Want to be a nurse but I am really bad academically

[Raistlin007]

I want to get into nursing because I want to help people and earn an average wage, since I'm struggling financially, but I have a major problem, I am bad academically. I dropped out of high school after 10th grade and got my G.E.D. I have taken no science classes ever and I don't even know basic high school algebra. I was looking into an LPN program where I live and to even qualify for it I need to pass a test called a TEAS exam. It's broken down into four sections.

I tried to do the practice math section and I bombed it. I saw math I never saw before and felt lost, and this is simply the eligibility test to see if I could get into the LPN program. Is Nursing simply an unrealistic goal for someone in my situation? I have no idea where I go or who I talk to, to try to get educated enough to pass this LPN eligibility test. I really want to be a nurse, but have no idea what to do in my situation. Am I simply dreaming too big, or can someone in my academic situation realistically become a nurse?

[CharleeFoxtrot, BSN, RN]

There's a difference between being realistic about abilities and being self-defeating, and I can't tell which side of the line you're on.

I thought the same thing, but in reading the clarity of the posts I'm leaning towards the OP being a touch hard on herself. I'm also thinking the OP has valuable life-experience and any one of the counseling career arcs may be another alternative. Food for thought.

[First2gradschool]

Hey there,

I'll be starting a nursing program in the Fall and I have a G.E.D. I struggled in math, but I received tutoring and was able to pass the required courses. Please don't underestimate yourself because you may not have the skills or knowledge as of yet; that comes with practice! Good luck!

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

CNA is a great place to start.

[bubbles42]

As others have already said, go to your local community college and take a math placement test. That will tell you which courses you need. Keep taking math classes until you get to college algebra. It seems scary, but you can do it! Also, ask for help. Most community colleges have free tutoring available for math students. I used to absolutely hate math and I thought that there was NO way I could ever do it, and then I got a REALLY good instructor that finally made it click for me. Can you believe I actually began to *like* math? In fact, I liked it so much I ended up minoring in math. Never in a million years would I have ever expected that. There's nothing wrong with dreaming big. Believe in yourself and don't give up!

[missmollie, ADN, BSN, RN]

If you want a nursing degree, you'll take the classes and really learn the material. The goal is to be able to teach someone what you are learning, because if you can teach it then you know the material.

That being said, it is going to take a lot of classes before you even see nursing classes. You'll need to start at your community college taking basic courses. Basic courses are a great way to prepare you for nursing courses, and you'll need to be competitive with a GPA above 3.5.

I think if you put your mind to it, you can do it, but a nursing degree is not something you'll get in two years. It may take you four years, and that's okay. You won't know unless you start on your education, and if you don't, four years from now you may regret it.

How does a person eat an elephant? One bite at a time.

[T__BSN_AGNP21, ADN, BSN, MSN, LPN]

Hi Rais!

Let me tell you a story about myself,

dropped out of high school in 12th grade, I could not even pass basic algebra, went on to obtain my GED, took some remedial math at my local community college, went on to receive my LPN, after that took a long break-went back to community college and graduated with my ADN-immediately went on to an RN-BSN program-I have now been applying to grad school. I never thought I could achieve any of this, but I have!

It can be done, start the ball rolling!

[CallLightDisco]

Form a game plan to get where you need to be. If you have to take remedial classes, so be it!.

[TriciaJ, RN]

My mom and my brother have helped me in life and are encouraging. I just worry about being too dumb to pursue this. I'm very realistic with my strengths and weaknesses, and sadly I'm not the best academically, but I've read others have passed nursing school not being the best academically.

I really want to be a nurse, the big question is can I realistically become out given my lack of abilities and talent. I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer sadly. I've already found out I am quite bad with careers seeking mechanical aptitude and now I find myself at a crossroads. At the moment I'm working a survival job with no future and I have been doing a lot of thinking about where I am in life and where I want to be. I have no clue if a survival job is all I can hope to achieve or if I can realistically get through nursing school given my lack of abilities. I want to be a nurse, the question is can I. I hope I can I just fear I'm not smart enough, but I really am tired of working a survival job with no hope for the future. I'm just at a loss as to how I pursue this goal given my many limitations and where I am at currently academically.

