Future RN with LD in math

[Louisepug]

Hi everyone. I have a heavy issue thats been weighing on my mind lately. See, I am getting ready to start my nursing prereq's in the fall and CNA school (a and p and a basic math course refresher.) I hope to enter nursing school in 2005, but want to get my prereqs done first so I can grasp those scientific concepts (pharm math, phisio. chem etc.). My question is, first and foremost, what do you all think of people labled "learning disabled", and have any of you nuses out there been diagnosed with having a learning disibility in math or know any nurses who have? When I was a child, I performed below average in my math skills but above average in reading and writing. I had all this testing done and it was determined that I had a "math learning disability:o ." Of course when you tell a child that, they don't understand so I grew up with a pretty low self concept feeling that I'd never be able to do math and therefore up to this point in my life (20's) have pretty much avoided anything (career wise) that has to do with math. Well, once I had the calling to be a nurse, I knew that I'd have to face my fear about learning and grasping math if I wanted to be a good, competent nurse. I guess my question is, do you think that having this "learning disibility" in math will hold me back from being able to be a nurse. I would just be so miserable if I was not able to "get it" as I feel that wanting to be a nurse is aching in my bones! Are there any tips that you have for doing dosage calcs in your head or does it just come with practice and time? Tips on preparing to use math in the field? How often would you say you use math on a daily basis as an RN and in what major forms? I guess I'm just scared and worried. I don't want to fail, and I feel like I need some support. I have learned that this is the place to come for that:D ! Thanks as always! Louisepug

[Batman24]

Most people that have trouble in math often suffer from math test anxiety. I did. I knew the work inside and out but got nervous when tests started until I was able to learn to deal with my anxiety. I did great on the NLN because once you calm down it becomes so much easier. Being prepared, chewing gum. good breakfast, etc. all help. If you can grasp other subjects then math could be a little difficult for you to grasp and you probably have test anxiety due to it, but I doubt you are "math disabled." That's sounds like a cop out on the school's behalf. Find out exactly what you school requires before getting worked up. You can do it.

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

I am horrible with math, but I got an A in Medical Dosages. I prepared heavily by purchasing the book two semesters early, practicing the examples, and I took a remedial class on the side in basic math at another college. It was not as bad as I thought it would be, and I made sure that I practiced 20 math questions a day while preparing for the boards. I believe in trying to prepare early for things that look difficult or bring me fear. Good luck!

[Batman24]

I am horrible with math, but I got an A in Medical Dosages. I prepared heavily by purchasing the book two semesters early, practicing the examples, and I took a remedial class on the side in basic math at another college. It was not as bad as I thought it would be, and I made sure that I practiced 20 math questions a day while preparing for the boards. I believe in trying to prepare early for things that look difficult or bring me fear. Good luck!

I did the same thing while preparing for my entrance test. I'd been out of school for a long time and bought several books and practiced and practiced. The more you do it the easier it becomes.

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

One of the points that my remedial instructor taught me that stands out is that many people have not gone to their highest learning potential because of their fears in math. It holds people back more than reading. I found this to be true, and wanted to overcome this to become a nurse.

When I planned to enter into a community college, I went to one to take remedial math, which allowed me to take the entrance exam that would make me eligible to attend any of the community colleges within the area. This exam was to be administered in 40 minutes, and if we got 25 out of 40 correct, we would be able to enter the college. I missed it by two points. I was too embarassed to re-enter the same program with the same instructor, so, I went to another nearby community college that offered the course in two weeks. This instructor was phenomenal. He showed us each of the examples that would probably be on the exam, and because he knew of the math fear, he arranged that we take the exam in his classroom rather than the test site to reduce our anxiety; and in addition he would allow us to take the entire 2 hours to take the same exam that most students would have to take in 40 minutes. He went over everything painstakingly slow so that we would comprehend. There was one particular guy that was really having a hard time with the algebra, and the instructor told him (and all of us) not to give up. He started asking us individually what our goals were (there were about 12 students in the classroom). He informed us that it was best to take that exam then, because soon, they would be changing the format to make the test more difficult, and once we passed, even if we waited to enroll into one of the community colleges, that this score would remain there forever, so we would never have to take that exam again.

The week before the exam, he told us to practice, practice, practice (which I did), and he encouraged the guy in question to come for the test. On the day of the exam, he waited for 1/2 hour for the frustrated guy who was afraid of algebra, and he never came. The instructor cursed outloud and said "I WISH he had come". Anyway, what he did was walk around to see our answers, and he would tell us to think again. He kept coming to me in particular and made sure that I went as far as I could with the exam, even over the 25 correct answers that I achieved on my own. When it iwas over, he told me " Another nurse to be on her way" and hugged me. I discovered that I got 37 out of the 40 correct.

Two years later, my job offered employees a chance to have a full time leave with pay to become either LPNs or RNs, those chosen would be able to attend a community college. I got accepted, went through the application process and they pulled up my score on the computer. The advisor told me that with my score, I would not have to take any remedial classes, I would go straight to my major. She said if I had only gotten 25-30 correct, I would have been accepted into college, but I would have to start with beginner's math with the fractions, decimals, etc, and THEN go for the algebra class (which was much deeper than what I could have handled). This would have held me back for two semesters! To this day, I think of that man fondly...as far as I am concerned, he made me a nurse.

Later, as it got closer to me taking medical dosages, I knew it was beginner's math, and since I had a fear of it, I purchased the text early, and went back to the community college I took that first class while I was taking light classes (I think abnormal psych), and met another phenomenal man, the one that said that many have not gone to their real earning potential because of the fear of math. This man brought tears to my eyes, because not only did he go over my textbook with me privately, he also gave me permission to come and attend his algebra class for free after I graduated from nursing school. I was not able to take advantage of that offer to date, but this man still calls me every now and then to see how I am doing and to offer advice.

I still have fears of math, but I fought the good fight, know that I overcame my fear just enough to achieve my goal of becoming a nurse.

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

I did the same thing while preparing for my entrance test. I'd been out of school for a long time and bought several books and practiced and practiced. The more you do it the easier it becomes.

I remember purchasing a GED book to study math before entering college, and using computer CD ROMS from textbooks to practice. Like you, I had been out of school for many years and found myself revisiting weak areas that I avoided. You are right, the more you practice, the easier it becomes. My problem now is that I have not practiced enough when it was over. I don't use much math, now that I am a nurse, outside of insanely simple calculations, and that may have happened twice. If I were working in peds, I would encounter it more. I am actually thinking about practicing again every now and then, in case I wish to apply for a job...many times, they give calculations in addition to pharmacology questions to applicants. Can't be caught off-guard. And, I will take an algebra class just for the heck of it.