658 Days until nursing school :-(

[Kendel.G]

I don't like pre-reqs. At all.

I just found out I have to wait until next fall to take anatomy &Phys 1 and chem.....my school doesn't offer those classes in the summer. This FRUSTRATES me to no end. So now I don't finish pre-reqs until Spring of '13 and won't be able to start the program until Spring of '14!

Does anybody have any advice as to something I can do in addition to pre-reqs? I'm just so frustrated with waiting! And I have to wait 2 more years!

Patience is obviously going to be a theme for this season ;-)

[nguyency77, CNA]

My friend lives in CA and he said that some of the community colleges are super competitive! No idea why that is. And aw, those darn labs. My university requires no labs, and the labs they do offer for A&P are really easy (no dissections, not much physiology). I'm taking those labs in case I don't get into the university's nursing program. That way, I could apply to community college.

And that's good that you have a friend doing it with you! It's so much better that way. I am trying to talk my friend into doing Patho I with me over the summer, haha. I think I'll also do pharmacology and get my med tech license. As much as I loved it, I think I'm through being a CNA. Last night I worked an entire hall and a half by myself and strained my neck and part of my upper back. It hurts to swallow, talk, and breathe. Thank goodness for Salonpas! I would much rather pass meds.

Darn counselors. Did they tell you to split up your pre-reqs? Mine told me to "take biology and chemistry" in two separate semesters because it was "too challenging" to take it at the same time. I ignored them and got an A in both classes. So sometimes I wonder if they know what they're talking about.

[Maryea]

I too will be applying in fall of 2014 for nursing school. Originally, my plan was RN, but I am hearing the eventually we will need to have BSN. My new plan, in my down time (summer), like someone else said, focus on the classes geared toward the BSN to get them out of the way. Some of these science classes I do not want to rush, so summer would not be a good idea for me for the easier classes like English, etc. I want to make sure I "get it".

Good luck!!

[runforfun]

Look into the online classes. Again, I have no idea how it works in CA, but you might be able to do online simulations for online classes. I will warn, however, that my experience with online labs is that they take much longer (3-4 hours) than doing the same thing in a real lab (1-2) because you aren't able to run multiple trials at once or get everything set up then run trials, or other silly and time consuming changes.

If online classes aren't an option, you can always get study guides, or even books and a syllabus (spelling?) from someone who has already taken the classes and start studying to ensure that A!

[kmitch]

I have been waiting for a couple of years to start nursing school, too, and I am finally starting at the end of May. My program has 18 hrs of required prereqs that we have to take through an affiliated school, so it will be a little longer till we get to the nursing curriculum. I am trying to enjoy the wait, but it is tough!

[nguyency77, CNA]

kmitch-- At least you're starting! Congratulations :) My auntie waited almost 3 years to get into her ADN program. After she graduated, that school eliminated their waitlist and went to a point system. Sucks, considering she was a real high achiever and STILL had to wait!

My program requires 65 hours of prereqs. I cannot wait to be done. The only challenging prereqs I have left are A&P 2, Pathology I & II, and pharmacology.