Question

When would a healthcare worker need to use basic arithmetic?

measuring height

recording a patient’s age

ordering medical supplies

calculating medication dosage

Answer 1

All of them. Briefly:

- Measuring height: you may need to add parts (feet + inches), convert units (inches ↔ cm) or average repeated measures.
- Recording a patient’s age: you calculate age from date of birth (subtract dates, adjust for months/days).
- Ordering medical supplies: you total quantities, compute reorder amounts, and handle packaging units and costs.
- Calculating medication dosage: you use arithmetic (often weight-based mg/kg, unit conversions, and dose rounding) to determine safe doses.