Unless someone has edited your posts for you, I think you are selling yourself short. Your written communication skills are really quite impressive for someone who did poorly in school and self-describes as "not the sharpest knife in the drawer."

I really do suspect you are much more intelligent that you are giving yourself credit for. The background you describe would certainly not be conducive to a stellar high school experience. I do think the other posters are right: talk to an academic adviser at your nearest community college. Just start putting one foot in front of the other and you might be quite pleased where you end up.

Please keep us posted so we can cheer you on. Good luck.

[luffy1q]

Go to Khanacademy. Don't be embarrassed to start at kindergarten. Start from there and work your way up to 8th grade. I'm telling you, this site will definitely help improve your maths skills.

[JBMmom, MSN, NP]

Thank you for all of your advice I appreciate it. I guess that's why you people are good nurses you're good at helping people. I'll look into talking to someone at Community College. I've just been very discouraged and down lately because I am 32 and stuck working a survival job with no hope or future, and feel like a failure in life. Would you suggest I look into a CNA training program so I can get my foot in the door in the nursing profession, or should I focus on getting up to speed with my education in community college first? I do appreciate all of the advice and encouragement though, you people are really kind and helpful and I'm sure you are good nurses.

Being a CNA is going to give you a better idea of the health profession in general and in many cases you can complete the training in about 8 weeks. It does not always translate into a nursing job, but you may start building connections that can help when you're done with school. You might not make more money than you're making now (might be even less), but if you can do that and then work on your education while working, you'll know whether it's the path you really want to take. You're going to get older no matter what, so working towards a goal is your best bet for finding happiness/fulfillment/stability in life. You do sound like you're quite hard on yourself, and you're well spoken, I think you can do this- don't defeat yourself before you even start.

[brandy1017, ASN, RN]

There are old books out there for lay people like Math Made Easy and Algebra Made Easy. Also check out Khan Academy a free online learning site. Start taking basic math and science classes at your local, public, non profit community college. Also, consider other careers like ultrasound tech or radiology tech or physical therapy assistant. Look at your local, tech, community college for their job training programs. There are other jobs besides nursing that I believe would be easier and less stressful. Of the ones I mentioned, ultrasound tech pays the most, as good or better than nursing and you can work in clinics and have a regular schedule rather than nights and weekends. Since you are only working with one patient at a time you are not overworked to the degree that nurses are. LPN's have insane patient ratio's in nursing homes and RN's have ridiculous, unsafe ratios in many hospitals. Look outside the nursing box to other allied health careers.

When you take math classes look online to buy the solutions study guide for your textbook which will show you how to reach the correct answer to the problems so you're not wasting hours wondering why you can't reach the right answer. I used the Math Made Easy and Algebra Made Easy to review for nursing school and bought a solutions study guide when I took College Algebra. It all really helped. I can't stress enough you must do the homework. It is practice and repetition that helps you learn, just like when people practice musical instruments for hours a day, you can't skip the math and science homework. Also science, especially chemistry, builds on math; and you need the math foundation to answer chemistry problems!

Lastly, forget high school and your past. I believe everyone can learn if they are motivated and willing to study and try. I've seen people who were poor high school students get A grades in college because they were studying what they wanted to learn. Check out your local library and start reading everything from fiction to non-fiction. Read whatever interests you, famous people's biographies, gardening, travel. It will broaden your mind and improve your spelling, vocabulary, and writing ability! It will open whole new worlds for you!

PS: Take a personal finance class at the community college. Make this one of the first classes you take! Keep student loans to the absolute minimum.

[Workitinurfava, BSN, RN]

Have you ever looked at the self help videos online or used tutor to help you where you are lacking academically.