Thinking of switching major to Nursing.

[GeorgeV2]

I'm currently a Computer Science major, but I am beginning to regret my choice and realizing Nursing would be a better choice. I'm looking for job security, good pay, and the ability of finding a job out of college. My current school offers a BN but I'm worried that i won't get accepted into the program. How much do they look at non Prerequisite classes? I currently have a 2.78 GPA, main reason being I got a D in calculus and the nursing program has a cutoff of 2.75. I would have to retake calculus and file for grade replacement, which would replace my GPA grade, but how bad will the D look at my transcript when I apply to the nursing program?

[Bob_N_VA]

People need to relax..the guy simply inquired about going into nursing. Who are you to make a judgement call about why he would want to do it? As long as someone is a competent professional, and does their job well and to the best of their ability, why does it matter? People need to stop putting other people down...all RN's started out at one time or another as curious intellectuals interested in the profession, including you Bob. The CRNA threads are even worse than this....

It matters quite a bit actually. You can't just show up for work every day, do just what is required and then go home. It takes a strong committment to the concept of caring for others. If you go into it without that feeling, you may be technically competent, but you aren't going to be the best advocate for your patient. And I doubt you would get past the clinical instructors anyway, they have been around the block a couple or more times and they can spot a poser from somebody who really has the desire to be a good nurse.

The OP was in school, so probably isn't much past his teens, if even that. He was testing the waters. When I talk to people that young, I don't assume that they have a wealth of life experience to draw upon. So rather than just tell him that sure, you may do this or do that, I made a point about the emotional committment nurses need to do their jobs so he would at least take that into consideration. If he would have said something like "I always thought about being a nurse" I would have given him the benefit. So if you see it as a put down, I see it as a reality check. Straight advice is usually harder to swallow anyway.

[ChristineN, BSN, RN]

I just wanted to add that you might want to look around the forums here a little and read what nursing grads are going through. You described nursing as a field with job security, yet many new grads are jobless. Those that do have jobs often had to search for months, or relocate. So job security, not right away. Once you have a couple years experience, it's much easier to find nursing jobs.

[K.P.A.]

Nursing school academic adviser or entry screening person can tell you.

I'm a strong advocate of finishing what you start and say...before making a radical change, finish what you started.

FWIW, I flunked calculus and then got an A in it. Unlike algebra, geometry, and trig, the Calculus requires a lot of mental adjustment. It's less like puzzle solving and more like learning a new way to think.

[K.P.A.]

^^^This is important enough to repeat. I myself switched majors into nursing, but my big thing was that I absolutely love helping people.

I switched(nth career) for purely selfish reasons...

The captive audience, lack of cubicles, preponderance of female co-workers, amazing variety of odors (perhaps I was a dog in a previous incarnation), but mostly the feeling I get when I can make someone else feel better are my reasons for aspiring to enter the profession or trade(if I get stuck in a union shop).

[johnny depp23]

I don't think you need to worry about that calculus grade, because most if not ALL nursing programs only require algebra and Stats. I mean it wouldn't hurt if you did replace that 'D' with a better grade, but it won't hinder your chances of nursing school. Just pass your pre-reqs with at least a 'B' and you should get into the nursing program.