Nursing Pre reqs

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Hello everyone Im 22 years old and this is my first time in college. I want tobe a Nurse more than anything in this world. But I am very bad at math and Ive looked up on a few classes your required to take and it sounds like anatomy&physiology is a pretty difficult class. I plan on asking the teachers every question I have and also getting alot of tutoring. My question is has anyone been bad at math but still able to pull through the pre reqs and Nursing school?

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

I had to take several Math classes before meeting my goal and program reguirements. In every other class I got an A, so far. I love science, and now math doesn't frighten me. I don't think being weak in one area automatically means you will struggle in other classes.

I would try to knock out your math requirements, what ever they are for you school, in the begining.

Best of luck - You can do it!!!

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Specializes in Infusion.

What kind of math are you bad at ? Have you taken an algebra course in the past? Do the A&P classes at the college you want to attend require algebra as a pre-req. Once in nursing school, the math problems will be word problems related to medication dosing. We have to be 100% accurate on our dosage math in order to pass each term of nursing school. I know a couple of people in nursing school who have had to start at square one with their math and took 3-4 math classes before being eligible to register for A&P. They are going to make great nurses.

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Im bad at all kinds of math, I was just never able to get it. The A&P classes dont require any classes before you can take them.

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Specializes in Infusion.

I would get myself really familiar with math. As a nurse, you'll be using math on a daily basis. While it may not be rocket science style math, you still want to feel comfortable with your calculations.

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I am terrible at math!!! I decided to take a basic pharmacology course that is not required for my program to see if I could do drug math, before I spent thousands more of my money going to school. We have a nursing pharmacology that we have to take later in the program, and I was so afraid of the math. I am now confident in saying that I can do more math than I ever thought I could do. My advice is to take an intro to college allegebra class and after you have taken anatomy and physiology, maybe try to take a basic pharm class to see if you can do basic drug math. Just remember, if there is a will there is a way. It has been awesome to squash all of my math fears, and know that I can face drug calculations head on. Don't be so hard on yourself, if you take it slow and learn the basics, you can truly amaze yourself. Good luck!!

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Thank you everyone for the advice.

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Jenn + Math = all bad. lol

To put it in perspective, my school's nursing program requires the completion of Math 102 (intermediate algebra) to graduate with your ADN.

I started in Math 60, then 70, and finally 102. Mind you, 60 and 70 were credit/no credit classes and covered the basics of most basics like adding and subtracting!

Now, here I am. I've taken the aforementioned math classes PLUS statistics and am currently taking college algebra. I've aced all my graded math classes thus far and it's all because of practice practice practice! Math is all about repetition. I would literally do a given practice test 3-5 times before taking the actual test.

As for the kind of math I've done in my pre-reqs, it has always been basic stuff like conversions. So the use of multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction were used. You won't actually calculate when John and Jill meet up if one leaves at 60 mph 2 hours earlier than the other who leaves at 40 mph against a wind of 5 mph in anatomy and physiology. lol

But you've got the basics, ask questions and take advantage of any kind of tutoring! Good luck!

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Thanks Jen, I think thats what Im going to do because even multiplication and division gets me lost.I had a bad anxiety problem so I NEVER ask questions in school.

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Specializes in School Nursing.

I'm terrible at math!!! I had to take pre-algebra, intro algebra and intermediate algebra (all remedial non-credited classes) to qualify for college level math. I took Math for Liberal Arts (which is a showcase of different math concepts) and passed with a B! I NEVER thought that possible. I'm now taking Statistics and am making a high A! (100s on the first 2 exams and a 98 on my 3rd!)... you WILL get better at math.. it just takes practice.

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