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I am planning to go back to school for nursing. I am a 32 year old stay at home mom. The community college offers the 2 year nursing program. I already have my Associates degree, but I will need to repeat my maths and sciences. Heres the problem: I am really bad at Math and at science. I actually had to go to summer school for math back in high school and i took an alternative science class called chemistry in the community in high school.

I am not sure i can do nursing because of this. I don't have the time or money to waste. In other words, I don't want to start taking the pre-reqs and then find out it is just too hard. What are your opinions? Do you think I will be able to do it? I love the idea of nursing, and caring for people and watching them get better, but the school part is very much a turn off for me. (just the maths and sciences.) I am extremely interested in the mental health field (working with addictions, depression,eating disorders ) among adolescents. It i don't do nursing I would probably get into some kind of counseling/social work field.

I definelty want to go back to school but i am not sure if i should do nursing or if i am just better off doing the counseliing/social work.

All your opinions would help! And please, don't soften the blow!! Tell me how hard it is. Let me know if you think I am better off doing something else because of the math/sciences. No hard feelings...I promise!!!!

thanks

Specializes in Pediatrics, Geriatrics, Call Center RN.

I think high school was a long time ago. Don't beat yourself up over it. I would start at the lower math class and work my way up re-learning on the basic math skills and improve your confidence. That is what I did. As far as chemistry, I have no idea how I passed but I did. I took it online our teacher met us at the local mcDonald's and I got an A. If Nursing is what you really want to do, I say go for it.

LaceyRN

633 Posts

Something came to my mind when reading your post, and that is to not let your past or your fears determine your future or get in the way of your goals.

I, too, was a stay at home mom, 34 years old with an associates degree before returning to school in January 2006. I also had my fears about certain classes (A&P, Micro) but I decided to take it SLOW at first. I registered for only 2 classes and put my ALL into them. I quit working to focus all of my energy into school and I did earn A's in both classes. Financially, we didn't have the money to "waste" either and we had to make some sacrifices to put me back in school. But I'll tell you something... I really thought long and hard about the decision to go back to school. I got the feeling I wanted to pursue nursing in 2003 but had a steady job and income at the time. When we moved in 2004 from florida to new york, I though this was a perfect opportunity to get back in school. I did my research and some serious soul searching. Once I determined for sure that nursing was my passion... I committed to myself that I was going to get through the tough classes NO MATTER WHAT IT TAKES.

I am now in my nursing program and loving it...and doing extremely well academically. I am so happy I made the decision to purse nursing!

Don't let the math scare you. Actually, nursing math is quite simple and I have many friends who previously fear math say to me that they actually like nurisng math! The science portion is not as easy... A&P is challenging but totally do-able.

I hope you take the time to do you own soul searching and if you decide nursing is your passion... GO FOR IT and NEVER LOOK BACK! :)

Mommycakers

184 Posts

You can do anything you set your mind to. You have to be positive. Maybe you need to get a copy of that book "The Secret" that focuses on the Law of Attraction. Basically you get what you ask for. If you think you are not going to succeed you end up doing everything to prove yourself right. But, if you think you can do it you end up succeeding because you take positive moves to make yourself succeed. They also have it in a video. It was on Oprah. If you already have an associates degree it doesn't seem like you have any learning disability. I am sure you can do it because I did it.

I also didn't do great in high school because we had a lot of family issues with my mom so school was not a high priority. My dad just wanted us to go to school because it was the law. He really didn't actively encourage us (5 of us) to do our best in school. When I went to college right out of high school I did not do so well because I did not have a goal. I didn't know what I wanted to do with my life. So I stopped going to school and started working then got married and had a family. I am now 41 and have three more classes to go before I get my associates degree in Allied Health. I also have a 4.0 GPA and that is mainly because I am determined to do well. Failure is not an option. I have worked many years before kids doing desk bookkeeping jobs and I definately don't want to spend the rest of my working years doing something just because it is the only job I can get without a degree. If you are having trouble with a class form a study group with a few of your classmates. That might really help with Chemistry. If you are having trouble figuring out a calculation your classmate can help you. Also, I would advise not taking the math and science in the same semester if you know it is going to be very demanding trying to find time to study. You may just need to put in more study time than you usually do to succeed. Believe in yourself and you will do great. Good Luck!

Daytonite, BSN, RN

1 Article; 14,603 Posts

Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

yuyu75, 32 year old stay at home mom, when one of your kids was little and learning to tie their shoelaces or button their shirts, became frustrated and said, "i can't do this," and wanted to quit, what did you tell them? if thousands and thousands of people in the world can get through the math and science required to complete a course of nursing, why can't you?

http://nursing.about.com/od/becomeanurse/bb/beforenurse.htm - "before you decide to become a nurse". things to consider about being a nurse. lots of links to information about what skills you need to become a nurse. and, what if you're really bad at math and science is discussed.

if you believe that your foundation in math and science is that bad, then do something about it. nurses are problem solvers. if you are going to be a nurse you have to solve this problem. most colleges have remedial classes in math and basic science. most also have you take a math placement exam. if you think your math background is that bad, just start in on a remedial math class, really knuckle down and put your attention into it. for nursing you need to be able to do math at a basic algebra level. a class in pre-algebra is pretty much everything that was covered up to 8th grade math. a class in chemistry for the health sciences (which is what is usually required at community colleges) is a combination of the basic concepts of general and organic chemistry. chemistry, like math, is one of those courses where what you learn today is building upon what you were supposed to have learned last week. there is also a lot of memorization in chemistry when you're learning the fundamentals. but, nothing that you can't do. if thousands before you overcame their difficulties with math and science, so can you. a lot of it is the attitude that you bring with you. if you think you're going to do poorly before you even start out, guess what? you've already sabotaged yourself.

here's some information on how to study which may make the difference in the grade you make this time. this time you're going to school with a purpose in mind, not because you have to.

http://www.studygs.net/ - study guides and strategies.

http://www.accd.edu/sac/history/keller/accditg/ssindex.htm - strategies for success, an online primer and tutorial on how to study for students from the alamo community college.

http://www.howtostudy.org/

adamsmom

220 Posts

Let me tell you about myself. I had never stepped foot onto a college campus until the age of 40. I have 2 kids 7 and 11. And I hate Math and I stink at it.

