What if I am not "medically inclined"

idkmybffjill · Jan 24, 2018

You don't have to be inclined to something in order to do it and be able to do it well. It may just mean that you will have to spend more time studying than someone else and make sure you keep up with your weaknesses. Natural talent isn't the end all, be all, and I think a lot more of people's skills and knowledge is from practice and effort than inclination than we realize. It seems a lot of times in academic situations, people want to come off like they are naturally gifted at something and are making great grades with no effort.

And frankly, sometimes it's not even that we aren't inclined to be able to do something but rather us just having focused and practiced in other subjects more OR that we aren't approaching the subject the right way. Personally, I used to think I just wasn't inclined to understanding biology or physiology because I just didn't get how the cycles and components all worked together and it didn't stick with me like chem did.

But since taking the prereqs several years after that, I realized that I just wasn't studying the right way and didn't really have the resources then. I need visuals on how things work and interact, such as what muscle contraction actually looks on a micro level (of course, as much as it's possible to represent it lol). Once I had videos on all these concepts, I got them a lot more and have been able to retain the info. It was more that I wasn't focusing on the subject in a way that I would be able to learn it and understand it.

It could be something similar for you. Maybe you just need to deal with science more to get a better grasp on things or you may need to approach it differently than you are used to.

Cheyenne.v · Jan 24, 2018

Thank you for the reply! I am not afraid of hard work or studying but I also don't want someone to be hurt because I am stupid. The stakes are higher with nursing and it scares me.

idkmybffjill · Jan 24, 2018

I get that. But the fear of failure also makes us assume the worse about ourselves. I also do think the hard work and studying will often translate into you gaining knowledge and skill. You only lack knowledge when you don't put the time in learning and understanding something enough, and like you said, you aren't afraid to put that work in. Plus, being able to assess yourself and your knowledge--knowing what you don't know--seems like it's going to be a good skill to have in nursing because you'll be able to know when to ask for help rather than go forward with something you don't understand. Way too many people in healthcare don't ask when they are unsure, and it's just not safe.

One thought is if you haven't taken any of the prereqs yet, then start taking at least one major science class, like A&P. You don't have to fully commit now. See if you are able to really sit down and learn it and understand it. Watch videos, talk to the professor, answer every practice question you can find if needed. If you can do that, then you can continue to build your knowledge and your skills in science.

MrPhasma · Jan 24, 2018

I know many great nurses who are "medically inclined." They're not great at science and don't particularly love anatomy, pharmacology, pathophysiology, etc., but they are great with their patients and know how to do their job. Nursing school doesn't require you to be in love with science; it requires dedication. It definitely helps if you enjoy learning about science and are good at it but it is not required. Additionally, there are many fields of nursing to choose from and some require more science than others. So ask yourself two questions: "Do I like helping people? Am I dedicated and willing to study my butt off for the next few years?" If the answer is yes to both of those then go for it! Good Luck!