Nurses, Student Nurses, Pre-req takers - Page 70

[BugMacGee]

I've gotten rid of most of my nursing texts. I kept them for a while but the information becomes outdated pretty quick. I have ones that pertain to my specialty but the others I just don't need.

A & P I would keep.

[lorijds]

Just bumping us up!

Welcome to the newbies!

[KMK_Mama]

I have my final exam for A&P II on Friday (Yay!!) and I think I only need to get a 56% to keep my A. Whoopee!

I just started my CNA course on Saturday. It seems pretty easy....but I have a lot of anxiety over clinicals. I'm just so scared! I have 3 more weeks of class and then 2 weeks of clinicals. Tell me I can do it!

[Pariah]

Nevermind, found my answer!

[mags]

The book talk reminds me that I should just get rid of my old text books. Their over 10 yrs old...

[texaspeach]

ugh. Tomorrow I take my pharmacology math exam. I have to get a 90% or better to be allowed to continue (it's that way for everyone, I'm not on academic probation or anything). I'm so nervous. I'm pretty sure I know how to do all the math problems but I have serious math anxiety. The night before my entrance exam, I cried and cried worrying that I would fail the math portion - I didn't miss any.

Thursday I have a big scary exam too. this week is no fun!

And, I just realized I missed one of the online quizzes. The end dates on them are kind of staggered and I thought I had another week the total of the quizzes is only worth 5% of your final grade, but still, what a bummer.


KMK_Mama Good luck on your finals! Good for you for having such a strong grade

[CNM2B]

[QUOTE=texaspeach;11697195]ugh. Tomorrow I take my pharmacology math exam. I have to get a 90% or better to be allowed to continue (it's that way for everyone, I'm not on academic probation or anything). I'm so nervous. I'm pretty sure I know how to do all the math problems but I have serious math anxiety. The night before my entrance exam, I cried and cried worrying that I would fail the math portion - I didn't miss any.]


I don't miss those days! Good luck on the math test---those are the WORST!

[gealach]

Hi everyone! I just wanted to introduce myself. I am starting an Accelerated BSN program in the fall. I'm so excited! I have been waiting at least 3 years to start school because my husband's company has had a rumored relocation for that long and I didn't want to have to move in the middle of school.

We are finally getting relocated to our new state and I can start school! The accelerated bachelor's option worked best for me because I already have a bachelor's in biology. And the timing of our move worked out well. My nursing classes start on August 25th.

The way the accelerated BSN works, all of your non-nursing classes (except pharmacology) are prereqs. So, after August, it will be only nursing courses for a straight 18 months. And, then I'll be done. I'm so nervous and excited!

Right now, I am finishing up a chem and nutrition prereq. Unfortunately, my old chemistry credits from college were just that - too old. But, I'll be done in one week and it has been not too bad.

Anyway, I just wanted to say hi and introduce myself. I'm sure I'll be hanging around this thread to get advice.

Originally Posted by KMK_Mama

I just started my CNA course on Saturday. It seems pretty easy....but I have a lot of anxiety over clinicals. I'm just so scared! I have 3 more weeks of class and then 2 weeks of clinicals. Tell me I can do it!

Oh, and KMK mama, you'll be just fine. Due to the aforementioned company relocation rumors, I became a part-time CNA (in addition to my other part-time job) to get some nursing experience while I waited for our move. Clinicals will seem weird at first because the CNAs you watch/train under will do things way differently than they teach in your class, but you'll catch on fast. You'll be fine!

[_ktg_]

I found this thread, and sorry in advance if my post is not relevant - please just delete it.

I'm right now looking into options to go back for a nursing degree. I'm a full-time office employee but I work with in a hospital and the pull of what I should be doing is starting to hit me.

Are there any recommendations of where to start? I have a B.S in biology & sociology, but I'm trying to figure out which is the better pathway - an ADN or BSN?

