I'm having second thought about being a nurse.

[shawnrj]

Ouch, this is a bummer. I worked hard over the past couple of years to complete A&P and Microbiolgy thinking that I wanted to be a nurse. I've attempted Algebra three times, failed twice and barely passed the third time with a C. Needless to say, I suck bigtime at math and always have. I did really good in all the pre-reqs. I have been accepted into the ADN Program at Glendale Community College and I start Pharmacology and Fundamentals of Nursing June 20, tomorrow to be exact. I will still be working my Paralegal job to which my boss will let me go to class.

I've been having so much anxiety and second thoughts about this. I don't think I should be having this and maybe it's a sign that I should not do this. I've been going over the first 8 chapters in the Calculations Made Easy book for the Phamacology class and I'm so much trouble with the conversions and calculations. Some, I have no clue. I always have and still make mistakes when it comes to math and especially the calculations. Even when I believe I did it correctly, I did it wrong. I spent all weekend doing the problems and studying the material and it boggles my mind.

Bottom line is that I don't feel strong enough or confident enough in doing the calculations (and I may fail this class as a result) to do it if I become a nurse. I don't want to harm anyone, much less kill them with a mis-calculation. I guess my whole heart is not into being a nurse anymore.

[WDWpixieRN, RN]

I can relate to some of what you've expressed...first of all, I am 50, just got a bachelor's in '99, and am leaving a $50,000+/year job to change careers!! I spent most of my younger years raising kids, so I'm still "finding myself".....

I always struggled with math and when I was working on my bachelor's, had to go back to Basic Math, which meant I had to take 4 semesters of math to get through the College Algebra that was required. A math teacher told me not to fight it because that foundation would be invaluable, and it was. However, I struggled with many concepts (particularly graphing -- UGH!), and I did anything I could to try to get someone to help me understand, similar to what the math teacher posted earlier. I went to the lab, I went to on-campus tutoring, I asked my kids, AND paid a tutor. All of a sudden one day it was like an Oprah "Ah ha" moment! I remember asking the girl I was working with, "You mean it's like this and this and this and that's IT?!?!" Yeah, it was....hang in there...

As for the scheduling, we just had a panel of nurses at an orientation recently and one got a dayshift schedule right out of school....however, you might have to be flexible on what area of the hospital you're willing to work...

After being stuck in a cube with so few options for my career and future, and doing so little of anything that will ultimately make a difference, I can't imagine not heading down this path. On the other hand, I am scared to death that this won't work and then what?!?! Cold feet? Yeah, sounds like we both have that problem!!

Hang in there!! :)

[deanzgurll]

Dear Shawn...I am going to get alot of flack for this, but hey. Nursing school is like any other kind of school...there is alot of hoop jumping, alot of info you will never use and depending on what you are lucky enought to be exposed to in clinic, alot of skills you will have to learn on the job. Look at it this way, nursing school is really about critical thinking...learning how to use your resources and ask the right questions. I worked on a Burn unit right out of school, and for 13 years not a day went by that I wasn't asked to do something I had never done before. C'mon Shawn..you knew what your Wife's schedule was before you started...isn't this just an excuse that sounds better than "I am scared shi---ss" My husband worked as an LPN on a very demanding pulmonary floor in a big teaching hospital. When he got his RN he was offered a job in the ICU of a smaller private hospital and wanted to turn it down and continue to work as an LPN, "until he had more experience". I said, are you nuts? We haven't been broke all this time so you could tuck tail...the unit you are on now is as acute as that little ICU. He had problems with the book learning too but he is FABULOUS on the floor and works primarily with heart transplants now. Besides (this is what I will probably get flack for) those tests are probably the last time you will ever figure a drip rate. There are pumps and pharmacy sends up packaged unit doses ALMOST everywhere..and when in doubt turn and ask the nurse on your elbow or call the RX. Meamwhile you still have that hoop to jump through...try looking at the problems as real world questions instead of abstract equations. If you want to know more about what I mean by that, ask. And lastly; if you are REALLY worried about your schedule...look into PA programs. I see lots of those people ( with roughly the same education as an RN ) doing the same thing the MDs do. The programs are more expensive than Nursing, but they MAKE MORE MONEY. ( sorry guys but it's true ). what you won't get is THIS sense of support and community...in short, the work culture is medicine not nursing. LUCK to you.

