Can I do it?

GrnHonu99, RN · May 8, 2005

I have been looking into nursing schools finally- after a few years of thinking I just couldn't do it. I graduated high school in 1999- travelled for awhile, then worked as a preschool teacher until my son was born this past october. Now that I have had time to think about what I want to do, I know nursing is it. I am worried though, I never did well in school, and was horrible at math (still am) and I just don't know what to do to prepare myself for school. I guess my big problem is that I am feeling down because I had such a hard time in school before and it is terrifying to think that if I got in I couldn't keep up.
Did anyone else have trouble with math? I know drug calculations are a big part of what I will learn and very important and I can't bear the thought of not being able to do what I want just because I am horrible with numbers. BTW~ when I say bad, I mean really really bad~ I barely passed math in high school.(granted- I wasn't trying as hard as I 'could' have)
Am I getting too worried about it all? I have just heard that nursing school is so hard and since I have never done well, I feel almost defeated already. Help! Any encouragement would be great..

HI!!

Just wanted to throw my 2cents in...nursing school isnt easy by any means BUT I truly belive that if you want something bad enough you can do anything! I know it sounds corny but i've always found it to be true...maybe you didnt so well in math in hs bc you couldnt see the real value in it..i find that its a lot easier for me to study and learn my "nursing stuff" (lol for lack of a better term) bc I see how I am going to use it and Im actually interested in it, i want to learn it! I want to be a nurse more than anything so i dont mind spending every waking minute studying! So anyway, the moral of this story is...you wont know until you try! It can't hurt to try, you may even be surprised and find out that you are more on top of it than you thought!!! Besides colleges these days are much better equipped to help and tutor students! Every college i've been to (umm about 4 now, 2 for my BA, one for some gen nursing pre reqs and my MN school) there have been many programs designed to help students, ie tutoring centers, writing centers, math tutoring centers, all kinds of stuff....also most schools will test you upon acceptance to the program to know where you stand in subjects such as math, writing, typing, etc..that way they can put you into the appropriate class, so if you really do score low on the math entrance test chances are they will place you in a class at your level, that way you can learn and become competant in that area!:) At the community college where i'm taking some prereqs they have math classes that start with basic math and go up from there so dont be discouraged!!!!

bobswife · May 8, 2005

I was so in your shoes, just last year! I have been "math-phobic" my entire life. I thought that I couldn't become a nurse because I wasn't math efficient enough to get through the schooling, much less the job!

Instead, I spent last summer teaching myself math from the ground up. As it turns out, I am NOT terrible at math- I just didn't have the foundations that I needed to succeed. I borrowed every math book I could find at the local library (general mathskills to SAT workbooks) and spent hours everyday practicing. I got 100% total in my first Algebra course. Yahoo! My next math class will be Trig and Calc... I can't believe it!

If you are struggling because of other issues, learning disabilities, etc., you may want to check out what type of help is available at your local community college. There are so many forms of help available!

Anyway, hope this gives you inspiration! Good luck!

Carrie

miranda819, BSN · May 9, 2005

I am right with you! I just finished up my very first college semester. I graduated high school in 1993. I married and started a family. Now that my youngest is getting ready for preschool, I figured it was time for me to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. While my mother was hospitalized, I had a sudden realization that nursing was the place for me. I too struggle with math and thought that maybe the math would hold me back. But, I'm doing my best to deal with my math fear. In fact, I have my first math class at the end of this month. I plan on taking advantage of the free tutering offered by my school. And it doesn't hurt that my dear husband is great in math! Gotta use any and all help you can get your hands on! To boost my confidence, I think I'm going to brush up on some basic math skills. It can't hurt!

Good luck with your schooling. It can be done. I'm going to make it happen, and you can too. Just take one step at a time, and don't be afraid to ask for help. Keep your eye on the prize.....and you and I will be nurses before we know it!

Miranda

reipie · May 9, 2005

I have been looking into nursing schools finally- after a few years of thinking I just couldn't do it. I graduated high school in 1999- travelled for awhile, then worked as a preschool teacher until my son was born this past october. Now that I have had time to think about what I want to do, I know nursing is it. I am worried though, I never did well in school, and was horrible at math (still am) and I just don't know what to do to prepare myself for school. I guess my big problem is that I am feeling down because I had such a hard time in school before and it is terrifying to think that if I got in I couldn't keep up.
Did anyone else have trouble with math? I know drug calculations are a big part of what I will learn and very important and I can't bear the thought of not being able to do what I want just because I am horrible with numbers. BTW~ when I say bad, I mean really really bad~ I barely passed math in high school.(granted- I wasn't trying as hard as I 'could' have)
Am I getting too worried about it all? I have just heard that nursing school is so hard and since I have never done well, I feel almost defeated already. Help! Any encouragement would be great..

OK, at the risk of looking like an idiot, I am going to put myself out there and tell you exactly how bad I was in math LOL. Before starting this semester, which is my first of many pre-nursing semesters, I was so bad in math that I couldn't help my 4th grade son do his math homework. YES THAT BAD!

Fast forward to today, I am taking my math class final tomorrow and I have gotten an A on every single test! I can now do math! It took the right teacher and my own motivation and willingness to learn to do it but I did! I did so poorly in high school in math that I thought I was stupid well guess what, I actually like math now and realized that in high school, I didn't care or try.

I also am taking my Biology final today and have gotten an A on every test. Coming from me thats alot. I didnt do well in school although I was tested mentally gifted. That just goes to show I didnt try like I COULD HAVE.

You can do it! If I can, anyone can!!

Tweety, BSN, RN · May 9, 2005

Don't judge yourself by your highschool performances. With a desire to be a nurse, and a little determination you can. Nursing math really is quite simple, but you have to know Algerbra, so if you haven't taken it in high school, you will for nursing. But there are usually tutors available.

You're a completely different person now, with a purpose and a goal. You can do this.

Many people who "aren't good in math" make it through nursing school with flying colors and you will too.

Best wishes.

Cherry2 · May 9, 2005

Thanks so much for your stories everyone- they were very encouraging and I feel a lot better. It is nice to hear that I'm not the only one. I am so glad all of you are doing well! I hope that in a few months I can say the same..