Feel like such a failure..

[BanoraWhite]

Hi All,

Just need to vent, I guess.

I am doing a 2 year Division 2 nursing course in Australia. One of our classes is Medications. We have 3 theory tests we must get at least 65% on to pass, a clinical test where we show we can give out meds, and a med maths test. For the med maths test you must get 10/10 to pass.

Well I've never been good at maths, and despite doing med calcs over and over again for hours every day for weeks I failed my maths test (8 out of 10).

I have talked to my teacher and I'm now being held back, can't do my next two clincal placements, can't graduate with all my friends. Not only that but some girls in my class have been laughing at me , telling me I shouldnt graduate at all because I'm so incompetant. Now whenever I make a little mistake, they even roll their eyes at me and nudge each other.

I feel like such a failure...The teacher told me she is very sorry since I am excelling at all my other subjects ( I don't wish to brag but I have passed most subjects with a High Distinction..Im not fantastically clever, I just study hard).

I am begining to feel like maybe I shouldn't be a nurse...I mean who wants a nurse who fails...?

I just feel so dumb and left out as everyone is making graduation plans and I can't

Thanks for reading this post. Just needed to put my feelings to paper (well, computer).

[jlbic]

You ARE NOT a failure. Math may not be your best subject, however, it is crucial to know enough math to pass the right dose of a medication. But it's not hard math. It could be you have bad test anxiety and aren't thinking clearly when doing these calculations on a test. I would suggest talking with your instructor and figuring out where you are going wrong with these calculations. Don't let that be your reason for quitting.

And on another note, screw your catty nursing school classmates! Isn't it awful how others get off on peoples mistakes and test failures? In reality, they are probably not excelling in other areas as you are and are relieved for their own selfish reasons that you didn't do well on something.

It will be ok. Just figure out where you went wrong on the math.

[Aberdeen]

Don’t feel like a failure, because you are not. You yourself and your instructor said you were excelling in your other classes. You have just hit an obstacle and obstacles are meant to be surmounted. As far as your classmates go, try not to let them bother you. I know that is easier said than done, but I have come to learn in my years that people like this have an infinite amount of insecurity and they need to belittle others to make themselves feel important. Who knows, maybe their mommy didn’t hug them enough as a child. You can do it, don’t give up!

[afox]

It really sucks that you are failing on the bright side, by failing does that mean you will get away from the evil rude woman?

[BanoraWhite]

Thanks again everyone :)

I have stuck it in my head that yes, I'm darn well going to keep going and I WILL pass !

I feel so much better. I just have to keep trying.

And yes...I am soooo glad that by joining another math class I can get away from the nasty woman That will be bliss.

[racquetmom]

that sucks elisheval

i had one of the women in my class laugh out loud when i failed, and then went around to the other girls saying she was happy i didn't pass and hopes i never pass. i expected more from someone of her age. she is also the one who rolls her eyes at me constantly, and points out all my mistakes to the teacher. i made the mistake of adding her on facebook early on in the year when everyone was friendly with each other and since then i have had to block her as shes even been sending me horrible messages.

sending mean messages should be reported imo. that is unbelievable behavior and they are going to take care of patients. so, the patient doesn't understand how to take the meds they are going home with and your co-student is going to roll eyes, point and laugh. seriously, where is the team work anymore.

[BanoraWhite]

Hi everyone...just thought I would follow up this thread by saying I sat my maths test again and got 10/10 !

I passed !

Thanks everyone who took the time to read this thread and reply. The support meant alot.

:heartbeat

[RNTutor, BSN, RN]

Yay!! Congrats!

[JBudd, MSN]

:hug::bdyhdclp::grad:

Good for you!

[decembergrad2011, BSN, RN]

I have some unkind things to speak about your classmates, so I'll hold my tongue.

I'm so proud of you for passing and sticking with it. We need to get away from the competitive side of nursing and go back to teamwork. When you're out on the floor, nobody gives a crap if you didn't pass med math on the first try. They're going to care about if you're willing to bring them another saline flush into a patient isolation room because they had to start a new IV.

[totallackofsurprise]

Hi JBudd.

In my academic career, starting from a very young age, I despised math. I hated it from the 3rd grade onward. I would not understand it in school. I would come home, and my mother would help me with my homework. The techniques she used were old fashioned, but simpler and worked for me. I would get the right answers. I would go back to school, and the teacher would mark my answers wrong even though my answers were CORRECT, just because I didn't use the proper "technique" to arrive at the right answer.

So you can imagine how intimidated I was by medication math! I was terrified.

Fortunately, the instructor was a great math teacher. He explained that med math is not really "math" (where math = algebra, geometry, calculus, etc.). He explained that med math is ARITHMETIC. You only need to know how to add, subtract, multiply, and divide.

That was a relief! I knew I could do ARITHMETIC. I knew I could add/subtract/multiple/divide.

And the technique we learned was dimensional analysis. This is a fantastic technique. It takes all the guesswork out. To be absolutely certain your answer is correct, all you need is a calculator!

If you have further questions, I can explain in more detail... but previous posters did, so hopefully that made sense.

[ohj11]

Med cal is not hard but when it comes to exam that happens

you make mistake! it doesn't mean that you don't know it! exam makes you nervous!

and your colleague shouldn't say you are not competent!

thats awful! i reset drug cal 2time because i made silly mistake under pressure!!!!

its ridiculous how they didnt give you any chance!

iam schooling in auckland NZ we get to reset 3times and after that

lecturer will sit with you and do it until they are happy to let you go!

OMG..... I should love my school;;; Go Unitec;;;

I am sure you can do it!!! stick it to format! and practice it!!!

Dont you worry!!!!! you will get there!! ask lecturer for another chace if you can!!!!!!

[JBudd, MSN]

Hi JBudd.

If you have further questions, I can explain in more detail... but previous posters did, so hopefully that made sense.

I think you have confused my post with someone else. Umm, I am a math instructor who teaches dimensional analysis.