For those who applied to PCC's nursing program...

U.S.A. Arizona

Published

I have a few questions for you if you don't mind.

I am currently doing my pre-requisites for the nursing program at Pima. I have only two classes to take. Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II.

I am looking at completing these courses by Spring of 2010, but anyways onto the questions.

First of all, when I met with an advisor, I was told that the waiting list for the program is about 2 years. I just need to know if there was any truth to this at all? The reason why I am hesitant to believe this is because I have heard of numerous rumors from people saying that the waiting list really isn't 2 years and is more like at the very most 1 year.

As of now, the waiting list is up to Spring of 2011. That's a long time for me, because by then I can have a bachelor's degree in something. By the time I'd graduate from the program it'll be 2013 (and this is assuming the waiting list stays until spring of 2011 which is doubtful). My question to you is, how long did you have to wait to get admitted into the program from the time you finished your pre-reqs?

How long did it (or will it) take you to graduate?

Do they offer an accelerated program so that you may finish in a year?

Anything else I should know about upon admission to the program?

If you did infact wait two years, what did you do during the time you had to wait? Did you work? If so, as what (if I may ask) and was it beneficial to your career as a nurse?

Is there any cutting in line to make your waiting period shorter?

Would you recommend I take the two 8 week intervals of Anatomy and Physiology I and II?

Obviously, my admission to this program depends solely on the grades I get in the A & P courses, so I really want to make sure I do very well in both courses. I am not claiming to know a lot about human anatomy, but I did start reading some beginner's books regarding the field just so I can gain a leverage. I am also taking BIO156 in the summer (really looking forward to that class) to help prepare me for the class (and it's also a pre-requisite to BIO201). If I take the two 8wk courses I can finish earlier and apply at the end of this year instead of May. I suppose another thing I can do is take the regular 16 week course of A&P and then for next semester take the shortened 5 week course and then apply as soon as I am done with that. Please note, I am also taking several other classes as well, but may drop one or two classes before the semester begins.

Right now, I am just trying to exhaust all of my options. Pima remains my top priority, but I will apply to the other CC's offering the ADN (or AAS) in Phoenix as well, though I can't imagine the waiting list being any shorter there.

Thanks for reading and I look forward to any input you may have!!!!

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Specializes in Hopice and School Nurse.

BIO 202 is not a pre-req, it's a co-req, so that may make it so you can apply earlier. I'm taking BIO201 right now during the summer session and it is really hard. If you struggle at all with memorization, I would suggest taking the long semester course. It is A LOT of memorizing and the physiology is not a cake walk either. If you haven't taken chemistry yet, that would be a good one to take before this class as well. It is a pre-req for nursing anyway.

As for cutting down the waiting time for going into an RN program, there isn't one unless you want to pay for Chamberlain, Grand Canyon, Pima or one of those private programs. It means 40+ thousand dollars. You could go the CNA to LPN to RN route and cut down your waiting time by about half. There are a couple LPN programs with no wait lists. One is the Gateway LPN fast track program and another is the Maricopa Skills Center. Gateway is the normal CC fees, but Maricopa Skills is about $8000 for the 13 month LPN course. This includes books. The good thing about these is that you can transfer right into block 3 at a community college to finish your RN and there is no wait list for it.

The BSN program at ASU doesn't have a waitlist, but it seems that you have to have almost perfect scores/grades to get in. If you are a straight A student with close to perfect NET scores, this may be the way to go.

There is also the Banner Health Fellowship program that you can apply for (when your pre-reqs are done). There is a lot of info on this website about it. This would cut down the waiting time if you are lucky enough to get it.

If you decide you want to wait it out the traditional way (yes, 3 to 4 semesters is typical) you could finish your co-reqs and work in a hospital setting as a CNA or as a volunteer.

Good luck in whatever you decide to do!

Marlene

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Hm, according to the pre-req sheet they handed out to me it says that I have to have both BIO201 and 202 done.

