Do I have the intelligent capability of becoming a nurse?

[Morganward5]

I must study at least 26 hours a week just for anatomy and physiology 1. That book NEVER leaves my side. I read, re-read, watch you tube videos, write down online lectures, and I just don't understand it. What I do understand, I forget when I review. I've made one 68 and the rest low C's. I've been in and out of college for about three years; I have never struggled with a course as much as I have this. I'm also taking three other courses in which my grades are gradually decreases, I spend most of my time on A&P, and I start Phlebotomy classes at night so I can work in health care while working towards becoming a nurse. In the summer, I'm starting CNA also because I hear it's very challenging to find a job as a phlebotomist as a back-up plan. I'm starting too feel like I am not smart enough to be a nurse. I put so much into this class and so many students are failing and dropping. My instructor expects us to learn on our own and doesn't teach: he's a 83 year old man. I also didn't graduate high school which plays a role in my weak educational background in science, and I guess I should add I use to be a heavy drug user meth, cocaine, weed, ecstasy for most of my teenage years which greatly affects my cognitive skills. Please give me any advice. I've become obsessed and need some answers.

NOTE: My teacher has given us a just a week to study for 5 chapters, 132 pages of material. It's towards the end of the semester and were moving quite fast.

[Morganward5]

Lol, wait until nursing school where you have a week to go over 25 chapters.

Seriously, though, it's not the material you have to cover. It's how you cover it. Like everyone above said, you need to maybe refocus on what your learning style is -- maybe the book just doesn't have it.

As for your prof, if other students are having problems, why not complain to the department? I had a tough instructor but he was fair and that's more likely what everyone needs and, at 83, maybe he should mosey on down that dusty road....*edit* it appears indeed he is moving on so maybe you can audit the class or just start over.

Also, is it possible to take these classes somewhere else? Changing out professors may take longer than you have left for the remainder of the course you're in so just cut your loses and start over somewhere new.

Since you state you're having cognitive difficulties, have you considered getting tested for what these issues are? Your school should have resources that can direct you down the right path to finding means of overcoming your unique obstacles.

Good luck! I can tell you want this but you just need to find a way to prove to yourself that you CAN do it!

Very good advice and well written. Thank you

[andrew522]

Sorry to be the one to focus on reality here, but your drug history is going to probably make it extremely difficult for you to find a job in nursing even if you graduate and pass the NYCLEX. Go back to management and save yourself alot of rejection and heartbreak.

[THELIVINGWORST, ASN, RN]

Sorry to be the one to focus on reality here but your drug history is going to probably make it extremely difficult for you to find a job in nursing even if you graduate and pass the NYCLEX. Go back to management and save yourself alot of rejection and heartbreak.[/quote']

Wow. There are many avenues for success. Giving up before you try isn't one of them.

[Brilton]

I agree with SlinkyheadRN, don't give up before you try! Not that it sounds like you are but don't even worry about your past until you have to worry about it :)

Also, a good foundation in A&P will make your nursing classes so much easier! I feel like a lot of my classmates are having issues because they don't even understand A&P and now they are being asked to elaborate on it. So, if you don't feel like you've learned a lot, please don't get rid of that textbook. Keep brushing up on it, skim through, read a little bit here and there over the summer to reinforce it :) Taking a Medical Terminology course may help, too, if you aren't super familiar already.

A big part of nursing school is teaching yourself, unfortunately. A lot of people don't realize that going in and that is why they are so stressed. I have 6 hours of Med-Surg lecture a week and we zoom through the material. The lectures are an outline for the hundreds of overwhelming (and most times boring) pages of reading

I'm also finding what works for one course doesn't work for another. I've never had problems reading the textbook and learning but that is not working for my pharmacology course...I'm learning to be flexible in my learning style.

Good luck!

[andrew522]

Wow. There are many avenues for success. Giving up before you try isn't one of them.

In my opinion her avenues of success are not in nursing because of the serious drug history. Today it's very difficult to hide something like that. Background checks can access this information. If she wants to know what her future will be in nursing she should meet with her nursing school adviser.

