Statistics

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I am taking Statistical Methods this Summer which is a prerequisite for my BSN. So far, its okay but I really don't see how I will use it as a Nurse. I even asked some of my friends who are Nurses and they said they don't even use it at work! So, what is the point of taking Statistics? Does anyone have tips on how to do well in class? It seems tough!

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Following.....hoping for any helpful tips :D I am taking it this summer starting in June......I am not very good at math beyond basic math sooo i'm kinda a teeny bit stressed over this one

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Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.

Stay on top of your homework and talk to your professor if you're struggling. Study groups CAN be helpful, if you find a good group that doesn't just chit chat the whole time.

If you go for your BSN, you'll take a research course, and you'll see the statistics come up there. Remember the terminology from stats, and that will help a lot. :) I remember wondering how I'd use it, too! You'll start hearing a lot about evidence-based practice, and that's where the stats come in. You won't use stats in your everyday practice, but if you want to make changes and look up the evidence to support your ideas, you'll need to know what to look for.

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Specializes in ED, Medicine, Case Management.

Statistics is not easy, but it is critical to understand in order to interpret as well as conduct research. Statistics is generally a prerequisite for many public health and community nursing classes as well as a basic requirement for a sciences degree at most universities. While you may not see the need for it immediately, if you continue on to an advanced degree, statistics will be very important to you. Good luck in your class!

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
So, what is the point of taking Statistics?
If one is going to be a nurse, what's the point of taking American history? What's the point of taking psychology? What's the point of taking other courses that are seemingly unrelated to nursing?

General education coursework is supposed to facilitate the introduction of new ideas and help the student attain a wide repertoire of knowledge in multiple topics, gain intellectual skills, cultivate an expanded worldview, and see others’ points of view.

The statistics coursework is required for BSN/MSN students to help them become more knowledgeable regarding statistical methods, research design and evidence based practice, all of which impact the nursing profession in some way.

In summary, general education is intended to assist in crafting a more well-rounded academic experience. Some people are probably thinking, “These extra courses are a waste of time because I want to study nursing!” Well, trade schools offer nursing programs too, and these types of institutions are less likely to require 'baloney' courses.

Good luck to you!

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You may find that you really enjoy statistics! Stats are everywhere and I learned how to make sense of, interpret and think critically about data in a way that I hadn't been able to prior to taking the class. I LOVED my stats professor and he said statistics is about searching for the truth of things, and since we will never fully know the truth, stats attempts to get as close to the truth as possible. One thing that I loved right of the back is searching for hidden bias in data (numbers). It's unethical for people to lie about numbers in their reporting, however they can present them in a way that is a confusing to an untrained eye. I was able use what I learned immediately in real life, so even if I never use it in nursing (which I highly doubt), I've learned to to make better sense of the world around me!

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Following.....hoping for any helpful tips :D I am taking it this summer starting in June......I am not very good at math beyond basic math sooo i'm kinda a teeny bit stressed over this one

I'm starting a stats Minimester in June!! I'm definitely in the same bait as you ?

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Hi tesouthern,

I hear you but.... as noted by others that have responded. Statistics is everywhere. We live and breathe stats....

Simple things such as: what are the chances that your major high way say 95 W will be packed or traffic jammed at 6pm Friday?

The answer is in statistics: we know by record that HWY 95 is always packed at this time because it has been that way for the past 2 years.....what I'm saying in essence is that what you are learning now will absolutely be of use even as a bedside nurse.

A good example is you notice that every time residents from a particular nursing home are admitted to you acute care facility; there is an outbreak of noro virus. The only way you can proof this is by going back to the charts of patients/residents that has been admitted from that facility and reading their charts to see if they had symptoms of noro virus (diarrhea, vommitting, fever) while admitted and you find out that 9 out of 11 pt. (81%) actually tested positive to noro virus while at your acute care facility.

These are just basic ways that Stats is used in our day to day life.

The following are tips to help.

1. have an open mind.

2. Complete assigned readings.

3. Seek instructors assistance; as soon as needed DO NOT WAIT TILL THE END OF THE SEMESTER.

4. Practice! Practice! Practice!

Best wishes!

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Specializes in NICU, Trauma, Oncology.

You will use it to critically review literature and apply it to your patient population. aka evidence based practice. Currently, I am not a nurse, but a researcher and a lot of the stat analysis I do drives the treatment plans of our patients. For example, we found that by having an aggressive surgical plan and multidisciplinary therapy in treating our patients we improve survival by approx 20% over the current national average for our specific patient population. We've also found that certain symptom controlling treatments, when given in high doses during surgeries, prevents nearly all incidences of crisis in our pt population.

Basically, statistics helps you decide whether a treatment plan is appropriate and if it will be detrimental to a patient. It will help you determine the risk/benefits of certain care. Statistics isn't easy at first. It's one of those things that doesn't make much sense until it clicks and then you are dumbfounded at why you were so confused or why your teacher didn't just explain it that way in the first place.

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YIKES! TYPOS: Up studying for finals. Should have read: The one thing I loved, RIGHT OFF THE BAT, was...

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