Hello! My name is Cayla and I am considering becoming a nurse but I have some fears and some doubts. First things first, I do not qualify for financial aid do to being a dumb college freshman so I'm really not sure how I am going to pay for this. I left home for school and with my freedom slacked in my classes, but it ended up being a motivator for me because I know now when I go back I will not put anything before my schooling again. Once I figure out how to pay for school, I'm not sure what to do from there because I'm not going to lie, I've always done poorly in math. I mean, in high school I failed Algebra I and once I passed I then failed Algebra II. It really doesn't click with me. Granted in high school I didn't apply myself to my math classes, but I don't understand it. I really, really want to be a nurse so badly but I am afraid to find a way to pay for school and not be able to pass the math, therefore forcing me to work my minimum wage job for the rest of my life. I think I could be a great nurse once I learn all the things I need to, I'm just not sure if I am smart enough to do it. Plus, I have never had any classes to prepare me for a nursing career because my high school back in my hometown did not have one. I would be starting from the bottom. Please give me any advice you can!
Don't fear the math - you wont be taking calculus !!! :) you only have to put the time and study (in order to do well in math -you need to practice a lot-practice the questions- that's it)
Same here, dimensional analysis is pretty easy- the algebra is too -its just you need to practice questions everyday to make it second nature) I was stressing over my algebra this semester but, ended up with an A.
This sounds a bit like me. I want to be a nurse, but math has never come easily, and I don't qualify for financial aid either.
I have learned though that once I understand a math concept, I can work through it no problem. :)
The hard part (but the most rewarding) is to tell yourself that YOU CAN DO IT. You have to decide how much you want this. If you really want to be a nurse, then just set your mind to it, study study study, and pass with flying colors.
One thing I've found to be really helpful with the math trouble is to watch YouTube tutorials and instruction videos from sites like Kaplan and Kahn Academy and etc. Those REALLY help. Also with math, repetition is key. You have to make yourself practice over and over until it's cemented in your head.
As for the financial aid, my personal plan is to work for a year before I go to college, and save every scrap I can. I'll probably have to take out a loan as well. Then when I'm in college, I'm hoping to find a church that will hire me as a pianist or organist. That second job alone could pay for my entire tuition. I'm planning to live off campus, but still close by, and share an apartment rent with a roommate. You just gotta look for any way you can save money. (I know that not everyone plays the piano, not all nursing programs allow you to work during, and that some colleges require you to live on campus. But that's personally how I plan to do it. ^^)
But yeah, if you really want to be a nurse, tell yourself "I can do it", and then make yourself do it, rather than saying "I don't think I can" and never trying.
You will first figure out how you will pay for it. If you don't qualify for financial aid due to poor grades, they must be pretty low already? Once you figure out how to pay, you need to figure out how to bring up what I'm thinking is a poor GPA. Nursing school is very competitive to get into. Your grades will have to be top notch to have a chance.
I'm not sure what advice you are really seeking here. You sound like you have terrible self esteem issues. You might want to find a way to fix that. You will need some thick skin in this arena. There's a lot you need to plan out and make happen. If it's something you really want, you will find a way. You need to lose the woe is me outlook on life.
First, you need to end with all the negative self-talk. Having these thoughts of not being good enough or not being smart enough won't help. You need to sit back, re-evaluate who you are, where've you been and what you really want to do in life. If nursing is truly your passion, then you work hard for it, and push through the humps. Nursing isn't for the light-hearted. It's a special kind of profession.
hstutz86
115 Posts
Don't fear the math - you wont be taking calculus !!! :) you only have to put the time and study (in order to do well in math -you need to practice a lot-practice the questions- that's it)
Good luck