Nursing is my passion but I feel like I am too dumb.

[Katlin1315]

Hi, I'm new to writing on the forum but I've been stalking the site for awhile lol. Growing up I always loved taking care of others, and when my baby cousin was diagnosed with mitochondrial disease I spent a lot of time in the children's hospital. I decided then to pursue nursing. I haven't gotten bad grades in science but I'm currently in anatomy and physiology and can not comprehend what the teacher is saying. I find it interesting but he teaches from the book and it's hard for me to grasp. I feel so dumb, I want to be a nurse and it breaks my heart that I don't understand the stuff that's being taught. I didn't have anatomy in high school I was homeschooled and my curriculum was really focused on the fine arts. I'm not bad at math and I do really well in English but I can't seem to think scientifically on test. Do I need to find another field of study? How do I learn anatomy? I've asked my teacher for help but he made me feel even dumber. I just took my first test and I haven gotten my grade back but I went in thinking I knew some stuff and came out feeling like a failure. I went to the school tutor but again I don't get what she means. I learn by applying things to real life and right now everything is so technical. I have no clue what to do, please help!!

[jrennie15]

I didn't read all of the comments so I apologize if someone already said this.... but Khan academy on YouTube has excellent videos. I also struggled work A&P but I am an A student in all of my nursing courses and in my clinicals. You can get through it, I did, as did many of my other classmates who struggled. Use flashcards, buy an anatomy colouring book, look at the A&P made ridiculously easy series. Those sorts of things might help you if you are a visual learner. Don't get too discouraged, figure out a learning style/study method that works for you and work your butt off. You can do this, you sound like you have all the other traits that would make you a great nurse, don't let A&P get in the way of that if there is anything you can do about it. Good luck :)

[lovingtheunloved, ASN, RN]

I entered the nursing field 3 decades ago, because my baby developed a one in a million blood disorder... histiocytosis... research THAT monster.

Anatomy was also my weak point. I passed it because I have excellent memorization skills.

I must say..your home schooling has NOT prepared you for nursing school. I would not pursue nursing.. if I were you.

Nursing is a learned art and science. Public school didn't prepare me for nursing. Being home schooled isn't a reason not to pursue nursing. Of course I don't know all of the OP's circumstances, but that's pretty odd advice.

[Skittles767, RN]

Welcome to nursing haha,

This basically sums up my entire experience of nursing school,

To be honest I was (and to an extent still am) terrible at anatomy, I barley passed those classes but I promise the anatomy part gets so much easier after those classes.... You will be putting nursing practice in with anatomy and it will start to come together like a puzzle

I am almost at my last semester and I only just now figured out how to study.... Go figure..

I recommend for you that you practice with the models putting things together.... Come up with little songs to help you remember.... And if you are blessed to get a cadaver really focus on that!

If you want to invest perhaps get yourself a mini model for the systems you struggle the most with... For me it's the nervous and muscular...

Hope this helps!

[boogalina, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN]

If you are a kinesthetic learner (as I am) you may enjoy Wynn Kapit's amazing A&P coloring book. I still pull mine out from time to time for review. You can get them on Amazon. Hope this helps!

[Doogiesmom]

First of all, get a different tutor. You're not dumb. You only need some remedial help, and a different tutor might be the answer. Reading scientific material is different than general reading, as most biology is now understood at the cellular and molecular level. A lot different than memorizing bones! Try to find a 9th grade science book that will help you understand the scientific method, which will help you understand science writing.

Secondly, nursing is about scientific education. People who read a lot (like a book every couple of weeks), have a variety of interests (like art, music, nature), are athletic, and are generally well-rounded do better in science. You have a fine arts background. Many scientific types play an instrument, sing, paint, etc. All those skills are useful in helping you learn the science of nursing.

Try to find a "how to study" course. I took one in high school and I still use things I learned - how to outline a chapter, how to organize information, which learning style works for me, etc. Maybe all you need is a different approach to learning. Some learn by reading, some by writing, some by touching and feeling, some by talking. It's very individual.

Finally, many of us are late bloomers. I'm 70 now, and a retired RN, but when I was growing up, I hated arithmetic and got the message that I was dumb and bad in math. Well, guess what may favorite course in college was - statistics (I took it at age 38)! Turns out I'm bad at arithmetic, mainly because it's boring. But I'm not dumb, just not very good at endless repetitive columns of numbers. Fortunately, calculators and computers now do all that tedious stuff for me.

Keep trying. You have lots of time. Good luck.

[jabita]

I am taking Ap this semester. I got 107 on exam 1, 110 on exam 2 so far. The key is STUDYING. I am have a toddler, I work as a teacher, and English is my 4th language. I took biology class 10 years ago in another language.

I really understand what you are going through, but if you spend more time studying your materials, you will be fine.

Good luck

[Penelope_Pitstop, BSN, RN]

I am taking Ap this semester. I got 107 on exam 1, 110 on exam 2 so far. The key is STUDYING. I am have a toddler, I work as a teacher, and English is my 4th language. I took biology class 10 years ago in another language.

I really understand what you are going through, but if you spend more time studying your materials, you will be fine.

Good luck

Excuse me. That was rude.

Never, in any of my nursing courses (or college courses in general) did I have an opportunity to score above 100 on ANY exam. I think you should be thankful that extra credit is available at all!

I AM impressed with your accomplishments. Just remember that sometimes just studying more isn't the answer. :)

[bigskygirl]

don't sell yourself short! Keep striving for success :)

[BeachsideRN, ASN]

You aren't dumb, the material isn't clicking the way it is being taught. Try other sources. Videos, other books, go to your professors office and ask for help. You can succeed

[BeachsideRN, ASN]

Excuse me. That was rude.

Never, in any of my nursing courses (or college courses in general) did I have an opportunity to score above 100 on ANY exam. I think you should be thankful that extra credit is available at all!

I AM impressed with your accomplishments. Just remember that sometimes just studying more isn't the answer. :)

Totally agree. Everyone has to find their learning style. 107, 110? You're lucky you are offered bonus points.

[BeachsideRN, ASN]

Check out the link You are Smarter than you ThinkYou are Smarter than you Think

[BRing914]

1) someone earlier in the post said you shouldn't pursue nursing because home schooling didn't prepare you. Please don't listen to that. I was homeschooled, and felt very ill-prepared when I first entered college. Now I made a lot of bad choices, believed it when others told me I wasn't suited for nursing/I wasn't smart enough. I ended up settling for a different degree, and was put on suspension twice. I took 4 years off of school and went back to pursue nursing. I am now a 4.0 student and am hoping to start my program in the fall. The key is to figure out how you study, and go from there. For me reading, and re-reading, making note cards, coming up with silly things that reminded me of how to remember things (gracillis - innner thigh - sounds like gracias - if someone is touching you there they should be saying "thank you"). Find pepople to study with. Trying "teaching" to material to someone else, even if you don't full get it thre first time trying to explain it to someone else might help you think about it differently.

2) If this is your passion and dream just keep at it! Even if that means taking time off, or repeating a class. I'll be 29 when I start my program, and if my little 18 early old self had known that I would have been super disappointed in future me. However, I am so thankful for everything I had to go through to get to this point. It's made me a better student, and one day will make me a better nurse.

You can do it!!