Feeling discouraged :(

Nurses General Nursing

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My goal was to be in a nursing program by next fall but that don't seem to likely to happen because almost every program in my state requires an entrance exam (mostly the Teas) and no matter what, I will NEVER score high in math. Especially, without a calculator for that matter.

I can barely count change and need a calculator to do it. But I'm excellent in reading and I read a new novel every other day as it is a hobby for me. For instance, I just recently took the KAT exam at a nursing college and scored a 91% in reading and a 67% for basic math after I studied for 5 months straight for it (I need a 82% in math to be competitive)...now I'm feeling very hopeless that I will never become a nurse because my weakness for math.

The college I took the admissions exam at said I can take it again after 30 days but at this point my siduatioms looks very bleak and I don't think nursing is for me anymore.

Before when someone asked me "what's your major?" I used to always proudly say nursing, but now I say "I don't know". Because it is embarking to want to become a nurse and I can't do something simple as basic math. And it was even more soul crushing when I told my mother I failed my exam and I saw the dissapointment in her face.

Are there any other nurses who are bad at math and how did you overcome this obstacle?

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

Sometimes we have to achieve our dreams in small steps. How about becoming a CNA and learning about some of the nursing tasks? Then, after you achieve that, start making moves toward becoming a nurse if that is still what you want to do.

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Specializes in Med/Surge, Psych, LTC, Home Health.

Most definitely, I don't think you should give up.

Check out a Barnes & Noble, a library, or just go online and play with Google, and I'll bet you can find

some self help books for learning better math skills. There are plenty of adults with this issue.

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I've never been a math person. We had a class you could take before even applying to nursing school that covered "nurse math". After completing that class I had no issues with the math needed for nursing school. See if you can find something available in your area to help you to brush up on your math skills.

Good Luck!

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