Section: Advanced and Complex Calculations | Numeracy for Nursing Practice | Open Essex

Main course page
  • Exploring Numeracy for Nursing

    Student nurse administering an injectionWelcome to the Numeracy Moodle page for the School of Health and Human Sciences.

    The resources on this page have been designed to address the numeracy requirements for the BSc in Nursing (Adult & Mental Health).


    There is also a resources page containing a reading list and links to some websites that you might find useful in supporting your studies.


    Don't forget, you've also got access to SafeMedicate.com, where you can practise some of these calculations at your own pace and in your own time.

    • Please use this forum for:

      • Posting questions for response from peers or the Numeracy Tutor
      • Discussing numeracy strategies
      • Notifying typos, errors or broken links
      • Suggesting new resources

Advanced and Complex Calculations

  • Advanced and Complex Calculations

    • Whilst most hospitals ususally use the metric system for recording measurements, you also need to know how to calculate with units of measure between systems (metric and imperial), possibly with the use of conversion tables and scales, and using approximate conversion factors. 

      The following screencast was developed specifically for nurses and show a complex calculation involving a divided dosage by body weight, and mixed units of measurement. 

      Unit Conversion Example: Drug Dosage - Khan Academy

    • I have yet to find any evidence of NHS trusts setting questions quite this complex. 

      However, if you really want to stretch and challenge your calculation skills, this paper is the one for you!

      Answers are supplied; if you really can't work out how to solve one, drop me an email or book a tutorial session. I would also be interested to know your methods if you are able to solve questions 7 and 15 through to 19!