Math rage

tayloramaRN2be · Jul 31, 2013

I think there are several courses that are utterly useless as prerequisites to a nursing program.
Algebra is not one of those courses.

Just curious what do you think those are BrandonLPN?

Meeh619 · Jul 31, 2013

Um I HATE math!!!! I failed college Algebra 3 yes 3 times at the community college. I had to transfer out cuz they had a peat 3 rule where I had to start at the bottom to come up. Well duh I did start at the bottom. Wasn't going there again. Math is what took so long for me to get into nursing. I couldn't pass it!!! But I did learn how to calculate grades so I knew what to score to pass a class like the pp lol.

I did all my pre req's & transferred to my university & tried it there. Passed with an A, yup I guess it has to do with the teacher. This teacher was so good. Ppl say "well did he give you the answers?" No he really didn't. He explained & took his time. I decided to do stats right after so I wouldn't forget the stuff, not so nice professor but I got a B. it's just surprising how teaching skills make a difference.

All us English paper writing ppl just can't hack Math lol

All them Math ppl hate English, go figure!!

Guests · Jul 31, 2013

Is it just me or does anyone else find the math classes you have to take like algebra completely and totally a waste of time and money? I asked a RN the other day if she had ever needed to factor a polynomial at work, and she chuckled and said no. I just find myself completely and utterly disenfranchised with the whole college system right now. *end rant*

I could make that claim about 75% of nursing school and 95% of the worthless papers that I had to write there.

Guests · Jul 31, 2013

I mean the thing is called a Bachelor of Science for a reason.

Right? Sad to hear people who are seeking an AS or BS degree decry having to learn BASIC mathematics.

I wonder if med students whine about having to have taken basic maths.

As a floor or unit nurse, no you probably don't need anything beyond high school algebra for med dose calc.

The maths required for dosage calculations are 7th grade pre-algebra.

tayloramaRN2be · Jul 31, 2013

Right? Sad to hear people who are seeking an AS or BS degree decry having to learn BASIC mathematics.
I wonder if med students whine about having to have taken basic maths.
The maths required for dosage calculations are 7th grade pre-algebra.

I just want clarify that I wasn't meaning basic mathematics. I get basic mathematics. I have no problem with conversions, and multiplying, dividing, adding, subtracting. Fractions to decimals, and things of that nature. But what is really my issue is the formulas for things that ill never need, and if someone can honestly tell me that they have used quadratic functions to find the graphing points at work as a nurse, then I will find a new major.

Carpediem1012, BSN, RN · Jul 31, 2013

OP, I am feeling your pain right now doing my stats over summer by correspondence to finish the last prereq before school starts. I left it until the end because I share the mentality of "Ihate math!" And yet... There is something so simple about it. You don't need to synthesize information and form an opinion supported by references. You sit down and do it. Apply the appropriate formulae or steps over and over again and every time you will come up with the right answer! That kinda of takes the fear out of it for me lol.

But here is what is so important about math, stats etc. like other people say, it teaches you to think in a logical stepwise manner (very important nursing skill). AND probably most important of all, it allows you to understand research studies and also be able to generate good and sound research. Once you have a bachelors you are not limited in any further nursing education. You are ready to go into research and (gasp!) management or admin and handle vast volumes of information to base your decisions on. Anyway. Just another way of looking at it. Often we find something stupid, boring or useless until we have a good grasp on it. Then all of a sudden a light job goes on and you realize how very important that skill actually is.

Sorry for the bad grammar in this post. I am going back to stats right now and that's about all my feeble brain can handle for the moment lol! Best of luck to you :)

Guests · Jul 31, 2013

I just want clarify that I wasn't meaning basic mathematics. I get basic mathematics. I have no problem with conversions, and multiplying, dividing, adding, subtracting. Fractions to decimals...

So you're asserting that nurses shouldn't be required to have maths skills beyond the 5th grade?

As I said, sad.

tayloramaRN2be · Jul 31, 2013

So you're asserting that nurses shouldn't be required to have maths skills beyond the 5th grade?
As I said, sad.

Yes, because that's exactly what I said. :no:

What I am saying is, is that advanced forms of algebra such as graphing parabolas and factoring square roots doesn't make sense to me to have as prerequisite curriculum for science classes and the nursing program in general.but from reading other posts on this thread, I understand having the math problems as a form of thought process and figuring things out. But that does NOT mean that I have to agree with or like it.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Jul 31, 2013

YOu don't have to like it but there are applications for example....Starlings Law.......CV Physiology: Frank-Starling Mechanism

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Jul 31, 2013

The oxygen–hemoglobin dissociation curve plots the proportion of hemoglobin in its saturated form on the vertical axis against the prevailing oxygen tension on the horizontal axis. The oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve is an important tool for understanding how our blood carries and releases oxygen. Specifically, the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve relates oxygen saturation (sO₂) and partial pressure of oxygen in the blood (pO₂), and is determined by what is called "Hemoglobin affinity for oxygen"; that is, how readily hemoglobin acquires and releases oxygen molecules into the fluid that surrounds it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxygen–haemoglobin_dissociation_curve

all of these have specific clinical applications for the care of your patients...especially in critical care.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Jul 31, 2013

Take a look here at calculations done in Cardiac Cathe labs for Valve gradients and Cardiac output/saturation/index markers......http://www.wtrs.com/downloads/Research_CathLab_Calculations.pdf

Nurses use it more that you think...thye use it morethan they think especially if you go on to an advanced degree like CRNA.

toninicole · Jul 31, 2013

i start my pre reqs on the 12th and math is the only one i dread, i am excited about everything else except attending my math.i am 36 so being out of school nearly 2 decades has made me quite rusty on math skills so tutoring will be key to this working out but we can do this, best of luck.