Introduction to Statistics Dilemma

wildmountainchild · Jul 18, 2006

I loved statistics. I don't know what difference taking it at a "graduate level" would be from taking it at a community college level. After all, it's only an Intro to Stats course.

It doesn't take a lot of time in the beginning as the concepts start out simple but it gets more time intensive as the semester drags along. I had hip surgery during statistics and I almost didn't make it through. I ended up pulling a B, but I'm usually an A student. I would seriously consider waiting until you feel better, or are more consistently healthy.

It wasn't too bad for me, but if you're a perfectionest and want the A, it may be a struggle. I had to settle for a B.

Good luck.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jul 18, 2006

Good luck. Just wanted to wish you well. Hope you get well soon. I know when my spouse took graduate level Statistics he hated it, but I can't answer for the time it took.

Good luck. :)

krisssy · Jul 18, 2006

I loved statistics. I don't know what difference taking it at a "graduate level" would be from taking it at a community college level. After all, it's only an Intro to Stats course.
It doesn't take a lot of time in the beginning as the concepts start out simple but it gets more time intensive as the semester drags along. I had hip surgery during statistics and I almost didn't make it through. I ended up pulling a B, but I'm usually an A student. I would seriously consider waiting until you feel better, or are more consistently healthy.
It wasn't too bad for me, but if you're a perfectionest and want the A, it may be a struggle. I had to settle for a B.
Good luck.

The grad course is exactly the same as the undergrad course at the same school. I, also, had surgery and will be busy with physical therapy. I am not in pain anymore. BUT I am not working. So I am wondering if people work and do it, maybe I can go to physical therapy and do it. I read this quote, and it made me want to do it.

"LIFE IS NOT EASY FOR ANY OF US. BUT WHAT OF THAT? WE MUST HAVE PERSEVERENCE AND ABOVE ALL CONFIDENCE IN OURSELVES. WE MUST BELIEVE THAT WE ARE GIFTED FOR SOMETHING AND THAT THIS THING MUST BE ATTAINED. - MARIE CURIE Emotionally, I feel great when involved in nursing even if it is statistics. Everyone complains about Theory, and I loved it, so who knows what I will think of statistics.

I may take it, do my best, and not care if I get a b. Do you need a good math background? The more you can tell me about what the course involves, the better it will help me to decide. The course description didn't tell me much. Thanks for caring. Krisssy

StaRNew · Jul 18, 2006

I took Graduate Research during the last semester of my BSN program and while I was working and planning a wedding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My strategy was starting to tackle the papers as soon as they were assigned instead of procrastinating which is my normal strategy. LOL. I believe that you can do it especially if you are doing the program part time. Just plan your days (and nights) well. Good Luck!!!

carachel2 · Jul 19, 2006

I am finishing my grad level Research and Stats class and found it to be not a big deal really as compared to say.......Advanced Pharm ! I was surprised to see there is a lot of focus on understanding the stats test and how to apply them (what level of data and what type of hypotheses) but hardly any focus on learning a gazillion formulas. I thought it was going to be daunting in that way but it was not.

Learning how to critique a research paper in depth (and concisely !) was the focus of our class. If you can get the syllabus ahead of time and start working through the steps of the critique (use your text as a guide here) then you will be WAY ahead of the game.

I found it very doable this summer. I work part-time and had a 6 year old at home with me all day.

antona · Jul 21, 2006

So sorry about your health. I hope everything works out. We'll have to stay in touch. I am starting the PNP program at Mizzou this fall. I elected to take the Statistics class the first semester. I'm very nervous about the whole thing. I'm going to be working full time and they say you can't do that while going to this program. Plus I've never taken an online course. I love your quote by Marie Curie. Sounds like my motto: you do what you gotta do. Good Luck!

krisssy · Jul 21, 2006

So sorry about your health. I hope everything works out. We'll have to stay in touch. I am starting the PNP program at Mizzou this fall. I elected to take the Statistics class the first semester. I'm very nervous about the whole thing. I'm going to be working full time and they say you can't do that while going to this program. Plus I've never taken an online course. I love your quote by Marie Curie. Sounds like my motto: you do what you gotta do. Good Luck![/QU
Hi Antona,
I took Theory last semester, and I loved it. We worked in groups, and it was so interesting almost like talking on All Nurses.com except you read something and then discuss it with your groups. The groups were organized according to your area of specialization. That was that course. I hope this course is like that too. Did you get your books? I am having trouble finding the course to order the books. I am going to order mine today to get a head start. I have heard that this course at MU is definitely doable, so don't worry. Yes, let's stay in touch. I will PM you my Mizzou email address, and my regular e-mail address. I did learn that if there is a paper at the end, start it at the beginning of the course! PM me your advisor. Mine is so nice. So far, I love this school. Talk to you soon. What does PNP stand for? I have been out of nursing for ages. I am taking the psychiatric NP program. I am feeling much better thanks. But I have to go to physical therapy almost daily, so time will be a factor with me too. Don't worry, we will do it. I also heard that the professors are very nice and understanding. My last one was great. Speak to you soon. Look at what Vicky just sent in videos-looks great!
Krisssy

VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN · Jul 21, 2006

If you have time to view these videos, wonderful resource for making statistics halfway comprehensible (click on the little video icons to the right of each of the 26 program descriptions):

http://www.learner.org/resources/series65.html?pop=yes&vodid=71066&pid=139#

krisssy · Jul 21, 2006

If you have time to view these videos, wonderful resource for making statistics halfway comprehensible (click on the little video icons to the right of each of the 26 program descriptions):
http://www.learner.org/resources/series65.html?pop=yes&vodid=71066&pid=139#

Oh Vicky this looks so great. Thank you. Should I do them before the course starts on Aug. 24th, or should I do them as my professor presents each of the topics to help me to understand it? Or should I do it both times? The course description is Introduction to Educational Statistics-I am taking it Graduate Level. Introduces statistical techniques employed in education, including descriptive statistics. correlation, simple regression and hypothesis testing. My only math background is Algebra 1 and 2 in highschool , and I did a refresher calculations book by myself about 2 years ago. (I couldn't believe I did it--that probably has nothing to do with this.) I also have a teaching background-that probably won't help either lol. Thank you so much for your help.

Krisssy

krisssy · Jul 21, 2006

I have signed up for the graduate statistics course for the fall semester. Thank you all for your encouragement. You have all been so insightful and helpful. I can't thank you enough. Whenever I think about going back to nursing, I feel so good physically and emotionally. I signed up just in time-thank goodness. Krisssy RN

antona · Jul 23, 2006

Thanks so much for the info on the classes. I haven't ordered my books yet. I'm going out of town on Wednesday for one week and didn't want them to come while I am gone. I guess I need to call and see how quickly they will come. I would like to order them now if they will take a while to get here. I'm not finding any books yet for that section of Stats either. I even called yesterday and they said they didn't have anything. I'm wondering if they even have a teacher yet.

I actually just ordered a computer, if you can believe that. I've always just felt it was easier to go to the library and use theirs. No repair bills or headaches that way. Plus no fighting over computer time with the kids. Hopefully the computer won't come in while I am gone! I can't say I'm really computer savy. I can navigate Word and the Net but beyond that I'm a dunce. I guess I'll learn quickly. My adviser said I should start practicing now sending things in. Kind of nervous about that but she says the college has practice areas and that its not too difficult.

PNP is Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. I'm actually taking three classes this semester and two the next. The sent me a parttime plan that has me actually part and full time. Scary. Are you just taking one class a semester?

Got to run!

Personal name of advisor edited out of post. Please do not include names in post.