am I really cut out to be an RN?

Cardigan2 · Nov 4, 2007

Have you taken any math courses recently?

You may want to find out if you can take the math portion of the NLN again, and prior to taking it..enroll in a math class. There are many tutorial sites online as well.

As far as A&P goes, it is a lot of memorization. Maybe you just need to find study habits that work best for you.

I'm currently in A&P II and I do study a lot!!! There is so much information...so I tape the lectures..rewrite notes from class and add notes from my reading of the chapters and I also use online tutorials for topics that I struggle with.

Hope this helps

Don't give up!

Cardigan2

I am really at my wits end. I applied to Rivier college in july and took the NLN at that time. I did great in the english and science portion (80%) but in the math I got a 30% because I didnt finish:o. I took just the math portion 2 weeks ago and I got a 42% when I need a 50%. I honestly am ready to give up. Also a&p is so difficult for me I had to take it over. Nothing seems to be going my way. I just want to be able to help people and I would be so proud to hold the title of RN. I don't understand why a stupid math test should determine my future. I really need some encouragement from people who have also had trouble like me.

redheadlpn07 · Nov 13, 2007

If the testing is the tough part for you and you are struggling then maybe take the LPN route which you do not need the NLN for and then you can go on after that to get your RN. It is a bit of a longer route but it gets you out of taking the NLN. I know a few people who have done it that way because they struggled and failed the NLN multiple times and felt as you do that why have that determine them becoming a nurse.....just a thought Besides passing the NLN does NOT guarantee you a spot in the program

by the way I am about to graduate the LPN course from NHTI and it is tough, so I know all about the long way.....I thought it was "just" the LPN course and I really wanted to be a RN but I have learned a lot and have a new respect for the LPN

GOOD LUCK!!

lilyteen · Dec 29, 2007

Hi, it really sounds as if you are passionate about being a nurse, so I would keep on trying if I were you. Since you seem to only be having difficulty with the math, perhaps you can take a math 101 type course, if you have not already done so. Medical math for nursing is actually quite simple. It is primarily doing basic math, with some standard formulas when doing IV calculations or drug dose calculations. I don't know what the specific policy is regarding re-doing the NLN test, but I would not give up if you really want to do this. Your 42% is soooo close, that perhaps you will finally make it on the next try. I wish you luck in whatever you decide, but hopefully you will not give up just yet.

llg, PhD, RN · Dec 29, 2007

The key is to figure out WHY you are struggling with math and address that root cause of the problem directly. Simply trying again and again and again will only lead to repeated worry and frustration until you address the underlying cause of your problem.

What have you done to assess and address the cause of your math problems? Have you always struggled with math, even as a child? If that is the case, you might want to find a resource in your community that can diagnose learning disabilities and similar problems. A community college or "learning center" might be able to help you.

Is this difficulty a recent development? Are you simply "rusty" at math because you haven't taken a course lately? If that is the case, taking a basic math course might be the best way to address it.

Are there just certain types of problems you struggle with? ... or ... Do you have trouble with all types of math questions? If there are just one or two types of problems that stump you, maybe hiring a math tutor would help you learn to do that type of problem.

Do you "freeze up" when you take a math test and get questions wrong that you really know how to do? If that's the case, your underlying problem with the math test may be your anxiety -- not the math itself. If that is the case, studying math won't help much -- you'll need to treat the anxiety to solve the problem.

Do you see what I mean? There is not one right answer to your problem. There are different answers depending on the root cause to your problem. So ... you need to identify the root cause of your problem before you can know how to solve it.

Good luck to you.

borntobanurse3 · Dec 30, 2007

I do have a learning disability. Up until now I have not let the disability determine what I capible of. The only thing I strugglewith ismath and I will always have a hard time with it. I have decided to go the LPN route right now and I am taking a refresher course in math in the mean time.

I am not giving up on being an RN. After thinking about thinking about my options I have decided to do lpn route. I still have to takethe TEAS but it is alot easier from what I can see.

Thank you for all of your support.