Math question: Required Statistics Course?

Students SRNA

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Hi!

I'm currently in my undergrad, and will be (hopefully) starting an RN program this fall. My ultimate goal is to go on to become a CRNA, so I've done quite a bit of research on various schools and the prerequisites their programs have for consideration of an applicant. One of these prereqs at the schools I'm looking at is statistics. They're wanting an "Inferential Statistics" course, and at first I just assumed that meant that they were wanting a high level stats course--you know, the kind that has really intensive math courses like Linear Algebra and Calc II as prereqs. However, I don't think that's the case any longer... I mean, obviously those accepted to CRNA schools are very academically inclined, but I don't think that their academic inclinations have to be so inclined as to include determining convergence or divergence of power series summations using limit comparisons so that they can get into a prereq to a CRNA program. (I just finished up Calc II, that whole power series stuff was part of it, and I'm really hoping that I don't ever have to see math like that again lol. I mean, I handled the course pretty decently, especially at first. But I am no Einstein, and by the end of it, I was just happy to get my B.) I don't know what the difference between that and a non-inferential stats course would be, so this is where I was hoping that you all could help me.

For those of you who have applied to a program, and have all your admission prerequisites already met, what kind of stats course did you take? What were the main take away lessons from it, if you can remember? Also, what kind of mathematical prereq(s) did you need to have before taking the stats course you took?

Thanks in advance for any and all help you may offer in response to this question! :)

P.s.

Yeah, I know I should email an academic program advisor at the schools I'm looking into to find out for sure. I just feel more comfortable doing it here first since I haven't started my RN program yet. (I feel like I'm being less of a nuisance asking on allnurses or something :D )

maverik09

9 Posts

Specializes in ICU-CCRN, ED, SRNA.

First of all, this should probably be in the Pre-CRNA inquiry, but I'll go ahead and give my :twocents:. In the area that I am from I know that an undergraduate statistics course is pretty much required for admittance to any BS Nursing program. Now, from my personal experience and what I basically now relay to my friends that are looking to get into CRNA school and are going back for their BS, take graduate stats immediately following your undergrad stats class, although I was about 7 or 8 years removed from the undergrad class, I feel like they were nearly identical to one another. While I personally didn't feel that undergrad or graduate stats was that hard, I also had Cal I-III and felt that those weren't extremely difficult either, but you know how you are with math, and I can pretty much guarantee with certainty that if you have problems or dislike undergrad stats, you're probably going to feel the exact same way with graduate stats, the concepts displayed do not really change. As far as the "inferential" aspect, just look through your graduate bulletin and find the stats class that says you'll be using inferential concepts in the class and that'll probably just about cover any requirement to get into a school that requires "inferential" stats. Of course, e mail the secretary or director with the class description and they'll run it by whoever it has to be run by and typically they'll give you a yes or no. I hope this helps.

Zaphod, BSN, RN

181 Posts

Specializes in ICU-CCRN, CVICU, SRNA.

Rerely you would need such high level math..undergrad stats is fine..better off taking advanced chemistry and biochemistry

maverik09

9 Posts

Specializes in ICU-CCRN, ED, SRNA.

While I do agree with your statement RNbyDesign, I was simply trying to help out the OP by giving my advice on the graduate stats class, and yes, there are several schools that require a graduate "inferential" stats class for admittance. I was just relaying on a math level where I stood comparatively to the OP. However, I didn't ask why the OP had Cal II, I can only reason they were some sort of science/math major prior to making the decision to become a nurse, kind of like myself, hence the reason for that particular level of math. But again, I do agree with your statement, and if that was intended for the OP, then please disregard.

Zaphod, BSN, RN

181 Posts

Specializes in ICU-CCRN, CVICU, SRNA.

yes it was advice directed to OP. You have a gret point and I as well had calc II however the admins were more interested in my org.chemistry and biochem grades.

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