need input- statistics vs finite math

danu3 · Jan 18, 2006

Take stat because you can use it in nursing research. Finite math is useful in fields like computer science, very different. Go to the bookstore and just scan the textbooks and you'll get a good idea.

prinsessa · Jan 19, 2006

I would take stats because some colleges have that as a pre-req for their nursing program. I took it just incase I needed it to get into one of the nursing schools I am applying to (and I needed to take a math anyway). One school doesn't require it and one does. Good luck!

Fun2, BSN, RN · Jan 20, 2006

I would take Stats as well.

I've seen mostly Stats as a requirement, so I think you'd be better off taking it. You may end up having to take it anyway if you plan on furthering your career.

Good luck!

WDWpixieRN, RN · Jan 21, 2006

Does anyone know how much you actually USE statistics while in school?

danu3 · Jan 21, 2006

Does anyone know how much you actually USE statistics while in school?

Having a basic knowledge of stat is useful in nursing (if you hate it, you can always avoid it in your career) because at a minimum, you can now read research studies and know the terminology and concepts. It gives you some ability to evaluate a study which is important especially if you are dealing with some kind of new treatment. You don't need to be an expert at it, just know the basic concepts. If you are at the graduate level, I think you need to know it a lot more when you take stuff like nursing research (I may be wrong, people in grad school correct me on this).

Basic stat these days, you need to understand the concepts. Most of the calculations is done on a stat calculator (yes, you need to learn to use a stat calculator which is a million times better than trying to memorize the formula and do it by hand like in the old days).

Take a look at http://www.davidmlane.com/hyperstat/ and you get an idea of statistics at the intro level. It is really not that bad and it is one of those math area that you can actually use.

Or if you want to spend some money, take a look at

http://www.beoga.net/ for an intro statistic course. It has animation and sort of in plain English. Actually the guy that did this teaches an online statistics course at Foothill (nice guy). I think it is too late to sign up now as the Winter quarter started.

In terms of books, there are a few fun ones. Try the series of books call "Damned Lies and Statistics: Untangling numbers from the media, politicians, and activists" and "More Damned Lies and Statistics: How numbers confused public issues" by Joel Best. Basically as you can tell, it is on how not to use statistics. So just knowing your basic statistics at the conceptual level, it is very applicable in life as you can statistics thrown at you all the time. It helps you to think and also not get "snow" or intimated when someone start to throw numbers at you. You learn to ask the right questions.

Bottom line: take statistics; understand the concepts; it is not that bad (unless you get a real bad teacher).

WDWpixieRN, RN · Jan 21, 2006

I took a graduate statistics course about 6 years ago....passed with an "A" (?) -- don't ask me HOW.....my concern is how much I should have actually retained from the class and how applicable the info would actually be in the RN setting.

Thanks...perhaps utilizing some of the info you've supplied will help me brush up!

ZASHAGALKA, RN · Jan 21, 2006

If you are looking for an easier load, take finite math.

If you are looking at a more interesting, but more difficult, and as pointed out, more useful class, take stats.

I learned alot in stats. I'm a political junkie and it was amazing to me to learn how polls are actually constructed.

It's so much more an art than a science. The results are directly related to how a question is asked. So, when someone gets a result that I think is out of line, as a result of STATs, I don't only ask myself how the question was framed, but I start to wonder how the leading questions (the ones NOT reported upon) were framed as well.

Or, to quote Mark Twain: "There are liars, damned liars, and then there are statisticians."

~faith,

Timothy.