I am horrible with Math should I even try to get into a nursing program?

U.S.A. Maryland

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I have allways dreamed of getting into a nursing program when my youngest child started school full time. After looking at the pre requisites for nursing programs I fear that it would be a waste of time.Is there anyone out there who was not good at math or science and made it through?

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I have allways dreamed of getting into a nursing program when my youngest child started school full time. After looking at the pre requisites for nursing programs I fear that it would be a waste of time.Is there anyone out there who was not good at math or science and made it through?

Please don't let this stop you - - -if nursing is what you really want. I was "horrible" in math in high school and college and as a result I put off my dream of becoming a nurse. I picked up a liberal arts degree in undergrad because writing was what came naturally to me. I took a Finite Math class in undergraduate school got a C (which is like an A for me :wink2:) and figured there was no way I was going to make it through nursing as much as I struggled for my C in math.

Now, fast forward 15+ yrs. and my attitude is "NOTHING beats a failure but a try."

Do you think you could ever forgive yourself for at least not attempting to accomplish your dream? If you are like me, you don't want to be asking yourself down the road, "what if...."

So, ok - - -some of us have to work extra harder in Math. :banghead: With that said, you should make a plan now. Start practicing. Get a tutor. Ask for help. There are a TON of websites that have great Math practice pages and tutorials. Allnurses has some great resources: https://allnurses.com/forums/f198/math-help-links-120539.html

I also think the first step you'll need to make in getting over your math anxiety is an attitude adjustment. So stop saying "I'm horrible in math..." Read this quick article on attitude adjustments and math: http://www.occc.cc.or.us/webpages/math/attitude.html

Good Luck and don't let this little hurdle stand in your way!!:yeah:

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

I agree and many community colleges have remedial math classes that might really be a help for you. The nursing math is not hard, imo, but you do need to figure out how to do it and be able to do it accurately. Good luck!!

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YES!!!! You can do it!

I too was terrible in math. I was the girl that convinced herself that she "just didn't think like that" and "couldn't do it". Truthfully, Ihave yet to meet anyone that was truly incapable of doing the Math needed for a nursing program. So many of us realized that if you go to class faithfully, stay on top of your homework, ask questions when you don't get it, seek out tutors and other helps...you really WILL be succesful.

Start out with something really basic. Or go to your local CC and take a math placement test. Get your feet under you and a measureof success, then you will have the confidence to move forward and you'll see that you too can do Math.

Best wishes!!!

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I always considered mself weak in math, and took three tries to pass my math test for meds in nursing school (a long time ago)! When I got my first job, we learned "ratio and proportion", and suddenly it all fell into place. Now I teach medication math, using dimensional analysis. I think I just needed an organized approach.

I recommend you buy a medication math book for nurses and try to work through it, just a bit. If it looks doable, then consider nursing. If even the introductory stuff seems confusing and frustrating, well perhaps it's not for you. If you do decide to go for it, work on the math before you get into the program, and you'll be way ahead of anyone else.

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I was not good in math in high school because I did not apply myself. I believe I had an attention deficit. I was always preoccupied about my mother dying. However, I did pass my math classes -2 without any remedial work. What I did do though was a lot of practice before I did my placement. I went to the thrift store and found a workbook and text book that accommodated it and practiced,practiced and practiced. I took a two week refresher course before taking my placement test and I was placed into an intermediate algebra class and then went on to finite math. I was so proud of me because I had not been in a math class in almost 16 years.

Use several text books from the library, thrift store or look at Amazon or Ebay for books (cheap but good). When I did drug calculations in the program, I always passed the first time - I would do over a hundred problems a couple days before each day and it was a good thing. Math was not my bag but I passed and you can too.

I will share what my Finite Math instructor shared with me and it encouraged me. Stop saying you aren't good because you will start to do your math that way. Here goes the story.

