Weary, Need Guidance

ananamo7 · Oct 1, 2010

38 Views no responses, Can anybody help? Give me support groups, study skill classes or any input. Please, I help help and just need some guidance. Somebody out has to be having some similar problems that they've learned to overcome. I have been waiting for days with no response. Thanks, I'd be very grateful.

accc · Oct 1, 2010

Nursing school is hard. Professors only see it in black and white, whether you pass or fail. I knew people who could not go on with nursing with less than 1 point of passing. Ask yourself if this is what you really want in your life. Nursing school has a lot of drama- tears, laughters, disappointments. And when you started working, you will be surrounded by people who have a lot of emotional and physical problems. Have a moment with yourself and ask your family's opinion. If you decide to go back to school for nursing, boost up your GPA first in a community college (but this will take time) and take other classes that you never took before. Maybe you will see your strengths instead of focusing on your weaknesses (like A&P, as you said). After learning other things, A&P will become easier. Hope this will help. Good luck!

CA_BSN_Student · Oct 1, 2010

I'm sorry for all the debacles that you went through. It's not right for those schools to not make reasonable accommodations for you.

I think your priority right now should be finding a solution to your learning disability. Whether it's having to take prescription medications, having to go through treatments...etc, you should definitely try to alleviate it before choosing your next path. Whether you decide to go for LPN again, ADN, BSN, or other medical field, the same problem will arise again. So before wasting anymore time and money, I really think you should try to alleviate your learning disability somehow. Many public junior colleges and 4 year universities have some sort of disabled student services center & learning assistance center that might be of help. They probably have limited resources due to our current economic situation, but I would think public schools will be more understanding & accommodating of your situation. Good luck!

Saysfaa · Oct 1, 2010

I want to help you so I read through your other posts as well.

It sounds like you are very determined to be a nurse. So I will start there. If I were in your shoes: I would take stock of where I am, take a good hard look at where I wanted to go and then map out several paths to get from here to there.

First, dig down until you are standing on a firm foundation. Perhaps you have compensated for your learning disabilities in ways that got you through a class without really mastering the material in that class. I've known several people that have done that, it works for a while but tends to bite them eventually. It worries me that you have so much trouble the second time you take classes, even the ones you've passed before. That tells me you need to dig a bit deeper - maybe start with the math so you can master the chemistry so you can master the physiology - that kind of thing. I do realize this is not what you want to hear, that you are eager to get on with it and all that, but charging ahead has not been working for you. It is better to re-evaluate than to keep doing the same thing that hasn't been working. I have no pride in this. I myself made it through college algebra without a good foundation. I failed the first time and got a low C the second time. Then I stopped thinking about where I should be based on the classes I'd had and so on and looked at where I actually really was. When I did this process, I saw I need to start with learning addition.

Ok. Where am I? Oh, still taking stock. What material is mastered is one side of taking stock. The other side is HOW to master new material. There is nothing wrong with compensating for your learning disabilities, in fact that is what you need to do. You just need to find ways to do it that ends up with the material mastered instead of bypassed. It might be using primarily visual tools instead of auditory tools. It might be developing other routes through your brain through therapy. I don't know much about this on the auditory side but my son did it on the visual side. Certain physical movements stimulate brain development in certain area.

Second, where to go? I "why" rather "where" is the real question If the only reason is that one wants to, I think that is okay. However, recognizing that that is the only reason will help keep things in perspective as far as how much time/money/effort one puts into it and how much else one gives up to do it. And whether one thinks it was worth it when he gets there. Usually, there are more reasons. So, start with the why and then sort through the options evaluating which is the best fit for you. I do not know enough about all the different flavors of nursing or about auditory processing disorders in general or your case in particular to say nursing is not a good fit for you, but I've seen many nursing schools lists of physical requirements and many say something about the physical ability to verbally communicate with patients, family, and colleagues. Sonography comes to mind as a health care profession that might be more amenable to people with auditory learning disorders. I'm not trying to say not to do nursing, it could be that you will do fine after you make some adjustments due to your diagnosis.

Third, map out several paths from here to there. I can't help much with this since I don't know your details very well. One thing I noticed is how many credits you were taking, while working, with kids. I'd cut way back on the credits until I had found the firm foundation and built on it enough to know I really had found it and was on my way about figuring out how to master the material thoroughly. Then, maybe slowly add more credits at a time. In the meantime, I'd work ahead on my own. That way I could drop the independent work when the class work needed more attention and I could fill in blank spots and maybe not have to take a class over or ease the load in later classes.

lifelearningrn, BSN, RN · Oct 1, 2010

I know how hard school can be with a learning disability (I have one myself)... but I think these classes are 75% confidence, and if you're stuck thinking you can't learn it because of X, Y and Z, you're going to have a hard time passing. I know this from experience.

I spent many years not even trying because I thought my learning disabilities would prevent me from success. I've been in school since 2006 and only just earned an AA in May.

I'll tell you that there is no way on God's green earth I would have been able to go straight into the heavy bio classes right out of the gate. I started with the easier basics like history and remedial math. Then moved on to comps, governments and other liberal arts type classes. Little by little, I built some confidence. My first bio class I struggled and struggled and studied and studied and still only pulled off a C. Second bio, it wasn't has hard and pulled off a B. Took geology, it was a bit difficult but got another B. Last semester, seeing my first goal (associates degree) within reach, I took 16 hours and made the Dean's Honor list for the first time.. (my high school GPA never got above like 1.2)

I've had failures along the way. I've dropped more than my share of classes because I didn't think I would pass or because I put off the homework so much it was hopeless that I would catch up to make a good grade. I flat out failed college algebra and took a liberal arts math instead. MATH is my Achilles heel.

This semester I'm taking A/P and I got over 100 on my first lecture exam! There is no way, I mean no way, that would have been possible without working up to this point little by little over the past several years. A&P is not easy, but having already taken other sciences I've learned a little how to handle studying and learning in the sciences. (and having an awesome A/P teacher helps

I guess the point I'm trying to make is you can do this. You just may need to start with some basics and work your way up, perfecting your study skills, seeing what works for you, and building your confidence. Jumping right in to harder classes may not be the right path for you.. if fact, I'm certain it isn't the right path for you since it's been so difficult to this point.

My advice, take some classes. If your CC offers a study skills class, take it. Most community colleges also offer free tutoring for ALL students. Take advantage of these services. Take a non-science major bio class to get your feet wet and familiarize yourself with the subject matter. (I took bio for science majors and if I had to do it again I probably would have taken the easier one first).

After building up your confidence, study skills and GPA, reapply for an LVN program. I think you'll be shocked at the difference it will make. Good luck!

Good luck!