How hard is nursing school for a student who is average or below in math & science?

CourtneyLR · Sep 19, 2011

Let me first say that I'm not in nursing school, but I'm currently taking pre-requisites.

I can't tell you anything about what nursing school is like, but there is a good reason A&P is a pre-requisite. My guess is that it's a good indicator of success not only in nursing school but in your career as a nurse. Have you thought about why you did not do well in A&P? Maybe it's just something simple, like you're not being attentive to your learning style and not studying in the way that's best for you. I think you should try the class again, but take advantage of open labs, office hours and tutoring to help you figure out an effective way to study and learn the material.

There is no way around learning math & science for nursing school. If it doesn't come naturally, you may just need to try harder...and I strongly believe anyone can learn anything if they are dedicated to doing so!

Best of luck! :)

Ready-Set-Go · Sep 19, 2011

what type of math is it like algebra or pre algebra or ratio's??? and im not very good at math either but practice makes perfect! :) and i start my pre-reqs in january and was wondering does the school pay for tutoring sessions? or would that be out of my pocket costs

CourtneyLR · Sep 19, 2011

what type of math is it like algebra or pre algebra or ratio's??? and im not very good at math either but practice makes perfect! :) and i start my pre-reqs in january and was wondering does the school pay for tutoring sessions? or would that be out of my pocket costs

Most schools have tutoring centers which are free of cost to students. Also, office hours and open labs are excellent "free" resources (although you could say you are paying for these services with your tuition- another great reason to USE THEM).

SummitRN, BSN, RN · Sep 20, 2011

SCIENCE:

Nursing is very logical and scientific. You need to be excellent at your Bio, A&P, Micro, and Patho. A knowledge of basic chem will help you immensely. I never see physics mentioned, but I see a lot of students get confused by something as simple as electrocardiology, hemodynamics, or an IV piggy back that should make perfect sense with a conceptual understanding physics. People who have had physics seem to understand ventilators and EKGs much more easily.

MATH:

You NEED to be able to do math for nursing, but it is easy math. If you can do algebra and statistics, you can do ANYTHING in nursing math. If you excel at word problems, then you will rock at nursing math. Medication is all addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, ratios, and percentages in multistep word problems. Evidence based practice is all very easy statistics.

Nursing24/7, LVN · Sep 20, 2011

I think you can do it. Just have to rethink it. I am in the same boat with science and math but I have decided that I am going to take a different route at getting it all down and hopefully my tactic works. Try tutors, flashcards, coloring book (barnes & noble has a anatomy & physiology coloring books in the nursing section), they also have a book called anatomy & physiology incredibly visual and one called memory notebook of nursing, which has alot of cool little rhymes and riddles to help you remember important facts and assessments for nursing. You just might need to take a different approach to those subjects that may make learning those subjects more exciting to you and the material stay put in your brain.

Ready-Set-Go · Sep 20, 2011

Great thread queastion and answers!

AliF · Sep 20, 2011

I think you have to really want it. I'm much better at English, writing, and social studies types of classes but I am fascinated by the human body- and really want to be a nurse. If you're absolutely crippled in math and science, you'll have a hard time getting through. But if it's just not your easiest subject, you will be fine. I was really never that interested in sciences when I was younger but now that it relates to something I really want to learn, I find it much easier.

CourtneyLR · Sep 20, 2011

I think you can do it. Just have to rethink it. I am in the same boat with science and math but I have decided that I am going to take a different route at getting it all down and hopefully my tactic works. Try tutors, flashcards, coloring book (barnes & noble has a anatomy & physiology coloring books in the nursing section), they also have a book called anatomy & physiology incredibly visual and one called memory notebook of nursing, which has alot of cool little rhymes and riddles to help you remember important facts and assessments for nursing. You just might need to take a different approach to those subjects that may make learning those subjects more exciting to you and the material stay put in your brain.

I love my A&P coloring book! This is the one that I have. The illustrations seem a bit overwhelmingly detailed at first but once you start working through it, it really comes together.

Reese2012 · Sep 20, 2011

Hi,

I feel your pain. I have struggled with math my whole life. I am re-taking a chemistry course that I failed 4yrs ago to try and replace my grade with a better one. Right now I am averaging A's on all of my hw/tests. I believe the reason I did so bad before was because the instructor was not teaching me in a way that I could process the equation.

As far as your science classes, it is a lot of memorization. Last year I took a anatomy and phys (basic course). Once I am done with Chm I can move onto A&P 1, I think to understand Anatomy you really need to sit down and understand how the body works beginning with the cells. Once you get a grasp on that, everything should fall into place.

I recommend buying a coloring book, it helped me out big time. Also, if you can form a study group that helps as well. This way if you do not understand something, you can ask a peer to help explain it to you in a different way.

I hope this helps!

Please dont give up on your nursing career, you can do it

Nursing24/7, LVN · Sep 20, 2011

@courtneyLR Yeah it's a great book! You know whats funny, ironic, strange? is that when I saw it at B & N, I had a flashback to when I was younger. My mom actually got me the anatomy coloring book when I was around 11. I remember it so vividly...she was always buying books and things like that to try and expand my mind and get me interested in subjects that I normally wasn't interested in (I excelled at english & writing). I remember coloring in it and finding it facinating & fun.

Now I think back on that time and wonder is that a sign that I really am right that I am supposed to be following this path? I have been feeling that I should have done it years ago and finally started diving in a few months ago but it all became more "clear" when I saw the coloring book this past weekend. I'm a firm believer in signs and that everything happens for a reason...:)

strawberryluv, BSN, RN · Sep 21, 2011

I don't know. It really depends on the person. I don't have a knack for science and math either. I am more of an English/History type person but when I took my first science course with the determination that I MUST GET AN A at all cost I passed with an A. If you're not good at a class then just study longer in that subject and you will get the grades you want. Use every possible resource you can think of.

Right now I'm taking A&P1 and its really stressing me out because my professor is notorious for making hard exams so I'm using every resource I have. She posted her notes, I print them out and read it. There are the outlines to previous editions of the textbook that the textbook author made himself, I printed them out. I bought the famous A&P coloring book by Elson and Kapit and am coloring in it. I am looking at youtube videos and websites for animations. Anything I can get my hands on to understand the material better, I will go for it. Don't be afraid of what you haven't done, rather be afraid of all the success you are capable of and never realizing unless you try. :]

Good luck.