I Want to Be an RN; I Am Bad at Math.

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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Hi, everyone! I'm a Sophomore and I decided last year I wanted to become an RN, one thing... I'm horrible at math. Last year, I finished Algebra I with a D and failed my Algebra I state exam which I have to retake to graduate, as of now I currently have a low C in Algebra II. I have a strong work ethic and always ask for help, I just feel lost all the time, I get flustered when someone explains things to me.

I was wondering, what is nursing math like? If I know what it is like I could study it along with my Algebra II and build my skill. Also, I'm taking medical courses at a technical school right now if that helps, I've been in it since August 2014. This course is 2 years of medical, and the last year is a CNA course+certification and after we are certified we spend the rest of the year working in a nursing home. I miss half a day of my regular classes to go to the technical school, I do not have electives and I will only have three years of math and science instead of four.

Thanks, everyone!

Jimmy buys 43 apples, Jimmy's friend Jill likes pies. How old is Jill? Math makes me cry! Thank you!

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I also took an Algebra test today all on word problems, I'm sure I got 100%! Good thing I studied a little more.

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Specializes in Forensic Psych.
Me too! It's kind so embarrassing when I get caught doing it, like leave me alone, man! :roflmao:

Psh. I have no shame. I do it in front of my patients when they ask what time they can have their next PRN dose of a med. They accept my flaws haha.

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My instructor says they aren't too good at math and they have a master's! No shame! :yes:

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Hi MysticTopaz, I am not a math person either. I only know the basic and like someone mention above. Just practice, practice and practice. I think that the nursing math is a lot easier. I hope all goes well and I am bushing up on my math while I wait to apply for nursing

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I'm going to dedicate 5 hours a week to working on my math not including my Algebra.

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I also struggled with Algebra but I am an A (100%) student in dosage calc. Learn dimensional analysis, the best way to go.

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Specializes in Family Practice, Mental Health.

I dropped Algebra like a red hot rock when I was in High school because I was sooooo lost in that class. I also had a Horrible HS guidance counselor. Horrible. Horrible. Horrible.

Neither of my parents went to college, and I didn't know that you could apply for scholarships. I was the only one in my class who didn't have a scholarship (out of 30 classmates). I was so ignorant.

I wound up getting federal loans later to pay for LPN school. My lack of algebra (and fear of it) kept me from getting my RN when I was 22. I did try and take college level elementary algebra after getting my LPN, but with an unsupportive ex-husband who thought wives shouldn't go to school, two very small children, a full time job, and terrible money problems, I dropped out with an unsuccessful stab at it.

I then learned from several studies which supported findings that the (it was just one or two studies - but was enough to encourage me) female brain may develop in such a way that the ability to be more successful in algebra comes after the HS years.

I couldn't get my RN without algebra, so I took elementary and intermediate algebra after having been an LPN for 15 years and I GOT A+'s in both classes! I even went on to take Statistics, and am now finishing up my MSN with a 4.0 average.

If I was given a time machine, I would go back and tell my younger self to go get a math tutor, go to something like a Sylvan learning center, or anything but letting me convince myself that I couldn't do algebra.

My advice to you after my story above, is to do a google search of your area to find out what services are available to you in the way of tutoring. Don't rely upon your teacher to hold your hand, because he or she may not have the skills that you need to learn.

Everyone has the ability to learn, but everyone does not learn the same way. Go find the person(s) in your area that can help you unlock your potential and don't even consider giving up.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

Start saying "I have not mastered math yet" I took algebra 3 times. I graduated with honors, and got 100's on 4 subsection of the TEAS math section. You can do it, it might take longer than you want but build that foundation. One day at a time. I took Stats online this summer and loved that class it was so much easier to me than algebra. good luck and don't lose faith in yourself.

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Haven't seen anyone else post it, but a good site for working on math and getting some good explanations on how to do things is khan academy. There are a lot of short videos available to walk you through the steps. One of the best free websites I have found so far for math.

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I would die of algebra if it weren't for my fabulous tutor...also known as my dad :D

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Specializes in Hospitalist Medicine.

Go to the library and look through the book "Math Attack - Winning the Pharmacology Math Battle" by K. Champion. It thoroughly explains how to answer med math problems in nursing school.

Now the issue is this: the computational portion of the math is pretty basic, 3rd-5th grade level. However, the critical thinking component for setting up the problem is what trips up most students.

You need to do well in algebra because you need to be comfortable with word problems and solving for a variable.

Med math is always a word problem. Learning the trick to dimensional analysis is really the key to success.

Almost every school out there will require at least a minimum of intermediate college algebra as a pre-requisite to nursing school.

If you're struggling with algebra, I'd highly recommend seeking a good tutor to work one-on-one

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