[smk1, LPN]

I appreciate the replies and advice. The bad thing is that this semester is the summer interssession (6 week classes) and there is not much time. They are cramming a whole semester class into 6 weeks (half of the Fundamentals of nursing into 6 weeks) and our first calculations exam is next week. Calculation exams are pass/fail and a 90 is required to pass. I'm going to give it my best effort and if I fail, I fail. I feel you need to be fairly strong in knowing how to accurately know the calculations and formulas to be a nurse. I feel pretty unconfident in this area.

Practice calculation problems every night. Practice makes perfect. Also find out if you are allowed to use a calculator during exams and clinical. If not then you will really need to practice writing out the equations and working them everyday to get comfortable. We are not allowed to use calculators so i practiced a lot and it really helped. I am not bad at math, but it has been a long time since i haven't been able to use a calculator to get answers after setting up the problems. So review you multiplication of decimals and lond division by hand etc... practicing everday will make it click for you.

[smk1, LPN]

I also believe that I am setting myself up for failure because of another reason which I'm trying to shake, but is very strong. The math is a major problem but there is another. I know this may sound strange and ridiculous, and is setting myself up for failure. As a new RN I know I will have to work nights and weekends and I just don't want to work nights and weekends. Ridiculous I know. My wife has a career where she only works weekdays and weekends off as I do now. We have only been married 2 years and I really love our weekends together and our weekend getaways. Selfish I know and because I feel this way my heart is not 100% into the program which will cause problems. I bet I am the first on here to feel this way. I'm pretty confused right now and am not sure this is the right decision to make.

look around at the area help wanted ads and hospital website employment sections. chances are there are other times available to work.

[hlfpnt, BSN, RN]

If you've had any kind of basic algebra, you can do dosage calculations. Ask a fellow classmate to show you how they figure it...that's how I finally ended up understanding it. She explained a different set-up from what the instructors were teaching & it just clicked from there, no more problems. Sometimes someone different may say one thing & it all comes together. Also remember that it is only numbers on a page & you can't let it win! As for being 41 & stepping into unknown territory...I'm 42, if I can do that & the dosage calculations you can, too! It's never too late to learn. I hope it "clicks" for you & I wish you all the best! :)

[anglenwhiteshoes]

Oh Shawnrj!!! I suck at math as well..... badly! But I am determined to get over it and become a nurse! I am soooo scared about the math as well, but I know I am meant to be a nurse and helping people...so I will get the B (ok all I need is a C to pass, but a B looks really good to me!). Besides.... you may have an instructor that teaches it really well and you may walk out of the class thinking "wow, I just learned math... I get it now!!!". I just feel if you're negative going into it, you're going to come out with negative results. Keep your head up high and say "I think I can, I think I can!" Oh... and get that tutor.

About the Nights and Weekends thing.... there are plenty of jobs during the days... and honestly, you will have MORE time to spend with your wife then you would with a M-F 9-5 job. But, you can always find a nursing job thats M-F as well.

I think you're just afraid you're making a mistake, and I can tell that you're going to be a good nurse because you are carefully examining all possibilities! But, you need to be positive and keep telling yourself it's only one class, I can do it! Just study and befriend the smart "kid" in class! I have faith in you... you will get through it! Just don't think it's math....

[PersistantLeader]

Buy a book called by Curren Medication Math, it has a cd that's great. It will help. As for Pharmacology--- Lenhe. Its for Nursing. Good straight to the point.