3-Column Notes- MAT 1205
1. What? Order of Operations and how to answer them successfully.
2. So What?
1. Perform all operations within
grouping symbols
(parenthesis).
2. Evaluate all roots and
exponents.
3. Do all the multiplication and
divisions in the order as they
occur, from left to right.
4. Lastly, do all the additions
and subtractions in the order
as they occur, from left to
right.
3. Now What?
-
Order of operations can be helpful when calculating
dosages. It is important to know the concept if you must
complete conversions and need to add medications
together, then divide them by the amount required to
suspense or number of tablets. In addition, when infusing
medications or calculating drip rates you must know your
order of operations. Drug titrations also requires having
the basic operation skills. The most important thing to
take away is that hospitals have the computer or infusion
pump to do the math, however, the nurse must always
verify that is correct. In addition, knowing the hours that
the medications is going to be infused by can help
organize the nurses priorities when providing care.
To prompt your “thinking
like a nurse,” consider
these questions:
o What assessments
would you
complete? What
signs and
symptoms would
you expect to find?
What specific
patient population
would this affect?
o What would tell
you that your
patient is improving
(measurable data)?
o What nursing care
(interventions) will
you provide to help
your patient
alleviate/prevent
complications?
How will each of
these actions help
your patient
(rationale)? What
would happen if
you did not
intervene?
o How will you know
that your patient is
improving
(evaluation)?