I am pretty good on memorization, but I think it would be a wise idea for me to lighten my classes for this semester. I currently have 17 units signed up. Although most of them are easy classes, I'd rather not risk it.

In any case, if BIO201 is a pre-req and BIO202 is a co-req this means I can apply earlier than expected which is good news.

Thanks for the information.

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Specializes in Hopice and School Nurse.

I'm going off the Maricopa County Community College Nursing requirements. I think they periodically change though, so check with your advisor. 17 credit hours is a lot especially if there are science classes in the mix. I did this once back when I was about 22 and had chemisty, nutrition, medical terminology, child development and advanced first aide (all were pre-req years ago) and thought I was going to die! I managed to get all A's though, but that was when I was much younger and only had one child. Now with 8 kids (6 still at home) I limit myself to 12 credits and one science at a time.

I wonder how it will be once we start in the nursing program. Just for this one BIO201 summer class I'm in class for about 5 hours a day and spend 5-7 more hours a day studying (more on weekends) and I'm only getting a high B. My dad says it's the nursing weed out class. I'm starting to believe him!

Marlene

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Yeah, the classes I am taking this fall semester are BIO201, Human Nutrition, Psych. measurement and statistics (I heard this class was really easy), Human Development and Relations, and a critical thinking course which I will try to test out of before the fall begins.

I am most likely going to drop the Human Development class until next semester, but I'd like to to keep the other classes in check.

I'll plan it as I go along. I am going to try and read as many Human anatomy and physiology books as I can throughout the summer just so I can gain a leverage.

Thanks for the info!

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Specializes in Cardiac.

Pima in Tucson or some other Pima?

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Pima in Tucson or some other Pima?

The Pima in Tucson, AZ.

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Specializes in Cardiac.

Then yes, BIO 202 is a required PRE-requisite, not a co-req as previously mentioned.

Are you taking classes for your BSN as well (stats)?

I've heard most people don't wait the full 2 years, but expect around a year to be safe. Some people get in off jump street as well.

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Specializes in Cardiac.

Oh, and take A&P self paced at the DT campus. You'll thank me later...

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Then yes, BIO 202 is a required PRE-requisite, not a co-req as previously mentioned.

Are you taking classes for your BSN as well (stats)?

I've heard most people don't wait the full 2 years, but expect around a year to be safe. Some people get in off jump street as well.

I am taking Psy 230 (stats) in hopes of getting into a BSN program. I am not expecting I will, as my GPA is just too low to be considered competitive (I had a few bad semesters which I regret now, but no point in beating myself up about it). My plan is to finish the pre-reqs for the ADN program and then apply for it next year, and at the same time finish the pre-reqs for the BSN program of NAU and ASU so that I can apply to those as well. I heard NAU was a little bit easier to get into out of all three major nursing schools in AZ, but I still have to work on my GPA either way.

Good news is, I will be volunteering soon at an inpatient hospice care and I will be working closely with Nurses so, hopefully I will get some insight and experience in this area. I plan on working there for at least a year.

Oh, and take A&P self paced at the DT campus. You'll thank me later...

I am not sure if this is a good idea for me. I have taken self paced courses before and they generally don't work out in my favor half of the time. I work better in a lectured and classroom environment. Plus, I heard the instructor who is teaching my A&P class in the fall is supposed to be one of the best at Pima which is good for me.

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Specializes in Cardiac.

Well, good luck to you. You will learn a lot at impatient hospice, that's for sure.

The self paced class is a guaranteed A, IMO, and far more hands on than most. Plus, you never have to be paired with another annoying student. But again, it's all my opinion.

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Specializes in Hopice and School Nurse.
Then yes, BIO 202 is a required PRE-requisite, not a co-req as previously mentioned.

I just checked the MCC website and it has BIO 202 listed as a co-req and my nursing advisor said it is a co-req and wrote this down for me. Maybe for the BSN program its a pre-req.

It's weird that we are all getting different info.

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