[danaful]

Hi, guys! My name is Dana, I am 35, and have been working at a medical school in an administrative position for 9 years. I decided that this would be the year for me to make a change in my life, and nursing is what I've always had in the back of my mind to do, and so I've been looking around, weighing my options and trying to organize a game plan. I'm so baffled by all of the choices I have and can't figure out which one is the best way for me to go. I have a BA in Writing and Literature, and have NO science background. I went to an open house at Bridgeport School of Nursing (I live in Connecticut) and was told that I'd need to take some classes (Chemistry, Anatomy & Physiology) before I coudl even apply, and I'm in an accelerated A&P class right now, and am really, REALLY tanking it. I'm not sure whether it's because I have no experience in it, or because it's 4 nights a week and I have no time to study, and I'm trying not to act like a giant crybaby over the whole thing because PLENTY of people work full time and go to school and what the hell is my excuse, right?

Okay, so I was thinking that perhaps I would try for an LPN program, and then bridge into an RN, because it would give me some practical, clinical experience before I leap into another frustrating course of A&P failure. But! I have so many questions! That I don't know whether or not I'm going about this the wrong way, and whether I should just try and suck it up and try for an RN program. So, here are my questions to you all, because you are wise:

1.) Were any of you able to keep your full time jobs and go to nursing school? How did you manage to support yourself if you left your job? (I am not in a position to be able to quit at this point)

2.) Are there any night programs for LPNs in CT? I've found only one, at a place called Vinal (sp?) tech. (this may be a CT-board specific question)

3.) The reason I'm thinking that an LPN program might be better for me than me jerking around, taking classes and THEN trying to get into an RN program is because, as I said, I'm having a little trouble with being able to imagine how learning to identify the cellular level of the skin under a miscroscope is going to be of any of help to me, clinically, and an LPN prog will give me some much needed clinical background.

Help. Seriously, I have no idea what I'm doing, and I'm getting frustrated and sad about the whole thing.


Thanks for listening!!

[arciedee]

Hi there... I just wanted to say welcome and offer some support.

Jumping into an accelerated science class when you have no science background AND you are working full time... that's tough! Please don't beat yourself up! It just sounds like you bit off more than you could chew for the first step towards your nursing goal. I have a feeling that if you withdraw and try again when you can take the class at a regular pace you will do much better. And during the time between now and then you can review some of the material, figure out what study habits are best for you, and get mentally psyched up to try again. Talk to your current professor and get his/her suggestions for how to succeed in the sciences. Or check out the pre-nursing forum here, there are lots of study tips there.

Going for the LPN is one path you can take to become a nurse, but it will not exempt you from having to take the sciences. The program I know of here requires a year-long course in integrated biological sciences for the LPN program which covers the basics of A&P and micro. And to bridge to the RN they are required to take the regular A&P I&II and microbiology. I know it can be difficult to see how everything fits together at this point (i.e. why do I have to know the minute detail of skin cells?) but it does.

Please don't give up and good luck to you! Keep us posted!

[Tweety]

I agree that taking accellerated A&P is a tough tough thing to do, so don't judge yourself too harshly on that. However, A&P is the backbone of nursing and in my opinion as hard as nursing courses will ever be. Even though there is a lot of stuff, as you said that wouldn't necessarily help you in the real world. But you want to take it and learn it.

I worked in the evening in a restaurant full time while in school and it was tough, but I had all the related courses out of the way. I went to a very cheap community college. But it was NLN accredited and tough.

Going the LPN route would give you experience, but wouldn't take advantage of all those non-science credits you could apply to an associates degree or a BSN in nursing. But, as you stated it would give you clinical skill, but so will the ADN program. As I said, I was working in a restaurant when I took A&P and Nursing and didn't have any clinical experience.

There are good LPN to RN programs out there, so that is a very good way to go.

Good luck in whatever you do. Do what's best for you, your life situation, etc.

The student board might be able to give you some advice on finances.

[suebird3]

Welcome to allnurses.com! Glad you joined us!

Going the LPN route is a good option for many; I started my career that way. Yes, you get alotta experience along the way. I didn't work during my year long program, but did work while I went for my BSN. It was hard, but do-able. The other posters have good advice, also.

Suebird