Future RN with LD in math

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in Geri and adult psych, hospice.

Hi everyone. I have a heavy issue thats been weighing on my mind lately. See, I am getting ready to start my nursing prereq's in the fall and CNA school (a and p and a basic math course refresher.) I hope to enter nursing school in 2005, but want to get my prereqs done first so I can grasp those scientific concepts (pharm math, phisio. chem etc.). My question is, first and foremost, what do you all think of people labled "learning disabled", and have any of you nuses out there been diagnosed with having a learning disibility in math or know any nurses who have? When I was a child, I performed below average in my math skills but above average in reading and writing. I had all this testing done and it was determined that I had a "math learning disability:o ." Of course when you tell a child that, they don't understand so I grew up with a pretty low self concept feeling that I'd never be able to do math and therefore up to this point in my life (20's) have pretty much avoided anything (career wise) that has to do with math. Well, once I had the calling to be a nurse, I knew that I'd have to face my fear about learning and grasping math if I wanted to be a good, competent nurse. I guess my question is, do you think that having this "learning disibility" in math will hold me back from being able to be a nurse. I would just be so miserable if I was not able to "get it" as I feel that wanting to be a nurse is aching in my bones! Are there any tips that you have for doing dosage calcs in your head or does it just come with practice and time? Tips on preparing to use math in the field? How often would you say you use math on a daily basis as an RN and in what major forms? I guess I'm just scared and worried. I don't want to fail, and I feel like I need some support. I have learned that this is the place to come for that:D ! Thanks as always! Louisepug

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Relax your up way to late thinking about math. The easiest thing I've found so far is called a calculator. They let you use them in college now. You have to start listening to the people who tell you you can do it and not the people who tell you that you can't. That was a longtime ago! Math is as difficult as you make it. I always thought of math as being like one of those puzzle books. You're going to have to use math every single day as a nurse" I have 10mg. and I need to give 10mg". The calc due get a little more advanced than that but no need to worry about them right now once you learn them you own them. You already use math every day, and you've made it this far alright. If you can balance the checkbook, you can be a nurse. All you have to do is make it through the college math and your home free. Just tell the math teacher up front you have some math anxiety. What's the worst case scenerio? You may have to get a tutor for a class or two? Big #%^* deal, and you have three times to get a C. Now go to bed everything will be alright, and remember C's earn degrees. ;)

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I take offense from those clowns who said you were "learning disabled in math." If you did fine in language arts, then I REALLY have my doubts about that testing being credible. Those tests didn't prove anything. I think those were some lousy teachers to label you early on and it resulted in a self-fulfilling prophecy. The reality is, maybe you weren't taught very well. Sometimes teachers don't know how to teach in many different ways. I bet you would do great in math if someone showed you how in a way that makes sense! There are always at least several different ways of approaching a problem. I say this from personal experience.

I thought I was terrible in math too...was under that impression for several years after some bad experiences in high school. Later on, I finally got some good teaching (in college) & some confidence. I'm in a graduate level math class now & doing very well.People now ask me for help (go figure).You will find a way! Nursing math isn't that hard. There are some good websites out there too. Don't let your old anxiety bog you down. Please open your mind to the idea that you were labeled unfairly & robbed of the chance to get the help you needed. If you do well in other subjects, then there's no reason why you can't learn math! Good luck!

http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/8517/Quiz/quiz.htm

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Well, I'm on the other side of the coin--I always did very well in math, loved it in fact, but just couldn't "get" the math quizzes we had to do in school.

Until, that is, I developed a simple way of looking at every nursing math problem. Look at the units of the doctor's order (this is the "answer") and look at the units of what you've got on hand, and in between them stick the equivalents that are required to get from the units of the "on hand" to the units of the "order."

Once I did that, it was amazing--and became so much fun there aren't enough math questions in the day for me! (My classmates hated me!! LOL)

You can pm or email me if you want to--I wrote out the explanation for somebody who was having problems, and she "got it" almost right away.

I'm always glad to pass on what I've been given....

