Mathematically. challenged

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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Specializes in Not Sure.

Ok, my math skills really suck! When I started school I was placed in a LS math 97 class. It took me two attempts to finally pass w/a 'C' only to go to the next level of LS math 98. Which I flunked before just transferring to another school!

By the grace of God I took the Compass at another school and PASSED and was finally eligible to take college level math. Ofcourse I was thrilled to find that Math Modeling was an option instead of suffering thru College Algebra.

My question is how much of a factor is math in the Nursing field day to day???

Am I cheating myself by taking the 'easy route' or is it a necessity to take College Algebra?

My plan is to finish with my BSN work for a few years and go back for my MSN around mid 40's.

Elle

I have read on this website that at least college algebra helps. But I think as long as you know basic math as well as dosage calculations (etc.) you should be fine.

Specializes in Not Sure.

Ok I'll refresh that. I remember seeing those kinds of problems on a Kaplan test and it seemed kind of easy...

Elle

I would look into the programs you are taking. In my state, college algebra is required for a BSN....nothing less. I do understand about being challenged in math and I feel that way too. I would check into if your school has tutors and find some outside resources to help you. Good luck!

Specializes in Not Sure.
I would look into the programs you are taking. In my state college algebra is required for a BSN....nothing less. I do understand about being challenged in math and I feel that way too. I would check into if your school has tutors and find some outside resources to help you. Good luck![/quote']

I have Georgia State Univ req's Math Modeling or College Algebra. I chose Math Modeling.

Elle

I had a bad early math experience (bad teachers mostly, luckily I'd consider myself mathematically inclined even now) and I asked my nurse friends if I was doomed. I suggest getting a basic dosage calculations book, it's fairly easy stuff. Really basic algebra and conversions. I felt better after I read through mine.

This will help put your mind at ease:

Nursing math is pretty easy (at least in nursing school). I am at the end of third semester and so far it has been just formulas of basic addition, subtraction, multiplying, and dividing. You just can't take it lightly or make errors.

Specializes in Urgent Care NP, Emergency Nursing, Camp Nursing.

Since I did Calculus and Statistics to satisfy my math requirements, I have no idea what's in College Algebra.

However, the vast majority of nursing math involves material you should have mastered by the end of eighth grade at the very latest.

Also, if you manage to pass Gen Chem I, there's no reason you shouldn't be proficient with Dimensional Analysis.

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