Hi everybody,

This is my first post and I would like to get some advice on prerequisites. I was in a LPN program back in 2001 and it did not require as many prerequisites as I see required today. I did not pass the LPN program. I work for an agency per diem as a nurse assistant. I've been a nurse assistant for 17 years. The classes I need for the RN program are biology, a & p I, II, microbiology, lifespan psychology, and statistics. I have a difficult time with math so I was going to put statistics on the back burner and take biology and lifespan psychology first. I am thinking I will only take 10 credits at a time to not overwhelm myself. Does this sound like a good plan? I am real excited and nervous about going back to college, especially since I did not pass before. I know it was medical-surgical I failed, it was a written test, I think I tried to retake the course but I can't remember exactly what happened. I just see on my transcript the first medical-surgical I received a 1.6 and the second time around I have a W for withdraw. Its very strange I have selective memory to the whole situation. So here I am 13 years later trying at it again. I love nursing and I love being a nurse assistant. I would be thrilled to be a nurse but I know it is a lot of hard work and stress involved. But I also know it is challenging and rewarding. I am married and I do not have any children in the home. And I set my work hours as I need them. I think the big difference now is my children are older and not in the home. Well thank you for listening and I hope that I am successful this time around.

Have you looked in to the college that you are planning on going to? Some require you to retake all the classes if it is longer than 10 years. Also you would have to do a Placement test. I am from Washington State and have the same pre-reqs, but in order for me to get in some of the Pre-Req classes i had to take pre-reqs for the pre-reqs like I couldn't just jump into Statistics.

Hi Sgarcia14,

Yes, I forgot to mention I had English 101, Math 098 Intermediate Algebra and Psychology 110, General Psychology. They also transferred over 15 of my nursing credits. I was told I could use my grades from previous classes to get into current pre-requisites. I had did poorly in my math 091 Pre Algebra and then did better in Math 098 Intermediate Algebra, 2.5. So I don't know if they will let me go straight into Statistics. Do you think I should wait and take my math classes later? Or should I try and take them first? Thank you for your help.

I would try and get them out of the way first:)

I agree with sgarcia14 and would get the statistics out of the way! I'm also in Washington and have very similar pre-req's to take. I found statistics surprisingly easy and not like a typical "math" class at all. Have a good calculator, be ready to use it and you'll be fine!

Good luck!

Hi krrbrr,

What kind of calculator would you recommend?

Hi sgarcia14,

The advisor suggested I take a placement test just to see where I would place in math. But it would be up to me if I wanted to go straight into statistics or not. So I will be taking a placement test after all even though I have the prerequisites to go into Statistics.

Hi krrbrr,

What kind of calculator would you recommend?

I would check with your schools bookstore to see what they recommend. Depending on the instructors preference and the manual they advise you to purchase for the class it can vary at each school. Our teacher wanted us to have a TI 84 Plus calculator, I happened to have a TI 89 and while it was a higher model of calculator I had to do a lot of research on my own to figure out how to do certain processes that would have been easier if I could have followed the book!