Nurses, Student Nurses and Pre-Req takers - Page 2

[rainbowmoon]

I am thinking of becoming a CNA too! I just want to work weekends though/ very part time. Probably won't do that until after baby is born though but we'll see..

Right now I am enrolling in a math class (starts next week) then prereqs until next fall when I can start the LPN program (2011). I'll then look for a LPN to RN then RN to BSN program after that. It boggles my brain how much schooling lies ahead! Also how I will pay for it! (I don't plan on taking out loans but paying out of pocket as I go) Hoping I qualify for some grants or can get scholarships eventually or something..there is a site online for looking for educational grants. does anyone know the URL?

[mamacatsbaby]

subbing I'm supposed to be studying right now actually . Erh, yeah. Lemme get on that...

[Peony]

Originally Posted by attachedmomto3

hello mamas! I'm in my second semester of pre-reqs for the RN associates program and on the waitlist. Im planning on taking the summer off to get certified as a nursing aid and then in the fall work pt and take 2-3 classes...can it be done? am i kidding myself? i've heard it can be beneficial to work as a cna while in school....thoughts/advice?? TIA!! Also, once in the program is it usually M-F all day?

It varies. The first semester for my program was basically M-F most of the day, 8:30 or 9-to 3:3:30, sometimes 4. After that it varied according to clinicals, I might have a day or two off one week, but then the next week was crazy busy. Clinicals can be 12 hours or longer for hospital based ones, we did nights but never weekends. My friend is currently in a different program then what I did and she has clinicals on weekends as well. What days I did have off during the week were always used for studying for some massive test or paper. For hospital clinicals, we had prep the night before as well. After school was over you had to go to the hospital where you were assigned a patient for the next day. You had to go home and create a care plan for that patient and report back at 6am with your careplan. Once we progressed through the program, we no longer had to do that.

[jemama]

I'm doing my pre-req's full time right now and hope to start nursing school next fall. My DH graduated from nursing school last year and I'm freaking out because he was never home and I don't want to miss out on all the time with the kids, but I know it'll be worth it in the end.

[major_mama11]

Hi mamas!

Nursing school is rough, but do-able. I was in school from DD 9 mos old till she was 2.5. I did miss out on a lot, but I don't regret doing it, as I'm now able to make a decent income while only working PT.

I've been an RN for almost 2 yrs, and I'm just now training in the specialty that I want to be in... yay!

Originally Posted by goodygumdrops

I am getting my ma from Union Institute and will graduate this time next year, and then be able to sit for the ibcle.

I've looked into this program- have you been happy with Union? I would love to get an ma, esp. if I could do it online! Did you become a lactation counselor before starting the master's program?

[philosophicalmama]

Hey mama's another student nurse here! I'm in my 2nd semester of school- in the psych clinical which has been intense!! I have loved school for the most part- I will hopefully be finished next spring- unless I break up the 3rd semester to have more time for my my girls!
Best of luck to us all!!
Erykah

[amydidit]

Looks like I'm going to fit in here. Starting in the fall I'm in the pre-nursing program at CSU-Pueblo. This is my first time in college, though I'd taken some courses at a tech college back in 95. The credits aren't transferable though, but I think it's for the best. I need refreshers on them.

I never took SAT's or ACT's so I had to take Accuplacer tests. I did great on English, but did really bad on algebra. Not surprised, but I have to take two refresher algebra classes which don't count toward the nursing pre-reqs. So in the fall I'm going to be taking 17 credit hours, and same with the spring semester, in order to stay on a 4 year plan.

All that's left now is to find out what my financial aid package will be, and find daycare for my girls.

[Kothi]

about to start pre-nursing- joining in!

[Drummer's Wife]

Originally Posted by Kothi

about to start pre-nursing- joining in!

Where are you going to school?

[Kothi]

Unm

[Drummer's Wife]

Originally Posted by Kothi

Unm

cool! I hope to transfer there in a few years for the RN-BSN program. I still have 2 pre-req's to take for SFCC's ADN program.

[purplevega]

3 weeks to semester 1 is over!!!!! I am soooooooooooooooo excited and need a summer break!!!!! 3 more semesters to go!!!!!!!

Kim

[Kothi]

Drummer's wife- cool- I'm in SF right now, but about to move to abq. I'll be applying to the 2nd degree program to start in Spring.

[luckygreen713]

I'm so glad I found this thread! I just asked a question about this yesterday, trying to find all you nursing mamas, but no response. This thread is great! I was taking my pre-req's before my first child was born and gave it up for a while to stay home with my kids. Now I'm getting back into it. I'll be continuing with my pre-reqs beginning this summer. Only 6 more classes till I can apply for the nursing program. It's soooo competitive, and I'm nervous about being a student and a mom at the same time, but you all have helped reassure me! Good luck to everyone else!

[abiyhayil]

Still looking for an LPN job - blech!

[brittney_]

I just got accepted to the RN program!!!!!!!!!! I'm so excited!!! I've been taking pre-reqs for 3 years, and its such a huge relief to finally be accepted. I start January 2011!

[Eeyore_fan]

Congratulations, Brittney!!

[nemrac917]

How about a not-yet-mamma who's in nursing school?

Currently in my 2nd semester of a 2-year program, so almost half way done. We have a number of mammas in the program, so it CAN be done. My closest friend has 4 kidlets at home, ranging from 18mo to 8yrs.

[brittney_]

Originally Posted by Eeyore_fan

Congratulations, Brittney!!

Thank you

[amydidit]

I'm feeling lost. Please help me!

I'm registered and all enrolled for the fall semester. I'm signed up for:
Introductory Algebra (doesn't count toward pre-reqs or graduation)
Eng Comp 101
Intro to Human Development (required for the nursing program)
Beg. ASL (to meet my foreign language req, and I'm very interested)
Human Anatomy and Physiology I and the lab

This past week I've been having a minor freak out about all this. I haven't been in school since having kids and I'm not sure at all how I'm going to ge the time or space to study. I figure we'll work something out, but I know it's going to be hard. My biggest concern is Anat/Physio. That's going to be my hardest course. But if I'm going to stay on track for graduating in 4 years I HAVE to take it in the fall.

I also HAVE to take a statistics course and that has me FREAKING out (currently scheduled to take it Fall 2011). In order to be accepted into the nursing program you have to have a least a 3.0 gpa. And acceptance into the nursing program is based SOLELY on gpa at CSU-Pueblo, so higher than a 3.0 really. Being realistic I know I'll be able to pass statistics, but just barely. So I'll end up having to take it again to try and pass. And that would push me off the four year schedule anyway.

So my brain started going in ALL sorts of directions. Like maybe I should just switch majors. The only other major that interests me in psychology. Then I started thinking about why I want this 4 year schedule SO BADLY. I think it's just pride. To be able to say I DID IT. But that's not REQUIRED, KWIM? So what if I deliberately slowed myself down? Drop Anat/Physio for the fall and instead take a course that seems easier/more interesting to me? There are a few courses I would LOVE to take. Like Gender Communications, or Islam and Non-Western Religions. So then I though what if, since I'm already off the 4 year plan, I add on a minor in Psych?

And then my brain exploded.

I'm driving myself crazy with all this. Do I HAVE to do a four year plan if I want to do nursing? Can I do a 5 year instead? Is that allowed?

Argh!