Pop the “maths anxiety” bubble : an approach to support nursing students to self-manage anxiety while studying drug calculations

Abstract

This is a report on an informal action research undertaken between 2013 to 2014 to find solutions to support tertiary nursing students experiencing anxiety while studying drug calculation. The literature identifies traditional “Maths Anxiety” and modern-day specific categorisations of “Dyslexia” and “Dyscalculia”, yet offers no clear solution on how to support students. Exploring the constructive-developmental perspective of human development, the conception of the triune brain and the Psychosynthesis conceptual map of body-feelings-mind enabled me to develop an approach to base on all this wisdom in order to help students navigate their daily experience on campus and consciously express their will to succeed. These techniques proved to be successful, evidenced in the overwhelmingly positive feedback from both students and maths tutors. This article invites colleagues within the broader ATLAANZ community to adapt and apply this approach in their practice to support students with anxiety to succeed while studying.