CA woman looking for advice on going into nursing

My advice would be to talk to a college counselor. They can tell you which classes you need to take now. You will need specific science classes to get into any nursing program. You will need chemistry, anatomy, physiology, microbiology for sure. If you have your heart set on a school, then talk to them in person or an information session. Nursing school is typically competitive as far as getting in so you might have to apply to a couple of schools. Just check around. There is a listing of accredited schools on the board of nursing website.
Yes you can get a job outside the hospital to start but its not always easy and they dont always pay as well. I know the public health system takes new grads but the budget issues are horrible.
yes you can go into a masters program right away but I am sure its very helpful to work first since transitioning to a new nurse from a student is hard. Big learning curve. Good luck

The selection criteria for most programs is based on some combination of overall GPA, pre-requisite grades, and test scores. I don't think the fact that you haven't been a "science person" will hurt you. It certainly didn't hurt me. I have a BA in journalism from a number of years ago, so my science education during my first stint in college was nearly non-existent. Nevertheless, I managed to get into a second bachelor's program as CSU Sacramento on the strength of my pre-req grades and a decent score on the GRE

In all likelihood, your high school classes won't do you any good. Most BSN programs require college-level anatomy, physiology, microbiology and some form of chemistry (often organic chem). Many also require psychology, nutrition, human lifespan, some form of interpersonal communications course, and a higher math course such as statistics.

I highly recommend taking all your pre-reqs at community college. You'll find the relevant science courses are full of prospective nurses. In fact, many CCs now offer chem classes geared specifically for students headed for health careers. The beauty of taking pre-reqs at a CC is that you'll get a good foundation for nursing at a bargain price ($20 per unit at most CCs). However, you should be aware that it'll probably take at least three semesters to get all your pre-reqs done, and it may taken even longer. Also, some of the pre-req classes has pre-reqs of their own. For instance, it is not uncommon for a microbiology class to have college-level chemistry as a mandatory pre-requisite.

I would strongly advise you not to rush the pre-reqs. The courses are quite challenging, and you'll need to get the highest grades possible in order to compete for a space in a BSN programs. Most of the programs in California get hundreds of applicants for a handful of seats. At many colleges, it takes a pre-req GPA of 3.8 or better to be in the running (don't be fooled by the published minimum standards).

Before you start back to school, I think it would be worth your while to research all the nursing programs in which you might have any interest. Get to know their entrance requirements, and plan accordingly. Consider applying to multiple schools (including the ADN programs at CCs). For a rough gauge of the quality of a nursing program, consult the California Board of Nursing website to determine the licensure pass rate for graduates of a particular school.

I'm still in school, so I can't comment much on the employment situation. However, it is my understanding that nursing positions in the Bay Area and Sacramento region have a surplus of applicants, and new grad positions of any kind are hard to come by.

All this having been said, I wish you the very best of luck. If I can do this, anyone can. Going back to school has been one of the best experiences of my life. Just enjoy the journey and keep your eye on the prize!