UTA College Algebra: A Freaken Rant

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Specializes in Home Health,ID/DD, Pediatrics.

I planned on taking the college algebra at the local community college but was not able to due to time constraints (I work A LOT). So I had to take it at UTA, I'm in week two. On top of working around 60 plus hours a week I'm now having to spend every waking moment on this class, where I am behind and can't get my homework completely finished by the deadline because each unit takes hours and hours and their are a ton of them. I have my first test this weekend and I am no where near ready.

I'm extremely frustrated. Meanwhile my computer died so I go buy a new one, and now I'm having all kinds of problems because my new computer has windows 8.1, which apparently NOTHING works well with, especially mathlab. I get kicked out constantly and it freezes up all the time. I hit a new low tonight when I was in tears and my book went sailing across the room.

I'm so frustrated, I have two classes left to finish then I'm done and the way things are going I won't pass this class, which means I'll have to pay the VA back (going on GI bill) for this class and be out the money for the book.

Has anyone else complained to UTA about the way this class is set up and the fact that we are mostly WORKING nurses? How are you supposed to work, have a family and a life and get your degree if their isn't enough time to even come close to finishing the homework and studying? This class sets you up to fail from the start unless you are really good in math. I had stats, why in the hell am I now having to take this class? I'm very frustrated at UTA, and am wondering why they don't either A)require stats and leave it at that, or B) have a college algebra class that is more working nurse friendly available in the RN to BSN? This is an inordinate amount of work to required. I'm supposed to bust my a$# at work, drag myself home after 12 hours and do 4 to 6 hours of homework a night online?

I'm just curious if anyone has discussed this with anyone at UTA and what the response was. I feel like something needs to change, because at this point it sure feels like I'm likely not going to pass this class. How this could be when I not only survived but did well in all my other classes and survived nursing school is beyond me!

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR. :banghead:

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Specializes in ICU.

Windows 8.1 is an abomination in my opinion. My daughter's laptop has that and I've honestly tried to work it and it just doesn't work. I recommend buying Windows 7 from ebay or somewhere and installing it. You need to be able to use your computer easily.

About complaining, I found that it went nowhere. I didn't complain about the math (liked those actually) but I and many others complained a lot about the unrealistic history classes at UTA. The response was basically, "Yeah college can be tough. Suck it up."

Working 60 hours with a difficult class isn't ideal. Can you take a day off and do nothing except catch up on math?

When I took the more cumbersome classes, I was lucky that my job allowed me some downtime to study at work.

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Specializes in Home Health,ID/DD, Pediatrics.

I figured complaining may not get me anywhere, but maybe if enough of us did and wouldn't go away then they would consider changing things?

My job is such that right now I'm the only nurse on this case (I do home health/private duty with ID/DD kids) and if I don't show up then parents have to take off work because they have no nurse. The company has understaffed this case since I've been on it. They have been promising me for 5 months that they would get another nurse on this case to pick up a day and have yet to come through, even after multiple requests, my getting angry and throwing a fit, my explaining why I'd like to go from working five shifts back to back...and nothing. Luckily on many days I work only 9.5 or 10.5 hours rather than the full 12 but still that is way too much.

I'm extremely frustrated over the fact that the love I have for my job and patients is being exploited because the company can't get it together and get me some back up, or rather won't. If I don't come to work, my patients go without a nurse. My main patient isn't stable and has major anxiety so I can't just take time off, it throws this patient into a tail spin which could land them in the ER due to getting overly worked up (and I mean overly worked up which exacerbates health issues). There is little downtime because with the developmental and intellectual disabilities comes a whole host of other issues to deal with, one is the fact that if my attention isn't on the patient all the time in many instances something will be "created" for me to do as a way to re-focus my attention onto them, due to lack of understanding etc...

It's really my fault for trusting the company I work for to deliver on what they promised, and waiting for it to happen up until I had no time to enroll locally in an evening class. I waited like a trusting fool and ended up having to take algebra at UTA :(

It would have been a challenge if I took this locally as well, since I'd be dead tired in class but at least I would have a better chance of not bombing out. GRRRRRR. Some of the requirements for UTA are based off of money, they want the money they get for making people who already have degree(s) take extra gen eds. Very frustrating. :no:

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Sounds like the History classes. I complained, a lot. I hear a lot of people complain. Nothing changed. I hope you can find time for the class. 60 hours is really a lot of work when you are in school. Prayers for you.

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Danaroo,

I feel for you, oh my goodness, may God help you. I will start this class in August, hope things works out for me. Please, how did others cross through this hell???? Many people have been complaining and giving suggestions of trying community colleges, but time factor happen to be the problem. Please, those who did it with UTA, what and how did you do ???

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Specializes in Home Health,ID/DD, Pediatrics.

ceebeejay and LadyD123, thanks for the support! And LadyD123 that is a good question, how in the heck did some of the others get through this stinken class.

I know algebra is work, but this class is off the wall.

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Can you not do it online through a community college? I got a tutor and completed it that way. Much easier.

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