I really want to be a nurse but..

SarahOsorio · May 17, 2015

Thank you so much you have definatly eased my nerves!

ready2baRN · May 18, 2015

I would agree with the other posters. Nursing math is not the same as college math. I have two previous degrees (Associates and Bachelors). I failed intermediate algebra THREE times before I passed it LOL. Passed Statistics on my first try but barely with a C. Dosage calculations I received an A! I was nervous going in and didn't think that class would end well because of my previous experiences with math. Nursing Math is basically just memorizing formulas and knowing how to accurately read medication labels and being able to apply the formulas to what the Med Order is asking of you.

However I will say that Nursing Schools is a little tough, it can be a bit of a mental rollercoaster. Some days you leave school excited and other days you leave wanting to cry that's just the way it is.

My advice is when you do begin your journey surround yourself with positive like minded people who don't complain and blame everyone else for their problems or faults because they will be the people that drag you down and end up failing out.

Stay positive and motivated and know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.........a very long tunnel LOL.

brandiep1982 · May 18, 2015

I was there. 100%. In highschool.. I could not have cared less about my grades... in fact, I graduated a year late because I completely dropped the ball my senior year. Then? I went to college at 20 years old and dropped all my classes a couple weeks in. There are a bunch of nasty W's on my transcripts.

HOWEVER. :) That was all 15 and 13 years ago. I have straight A's after going back to school two years ago and have excellent references. It all amounts to how much I care now and how much I didn't then. If you want this, most schools (even excellent ones) will see the change in grades and desire to achieve. I got into my top choice school. In my interview they never even asked me about my W's and my poor high school GPA. When they were finished with their questions and asked me if I had any, before I started asking questions about the program, I first asked if they were at all concerned about my past in regards to school. They told me: "We did see your full academic history, but we did not feel the need to ask about it. It is obvious that something has changed for you."

So, hey... don't sweat it! Give school your all from here on out, make the grades, and you won't be haunted by your adolescence.

SarahOsorio · May 18, 2015

@readytobarn definitely encouraged me to keep in this! Thanks so much everyone you have all really helped :)

littlemissie · May 18, 2015

Failed Cal 1 twice (F the first time, D the second)

Since then I:

- passed Trig with an A

- passed Stats with an A

- raised my GPA to a 3.22

Don't worry, love. It's all about applying yourself and working hard.

WanderingWilder, ASN · May 18, 2015

I received a D in both Algebra 1 and 2 in high school. I got an A in College Algebra and an A- in Stats in college. I've applied myself more in college then I ever thought about in High School. For me the trick is trusting I know what I'm doing esp when the math problems are more letters then numbers.

verene, MSN · May 18, 2015

I was not a strong math student in high school or in college. Going back to school with nursing in mind I knew I'd have to get over my math issues at some point. I went on Khan Academy and started with kindergarten math - yes all the way back to the very beginning and after several months of work I now understand math a lot better. and managed to place into a higher level math class at school. I still don't like it per se, but I understand why it is useful and can make it work for me.

Mavrick, BSN, RN · May 18, 2015

It's all about what you consider important. Back in high school it wasn't important to get it right or get a passing grade. Like, so what, it's just a grade.

In nursing, the math is mostly simple arithmetic but it matters to get it right. You can make someone sick or if you're unlucky, kill someone.

blah_blah_blah · May 18, 2015

I would also like to add that for me, learning the math for nursing school was easier because I WANTED to learn it. I did NOT want to take college algebra (required for the major I was in before I switched to nursing) and I did NOT want to take stats (required for my BSN program). However, I actually enjoyed my med calc class because it was one of the first classes that I took that actually pertained to my major. It was only half a semester long and worth one credit, but it felt like I was finally making progress toward my ADN if that makes sense, haha. It's all about your mindset.

strawberryluv, BSN, RN · May 18, 2015

Math in nursing school is very basic algebra. It is just math you need to convert dosages which are often really just

moving decimal places or simple dimensional analysis.

Graduated high school with a 3.4 G.P.A. and hated science with a passion!

Went to university, took a biology class as a prerequisite for nursing school and put my heart and soul

into it because I wanted to be a nurse. Came out victorious and graduating in

If you want to be a nurse, the effort will be there and that could be enough.

Also, tutoring services are helpful. When I took college chemistry, I saw my tutor more than 10x that semester.

BeachsideRN, ASN · May 18, 2015

Hard work equals results. Period. Get some math books, hire a tutor, watch YouTube/Kahn academy videos, whatever it takes to learn. Practice is the on,y way one learns math

FNP2015 · May 18, 2015

The math part is very minimal... it is not what causes people to flunk out of RN programs! You've taken a few years since high school to gain life experience and likely have the maturity to commit yourself to a course of study now in a different way than you were able to in high school. If this is your passion, go for it! Best of luck. :)