Ready to quit

Nursing Students LPN/LVN Students

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I'm halfway through the second of four terms of an LPN program that I started in Dec 2012. I am guessing I won't pass pharmacology. I can't get the concept of dosing and the math involved. I'm an older (44) student and just can't keep up with the 20 year olds who whine and complained that they 'failed' and then showcase their grade of a 93.

I am trying to hold down my stay at home transcription job (which is NEVER turned in on time anymore), homeschooling the kids and recurring migraines (32 years now). I am at the point of no return. Grades are slipping and I don't want to keep putting out the effort only to know I will probably never get the concept of dosing calculations - a BIG, BIG part of nursing.

Ready to throw in the towel. So, so ready. Thanks for listening to me whine.

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Specializes in LTC.
I'm halfway through the second of four terms of an LPN program that I started in Dec 2012. I am guessing I won't pass pharmacology. I can't get the concept of dosing and the math involved. I'm an older (44) student and just can't keep up with the 20 year olds who whine and complained that they 'failed' and then showcase their grade of a 93.

I am trying to hold down my stay at home transcription job (which is NEVER turned in on time anymore), homeschooling the kids and recurring migraines (32 years now). I am at the point of no return. Grades are slipping and I don't want to keep putting out the effort only to know I will probably never get the concept of dosing calculations - a BIG, BIG part of nursing.

Ready to throw in the towel. So, so ready. Thanks for listening to me whine.

I am an older student too but you are juggling way more than I am. Only you know your limits but if its just about dosing calculations then I would encourage you not to quit. Find a resource..an online one or a book that can help with the dosing calculations. One book I recommend you look into is "Dosage Calculations Made Incredibly Easy". I haven't used it personally but other books in the series have been incredibly helpful. I credit the book "Fluid and Electrolytes Made Incredibly Easy" for breaking down the acidosis/alkalosis stuff in a way I could understand after struggling to get it for so long.

Here is a link to the book http://www.amazon.com/Dosage-Calculations-Incredibly-Series-ebook/dp/B004YESULY/ref=dp_kinw_strp_1

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Alzheimer's & Dementia.

Don't quit! You're already in your second quarter, look how far you've come. I had so much trouble with dosage calculations as well. Math has never been my strong point and 1st quarter Math for meds was like a foreign language. But one of my instructors said something to me that stuck out in my mind permanently. She said "if you can't do this you can't be a nurse, if you make a dosing mistake you can kill someone." Which is totally true, so I made myself learn it because I want to help people not harm them. Now I am a whiz with dosing calculations. Pharm is a hard course and if you do fail it there's no shame. If you have to repeat the course the bright side is you will already have a base knowledge and your pharm skills will be that much stronger for your Nclex. You really do have a full plate. Homeschooling and working sounds rough. Is there anyone that is willing to help you? Summer is coming up. Maybe you can consider public schools for one year. Anything to free up your time. I am not a multitasker by nature so I let go of a lot of other responsibilities in order to get through it. I know times are tough but it's only temporary just try to stay positive and cut corners where you can. It's not easy, if it were anyone could do it. Being there is half the battle. I hope you make it.

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Specializes in ortho, hospice volunteer, psych,.

Check out your local public library. Many of them have textbooks for various programs and often a knowledgeable librarian will have ideas about tutoring options

Talk with your instructor. Without whining, tell her why you're having trouble. A great part of her job is helping students who don't quite grasp something.

Is there a student who is good at math who could help you and you could repay her with homecooked dinners or some brownies?

Don't give up!

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Thanks all. I appreciate all the advice and kind words. One thing that struck me was Nettie's teacher's advice, ""if you can't do this you can't be a nurse, if you make a dosing mistake you can kill someone." SO true and that's what I am ALWAYS thinking about! I am dyslexic (as if I needed to add anything more to the chaos of learning) and math will NEVER come easy. I will always struggle because of the way my mind "sees" math problems. I formally took phlebotomy (over ten years ago) and was at the top of my class. I've been transcribing medicine ever since - never did get a job in phlebotomy because of having kids, etc. I am seriously thinking of just switching back over because I qualify now for a CNA (after a term and a half of LPN studies) so I will have a CNA and phlebotomy license. That will put me at an almost identicle salary of that of an LPN. (I also have a BA so that will help salary wise as well).

LPN school is HARD work and a LOT of work and I just think it's time to realize that I did, in fact, bite off more than I can chew. Not sure when I will drop - probably this week. I learned a lot but I must do what my real life can handle :)

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Was told today if we don't pass a math assessment we can't pass meds. Math is my enemy. I immediately got depressed. Funny thing is, we did a dosage calculations test and I got an A! But my teacher says that's not enough. We have to pass a math assessment which entails fractions, division, addition, and subtraction. I already failed it once. I don't wanna fail clinicals for this crap. Ugh! I guess because she said we can't pass meds without it, I got super nervous. I work terrible under pressure.

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Don't let this stop you! I have a few girls in my class facing the same problems. Just ask someone to explain things to you on a one-on-one basis! I'm sure your teachers will do that for you. Just ask!

& remember if God brought you to it, then He'll pull you thru it!

you're meant to be a nurse... keep pushing! :)

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I found that getting together with class mates helped me a lot and especially it helped set everything in stone. My program has tutors, if yours doesn't I suggest asking for help, they always told is if you ask for help then it shows that you want to succeed, they're not going to come to you because they want the student to have the initiative to succeed and better themselves. Also there are TONS of YouTube videos, some of my class mates benefited from watching tons of those videos, at least find one that helps and you can understand and watch it over and over. If your interested I have some notes I can email to you that I have that sort of makes things easier...you've made it this far, and it is possible. I've seen people do it, you just have to be confident in yourself!! :)

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Specializes in Acute Care.

Maybe it's time to let go of some stuff. Do you have to keep homeschooling your kids right now? Would one year of public school help them too? Maybe it would. If you have to much on your plate the only way to change that is to take some stuff off of your plate.

I say that, only because I am notorious for getting to many things on my plate. It's taken a few really hard knocks to understand that I have to let things go sometimes and that letting go of a few things, at least for me, is generally a good idea.

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I went to the school Monday and withdrew until the end of August. At that point I'm going to do evenings and NOT the accelerated classes! This will give me more time in between to study. Sure, I will graduate four months after my classmates, but nevertheless, I will still do it! In the meantime I am taking a four week (only three days half days per week) cert for phlebotomy. I'll then have my CNA and a phleb. cert. I can find work in a hospital doing that while finishing out the rest of my LPN course. This seems to work for my situation and I feel SOOO much less pressure now!

I will have to repeat second term, but I don't mind because I NEED the pharm. refresher. Maybe in August I will finally get it!

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Specializes in LTC.
I went to the school Monday and withdrew until the end of August. At that point I'm going to do evenings and NOT the accelerated classes! This will give me more time in between to study. Sure, I will graduate four months after my classmates, but nevertheless, I will still do it! In the meantime I am taking a four week (only three days half days per week) cert for phlebotomy. I'll then have my CNA and a phleb. cert. I can find work in a hospital doing that while finishing out the rest of my LPN course. This seems to work for my situation and I feel SOOO much less pressure now!

I will have to repeat second term, but I don't mind because I NEED the pharm. refresher. Maybe in August I will finally get it!

Sounds like you found the perfect solution for you. All the best!

I'm in the extended track of my LPN program taking 18 months instead of the 13 months my full time classmates take to complete the program. Slow and steady works for me especially as I juggle a job and motherhood.

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@ MTmomofsix,

Very glad to see you came up with a solution that didn't include you totally giving up. One day and step at a time!

Hang tight, you can do it!

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