Nursing School: There's No Guarantee!?!

[prissy pixie]

Hello all!

I'm curious about a few things and was wondering if anyone would lend me their advice or opinion on my situation. I will be starting school in the fall with intentions of obtaining an Associate degree in nursing. I have no medical experience, or school experience for that matter, but always wanted to be a paramedic, even as a child.

Life happened. I joined the Marines then raised a family, for the past ten years, as my husband supported us. My husband is sick and is no longer capable of working full time. So, it's up to me.

I initially started checking into the paramedic program but they are severely lacking in compensation in OK. And I would not be able to support 3 kids, a husband, 2 dogs, a cat, goldfish and a snail. :chuckle So, becoming an RN seems better suited to my situation and I would still be doing what I've always desired to do.

Here's the problem. After talking with somebody in admissions I discovered that after taking 2 semesters of prereqs, driving an hour and 1/2 to and from school while trying to support my family and replace sleep with study, that the chance of me getting accepted into the nursing program is 50/50!

The same person went on to explain to me that an average of 150 people apply each year but they only take 80. I'm not already accepting defeat, I'm just trying to be realistic and prepared, what if I am not accepted? Then what? Is that the end of the road? Do I just tuck the credits away as a good learning experience?

Do I just keep applying every year? Would I be able to then try with another school? Or is that the only chance you get? I just don't understand. It's would seem like a huge waste of time and money, neither of which I can afford.

I thought about taking the LPN course that my local CC offers then taking the nursing bridge LPN to RN at the University but that would set me back to 3 years of school instead of 2. Possibly even four years depending on what time of year the programs start.

Ahhhh! I'm just so frustrated about this news. I had been so excited with the thought of becoming a nurse...

Any advice or just more info to help me better understand the whole process?

Thanks for letting me ramble on

[SmilingBluEyes]

I agree with the person who cast a very wide net and applied in many places. If you don't apply many places and get all your pre-requisite courses done as much as possible, expect not to be accepted. It's very competitive and there is a shortage not only of nurses in some areas, but of qualified instructors. That is the crux of the problem. No instructors, no classes.

Good luck. Get the pre-nursing classwork done, keep grades high as possible and apply everywhere you can possibly go to school. I hope things work out for you.

[prissy pixie]

Wow! What a lot of great ideas!!

You all have really opened my eyes and helped me understand the process a bit more. I was worried that if I were not accepted there were no other opportunities available. So that thought really scared me.

This is what I think I will do:

Take my prereqs this Fall and the following Spring semesters and get them over with. Then apply to the nursing program and the same University as well as a couple in Tulsa. The Tulsa schools are not as close but it would be about an hour drive. So, if need be, it is do-able. If the planets do not align and I am not accepted to any of the programs then I can go through the LPN program at my local Tech school. Then take the LPN/RN bridge course and I would already have the prereqs out of the way! Does the back-up plan seem feasible?

I can do this I'm just going to bust my butt while taking my prereqs

Thank you all for the wonderful ideas and setting my mind at ease!

PS - prissy pixie refers to my daughter :chuckle

edit to say: Tulsa schools are an hour drive in one direction. The University is a 45 minute drive in one direction.

[prissy pixie]

Oh, I forgot to say that I really love the volunteer idea. Does this give one's application an edge?

[rach_nc_03]

Oh, I forgot to say that I really love the volunteer idea. Does this give one's application an edge?

Absolutely!! Anything you can do that will show you're serious- VERY serious- about your commitment to getting into nursing will help.

Another thing you might consider is taking as many field-related courses (outside of nursing pre-reqs) as you can afford. For instance, while enrolled in A&P and Microbiology, I took an EMT-Basic course. I would've happily taken the intermediate class, but they weren't offering it in my county at the time.

You should also *definitely* take a CNA course. They're not the most riveting thing in the world- especially if you've been drawn to paramedic work- but you can get a part-time job as a CNA while in school, which can help with money *and* credibility, if you play your cards right. In my program, some instructors complained about the students who worked as CNA's, as (according to these instructors) they had "picked up bad habits". However, if you can find a CNA position in a hospital setting, that can help your chances of being accepted to a program. Not that CNAs in LTC aren't working hard- I just think, from my experience, you'll be seen as having more relevant experience if you work in a hospital, since that's where the vast majority of nursing school clinicals take place.

In this area, you can work as a float pool CNA at most hospitals, and do PRN work as an EMT a few shifts a month. Nothing to write home about in terms of pay, but the experience will stand out on your application.

My EMT certification helped when I applied to my school's program; they admit based on GPA and entrance exam scores- I was 1st on the list by these criteria- but I wanted to have a leg-up in case I wanted to go somewhere else down the road, and because I had the time before getting started on the actual nursing courses. That helped me in two ways- first, I was able to get a full-time CNA position in a neuro ICU during my last year of nursing school; then, when I was applying for RN positions, both the fact I'd pursued an EMT *and* the subsequent ICU CNA job were strong points in my favor, as I'd shown a strong desire to work in critical care. I ended up with my dream job (PICU), and I really think those two things helped tremendously.

Stick with it, come up with every angle you can work, and you really will eventually make it work. good luck!