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One of my classmates was in the "special class" in high school. They forced her to take basic level courses (in Ontario we used to have basic, general, and advanced courses in each grade). Needless to say, she had a lot of work to do to obtain the prereq courses (bio, chem, etc) because those courses aren't offered in basic level. She had to work hard just to get into the program. Despite the label she was given, she is now maintaining solid Bs and As. She received one or two Cs in the first semester but then learned how to study in a way that worked for her. And, she received an A in math in the second semester (maths for meds).

I was a brainiac in highschool... never studied a day in my life and never received less than an A in anything - except math. I took advanced level math (even though they wanted me to take general) because advanced level was required for entrance to university. The highest grade I received in high school math was a 64! Hated math, didn't understand it, had no idea where on earth they thought I would use this stuff in the real world (yes, we need some of it but how many of you use calculus in your nursing careers?).

I was terrified when I started our maths course because of my troubles with it in high school. But guess what, math in nursing school makes sense! The math you are doing is for dosage calculations, IV driprates, etc. It made sense to me, it was important for a reason and I was therefore able to understand it and ended up with a 99 in the course.

You will do well, you will succeed, and you will understand. Why? Because this is what you want. Don't let anyone discourage you. You have a goal, now go after it. The chemisty, biology that you have to take now for prereqs will be work, but with your goal in my mind - it won't be that hard. And, the chemistry and biology (taken as prereqs rather than as some forgotten high school science course) will lay the groundwork for the nursing classes... the material will make more sense to you.

Good luck. And enjoy your future success.

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I stunk in math too during my grade school and high school years. When I took college algebra I spent many nights crying over concepts. Then I started nursing classes and was introduced to nursing math. For someone math challenged, I have absolutely no problem with it. It's basic adding, subtracting, multiplying and division. You won't be expected to do all the problems in your head - once you know how to enter the problem into your calculator correctly you have it made. Learn the correct steps to solve the problem and you should get a correct answer every time.

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I dont have a Learning Disability when it comes to math, but I sure am struggling! I ended up hiring a tutor to help me out, and it is helping. I am sitting at 88% right now, and I am pleased.

All you can do is give your best and ask for help if you need it. There is no shame in needing and getting help.

Good luck to you!

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Specializes in MICU, neuro, orthotrauma.
Originally posted by LydiaGreen

I was terrified when I started our maths course because of my troubles with it in high school. But guess what, math in nursing school makes sense! The math you are doing is for dosage calculations, IV driprates, etc. It made sense to me, it was important for a reason and I was therefore able to understand it and ended up with a 99 in the course.

same experience for me.

dont fret about the math.

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You know what, I sucked at math then, but I'm getting better at it now. As an adult it dosn't scare me as much as it did when I was 8. You'll get through it, and besides, if we all liked math so much we would be accountants!

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Specializes in Geri and adult psych, hospice.

Thank you soooo much for your supportive replies everyone! :D It really made my day. I know I can do it, it just may take a little extra work and extra help! Thanks again! Louisepug:kiss

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I Need Help Also In Math , I'm Going To Withdraw This Week In The Algebra/college Math Course I'm In . It's Mid-term And I Have A F. This Course Is Algebra Which I Had Never Had ,and This Course Assumes You Have The Basics. Anyone Know Of Any Other Math Course I Can Look At To See If The Colleg I'm At Will Accept It . Some Of The Other Students Took Applied Math And Do Not Have To Take This Course. I Do Not See What Graphs Or Angles Have Anything To Do With How Much Meds To Give ,thanks For Any Input.

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I Need Help Also In Math , I'm Going To Withdraw This Week In The Algebra/college Math Course I'm In . It's Mid-term And I Have A F. This Course Is Algebra Which I Had Never Had ,and This Course Assumes You Have The Basics. Anyone Know Of Any Other Math Course I Can Look At To See If The Colleg I'm At Will Accept It . Some Of The Other Students Took Applied Math And Do Not Have To Take This Course. I Do Not See What Graphs Or Angles Have Anything To Do With How Much Meds To Give ,thanks For Any Input.

Did you take an assement test at the college you are attending?! You should start there if you are having trouble with this course. It will tell you where you need to start math wise and move up as you pass. They might not have given you this test if you did well in math in high school and on your SAT tests. Request to take it.

If you are a nursing student then find out what math they require for graduation. Do this before anything else. We had to pass an entrance test for math. reading. etc. If we passed the math then we were done with that requirement. Good luck.

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