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Mathematics Explained for Healthcare Practitioners
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Mathematics Explained for Healthcare Practitioners

First Edition


February 2013 | 264 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd
If you find mathematics a struggle, or if mathematics makes you panic - whether you're a student preparing for a calculations test, or a qualified healthcare professional - this is the book for you.

Its focus is first and foremost on helping you develop a proper and lasting understanding of mathematical concepts and processes in a healthcare context, with an emphasis on developing mental strategies to reinforce your feeling for number and numerical relationships. Clear, accessible chapters take you step-by-step through specific sets of objectives, and once you feel you have fully mastered a particular mathematical process, you're encouraged to practise your skills through a range of practical examples. Each chapter also contains a 'Spot the Errors' feature designed to reflect the busy, pressurised healthcare environment.

Written by Derek Haylock, a best-selling mathematics educator, and Paul Warburton, co-ordinator of the Non-Medical Prescribing programme at Edge Hill University, the book is directly linked to the NMC's competencies and will give you the confidence to perform the safe, error-free calculations required of all healthcare professionals.


 
Introduction
 
Understanding the Number System
 
Addition and Subtraction Skills
 
Multiplication and Division Skills
 
Units of Length
 
Units of Liquid Volume
 
Units of Weight
 
Using a Calculator
 
Rounding
 
Calculations with Decimal Numbers
 
Imperial Units Still in Use
 
Understanding Fractions and Ratios
 
Proportionality and 'Per'
 
Percentages
 
Miscellaneous Mathematics
 
Application
 
Answers to Check-ups
Index

 

'The perfect resource for any health care student that wants to improve their number skills and increase their confidence. The book contains lots of visual aids and exercises, going right back to basics. A must read' -
Natasha Eccles, student, BN Child Nursing, University of Glamorgan


'This book is a breath of fresh air. It starts by giving the reader a sound understanding of numeracy, before applying this to real life situations. A must read for every student of health care, and for a fair proportion of those already qualified' -
Patric Devitt, University of Salford


 

Although the introduction aims to reassure [the reader], there is a serious message about the importance of numeracy in achieving high standards of care and its relationship to professional accountability. The book is well structured and easy to follow. It reinforces the rules and strategies that are taught at school, which we should all revisit and practise, especially under pressure. I recommend it as a personal reference guide for qualified and pre-registration staff.

Karen Campbell
Macmillan Lecturer in Cancer Nursing, Edinburgh Napier University
Cancer Nursing Practice

[The book] covers all the areas that a healthcare professional will need to improve skills. The book could assist in teaching nursing students, and others, about this important aspect of healthcare practice.

Ruth Taylor
Deputy Dean, Quality and Student Experience, Anglia Ruskin University
Primary Health Care

This excellent and highly accessible book is a great resource for learners, practitioners and teachers alike, covering a comprehensive array of mathematical principles and applying them to various contexts...Everyday situations are used to illustrate points throughout the book along with specific clinical applications, which serves to engage the reader and increase the accessibility of the text.

Alison Taylor, senior lecturer in Child Health Nursing, School of Health Sciences, University of Brighton
Nursing Times

This book explains mathematics in such a way as to make the reader understand how to work out medication calculations, rather than just remember parrot fashion how to arrive at the correct answer in known circumstances

Mrs Kate Harrison
Education Centre 1, Lancashire Teaching Hospital
June 26, 2015

Very useful for both pre-reg and CPD students

Mrs Julie Longson
School of Nursing and Midwifery, Keele University
August 12, 2014

For many nuses and midwives mathematic's can be a frightening subject and often the issue that raises most worries. This text will go a long way to helping reduce these fears.It is clear and easy to navigate through and the examples and explainations of the process will enable understanding. It is written simply, and gives clear objectives for each chapter. I really like the "have a check up" sections and also like how the authors have used everyday references to help with context too. I would certainly suggest that this is a book that should be held in each ward to ensure clarity in the maths process at all levels.

Ms Joanne O'Donnell
School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, Univ. of Manchester
July 10, 2014

A good book to supplement development of mathematics for healthcare practitioners

Mrs Elaine Simpson
Faculty of Health, Edge Hill University
June 3, 2014

easy to understand with clear examples throughout, good question and answers, spot the errors section excellent, will help develop understanding for students.

Mrs Elaine Simpson
Faculty of Health, Edge Hill University
May 22, 2014

I believe this text would be more suitable for 3rd Year students. I feel that the text could be more visually appealing .As some students respond to colour and graphics to help them learn. I found the "error activities" useful for the students.

Miss Delyth Owen
Faculty of Health (Ormskirk), Edge Hill University
April 3, 2014

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