to all the new prenursing students. some encouragement

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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I just wanted to share my progress. I am a 26 year old non traditional student. I started out as a pharmacy technician after having gone to trade school. then worked for almost 7 years for a big mailorder pharmacy. I got a lot of experience with medicine. meanwhile, I was also a single mom and worked and took classes since 2008 part time. I had no idea how I would ever finish or how long it would take.

There were SO MANY NEGATIVE PEOPLE especially other prenursing students who spoke about how hard and competitive it is to make good grades in the prerequisites.In highschool I didn't even have the best grades. Well here I am on my last and I am a straight A college student. You have to block out the negative people. They are everywhere! :nono:

Do you know what the secret is? STUDY STUDY.:bookworm: All the time.:coffee:

Be an active learner. When you go to lecture retain what you can WHILE in lecture. Write notes in your textbooks. Use colored pens. Make things bright! Use post it notes on top of notes! Be enthusiastic:) about learning and think about how bad you want to be a nurse.

I wish you all luck.You can do this no matter what the obstacles are if you work hard.

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Hi CarefulCare!

Love those inspirational words and congrats on getting straight As!! I just finished all my pre-reqs, but know reading something like this at the beginning would have been very motivational. Hope we all get into the programs we are applying to!! :)

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Thank you for the encouragement, CarefulCare! When I get discouraged from all of the studying or by how competitive the nursing program at my community college is, I think of how much I want to be a nurse and how hard I have worked to get here. Next semester will be my last prerequisites before I apply to the nursing program, and I will keep working as hard as I can to get the best grades that I can. Congratulations on getting straight A's, and best of luck!

:wideyed:

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Thank you for the positive words and congrats on your 4.0!

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Specializes in Med-surgical, nephro, substance rehab.

I also love the positive encouraging words CarefulCare. I agree with your logic in taking notes and using color to bring attention to certain things. I would add to go over what you are studying and come back again later to go over it again. This indeed works, I know, because this is what I did, and I was just accepted to a very competitive BSN program :). You have to be serious and you have to want it and you have to stay focused and never let anyone else's attitude corrupt your own positivity. Remind yourself that you can do this; even perhaps looking into the mirror to say this. Let it become a part of who you are. You can do it! :yes:

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Specializes in Psych.

Your positive attitude & inspiring words are very much appreciated. I'm a secretary at a state mental hospital and am VERY interested in getting my LPN within the next year and a half and possibly applying for a LPN to RN bridge program in the future. Giving advice is one thing but I have gotten A LOT of negative feedback from several people when I say I want my LPN first because I already have a bachelor's degree in another field (I majored in History because I wanted to teach when I was younger but I'm not using my degree, nor getting paid for having it.) I know that LPNs aren't as in demand at hospitals nowadays as they once were but fortunately I won't have that problem and will be able to start as an LPN I at the hospital where I work now as soon as I complete the LPN program so I'm not worried about getting a job when I (finally) finish. I work with LPNs & RNs and some are positive about no matter what I decide but some are like "Are you crazy? You have a bachelors! Don't waste your time with that LPN, go straight for your RN!" But what they don't understand is, I've been out of school for 13 years and I have to pace myself slowly with all of that science and the time I'm gonna have to dedicate to studying. I didn't have the best of grades in math or science in HS nor college so I KNOW myself and don't want to get overwhelmed. I also want to get into the Nursing field as quickly as possible and EVERY traditional RN program I've researched in my area has LONG waiting lists and are VERY HIGHLY competitive. I'm willing to try however but I'm also being realistic since I have to work full time while in school. I'm gonna have to take baby steps (like only 1 or 2 classes at a time) so that I can pass each one with a good grade. I know everyone means well but I am not gonna let the negative voices discourage my plan. Thanks for the encouragement either way about the pre-reqs because I admit Ive been feeling a little afraid of those types of science classes after being out of school for so long, but since I was recently accepted at a community college in my area I'm gonna give it a shot in the spring. Keep up the great work & keep inspiring others!

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You are wonderful! I love hearing positive and uplifting stories like this! I can totally related. It seemed like when I was applying to nursing schools everyone knew someone who was smarter than me or more prepared than me or more qualified than me who didn't get into nursing school. People thought that they were being diplomatic and that they were being "helpful" by suggesting I not put all my eggs in one basket as they said. I returned to nursing school after receiving a BA in Psychology and many thought it was risky to start a new program.

