HELP! Please! RN License question.

Hi and welcome to allnurses. You seem to be very worried about passing the NCLEX-RN which is the exam you would take to become a licensed RN-- I would be much more focused on getting into a nursing program! You only take this test once you have completed a nursing program and you are several years away from that at this point...

You mentioned taking classes at the red cross-- you could take the course to become a certified nursing assistant and you won't only be able to work in a nursing home. While the largest employers of CNAs are undoubtedly LTC facilities, hospitals do employ them as well.

I'm slightly confused by your post-- you seem to mention wanting to find work as a CNA and to take the course but you mention wanting to become a RN. While working as a CNA will give you great exposure to the hospital and you will observe nurses in their environment and what you do the only way for you yourself to become a registered nurse is to apply to nursing school and be accepted (which is a feat in itself and is way harder than passing NCLEX). Have you looking into the nursing programs at your local community college or university? Have you started taking your prerequisite classes?

I really suggest you speak with current RNs about their career path and an adviser at your community college's nursing program. You can come up with a plan of action that will put you on the path ASAP towards becoming an RN if that is what you want to be. Good luck-- the road towards being a nurse is long and winding but if you want it bad enough you will succeed.

LTC= long term care facility

If you're wanting to be placed in the ER department as an aide it may be a little tricky. Most emergency departments employee ER techs that have been specially trained for the job (no idea where they go for this training though). CNAs are more likely to be employed in the care of non accute/ non critical patients. CNAs possess certain training and skills like assesment, taking vitals, patient care/ assistance etc that I think are more tailored to non critical patients. Perhaps someone on here who works in the ER would be able to tell you if their particular hospital uses CNAs in the department though I think it's usually techs and externs (who are students currently enrolled in a RN program). I could be wrong I'm not too familiar with ER.

Yes you should finish your Associates degree in nursing within two years (but that's two years after you are accepted). It can often take at least a year to get all the prereqs out of the way to be eligible to apply. Be aware that some deadlines are early (OCC's is in December to be accepted for the following fall. Prereqs must be done by then...) and time does pass in there. By the time you've done prereqs, applied, and then start and finish the program it's probably more likely 4 years worth of time to complete it.

Some programs require you to take entrance exams, others don't. Different colleges use different exams. Different colleges use different prereqs. They can admit differently-- most have switched to competitive admissions but some still use a waitlist and it can be good to put your name on that list in case your other plans don't pan out. Be sure to attend an info session at all schools you're interested in and keep track of all deadlines (write them on a giant calendar and highlight them).

Good luck and if you ever want info about specific programs just ask-- this board is a wealth of info.

You are correct about WCCCD. You must complete Eng 119, Psy 101, Bio 240, Bio 250 and Bio 295 before applying to the program. I am assuming the sixth prereq you are referring to is Bio 155 which you must complete before you take the other bio's. However, Bio 155 is NOT a prereq for the nursing program itself. There are coreq's that you should probably complete before entering the program and I highly advise you take HSC 100, DT 130 and BIO 252 because HSC 100 and DT 130 must be taken during your first semester of nursing because HSC 100 must be completed before Med surg 1 and DT 130 must be completed before OB in second semester. There are other classes like HSC 200 that also must be completed before certain semesters so you should probably take as many as you can BEFORE entering....

The NET test has to be completed and passed before you can apply...I suggest you take this test a couple semesters before you plan on applying so in case you need to take it over you will have time to do so and it wont set you back.

Good luck! You have a wonderful journey ahead of you!

I am assuming you are talking about nursing classes...which you have to take in a certain sequence. You can not take more or less nursing classes they are predetermined. As for other classes, you are always welcome to take more (non-nursing) classes each semester but I and I am sure others will advise against it. Even though the nursing classes may not seem like a lot of credit hours (between 7-9 total credits each semester) it is a very rigorous program and 7-9 cr. could be considered full time (I heard they do consider it full time for nursing only, but I am not 100% positive about this). Anyway, I always believe that it is never too late to educate! It doesn't matter how long it took you to decide what you wanted to do, at least you know now and you can move forward from here on out....Don't let past decisions or lack of discourage you....just keep your eye on the prize and keep going forward! I speak from personal experience! Good luck to you!