I don't know what to do!

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Ok so I graduated high school back in November and I got a job as a CNA in December. I want to go to school to get my LPN or RN. Well... I have some problems. I do not know how to multiply or divide long hand, I have never taken a chemistry class, and the highest I got in high school math was algebra 1 plus I was never a straight A student. I am enrolled at Ivy tech I took my placement test and yeah I have to take remeadial courses but I havent and I probably wont for a while sign up until I decided the what when and where. Im definatly thinking about switching to ITT tech because the prequisit courses are built in to the program plus they dont have a waiting list. I am so afraid that I wont pass the TEAS and or that I wont get in to a nursing program then Im stuck being a CNA the rest of my life :banghead: (dont get me wrong I like my job and the people but I just cant picture myself doing that my whole life)

So then I thought well what if I do good on the TEAS after after I educate my self on long hand multiplication and division but dont get in to nursing school? so then I thought about other areas like respitory care and dental hygiene because they use the TEAS as an entrance exam. but I really want to be a nurse more than anything respitory care and dental hygine are just "eh there there". High school really wasnt my thing but wanting to go to school for nursing and to be a nurse is what I think is my thing I know that if I apply myself that I can get good results and I know that if I apply myself to somthing that I want todo then I can get great results.

and another thing is right now I dont know if I want to wait a year or two or if I want to go this fall or even wait until the economy is a little better and less people find it necesarry to get a college educaton (I make myself laugh). I sort of just want to chill right now and just have fun and bank my money. but then I worry that if I dont go now I wont ever go I will just find another excuse when the time comes. then if I dont get an education then I will never move out of my parents and I will never be able to afford anything like a house or a decent car or to retire! then I think well if someone who is 40 can go back to school to be a nurse after working in a factory for there whole life then why cant I just be an aide for a while then by the time im 25 be enrolled in school. Just like I have heard some of the nurses I work with say they were aids for like 10+ years and now they are nurses. I also feel like to the longer I work as an aide the more I might learn to the point it might make nursing school a little easier.

I just need some advice and some insight and what people are doing or have done. please and thank you!

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Specializes in OR.

Don't go with what other people say you should do; do what is best for you. Go with your gut. Yes, you'll hear a lot of people talking about how they wish they had started on their education long ago, but the truth is in order to follow the path to nursing (or any path, truthfully), you need dedication. If you're going to do something, do it well. Work hard. If you want to lay out a while and maybe pursue nursing later, then that's what you should do. Don't go to school because you THINK that's what you should do, or because your coworkers say it's best, or because it's what your friends are doing. When you do it for those reasons, you're in danger of not really giving it your all. That's something you would regret later.

You're young. You have plenty of time to make your decisions. Do what's best for you. And do it well.

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Just my opinion..and don't get offended. To get through life you should learn to multiply and divide competently. Even if you decide nursing isn't for you it's a needed skill.

With that said...life is life ....relax and breathe You are young and it will all work itself out just the way it should.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

How the heck do you graduate HS without being able to do basic math? And still take (and presumable pass) Algebra? This may be why our local school districts have decided to remove calculators from all math classes in elementary school - LOL. If I was the OP, I'd sue the school district.

Health Care is a science-based industry - practitioners (no matter what the license) must be literate and numerate. If public schools are failing to even meet minimal expectations, it pushes the starting line even farther back and makes the educational journey more difficult and lengthy.

Kudos to the OP for pursuing a challenging goal -

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Just my opinion..and don't get offended. To get through life you should learn to multiply and divide competently.

Im not offended 'cause I know its true :)

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How the heck do you graduate HS without being able to do basic math? And still take (and presumable pass) Algebra? This may be why our local school districts have decided to remove calculators from all math classes in elementary school - LOL. If I was the OP, I'd sue the school district.

Health Care is a science-based industry - practitioners (no matter what the license) must be literate and numerate. If public schools are failing to even meet minimal expectations, it pushes the starting line even farther back and makes the educational journey more difficult and lengthy.

Kudos to the OP for pursuing a challenging goal -

I think it has alot to do with that no child left behind act and the fact that my mom decided along with the teachers that I would just "catch on" in the next grade and I got kicked out my sophmore year and eagerly wanted to be done with high school so they just let me slip on by and now I am kicking myself for at least not getting through geometry and atleast setting through an algebra two class even if I did fail it the first time around. and I am really kicking myself for not taking a chemistry class in high school.

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You can gain these skills. Get the "Basic Math & Pre-Algebra for Dummies" book and do the problems.

In Chemistry you use a calculator to do the equations. My chemistry textbook acutally came with a booklet called "Math for Chemistry" that gave all sort of invaluable tips.

Look up your math and chemistry professors at RateMyProfessor.com and only take those who have great reviews.

I flunked high school chemistry and didn't get it at all. Got an A in my college chemistry class a few years ago because the teacher was great.

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In all honesty, I think it's important to start at the bottom, master it, and move up in order to succeed. If you need to take remedial courses, then take them and really learn the material. Go to the next class and master that.

Look, I totally understand you. I was a product of a broken home and a failed public school system. You graduate not knowing the basics. Then you have to start all over later in life. It happens. Don't dwell, don't pity, just accept it and take control of your education today, right now.

When I went back to school, I was 25. I started in basic algebra and an intro chem class. That's what I had to do because I would have failed miserably trying to tackle material that I was not ready for. You just have to take your time with it and go one thing at a time. Eventually, you will gain confidence and understand the harder material because you built a foundation for it.

I'm starting a nursing program in the fall and I scored in the 99th percentile on the TEAS. I couldn't imagine doing that when I had a hard time with absolute values and didn't know DNA from my left foot, 5 years ago. It's only because I started from the bottom that I have a fundamental understanding of math and science today. So don't be scared that it's going to take long or that you're behind. You can turn it around.

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I was a terrible high school student too!

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I have come to relize after looking at the courses for ivy tech that Im better off with these remedial courses and what not of course I will be in school for a year longer but it is also great review and learning for the TEAS it is a blessing. Of course I will have to still brush up on some of the basic things like basic math and conversions and science but I have books to help me study they may not be TEAS books but I think they will work just the same to help me study. I have an SAT, ACT, kaplans nursing entrance exam book, HESI edition3 and the mcgraw TEAS practice tests. plus I have the exciting world of youtube and the internet to look up things and videos.

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