Panicking

Nursing Students LPN/LVN Students

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I start the lvn program next Monday. My instructor emailed the class giving us the first 2 weeks reading assignments...I opened my math book for the class and started going over the basics, started panicking because the first chapter is full of fractions! I am not very good with fractions....Then I started reading my fundamentals book and working in the work book that goes with it....I had to go over the chapter twice to get everything correct in the workbook. I'm freaking out a little..okay a lot! I got A and B in my pre req classes but now I find myself wondering more like stressing can I do this or am I going to fail! Yikes, I just want to cry. Am I the only one that feels this way?

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I'm a recently accepted RN student and completely overwhelmed as well....After 12 books were sent to my house with hundreds of pages to read and work on, I think we all go through the panic stages. The questions after all the panic is, do you still want to do it? If you want to do it, you will. It's just a matter of deciding what's right for you. Someone once told me that "Bravery is not about not being afraid of something. Bravery is being afraid of something, but doing it anyway." I hope that helps.

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abit thanks... I know this will be my largest challenge to date so hopefully it all works out in the end.

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I know how you feel. I got a two-ton bomb dropped in my lap when I picked up my syllabi a few days ago. To prepare for the first week's classes I have to read a total of nineteen chapters, do six workbook units, and write a paper. It's easy to get that panicky feeling.

I have found that the best first step is to get organized. Look at each chapter and how many pages it is...break everything down into chunks of study time (1pm to 2pm, read paged 45-65). One of my favorite things to do is write every task or chunk of work on a mini post it and line them all up above my desk. As I complete each task, I remove a post it. The dwindling line of neon squares calms me and assures me stuff is getting done! Might be a silly thing but whatever works.

As far as the math stuff...there are some great websites designed for kids that work fabulously as a kind of quick review tool for adults too. I took intermediate algebra last semester and when I got stuck I went to AAA Math and went through tutorials that really simplified it. Also, the Khan Academy website has hundreds of basic math videos...science ones too...where this guy talks stuff out and illustrates on a black screen with these cool neon colors. I could not survived A&P without Khan.

One more thing...never say you're not good at something. Because then you surely never will be.

Best of luck to you and happy reading!

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I have a tendency to get really overwhelmed too. My husband is about the calmest, most chill person I know, and he's helped me to overcome those awful panicky feelings with a couple of ideas.

First, is getting super stressed out going to HELP the situation? Most likely, no, it will only make the problem worse. Worrying is a waste of time and energy.

Second, a big task is made easier by turning it into many small tasks. Bite size pieces are much more reasonable to take on than the whole enchilada!

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Thanks!

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

Look up kiddie/junior high websites to reinforce your abilities. The key is repetition, repetition, repetition! There is no trick or easy way to do it, just put in the time! Personally, I never recommend just sitting there working four hours on end, because you won't retain much. Do a lot of short (15-30 min) sessions, followed by 10 minutes of fun (solitaire, minesweeper, browse facebook). It will keep you from getting burned out, and also promote quality over quantity!

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I went to a bath house today and had a few mineral bath and sauna sessions came home and breezed through some chapters....I feel better however I am avoiding my nurse math meds book. I have looked at several websites and I still have trouble with those darn fractions. I think my problem set in when I have to find the LCD before I can perform the rest of the problem. I will re-attempt in a few days when I finish the rest of my fundamentals chapters.:rolleyes:

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