Math stinks!!! (LONG)

BGSUstudent · Apr 29, 2004

I agree that math sucks. We had to take an intro to stat also. In nursing as long as you learn a couple formulas and can add and subtract you will be fine. Plus when you are questioning a drug calculation you can always call the hospital pharmasis. (Sorry can't spell)

jenrninmi, MSN, RN · Apr 29, 2004

Hi, I agree, I'm not much of a math person, but studied hard and did very well in my college math classes. We had to take Statistics for my school, (I actually took Statistics, and then Advanced Statistics - I LOVE Stats!), and college Algebra which I took long ago. You'll get through it!

RNSuzq1, RN · Apr 29, 2004

Hello all - Now mind you I could have taken any math class and I choose to retake Algebra (I thought maybe after 13 years it would be easier). While I have passed every test - it looks like I will be getting a C+ again (400 bucks down the drain :angryfire ).
First off, what math did everyone have to take? Secondly, those who have taken Intro to Statistics - how hard is it? Lastly, do you think my inability to grasp math will hurt my chances of being an excellent nurse?
I am so upset over this. Sorry for the long rant. Tracy

Hi Tracy,

Re: Math - my very best advice to you is "find a great tutor", it will make all the difference in the World. When I took Algebra in school years ago it was just a class to suffer through, get a passing grade (and never see it again).. :uhoh3: In High School we used to joke around saying "who on earth would ever actually need this stuff in real life". Well - turns out it's pretty important stuff - especially in the Medical Field. Gee, who knew??

My college Son is great at Math - taking statistics, calculus, physics, etc. and tutored me for almost 2 months before I challenged my schools Algebra Exam (instead of taking the course). I hated algebra, was dreading doing this again and the first night we opened the book and I saw all those algebraic equations I was ready to hang it up right there (it was like a foreign language I didn't want to speak).. :chuckle

Unlike my former teachers - he broke it all down, simplified it, made it very interesting, challenging, etc. and I actually started enjoying working out all the problems with him everynight. If I had tried to just study on my own or even been in a large class being lectured to I never would have "gotten it". If you find someone who can break it all down for you - trust me - you will finally be able to "grasp Math" and do really well. My Son is only 19, but because he loves it, he was able to help me make sense of it all. One night I jumped up and said - I finally GET IT!!! I was only required to place into the intermediate algebra class for the Nursing Program - I ended up placing into the statistics/calc. class. No way could I have done that without his help - he got a Big Kiss for that.. :kiss If you're in NC I'll loan him out to you.. :rotfl: If not - ask the school to set you up with a tutor and you'll do Great.. Good Luck to You. Susan

Energizer Bunny · Apr 29, 2004

I am not good at math either. The course I had to take was sort of an intro. to Statistics, though it wasn't called that. Dh looked at the text and said it was very much like Statistics. I actually found it a bit easier than Algebra. It is a different type of thinking, I think. You may actually do okay and if all else fails, find a tutor. My husband was a great one!

studentrn621 · Apr 29, 2004

hi tracy,
re: math - my very best advice to you is "find a great tutor", it will make all the difference in the world. when i took algebra in school years ago it was just a class to suffer through, get a passing grade (and never see it again).. in high school we used to joke around saying "who on earth would ever actually need this stuff in real life". well - turns out it's pretty important stuff - especially in the medical field. gee, who knew??
my college son is great at math - taking statistics, calculus, physics, etc. and tutored me for almost 2 months before i challenged my schools algebra exam (instead of taking the course). i hated algebra, was dreading doing this again and the first night we opened the book and i saw all those algebraic equations i was ready to hang it up right there (it was like a foreign language i didn't want to speak).. :chuckle
unlike my former teachers - he broke it all down, simplified it, made it very interesting, challenging, etc. and i actually started enjoying working out all the problems with him everynight. if i had tried to just study on my own or even been in a large class being lectured to i never would have "gotten it". if you find someone who can break it all down for you - trust me - you will finally be able to "grasp math" and do really well. my son is only 19, but because he loves it, he was able to help me make sense of it all. one night i jumped up and said - i finally get it!!! i was only required to place into the intermediate algebra class for the nursing program - i ended up placing into the statistics/calc. class. no way could i have done that without his help - he got a big kiss for that.. :kiss if you're in nc i'll loan him out to you.. :rotfl: if not - ask the school to set you up with a tutor and you'll do great.. good luck to you. susan

i can relate to this one. i hated math. when i took my year of math i carried the text book around everywhere i went. i came to a point in the course where i was completely loss. i got so frustrated i went to the instructor and said "dr. so so i just don't get it" he worked a problem out for me step by step. i was shocked. i thought why didn't you just say that in class :angryfire. it really cleared things up. so i practiced and practiced. it was the hardest b i ever made. i wish that math instructors would explain everything while you are in class. the teacher i had just assumed everyone knew. my stat teacher was the sweetest instructor i ever had. he was always available. i did fine. anyway, stick with it. ask questions from the beginning. remember if you can add, subtract, multiply, and divide you can do algebra. good luck!