My math teacher was in the military or either retired and he taught on Saturday mornings. How I did so well in his class is because he was motivated and together. He wrote every thing using all three boards for his schedule. His alarm was set on his phone when it was time for the next phase and when we had breaks and the end of class. His voice was like a coach or driller but he was personable and encouraging.

He told me that when he was in elementary school, by 5th grade they told his parents do not let him think of any jobs/careers using math because he would not make it. He in return encouraged himself as David did in the Bible and made himself learn by applying himself and began to like it enough to become a math instructor. When I went to him saying the same thing you are saying about my inability, I was encouraged.

Also, my daughter was good in math all through school until middle school. She and an instructor clashed and she had to repeat it and her math went down hill thereafter. However, in high school I encouraged her to take all the math and science she possibly could because I screwed up in high school because I literally took a teacher at her word. Back then an adult's suggestion was golden always. She would say when someone was acting up in class "If you aren't doing good now in Algebra 1, don't come to me next year for Algebra 2." Why did I feel she was talking to me. I was making C's and it was kind of boring and I was preoccupied that my mother was going to die more than any thing. To get to the point, my daughter entered college and had to take remedial maths 2x. We thought she would never get out of remedial math. She wanted to be a nurse and she changed after A&P 1. Then she transferred those credits to a CIS program. After 99 years almost, she decided to change her major again to ACCOUNTING. Why? Because she found a job that taught her financial budgeting as an admin asst. and she has an awesome resume reflecting millions of dollars that she handles for large companies - some have been fortune 500 companies. The phone rings off the hook for interviews and she has not completed her Bachelor yet. Her starting salary is better than mine and I had been in the gov for 20 years.

YOU CAN DO IT TOO! PRACTICE, PRACTICE AND PRACTICE WHILE YOU ARE HOME ALONE. CLOSE YOURSELF IN A ROOM LIKE I DID WHEN FAMILY IS AROUND AND YOU HAVE SPENT TIME WITH THEM.

GOD BLESS YOU AS A NURSE:bow::nurse::chuckle:coollook::loveya:

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I was not good in math in high school because I did not apply myself. I believe I had an attention deficit. I was always preoccupied about my mother dying. However, I did pass my math classes -2 without any remedial work. What I did do though was a lot of practice before I did my placement. I went to the thrift store and found a workbook and text book that accommodated it and practiced,practiced and practiced. I took a two week refresher course before taking my placement test and I was placed into an intermediate algebra class and then went on to finite math. I was so proud of me because I had not been in a math class in almost 16 years.

Use several text books from the library, thrift store or look at Amazon or Ebay for books (cheap but good). When I did drug calculations in the program, I always passed the first time - I would do over a hundred problems a couple days before each day and it was a good thing. Math was not my bag but I passed and you can too.

I will share what my Finite Math instructor shared with me and it encouraged me. Stop saying you aren't good because you will start to do your math that way. Here goes the story.

My math teacher was in the military or either retired and he taught on Saturday mornings. How I did so well in his class is because he was motivated and together. He wrote every thing using all three boards for his schedule. His alarm was set on his phone when it was time for the next phase and when we had breaks and the end of class. His voice was like a coach or driller but he was personable and encouraging.

He told me that when he was in elementary school, by 5th grade they told his parents do not let him think of any jobs/careers using math because he would not make it. He in return encouraged himself as David did in the Bible and made himself learn by applying himself and began to like it enough to become a math instructor. When I went to him saying the same thing you are saying about my inability, I was encouraged.

Also, my daughter was good in math all through school until middle school. She and an instructor clashed and she had to repeat it and her math went down hill thereafter. However, in high school I encouraged her to take all the math and science she possibly could because I screwed up in high school because I literally took a teacher at her word. Back then an adult's suggestion was golden always. She would say when someone was acting up in class "If you aren't doing good now in Algebra 1, don't come to me next year for Algebra 2." Why did I feel she was talking to me. I was making C's and it was kind of boring and I was preoccupied that my mother was going to die more than any thing. To get to the point, my daughter entered college and had to take remedial maths 2x. We thought she would never get out of remedial math. She wanted to be a nurse and she changed after A&P 1. Then she transferred those credits to a CIS program. After 99 years almost, she decided to change her major again to ACCOUNTING. Why? Because she found a job that taught her financial budgeting as an admin asst. and she has an awesome resume reflecting millions of dollars that she handles for large companies - some have been fortune 500 companies. The phone rings off the hook for interviews and she has not completed her Bachelor yet. Her starting salary is better than mine and I had been in the gov for 20 years.