When I turned 40 I decided to become a nurse. It took me 1.5 years to get my pre-reqs done. I am now going into my 2nd year of nursing school. I had a very hard 2nd semester but did pass. I had a 3.75gpa for my pre-reqs. I tell everyone you have to want it bad enough. It is very hard but do able. Good luck

AmyLiz

952 Posts

I'm sure you can do it. But something did come to mind...you mentioned that you were interested in the mental health field...have you thought of maybe entering a psych tech program? Our local community college offers it & with it you would be able to work in the mental health field, you just wouldn't be administering medications, etc.

GottaGetIn

437 Posts

High School was a LONG time ago!!! I was 31 (am 33 now) when I went back to college. In highschool, I took BASIC math and BASIC sciences and passed w/ c's and d's. I hated it!

When you're older, things are just different! I am a straight A student now. Including A&P, Micro & all the math!

Do not doubt yourself. Go for it!

I'm with GottaGetIn!!

Highschool was a looooong time ago! This past fall, I stepped foot into the classroom for the first time as a student in 19 years! I am doing fabulously and have a 3.91. Even if you were not good at math back then, think back to why? Did you honestly try and just not get it or were you like a typical teen and had 'more important' things on your mind? I think you will be way more successful than you think you will be :)

Good luck!

Angelica

vjhappy

65 Posts

Specializes in L&D.

Listen to everyone! They're right. I read these posts and I see myself. If you want it bad enough, you can achieve anything! I went through almost the same thing (no kids, but I started my pre-reqs when I was 30), got mostly "A"s and one "B", and I start my BSN program in the Fall (got in on the 1st try)!

What I did when I returned to school is buy one of those self-teaching algebra books because I didn't want to take remedial courses that wouldn't count towards my degree. When I took the test, I scored high enough to take College Algebra! Self teaching books are great because everything is broken down & much easier to understand than most textbooks. Here's the book I used: http://www.amazon.com/Practical-Algebra-Self-Teaching-Guide-2nd/dp/0471530123/ref=sr_1_2/104-5646694-2751107?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1181128330&sr=8-2

Do some reseacrh on what book will work best for you. You have plenty of time to start now & take the test before fall semester.

Also, when you take your pre-reqs, they usually have tutors, review classes for exams, and other resources at school that are available. Utilize everything that they have!

When you first see the pre-reqs you have to take, it can be overwhelming, but it can be done! It's a major investment in time, money, and energy, but you're worth it! Plus, you know it can be done because you see so many examples of it here! Never underestimate yourself! You can do it!

Agenyc

62 Posts

I agree with all of you.

High school was a long time ago, and my first round of college was also along time ago.

I was terrible in math and took several semesters of remedial math, I even repeated a remedial class.....and I got an AWFUL grade in pre-calculus.

Chemistry was the first prereq I took and it was really hard but I kept at it, doing the problems over and over and over and somehow I got through it. I went to my college's tutoring sessions and I even got my own private tutor for some of it. Having someone that can explain things just for you can be a "lifesaver" and made all the difference for me. I even took Chem II right after it in a 5 week summer session, it nearly killed me, but I got through it and got a B- in both ( and I was happy about the B-). I did my prereqs one or two at a time which helped to ease the transition into school again (and one was a prereq for another) and I did very well in Bio, Anatomy micro and fine in Physio.

I have a totally new motivation now, I know why I am doing this and it is something that I really, really want. There is a sense of purpose I never had when I was in college before.

Eventhough I was not a 4.0, I was accepted into a great program this fall at a competitve university that really takes the time to read the applications, the personal statements and essays. I guess they understand that I am not the same person now ( I made some life mistakes that reflected badly on my overall GPA) and that I am more than just my GPA.

SO, Don't let your past experience stop you from doing what you want now !! Just go for it!!!

Ehope

55 Posts

I too decided to pursue nursing as a 2nd career but haven't taken math since 10th grade. (finished my HS requirements early and since i didn't like it didn't take any more) The 1st college I attended let you take scinces in place of math so that's what I did.

I didn't want to waste money either so before taking the math proficiency test at my cc I bought a math SAT review book. Can't remember which one exactly, but it started out really basic (fractons and decimals) and progressed. At the beginning of each chapter it had a diagnostic test to let you know how well you knew the material, followed by a brief lesson after which it had another set of questions. I found it really helpful. They have the same kinds of books for sinces too, especially those geared for the AP tests.

If you don't pass the proficiency test for basic arithmetic you will probably have to take a remedial class which would be a great review. The only problem is that you don't get credit for it and must pay the same as for a 3 credit class.

In any case I would not let this stop you. As one of my classmates said, a lot of other people have done it, so why not you?

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