Well, here I am, finishing my second to last semester of nursing school, I graduate in May! I had no problem getting into nursing school and although it has been a ton of work while working my full time job, I have managed to find success as well. You are so right, people talk and talk but they really don't know what's going on! I also keep hearing about how hard it is going to be to find a job, yet plenty of students from last year are working as full time RNs in hospitals around me, and a few of my classmates already have jobs lined up. We can't listen to the chatter, just have to stay positive and enjoy the ride!

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I just received my acceptance letter to nursing school yesterday. While taking pre-reqs and studying for the TEAS test which the school just changed the requirement to the HESI test, other classmates were telling me I was not gonna pass certain classes with anything higher than a B by me never liking science classes. They also stated that I would not pass the TEAS test the first time taking that. Being someone who has been out of school for 10 years I started to get discouraged.

I decided I wanted to get in nursing school the first time I applied. I studied, studied, and studied while working a full-time job, taking care of my two kids (3 including my husband :) Lastly, I received all A's in my pre-reqs and passed the TEAS test the first time with the help of the TEAS Study Guide and Quizlet flash cards.

So my point is that everything is possible as long as you put in the work. Dont let anyone discourage you!

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wow i just wanted to tell each of you I am delighted to hear about your stories and hope you share it with everyone you encounter with that may be also wanting to become a nurse.

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I just received my acceptance letter to nursing school yesterday. While taking pre-reqs and studying for the TEAS test which the school just changed the requirement to the HESI test, other classmates were telling me I was not gonna pass certain classes with anything higher than a B by me never liking science classes. They also stated that I would not pass the TEAS test the first time taking that. Being someone who has been out of school for 10 years I started to get discouraged.

I decided I wanted to get in nursing school the first time I applied. I studied, studied, and studied while working a full-time job, taking care of my two kids (3 including my husband :) Lastly, I received all A's in my pre-reqs and passed the TEAS test the first time with the help of the TEAS Study Guide and Quizlet flash cards.

So my point is that everything is possible as long as you put in the work. Dont let anyone discourage you!

QUIZLET IS MY BEST FRIEND! THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR STORY! I know you worked hard to get to where you are at.

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Your positive attitude & inspiring words are very much appreciated. I'm a secretary at a state mental hospital and am VERY interested in getting my LPN within the next year and a half and possibly applying for a LPN to RN bridge program in the future. Giving advice is one thing but I have gotten A LOT of negative feedback from several people when I say I want my LPN first because I already have a bachelor's degree in another field (I majored in History because I wanted to teach when I was younger but I'm not using my degree, nor getting paid for having it.) I know that LPNs aren't as in demand at hospitals nowadays as they once were but fortunately I won't have that problem and will be able to start as an LPN I at the hospital where I work now as soon as I complete the LPN program so I'm not worried about getting a job when I (finally) finish. I work with LPNs & RNs and some are positive about no matter what I decide but some are like "Are you crazy? You have a bachelors! Don't waste your time with that LPN, go straight for your RN!" But what they don't understand is, I've been out of school for 13 years and I have to pace myself slowly with all of that science and the time I'm gonna have to dedicate to studying. I didn't have the best of grades in math or science in HS nor college so I KNOW myself and don't want to get overwhelmed. I also want to get into the Nursing field as quickly as possible and EVERY traditional RN program I've researched in my area has LONG waiting lists and are VERY HIGHLY competitive. I'm willing to try however but I'm also being realistic since I have to work full time while in school. I'm gonna have to take baby steps (like only 1 or 2 classes at a time) so that I can pass each one with a good grade. I know everyone means well but I am not gonna let the negative voices discourage my plan. Thanks for the encouragement either way about the pre-reqs because I admit Ive been feeling a little afraid of those types of science classes after being out of school for so long, but since I was recently accepted at a community college in my area I'm gonna give it a shot in the spring. Keep up the great work & keep inspiring others!

I must admit I had a friend who took the LVN route while i continued the basic long route getting all the prereqs for bsn first. She is the strongest woman I know who now has her LVN and is going to get her BSN paid for by a hospital she works for! You can do this. Everyone has their own story.

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I wish I had this positive attitude when I was a pre-nursing student taking my pre-requisistes. I worried so much about my grades, how there were only a limited seats, and if I was going to fail my first semester semester of nursing school. Oh my Gosh lesson learned, I finished with a 3.68 overall, but I wish I had more self-confidence. Anyways, I was an alternate for my first choice and am currently in the process of starting an LPN program in January. If I could go back three years ago and tell my 18 year old self something; it would be to believe in myself. I am so happy with where I am now, though, college has changed me a lot and I am so happy for the experience.

I like this post. :)

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