Right now this is what I am considering and if anyone can give a bit of feedback that would be great!

Prep with any pre-reqs??
CNA courses - I'm lucky one is offered here at our hospital
work p/t as an CNA for a bit and build up some experience
Apply to program (either ADN or BSN) and go part-time as I am the breadwinner of my house.

Am I on track with my expectations or overly optimistic:

[texaspeach]

welp. I bombed my test. I got a 78.3

[LizD]

If you'd have to work, and your job right now pays you well enough, I wouldn't bother changing for "experience." The nursing instructors at my program say they prefer non-experienced people, rather than having to "unteach" CNAs, LPNs or EMTs. No offense to any in those professions- that's just what I've heard.

Regarding prereqs, pick your program first, since not all prereqs are equal, even within, say, the same university system.

IMO, as someone who's planning to earn an advanced practice nursing degree, since your baccalaureate is in biology, I'd just get into an ADN program. Community college is so much cheaper, and many now have very fair enrollment requirements- mine is based solely on points for grades in prereq courses. Your degree in biology will be adequate to get you into master's programs, even at medical colleges (but again, if there is a particular program or school you have in mind, check!).

In fact, I recommend making an appointment with the master's program you're interested in, if that's something you've thought about- mine met with me and I have no degree and am only beginning nursing school, yet I was able to get clarification on their requirements and start a relationship with the director of the program. It was invaluable (and also helps me keep my eyes on the prize during low moments).

Good luck!

[lorijds]

Oh texas peach, I'm so sorry! What do you do now?!

Ktg, your route depends on how you are paying for it, if money is an issue, availability of programs, and the difficulty of getting into a program.

All the programs in my area require you to be a CNA prior to entry. You will be more likely to be accepted if you have hospital experience. I have never heard that instructors want someone with no experience; I've always heard the opposite, and indeed, the LPN program that I went to required experience to even apply. While the experience was ANY type of experience (working in the account office of a doctor's office, for example), the people who had hands on CNA experience in general did better than those who didn't have much.

As a nurse I can tell you that we would much rather have a new nurse who had hospital experience as a CNA. I work the medical floor, and if you've never been on a medical floor, getting a job on one can be pretty traumatic! It's busy, a variety of pts and docs, the pace is so demanding that we lose a lot of our new nurses in their first year; they just think they can't hack it. The ones who have worked as CNAs in the ER, medical, or surgical floors seem to do the best. It is just that much more experience that you have.

Also, some hospitals have a tuition reimbursements program for their employees. I'd check into that, as well.

Good luck!! Welcome!

Lori

ETA: Forgot to put in my post that, another advantage of working in a local hospital is that you can ask the nurses where they went to school. You'll get a good idea of what different programs are available from and what sort of programs they are from the nurses themselves.

[clothmumma]

Hi there. I am jumping in here. I am doing my Bach Nursing, and if I keep my grades up, will go on and do my Masters of Midwifery. Actually taken the last 6mths off to raise the kids, but about to get back in to it.

[gealach]

Originally Posted by _ktg_

I'm right now looking into options to go back for a nursing degree. I'm a full-time office employee but I work with in a hospital and the pull of what I should be doing is starting to hit me.

Are there any recommendations of where to start? I have a B.S in biology & sociology, but I'm trying to figure out which is the better pathway - an ADN or BSN?

o

Warning... long post ahead!

Hi KTG... we sound a little similar. My bachelor's was in biology. A few questions...will you be needing to work part or full time while you are in school? How old is your bio degree? (Don't be offended - I am not asking your age, but the age of my college credits became an issue). Specifically, the age of your chemistry, A&P, microbiology credits might be an issue.

After I weighed all the options, an Accelerated BSN for folks who already have a bachelor's degree was the best option for me. These programs are becoming more popular as more people change careers midlife to nursing.

