Hello, I'm 16 years old and my dream is to be a registered nurse with a specialty in either forensics, psychiatric, or women's health. Overall, I would say I have a high intelligence in every subject except for math, I may even go as far to say I have a learning disability when it comes to it. My weakness is so strong sometimes I have to use a calculator for simple division, multiplication, addition, or subtraction. At work I can take a 30 minute break starting at 4:43 and it can take me about three minutes to figure out when to get back. I almost failed Algebra 2 this year, I cannot remember my grade in Algebra 1 from last year, but it was very low. In my medical class I take as an elective, I am very good at it. I understand anatomy, biology, pathophysiology, infection control, patient care, etc extremely well, even better than all of my class, I may have the highest grade there with a 97%. Even in my basic high school classes I have A+ to B+ in all of my grades, nothing lower, except my Algebra 2 grade, which was a failing grade for 18 weeks, I passed for the year by two percent. My question is, can I still be a nurse while I am terrible at math? I am terrified to think my weakness could potentially end a life.
I struggled with math at your age too. I can honestly say there was an age for me when things just started to "click." Your knowledge and understanding has time to improve. Yes, you will use math as a nurse, but you have time to get better at it now. You know what you need to focus on.
I also still have trouble figuring out when to come back from lunch, and have to use a calculator for very simple math.
I got a math tutor, and managed to win a number of academic awards, and graduate at the top of my nursing class.
I'm coming up on my 25th year of being a nurse, and the only algebra I've ever needed to use is ratio and proportion.
When I had to take algebra for my pre-reqs, I took it in the summer, and took only that one class. I think it helped. I made it, and actually got an A in the class, but not without a few tears and melt-downs.
Purple_roses
1,763 Posts
I struggled with math at your age too. I can honestly say there was an age for me when things just started to "click." Your knowledge and understanding has time to improve. Yes, you will use math as a nurse, but you have time to get better at it now. You know what you need to focus on.