts. All of this helps them keep patients safe and healthy.

Why do nurses need to know maths?

Nurses need to make sure patients get the right medicine and care. If they make a mistake with numbers, it could be dangerous. So, nurses must be good at maths to help people.

Can I learn how to be a nurse?

Yes, you can! Nurses go to school for many years to learn how to help people. But you can start learning now by practicing maths every day and reading charts and schedules.

What if I don’t like maths?

Maths is everywhere, even in games, sports, and cooking. Try to find fun ways to use numbers, like counting your toys or sharing snacks with friends.

Can I play a nurse game with maths?

Yes! You can pretend to be a nurse and use a toy thermometer, medicine bottles, and charts. This helps you learn how numbers help people.