As I explained in a post earlier on this page, you get all of your prereqs out of the way and then your nursing courses are specific to only your ABSN class and fast paced (you complete a normal 2 semesters of nursing courses in 1 semester). They recommend you do not have an outside job, but really, a good number of people also hold part time jobs. Like me, you will be lucky that your degree is in bio so many of your prereqs may be already done if they don't exceed the time limit.

Out of the 4 programs I looked at, they ranged from 16 months long to 22 months long. The one I am starting in August is 18 months. Contrary to what a pp said, these programs do like that you have some experience like being a CNA because you jump immediately into clinicals. One of the programs actually required a CNA license. The others just emphasized that work in healthcare would be beneficial (but not necessarily required).

One of the programs was actually a master's program, but you received your BSN after 20 months and then could decide whether or not to continue on. Many people stopped, worked as a nurse for a year or two, then continued to get their master's.

The other 3 programs were solely Accelerated BSN programs, but all of the colleges also offered master's and you would be well placed to continue on if you so desired.

Sorry so long but I am so excited to talk to people following a similar path! Good luck with your decisions. Definitely a first start is to figure out possible programs and get busy with any needed prereqs.

[feminist~mama]

Texaspeach! I'm so sorry! What happens now???

[gealach]

Originally Posted by texaspeach

welp. I bombed my test. I got a 78.3

I'm so sorry! What happens with your program now?

[_ktg_]

Thank you gealach, lorijds and LizD for the responses. Gealach - I think we might be in very similar boats.

My bio degree is about 6 years old, but I am going to have to look at some of the pre-req classes (once I figure out a program!) to see if they would even be able to transfer over. I was young and dumb at the start of my college career, so I could be having to take some of the classes over.

So a bit more about me - I will probably have to work either f/t or p/t, while going to school. My DH is a SAHD which is awesome for our 1 and soon to be little ones!, but alas leaves me in a bit of lurch in trying to go back to school, balancing working, and hopefully staying sane. I think he thought I would be in love doing IRB work forever.

I have a couple of ideas for programs, and I'm going to see about nurses in the area to talk with. Unfortunately because of my position - its going to be a bit tricky to not tip off my boss too much to my plans of possibly leaving in a couple of years - (currently I'm a manager/director level position) because everything gets back to him via one way or another.

Right now I'm just really excited to have found this tribe and get started on my plans of switching careers *finally!!*

[texaspeach]

thanks you guys. I wish I could crawl into a hole.

Pharmacology is the last pre-req I need to get into this program.

I thought I did ok! Obviously I was wrong

I'm making an appointment to talk with a faculty adviser to find out wth I did wrong. If I make a 75 or better on the three regular exams in this class, I may be allowed to retake the math test and try again (still have to make a 90 on it).

I just feel sick. I have a GPA of 3.8 over 45 credit hours.. I've never made a C or failed anything before in college... : This is not a nice feeling.

this course is designed to make people fail. they have 700 people enrolled in pharm (which is the last course everyone must take immediately before getting in to the program), and only 150 spots in the program. (the kicked is even if you jump through all the hoops and do well in pharm, it doesn't guarantee you a spot either)

I'm thinking I must have done something like not set up the problems exactly the way they wanted so they counted them wrong. I really don't know.




ETA: I took the lecture exam today and made a 94. : :

[ferra]

Oh dear. Trying to get into nursing school is stressful, isn't it?

I thought I'd join in the conversation. I'm a single mom of a 2 year old, former midwifery student and doula. I'm currently working on my prereqs so I can apply to nursing school this winter. I'm in Portland, Oregon and it seems like it is so competitive that I am slightly discouraged. At the moment I am taking chemistry 112, math and writing. Next term its on to A & P, more BI 112 and more math. Things are going pretty well. Public school has taken a bit of getting used to. My old school was very much unlike my current one.

I'm looking forward to hearing more of your experiences.

:

[gealach]

Originally Posted by texaspeach

ETA: I took the lecture exam today and made a 94. : :

Way to go!