Statistics or Algebra?

Nursing Students General Students

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Hi everyone. I'm new to this board and would like some advice. I'm a college sophomore finishing up prerequisites for the nursing program. I have taken College Algebra twice but dropped it each time because of work schedule/bad grades. The program I am trying to get into requires Algebra or Statistics and I was wondering if Statistics might be easier since I struggle at Algebra and if it would be more beneficial to nursing than Algebra would be. Thanks for the help.

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Hi! I am in the LPN program at my school, but for my RN pre-reqs, I had to take Algebra and Intermediate Algebra (no Statistics here!) I had to take Algebra twice, because I just couldn't get the hang of it either! But when I got to Intermediate Algebra, it seemed to go a lot easier! Why? I have no clue...

Probably my instructor (he was an excellent teacher!). But either way, just hang in there and you'll get it. Try tutoring. We have tutoring at my school for almost everything! Believe me, I needed it for Algebra!

Good Luck to you!

Julie:)

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After years of frustration I finally got a math tutor. The one I have is wonderful. The way he explains it I understand right away. My very supportive and understanding parents forced me to go and I am so grateful. Statistics is math as well! A tutor could help you get to root of the problem.

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My nursing program required both....

Algebra will help you with drug calc's and statistics will help you with research.

Good Luck,

Julie M.,RN

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If you think you'll ever be going on for your MSN, take the statistics. It is required for almost every school. It is also required for many BSN programs.

Krista

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Mine requires Algebra, Trig, and Stats, and now they have added Calculus (good grief!).

I am a big math dummy. My brain just doesnt understand it :) However, I have no problems with drug calculations, which I think is pretty wierd.

Algebra is what you need to help with Drug calculations. Stats really wont be of much assistance in that area. If you only have to take one, I would definately take algebra.

Stats really helps with research, but if your program is not research based, it might not really be applicable.

Tutors are great, I just couldnt afford one. I did have the professors help me, and stayed after class to ask questions. Maybe you can do this too! I know math is hard for a lot of people, MYSELF INCLUDED :) :) :) Just hang in there, bite on the bullet, and it will all be over with soon :)

The pain in your rear-end will only last a little while :)

BrandyBSN

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Calculus and trig is really rediculous. Nursing in no ways utilizes this.

Stats is a good course besause it helps you understand how to read journal articles. Also many RN programs (almost all BSN's ) require it. If you can find a nursing stats course I would recommend this. If you take a general math stats course you just do a lot of math you will never use. My nursing stats course was awesome and all medical based no extra garbage that doesnt apply.

best of luck,

Jared

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Calculus and trig is really rediculous. Nursing in no ways utilizes this.

Stats is a good course besause it helps you understand how to read journal articles. Also many RN programs (almost all BSN's ) require it. If you can find a nursing stats course I would recommend this. If you take a general math stats course you just do a lot of math you will never use. My nursing stats course was awesome and all medical based no extra garbage that doesnt apply. We had very little math in this course. When I took a grad level stats course we just plugged numbers into a computer program (spss). No math at all.

best of luck,

Jared

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