FutureNurse2005 · Apr 29, 2004

I hate math as well! I have to get at least an 85% or I have to retake it again! I am taking a senior math right now, and I decided to get a tutor which is the best thing I could have done! My midterm mark is an 88% and I am getting more confident with each lesson! I should add that I am doing my math my distance ed, so I dont have the luxury of asking teachers or students for help! Its tough!

You can do it! Its a lot of work, but if you can stay focused and stay determined, you will do just fine!

Good luck!

RedSox33RN · Apr 29, 2004

I absolutely STINK at math - always have. It took me two years to get through an individualized Algebra 1 class in HS. I just did NOT get it, no matter who explained it.

I knew I needed 3 credits of Math, in the "120" range or higher. We had an interesting looking Math class for all health related fields, called Math For Allied Health. There was a lot of Algebra, some statistics, and a LOT of dosage calculations. I could have taken it as a regular course, but instead to it as a hybrid - mostly online, but with 3 class meetings - one at the beginning, and two for midterm/final.

I amazed myself with what I could learn ON MY OWN. I used the instructor when I got really stuck, but the books came with CD's and site's for dummies like myself. I watched the stuff over and over and over. I made notes and studied my behind off. I did the pre-test stuff a million times before I took the test. I told myself I would NOT take the online tests until I got above 95% on the online pre-tests (which we could take as often as we wanted).

I was shocked with the results. I COULD learn this stuff. I ended up having the highest GPA in the class (3.96), and also had to deal with the sudden death of my mother during the class. I had to take almost 2 weeks off to fly to Cincinnati and deal with her affairs and company, and didn't study at all during that time. Plus I was hospitalized during December during the final exam, and had to make it up. At that time, my prof. told me how proud he was of me, and was I going to take any further math classes? I was stunned. I told him I actually STUNK at math - then he was the one who was stunned! LOL I finished the final in 50 minutes, and he told me everyone else had taken the full 2 1/2 hours. I even double-checked my answers. I got one wrong. On the midterm I had received 100 - the only one in the class. In fact, after dealing with all the pain of my mom's death and being hospitalized, I had a 98 overall, and the next highest grade was a 84. I felt great.

I should also say (gotten a *little* off track here! LOL) that I took the class with a relatively easy one - a PC applications course required of all degree programs. Since I'm computer-fluent, and I didn't want to challenge because it wouldn't count toward my GPA, I took the PC class, knowing I'd be able to devote 95% of my time to studying my math class.

If you really need to take another one, take the lowest level one that will transfer, and try to take it as a single course (if you can), or with a relatively easy one. Use the resources available - peer-to-peer counseling is great, because it is students that are helping you, and I think they tend to understand your frustrations and what you may need help with more than the prof's do.

There are lots of website than can help also. Do a Google search and it will bring up tons of them. I found some of those explained concepts better than any book or CD did. You just have to find out how YOU learn the stuff best - just like any other subject. Math can be very difficult for some people, especially when you have not done well in the past, you may go in thinking you just can't do it. You can. Have faith. It may take you longer to study than anyone else in the class, but that will only benefit YOU.

Good luck!! :)

kar212 · Apr 29, 2004

Hello. I went to a four year university and thank God I only had to take Statistics during the entire four years. I really really HATE math. I thought stats was hard. I can't remember the grade I got, but I made it through and didn't have to retake it. It

was certainly not the most difficult course I ever took.

Oh yeah, I've worked in acute care for the past four years and I don't use a lot of math. The only math I do is an occasional medication calculation. Why in God's name we had to take stats is beyond me. I think the only real purpose that some math classes are required (unless they're going to be a mathematician or a teacher or some other relavant career) is to only make you think. And it does do that!

I wish you the best!

manna, BSN, RN · Apr 29, 2004

I like math fairly well - once I get the hang of it. I guess I'm comforted by the rigidity of it - the fact that there is ONLY one correct answer to most problems.

I've taken trig and college alg so far, and will have to take stats before I graduate (BSN).

EMTtoRN · Apr 29, 2004

First off, what math did everyone have to take?

The required pre req for my ADN program is Intermediate algebra which means takiong elementary algebra first unless you scored high on the placement test. We dont have to take statistics,,I was told that was for the BSN program.

Nur_1996 · Apr 29, 2004

What a subject! I also HATE math. I am a LPN that was in CC working on my RN, had to take a general math couse that I passed, but I took the basic algerba class a couple of times and still did'nt pass! I tried so hard, did'nt miss even classes, but the wrong one answer, no various answers dos'ent work for me either! I have taken some time off from school, but I think the nurse that told you to have a private tutor, might be right, i think thats what I'll do next time. As I tell people I guess I can do a drug calculation, I hav'ent killed anyone yet!!! Marie :chuckle