YOU CAN DO IT TOO! PRACTICE, PRACTICE AND PRACTICE WHILE YOU ARE HOME ALONE. CLOSE YOURSELF IN A ROOM LIKE I DID WHEN FAMILY IS AROUND AND YOU HAVE SPENT TIME WITH THEM.

GOD BLESS YOU AS A NURSE:bow::nurse::chuckle:coollook::loveya:

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You don't need to be good in math. nursing math is basic ratio and proportion. just stick to that and you'll be fine. Don't let that deter you from going into nursing. I used to tutor algebra when i was a bio major and after going through several students, i've realized it clicks differently for everyone but once that light bulb comes on, the student gets it and they get it forever.

You can get it, too. Get someone to help you, practice and practice. Math was my weakest area in grade school but when i got to high school, calculus was my favorite, statistics was way too easy for me, i went on to minor in it. Don't let that fear get into you. Overcome it and math might be your favorite subject in the world, just like it it for me.

Not matter what happens, get over that fear of math and follow your dreams.

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As others have stated, nursing math isn't that hard!!!!!!!!!!! Don't let this stop you!!! You CAN do it!!!!! We need you, so get to stepping..

Good luck!!!!!!!!!

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Specializes in Psych.

I think a lot of people's issues surrounding math are purely anxiety, and thinking that they just cant do it. I had A LOT of math/science anxiety and convinced myself that I just didnt think that way. I think it started in 1st grade. I was a little slower in working math problems and our teacher used to give us these horrible timed math tests. I would get so anxious about it, I would just fail the tests because I would totally blank. That was back in the day where they expected you to learn math by rote memorization which doesnt work for everyones learning style.

Anyway, I think a large part of success in math is releasing that fear and that belief that you just can't do it. That block people put up SERIOUSLY limits your learning. Because of my math phobia, I got a science phobia too. I took my first chem class in 10 years this summer and I FORCED myself to start with a clean slate.............no preconcieved notions, and I got an A. Not that it wasnt hard. It was EXTREMELY challenging, but in the end, I proved to myself that I CAN learn this stuff.

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I'm horrible at science, and math... Too much memorization for me. Keep practicing.. Don't give up...

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I haven't read any of the other posts but I strongly encourage you to not give up. I was the worst when it comes to taking math exams. I started in remedial math when I started college 5 years ago and would failed 2x then progressed to the next level only to fail again. I was sooooo discouraged because I was so behind my peers. I really had to figure out what kind of resources I needed to take advantage of . I ended up taking math classes at a community college with an amazing professor. I found out that it was all an attitude issue and that I'm actually good at math. It's all about finding your own method because there's so many ways to find an answer in math. I'm going into my second year of nursing school (yes, I'm behind but I wasn't ready back then and I've worked my butt off). We have medication exams that we have to get 95% or above before the start of each semester, plus whatever med problems are in the exams. It's not really hard to be honest. Once you know the basics of medication math, you can pretty much play with different formul/easieras that a right for you and that will give you the correct answer. My point is that I could've allowed my issue with math hold me back, but I found a way to play those math problems in my own way. Yes, I've watched a handful or so of my friends graduate on time but we all have our own path to follow. I'm enjoying the nursing program and I don't think I would've been as mentally and emotionally prepared as I am now. Don't give up and don't allow anyone to discourage you. Utilize whatever study guides, tutors, or whatever that you need to succeed at accomplishing your goals and dreams. Good luck!

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