Thwarted by Viète! or How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Accept I Suck At Algebra

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Hi Everybody,

I'm a pre-nursing student in Los Angeles having been out of college for about 18 years with no degree and very few transferable credits. I took a math assessment test and placed rather low (Intro to Algebra), although I must admit I did better than I thought after a 20 year break.

Certainly there's someone else here who has or has had a long-range view of their career but became stuck in a subject that slowed getting to the real pre-reqs of Anatomy, Physiology, etc. It seems the only way through it is head-on, but maybe this is just the first in a series of educational pummelings to come.

On one hand I have a strong ability to do basic arithmetic in my head, which has served me well especially in working as a bartender. On the other I wonder to what extent Algebra will be a part of nursing. Should concern myself with shooting for an A+ in a subject I'll feel lucky enough to squeeze out a C+/B-? Will a lower, albeit passing grade in Algebra affect me negatively further down the road?

It's been encouraging and illuminating reading posts on allnurses. I'm grateful to whomever built and maintains the site as well as everyone who participates.

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Specializes in OR, Trauma, OH, Vasc., Ortho, Gen.

Shoot for strait A's, anything less may not get you into nursing school. Now for the old school saying, "Anything worth doing, is worth doing to the best of your abilities." I just got into a program that anything less than my best would have left me wanting. So you can bet your ass my life will be dedicated to the program while I am in it, as will my peers. As I have heard from those in the program anyone providing anything less will be promptly booted out.

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Specializes in ICU.

I was the same as you. Did well on arithmetic but terrible on the algebra. I got stuck in Algebra I this past semester. Once I got started, I remembered it and it became easy for me. I am taking Algebra II this semester then College Algebra over the summer. My Algebra I and II classes don't count towards GPA so all I have to get is a C to pass. I got an A in one we will see how I do in II. College Algebra will be hard next summer. Again I will only have to get a C to pass. Even though it goes towards my GPA it is not one of the classes they consider when admitting you to nursing school. I think that helps me not stress so much about it. Look into the requirements of your school. Also my school offers free math tutoring to anyone that needs it so I will utilize that if I need to.

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Specializes in Hospice.

Unfortunately, it matters. I'm an older student with an irrational fear of math. Somehow managed an A in my pre req math (Math for Allied Health). Now that I am in my nursing program, even with an A in that previous course, I am reduced to a sniveling coward at the thought of dosage calculations, which we will be diving into headfirst with the start of next semester. Good luck!

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Shoot for As, but do yourself a favor and verify WHAT grades your programs look at for selection purposes. For instance, at my local ADN program, there are prerequisites classes that must be taken, but the ONLY grades they look at for GPA application purposes are A&P, Psych, and English. So whether an applicant made an A, B, or C in, say, Sociology, would not matter, so long as she earned at least a C. On the other hand, it mattered very much whether the applicant made an A, B, or C in English and Psych, because those were part of the official application GPA grades.

It's weird, but that's how some programs work.

P.S. I took Algebra I after 18+ years out of school and did just fine. I took it at a local CC where I wasn't competing against future particle physicists!

ETA: Just noticed that Heathermaizey said all this two posts up, and in clearer fashion.

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Specializes in Neuro, Telemetry.

Also consider if you wish to further your education. A lot of your pre req classes won't affect your application. BUT, if you wish to move on with nursing education later, your TOTAL GPA will matter. Just something to think about.

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Thanks so much for the advice, everyone. I had a feeling that more than arithmetic nigh be required at some point while working. It's a tough call because of course I don't want this to affect my GPA negatively going forward, but neither do I want focusing on nailing algebra to delay starting the real classes. Been tutoring myself with teaching guides and practice assessment tests. We'll see how it goes...

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Specializes in Neuro, Telemetry.

Also, what classes would you be taking alongside your algebra class? If the other classes you take count toward application GPA, then do as well as you can, but don't let your other classes suffer. If its all basic classes that are just needed to get you to the pre req level, then just focus on passing the best you an and don't stress too much. Algebra is not the most necessary part of nursing school. I just started my med math class yesterday and from what I can see, the first semester is the easiest for dosage calculations, and it does get a bit more complicated further into the program, but its not really that complicated. I would say the dimensional analysis you will learn in Chemistry will be more useful for the type of math you will get in nursing school. GL

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