Do I have to be a MATH WIZARD?

Published

I am in the process of trying to get in to nursing school. I understand its really hard and requires a massive amount of studying and reading, which Im prepared to do! HOWEVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have never been a great math student, Ive always stuggled when it comes to math, and of course Im worried about this. I recently obtained my GED ,which I very proud of, It was not that hard....except when I got to the math portion.. It was by the grace of God that I passed the math portion. Ive been out of high school for over 20 yrs.. and Im really concerned about college math......So with all this being said """""" CAN PEOPLE REALLY REALLY LEARN COLLEGE MATH??"

Signed PLEZ tell me there is some hope. lolololololo:eek:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

No math wizardry required. Just a good working knowledge and understanding of BASIC math.

You will probably be taught different ways of writing equations (I never messed with dimensional analysis before NS) but it's all really just basic math in the end.

Keep an open mind, get a tutor when needed, remember the POINT of the question being posed so you don't get caught up in confusion when it could be a simple 'this plus this divided by this gives you the answer' type of question :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

It's arithmetic.

:)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I was out of school about 16 years when I went to college. I am also very math phobic. But...I had a goal and math was between me and that goal. So I had to take remedial math in college and then moved on...I struggled at times and it was difficult. I went to tutoring and he pointed out to me that I could do the work...I just did not know I could do the work AEB consistently getting the answers right. I was focusing on the struggle to get to the answers instead of the outcome. That was a great moment for me and from there I slowly gained confidence. Now...college algebra was hard...and I cried almost every day of class...in class...but I ended up with a B. Be honest with your instructor at the beginning...let them know you have trouble with math...do the work, do it again, do it again...you will get it. Now the nursing math is intimidating...but underneath it all it is very basic. I prefer the dimensional analysis method as it is less math itself and more a method of setting up a problem to reach a basic division problem at the end. I would suggest a basic Dimensional Analysis method text book for you...Clinical Calculations Made Easy, by Craig will start you with a basic math review, then slowly progresses and will teach you the method. It is great! Even if your school does not require it...get it and do the work. You will never regret it. Then if your school teaches the other way, you will just be all the more ahead of the game and your confidence in your math abilities will skyrocket! That is really half the battle...believing in yourself. You can do this...just prepare for it and understand that the end result is well worth it! I wish you the best. It's a crazy journey but very rewarding.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in EMS~ ALS.../...Bartending ~ Psych :).

Congrats on passing your GED:loveya:

You can prob. go to larger book store and get a book, on nursing calculations and teach yourself, before starting your college courses.

It really is relativly simple once you know the steps to follow.

You will also find there are a few different ways to do it, and you will need to find which one works best for you..

Good luck

J.Q.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you all for the positive encouragment ! this site is AWSOME !

Up Vote Up Vote ×

nursing math is basic math. you will do just fine.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

If being great at math was a requirement, i would have been up the creek, sans paddle.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER.

If you can divide, multiply and use COMMON SENSE then you will be just fine. (They even give you a freakin' calculator.) Math should be on the bottom of your list of concerns. Seriously. It won't be a big part of the curriculum.

Good luck! You'll do great.

:up:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, Subacute Rehab.

The math required is basic algebra - say, with Vancomycin oral elixir: I have a 25mg/ml elixir of Vanco. The required dose is 125mg. How many ml do you give?

So, 25x = 125. Divide both sides by the coefficient of x (25).... x = 5. Most people in the US learn this level of arithmetic in... sixth or seventh grade?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER.

SaraOhara gave you a great example. There are lots of ways to set problems up. Here is how I remember how to do that problem:

what I want (desired dose) / what i have (available quantity)

then answer to the above equation x (multiplied) by the number of mLs.

125/25 x (1 mL)= 5 mL

Easy shmeezy...see?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ED, ICU, Heme/Onc.

Just adding my voice to the chorus - but with an opposite spin. I'm a math nerd. Huge one. Chess team & everything. But word problems were never my forte, so it was pretty much like starting from the beginning and re-learning how to think.

Community colleges offer math refresher classes for credit or to audit, and you will have some math on the N.E.T (Nurse entrance test) - so I recommend a study guide so you will be able to tailor your preparation for the test according to your own needs.

Congrats on the G.E.D and welcome!

Blee

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion