so I'm bad at Math....

PickMePlze · Apr 10, 2006

Basically the one thing that has kept me from persuing a nursing degree is that I am bad in Math. Its just anything higher than basic Algebra,I have a hard time with.
The thing with about Math and me is that if I put my time into studying,I will do good.Not true with Math,it seems that no matter how hard I study I still do poorly.I am going to browse the boards and read the Math related posts.
Has anyone else who has problems with Math overcome them and completed their degree and how did you do it?

I have always been HORRIBLE in math. I failed algebra twice in high school.

I had what my mom called a mental block. So when I started NS, I decided I wasn't going let math prevent me from getting my degree. I faithfully did ALL the exercises in the Pickar Dosage calculations, front to back. I'm now in my 3rd semester and have only misssed 2 or 3 math problems on all my tests since the 1st semester.

You can do it but since we have a weak point we have to work on it harder than others.

crb613, BSN, RN · Apr 10, 2006

Yes, yes, yes you can do it!!! I can't imagine anyone in the world worse at math or w/a greater fear of it than me. If you can do algebra.....you will be fine. I had never had algebra in my life....so I thought that there was just no way I could conquer the math & get into a nsg. program. Wrong!! I worked my butt off to learn & understand.....guess what I did it, & you can too. I took college algebra in the summer w/a lot of other classes...at two different schools. I lived in my schools math help lab....I got a B in college algebra. If I can do it anybody can. Have faith in yourself...you can learn....get help to find out what your problem areas are...your learning style ect. Nursing math is just not that hard once you get the hang of it. Don't let this stand in your way....you can do it. Here are a couple of sites that explain nsg. math..I personally like dimensional analysis, but go with what ever works for you.

http://web.indstate.edu/mary/n205.htm

http://www.dalesplace.net/factor.htm

The Bell Jar · Apr 10, 2006

I was just reading about my college,and you have to take a test that covers Math and receive a certain score before you are allowed into the program. :uhoh21:

Anyone else have to do this.This is required that you make a certain score.

crb613, BSN, RN · Apr 10, 2006

Yes I had to do this as well. I took this after I completed my Algebra class, I think...may have been during. Anyway I would suggest you use your schools resources to help you be able to "get" the math. Good Luck

PickMePlze · Apr 10, 2006

I was just reading about my college,and you have to take a test that covers Math and receive a certain score before you are allowed into the program. :uhoh21:
Anyone else have to do this.This is required that you make a certain score.

After we started fundamentals, we had to take a pharmacology test with 5 or ten problems (I can't remember) and we HAD to make 100% or we couldn't attend clinicals.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Apr 10, 2006

It's good to know your skills and limitations, but you have to buy out of the self-concept that you're a failure in anything that requires math. Not to judge you because I don't know you, but I've found a lot of people are math phobic and when they release themselves from that self-talk they can pass nursing and the required math courses. The "I'm not good at math" self-talk needs to be replaced with something more positive. Don't judge yourself by your past. You've changed, you've grown, you're committed. I found anyone with a will to be a nurse can do it.

You do need to know basic Algerbra but you don't have to have much beyond that, and don't have to be a rocket scientist, to succeed in nursing school. Start from where you are and go from there. You can do this.

Good luck.

FlipFlopGrl · Apr 10, 2006

wow...tweety...that is some great advice! i have always let math intimidate me, but you make alot of sense and put it out there nicely! i have a math test on the first day of class on may 11th and i have let it bother me, but after reading tweety's post i think i can look at math now in a whole different light! i hope this helps you too-the bell jar! good luck...

RNSuzq1, RN · Apr 11, 2006

Hi Bell Jar, Most, if not all CC's require completion of a college level algebra course before being accepting into a Nursing Program. If math is difficult for you, I'm guessing that every school will offer some sort of tutoring to help you out. If you can find someone to simplify it for you and make it "make sense", I'm sure you'll do well.

If you can just get through basic algebra, math you'll need for Nursing is very different. It's all about drug calculations and once you can understand the basic formulas, it should start making sense to you. The following are really easy calculations just so you'll see how it works: Dr. orders 600mg of Tylenol po (by mouth)- you have on hand 300mg tabs. How many tabs would you give your patient? = 2 (2 x 300mg = 600mg). Dr. orders 1000 ml Normal saline to be infused over 10 hours - what rate would you set the IV pump for? = 100 mls/hr (100 mls x 10 hours = 1000 mls).

Obviously, it gets much more complicated than that, you'll be dealing with metric conversions, etc., but if you can understand the basics and go from there, you'll do ok. Hope this helps, Sue...

MIA-RN1, RN · Apr 11, 2006

Basically the one thing that has kept me from persuing a nursing degree is that I am bad in Math. Its just anything higher than basic Algebra,I have a hard time with.
The thing with about Math and me is that if I put my time into studying,I will do good.Not true with Math,it seems that no matter how hard I study I still do poorly.I am going to browse the boards and read the Math related posts.
Has anyone else who has problems with Math overcome them and completed their degree and how did you do it?

everyone has posted excellent advice. I was terrified of math--I'd been in advanced math at a young age (7th-8th grades) and always felt really behind, eventually failing math in 9th grade and repeating in 10th. Then I called it quits anddidn't take any more. I Put off my liberal arts degree for TEN years because I needed a college algebra course to obtain it. When I bit the bullet, it was WAY easier than I thought and I think it had to do with my attitude of "I can just do this and get thru this".

Now that I'm about to graduate from the nursing program, the math really boils down to four basic formulas and if you just memorize them, and its not too hard, you are good to go.

Don't let your worries about math hold you back. Dosage calculations are of course quite important but there is more to nursing than math.

wonka · Apr 11, 2006

Lots of great advice...don't let yourself be intimidated! You'll lose any battle before you start it that way. We all have weaknesses, and luckily, that's a weakness that tutors and practice can help with. You can handle it!

Tweety, BSN, RN · Apr 11, 2006

wow...tweety...that is some great advice! i have always let math intimidate me, but you make alot of sense and put it out there nicely! i have a math test on the first day of class on may 11th and i have let it bother me, but after reading tweety's post i think i can look at math now in a whole different light! i hope this helps you too-the bell jar! good luck...

thanks candice. i confess that math comes very easily to me, but honestly have found those who have the concept "i'm no good in math" really become crippled not by the math and their inherent inability to do it but their fear. their fear and anxiety get the most of them, when the concepts of math are something that they can master, but their fears cripple them. they may not like math, and indeed some of us are better than others, and it may be a weakspot academically, but when they put aside their fears and negative self-talk and self-image they can do it.

you can too. good luck.