Fixing past mistakes...

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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Hi all!

Little about me - I'm sure this is a story you've heard before. I'm 28, went through undergrad on a business/engineering track, but I'm realizing I'd much rather work with a more one-on-one dynamic than being in a boardroom or on a conference call.

I'd see myself being more comfortable in an outpatient setting than at a hospital, long-term, so I'm thinking FNP as the end game...but I'm wondering how much I need to fix before I even look at an ABSN program. My freshman year studying habits were not good - Cs in both gen chems, calculus, and a D+ in an online college algebra semester. I graduated with a 3.2 in total, but a lot of that was my later years that weren't science-related.

I guess my question is, how much is worth it to re-take - everything math/science related that I got a C in? Would my prior grades automatically disqualify me from most programs as soon as they get a whiff of it?

I have no doubt about my ability to handle the science prereqs now, but I'm worried about what impact my ten year old mistakes have now.

Thanks!

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Specializes in NICU.

Many schools have a 5 year limit on pre-requisites, so that may be a deciding factor. I would look at what pre-reqs that the schools you are interested in require and retake anything below a B.

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But if they're too old to use as pre-reqs, they wouldn't be factored in, right? Other than counting in my degree's GPA.

I have a few friends who are RNs, but they came from different career backgrounds than I did. I'd really be interested in hearing from second-degree students; how you did it, what path you took - right now, I see myself staring a lot of loans in the face because I don't think I'd be able to work while in the BSN program.

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Specializes in Emergency Department.

You may or may not need to re-take Chem and/or Calculus. You likely will have to take the typical prerequisites for Nursing school. I would imagine that if your grades in those courses are outstanding, they may be sufficient to allow an admissions panel to not pay attention (if at all) to those early grades. They may only be truly interested in your prerequisites and the last 60 units. It's all about what they choose as selection criteria. Meet entry criteria and you stand a chance of not only being qualified, you may be selected... It does happen for first time applicants.

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Yeah, I'm fully expecting to have to retake chem, if for no other reason it's a pre-req for other things I'll need.

I'm just struggling with what direction to go in, whether associate's to RN to MSN, or BSN to MSN...I'd like to use as much of my former degree as possible, and try to stave off leaving my current job as long as possible so I'm not 100% living off of loans.

Ironically, the nonprofit I'm with hires a lot of RNs, but I'm not sure if they're all BSNs or what :)

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Specializes in Prior military RN/current ICU RN..

3.2 on your first degree will probably meet minimum reqs for ABSN. You need to talk with the schools you are applying to about what classes you may need to retake. All schools are pretty much different. You need to do the leg work. Don't even think about FNP for now. Focus on getting into nursing school and getting the best grades possible so if you still want to do FNP years from now you have the grades to get accepted. Don't put cart in front of the horse. You are going to be challenged unlike anything in your other bachelors and you will need MAX effort just to get decent grades. Good luck.

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