Will I struggle in nursing school if I never like math?

mrsboots87 · Jan 22, 2014

Liking math does not matter. The only thing that matters is if you are able to do the med math. Seeing as a miscalculation can kill your patient. You will likely be doing a decent amount of math each day, I&Os, med calculation, and other various math type stuff. Only you can know if the math requirement will bother you or not.

LoriRNCM, ADN, ASN, RN · Jan 22, 2014

If math word problems look like a foreign language to you (as they do me), you just need to practice practice practice. I got used to using the fractional method and my instructors want us using dimensional analysis (the factor labeling method), so that has been a bit of a hurdle for me. But I passed my 2nd semester dosage calculations exam so I don't have to get kicked out of the program! (Yes, they do that.) So, it is possible for math challenged people to pass nursing courses. I like the Dummies book for Dosage Calculations.

Sunbeam819 · Jan 22, 2014

Thanks for your input. And Lorirn2b it's good to know that you were able to pass your dosage calculation class with practice congrats! I will be registering for my prerequisites soon I know it will be an uphill battle with certain classes and trying to get admitted into the professional phase but I will practice and study and study some more! I know that it will be worth it in the long run.

jaluo2014 · Jan 23, 2014

Practice makes perfect. buy basic math text books with illustrations and methods then practice. You can also use YouTube videos and listen to math lectures. The good thing about math is, if you practice it you get it and want to do more problems. You can make it!

Sunbeam819 · Jan 23, 2014

Thanks for the tips YouTube never crossed my mind that's a great idea! I know they will have some tutorials.

Krzysztof · Jan 23, 2014

Thanks for the tips YouTube never crossed my mind that's a great idea! I know they will have some tutorials.

I would recommend starting with Khan Academy videos, which you can find on YouTube or khanacademy.org. They are outstanding, IMHO.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jan 23, 2014

For nursing school and dosage calculations, you will need a mastery of 7th grade/8th grade level math (read: very basic prealgebra). You will not need to know anything particularly advanced or earth-shattering.

Students in my cohort had three chances to achieve a 100 percent score on the dosage calculations test, or else we would be forced to withdraw from the program.

Sunbeam819 · Jan 23, 2014

Thank you so much! I have already visited the website and took the pre-test I going to do the math until I reach the mastery level. I know that this will help a lot and will keep me busy until class starts.

Sunbeam819 · Jan 23, 2014

Wow! So only 100% was acceptable? I bet you lost a lot of classmates

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jan 23, 2014

Wow! So only 100% was acceptable? I bet you lost a lot of classmates

No, I lost maybe three or four classmates at the most (out of about 80 people). We had three chances to achieve the 100 percent score, and like I said, dosage calculations require mastery of no higher than 7th grade level math. It's not rocket science, and this is coming from someone who struggles with math.

sjalv · Jan 23, 2014

I absolutely hate math. You just have to force yourself to learn it. I got a B in College Algebra and an A in Statistics so it's doable. This is coming from someone who didn't even know how to solve exponential equations going into Algebra.

The math in nursing school is very simple. It's more critical thinking than anything. We had to make a 70 or above on a math test to apply for the program and it was mostly fractions/ratios/conversions. Our program allowed for calculators during our Math for Nurses class so it was just about studying and knowing your formulas.