Switching Careers - Have Questions

MidwifeWannaB · Nov 11, 2002

Hello starbar!

I start nursing school in the spring and am very scared, but extremely excited at the same time. This is a great site and the people here are really nice and helpful (as you've probably already noticed). I don't really have much to tell you in the way of helpful hints, because I'm not much farther along than you! All I can say is to work hard to do well in your prereqs and kick butt on your entrance test.

Good luck! Keep us posted on your progress!

:nurse:

l.rae · Nov 11, 2002

terrible in math, flunked HS algebra....long as they let me use a calculator....l got by with flying colors.....good luck..LR

Peeps Mcarthur · Nov 11, 2002

If you have a 4-year degree already, it will be easier than you think.

Pretzlgl · Nov 11, 2002

Bad at math!! (except for drug calcs of course). Got lucky though because my diploma program had no math in it!!! But if I ever go back and get that BSN, well....Buy a book on care planning, it will help immensely.

starbar · Nov 11, 2002

Thank you all very much for your responses. I look forward to the journey!!

-jt · Nov 11, 2002

I am dyslexic with numbers. I failed algebra from 9th grade to 11th grade. Then they gave up on me. I had to have 2 remeidal math classes in college before I could take nursing math. TIP: Take nursing math in the summer instead of a full semester - summer semester is a much shorter course - less time to have to deal with it. And I think instructors & classes then are more relaxed too. This semester, my daughter showed me her pre-calculus high school homework & asked me for help with it. I took one look & broke out into a sweat from anxiety. I have been an ICU RN for 20 yrs & still cant figure out the formula for calculating a dopamine drip - Desired Over Avilable with an X somewhere divide by something or multiply - I have no idea. I thank God for my Phillipina colleagues who dont even need a calculator for this stuff. I have some free time & could pick up a few per diem hours someplace but I am petrified of having to take the dosage calculation tests required to be hired. :)

I know my limitations & double check everything with co-workers who can read numbers.

Tonight I had to hang a labetalol drip. The order was for the usual 200mg in 160cc fld. The vials are 100mg in 20cc. So that gives me 40cc of med to add to the 160cc bag for a total of 200cc of fluid. So if there is 200mg of labetol in 200cc of fld, thats a 1:1 drip. (1cc=1mg). The order was for 2 mg/min. Since I know there are 60 minutes in an hour, I should not need a calculator to figure out how many ccs per hour to run it at, right? Well forget the calculator - cause I didnt even know where to start with it.

Its simple --- 2x60 --- but if I read an order & see numbers that have to be calculated I go blank. I just recognize that I have a mental block with them. So I first checked the PDR & our dosage charts, then asked a colleague to figure it out for me to double check the chart, & then I went upstairs to CCU to check their dosage charts just to be sure. (didnt have to do that but needed a break). Then I triple checked what I plugged in on the IV pumps computer & hit the start button.

How I got an A in Probability & Statistics - I took the class in the evening during a summer semester. Figured the instructor would be very relaxed about it since it would be after a long hot summer day & he probably didnt want to be there with either. I was right. He allowed us to write all the formulas with directions down on index cards & use them for every test. We didnt have to remember all the formulas - we just had to know how to use the calculator to work them out.

Good luck.

Peeps Mcarthur · Nov 11, 2002

I left my highschool general math teacher in tears and I missed an "A" in drug calc class by 4 frigging points:mad:

I find the structure of math rules to be very soothing to any anxiety I might have.

I think if you take a good look at something with a scary name like "DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS" you're bound to choke. All it really involves is fractions operations.

You're always multiplying them.

Still, my highschool math teacher passed me out of gen. math out of pity........for both of us!:imbar

AJACKT33Z, LVN · Nov 12, 2002

What I have learned in my life is that most math teachers don't SIMPLIFY the class by first not making statements such as "the next step everybody should know" or "well, the answer to this is rather obvious" or" there isn't anything hard about this, just stop and think" 8th grade algebra(flunked)--summer school remedial algebra(for d's & f's during reg school)--flunked--2 more yrs & 1 more summer: "C" take it from me, the nurse problems in math are not as hard as some of the word problems in algebra 1

AJACKT33Z, LVN · Nov 12, 2002

What I have learned in my life is that most math teachers don't SIMPLIFY the class by first not making statements such as "the next step everybody should know" or "well, the answer to this is rather obvious" or" there isn't anything hard about this, just stop and think" 8th grade algebra(flunked)--summer school remedial algebra(for d's & f's during reg school)--flunked--2 more yrs & 1 more summer: "C" take it from me, the nurse problems in math are not as hard as some of the word problems in algebra 1

RNsweetie · Nov 12, 2002

:) try not to sweat it, I too am bad at math, but the drug calc. is a simple formula that sticks, just reheorifice and reheorifice. and like -jt said double check and ask for help if it don't look right ( having good intructors helps) good luck:) PS. know your ML and MG etc.

colleen10 · Nov 12, 2002

In my family there is a "math deficient" gene on the second "X" chromosome. Meaning, all women in my family stink at math.

But, you know what, I have two aunts that somehow made it through nursing school and I am planning on starting clinicals next fall, so I think it can be overcome.

Take care and good luck and you should really come hang out in the Student Nursing section too.

Col