Student Nurse with dyscalculia

Nurses Disabilities

Published

Greetings to all of you,

I have dyscalculia...some people have dyslexia, problems with letters which makes reading difficult. I have the same problem with numbers. I have a severe difficulty with numbers, so it takes me longer than the average student figuring out and solving math word problems and doing calculations. Many times the process of solving the problem is correct, and having the answer right in front of me I switch the numbers in my head and do not see right answer in a multiple choice test. My last teacher just laugh on my face at me when she commented to me that the way I calculated the math problem was right, but I consistently picked the wrong answer in a multiple choice test. I put myself in college and took advance math such as calculus. I got good grades, but it took me a long time in understanding my problems. A PhD clinical psychologist tested me and diagnosed me with dyscalculia. I took advance math because I believe in practicing instead of staying away of my specific difficulty.

My disability has a direct effect in test taking skills. I have taken the NCLEX twice, and failed. However, when I was doing my nursing rotations I made sure that my dosage calculations were checked by someone else. In that environment I did not have any problems...it is during testing. I think this web site is useful for people who like me have particular challenges to overcome. feliz3

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Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..
Greetings to all of you,

I have dyscalculia...some people have dyslexia, problems with letters which makes reading difficult. I have the same problem with numbers.

Feliz, I never knew there was an actual term for it, I have been telling people I have "mathematical dyslexia", so thank you for giving me a word for it.

I'm sure for me it is not a dx, and I'm sorry you have this problem. Sounds like you are approaching it well, especially confronting it head on by taking advanced classes. The instructor who laughed at you - honestly, people who do that should not spit in glass houses, we ALL have our challenges!!!

What happens w/ me is when it comes to anything to do with math, even calculators/adding machines/doing in my head or on paper - I get very anxious and can't think. Have to have my work checked, or check it myself several times. I feel very stupid.

The funny ("odd") thing is that in report - I can be listening and understanding and writing - until the person reporting to me says a number, say "voided 200 cc, intake 850 cc". I have to immediately halt report and ask them to repeat the numbers and then say them back to them.

Ironically, I am taking some time off nursing and guess what I am doing for work? I am a cashier. So far, the store has not gone out of business, so I guess I am doing ok. :lol2:

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

[color=#0000cc]dyscalculia.org ~ math learning disability resource

dyscalculia.org is a global resource for math learning disability,dyscalculia, learning problems in mathematics, remediation, diagnostic testing...

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Feliz, I never knew there was an actual term for it, I have been telling people I have "mathematical dyslexia", so thank you for giving me a word for it.

I'm sure for me it is not a dx, and I'm sorry you have this problem. Sounds like you are approaching it well, especially confronting it head on by taking advanced classes. The instructor who laughed at you - honestly, people who do that should not spit in glass houses, we ALL have our challenges!!!

What happens w/ me is when it comes to anything to do with math, even calculators/adding machines/doing in my head or on paper - I get very anxious and can't think. Have to have my work checked, or check it myself several times. I feel very stupid.

The funny ("odd") thing is that in report - I can be listening and understanding and writing - until the person reporting to me says a number, say "voided 200 cc, intake 850 cc". I have to immediately halt report and ask them to repeat the numbers and then say them back to them.

Ironically, I am taking some time off nursing and guess what I am doing for work? I am a cashier. So far, the store has not gone out of business, so I guess I am doing ok. :lol2:

Dear friend,

Thank you so much for your comments which are very encouraging, and by the way, I loved you quote at the end of your message. Thank you. You are taking time of from nursing...you are entitled to a change of environment, but remember that patients are missing out in an excellent nurse for I am convinced that been aware of our disability makes us more careful. Ultimately that's what every hospital administrator' s dream: to have a staff composed of highly careful health care professionals. Thanks once more, feliz3

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[color=#0000cc]dyscalculia.org ~ math learning disability resource

dyscalculia.org is a global resource for math learning disability,dyscalculia, learning problems in mathematics, remediation, diagnostic testing...

thank you so much for this information!! i am so glad that i bumped into this particular website. i feel blessed ever since for this outpour of support is humbling. :yeah: feliz3

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