[lovemyjoblandd]

Morgan, i think you could offer a lot to many patients. I will not sit here and tell you that you that nursing school isnt about academia, because it is- almost exclusively. And 5 chapters in a week is nothing compared to the pace you will be expected to keep in nursing school. But nursing is so much more than "book smarts" and i know very little nurses that give a damn about what the proper name is for all the skeletal condyles. Unfortunately it's part of the beast to get to where you want to be. Instead of trying to memorize and study for tests, focus more on really comprehending the material. For instance, instead of just memorizing the passage of blood through the heart try to see what each step does and why. I find memorizing words does me good on a test, but little good practically. Critical thinking and analyzing what im reading gets me much further. Good luck.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

In my opinion her avenues of success are not in nursing because of the serious drug history. Today it's very difficult to hide something like that. Background checks can access this information. ****If she wants to know what her future will be in nursing she should meet with her nursing school adviser.

I do agree with this, to a point.

Like I stated to the OP, the first place is to meet with someone, as well as make themselves more anonymous on this website for their protection-as well as check out the Recovery section to understand the risks of admitting that they have even a reformed drug problem, and the challenges and the REALITY of being in a monitored program.

Forewarned is forearmed...

[THELIVINGWORST, ASN, RN]

I do agree with this to a point. Like I stated to the OP, the first place is to meet with someone, as well as make themselves more anonymous on this website for their protection-as well as check out the Recovery section to understand the risks of admitting that they have even a reformed drug problem, and the challenges and the REALITY of being in a monitored program. Forewarned is forearmed...[/quote']

I agree with this. But telling someone not to even try just because it's going to be difficult is not our place. My advice is to do your research and contact your BON before you put any more time and money into this.

[DosmoRN]

Determination is what will get you through! Yes, ask classmates about specific things that you really have trouble understanding. Sometimes they can explain things in a simpler fashion that turns on your "ah ha" light. Look for classmates that are serious about study. "Hanging out" won't teach you anything.

Try making up silly sentences that are easy to remember, using the first letter of each word to remind you of a term you have to remember (like the bones in the body). This can be like a game if you do it with somebody else! You can quiz each other. Remember. the professor can present information, but really learning what he presents is something YOU must do.. And I believe you can do it! It sounds like others are having trouble with this A&P course, too. So don't blame it all on your "IQ". It doesn't hurt to maybe have a little chat with the prof. after class sometime, not to criticize his teaching, but to ask him for suggestions on how you can do better. Don't hold his age against him. An 83 y/o man may actually be more understanding and helpful than some young guy who just wants to impress you with how smart he is.

Also, don't try to do too many things at one time. The CNA in the summer and phlebotomy class sound like they may increase your confidence (and even increase your knowledge of A&P). But not doing well in any one class does not mean all is lost. I had to take Chemistry twice. I did much better the second time. And after I got my RN, it didn't matter one way or another. I learned, and that's what counted! You are to be commended for taking on school again after the difficulties you've had. If you just stick with it, I think you will be fine. I wish you the best of luck!

[PVCCHoo]

This may make me seem like a jerk, but there is a reason the A&P series is a pre-req for nursing school. It is meant as a weed out class to cull the herd.

My class had about a 50% fail rate. That means half the people in the class were not cut out for this career choice. After the first test, about a third of the students probably dropped.

But, if you can at least get a C and then focus on getting A's in your other pre-reqs, you can still get in somewhere, but it's gonna be a long road.

re: the drug history. Follow the advice from others, make yourself anonymous on here and keep that to yourself. Unless you have a criminal record, that history will not show up on background checks - you are not attempting to be an FBI agent here. However, if you do have convictions, find out from your state BON of they will prevent you from licensure.

[andrew522]

I agree but nurses have to be trusted with giving meds including opiates, so keeping her history silent is morally wrong. I applaud her honesty. I hope she speaks to her BON to get the correct advice before she goes much further in her education.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

I agree but nurses have to be trusted with giving meds including opiates, so keeping her history silent is morally wrong. I applaud her honesty. I hope she speaks to her BON to get the correct advice before she goes much further in her education.

Just FYI, OP is a male. :)