Switching careers at 42...I have to re-take Mircrobiology???

leenak · Feb 21, 2012

If I want to apply to a school that takes Chem, I'd have to retake chem. I had a year of it for my BS. I've seen people who said they had a BS in Microbiology say they have to repeat it so yeah :)

Its a minor hurdle but that is all it is. Don't let it discourage you.

SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP · Feb 21, 2012

Thanks, leenak! It's just frustrating thinking I only need 3 classes, to finding out I need 7 before I can apply. Espcially when I've had upper-level Microbiology. Oh well...as the advisor said, it should be an easy A then :) Technically, I could apply after only re-taking the Anatomy, but they give you 40 bonus points if you have all the pre-reqs & co-reqs completed before applying. I'd rather get the bonus points and know I have the best shot at getting accepted the first time I apply.

I'm so anxious to get started on school! My fiancé is a wonderful man and just told me yesterday that he doesn't want me to work while I'm in school. Now, I'm counting down the days till summer so I can get going. I've ALWAYS wanted to be a nurse and now, after so many years...I finally get to do it...YAY!!!

I appreciate the support :)

melc0305 · Feb 21, 2012

Same here - I'm 38 and currently working full time and taking my pre-reqs. Although in my case, I have a BA in Communications, so I really didn't have the sciences to begin with. The nursing school I'm applying to will only take science courses taken within the last 5 years so I think it's pretty common.

I understand when you finally come to the decision after so much contemplation, you are just excited and anxious to get going. My pre-reqs should take 3 semesters, then 2 years for the Accelerated program (which is long for accelerated).

Good luck!

caliotter3 · Feb 21, 2012

Because of your background, you should attempt to get a waiver for the micro. Some schools grant waivers for prereq classes where the individual shows they have been using the course info in their work. The worst they can do is to tell you no. Sometimes advisors give out the easiest answers to parrot, instead of looking for ways to help a student.

SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP · Feb 21, 2012

Hi melc0305! Glad to know I'm not alone :) I'll be doing a 2 year accelerated program once I'm done with the pre/co-reqs, too. I'm also looking into getting the BSN, so if I don't get accepted the first time I apply, I can knock out most of the upper-division credits I need for the BSN while I'm waiting to get into the ADN program.

When are you starting your first semester? Or have you already started? I'll have to work until August, so taking 3 classes in the summer & working full time is going to be a LOT of work. Can't wait to put in my resignation at work! It's so hard keeping it under wraps for now. I'm just bursting with excitement!

Best of luck to you! Maybe we'll both be going through our nursing programs at the same time :)

SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP · Feb 21, 2012

Thanks, caliotter3! I've asked if I can get an appointment with the Nursing Advisor to see if they'll waive my Microbiology. The regular advisor I saw was very discouraging about it and said they don't give too many exceptions because it's so competitive to get into the program. So, I'm hoping they will see I'm a great candidate and give me the exception. However, I'm trying to be realistic and planning as if I have to re-take it, so my hopes aren't too dashed if they say no.

As the song goes, "the way-ay-ting is the hardest part"...

allnurses Guide · Feb 21, 2012

I would call the school and ask about demonstrating competence, they shouldn't make you retake something you have considerable experience in. I know it worked for some folks in my program.

nguyency77, CNA · Feb 22, 2012

I would call the school and ask about demonstrating competence, they shouldn't make you retake something you have considerable experience in. I know it worked for some folks in my program.

When I was in high school, I took classes at the community college.

That college offered students the opportunity to "challenge" courses they already are competent in, so they don't have to retake it. It counted for the community college, only, however. If you're applying to the same school you're gonna challenge the class in, it won't matter!

Lucky that you already took so much biology. Good luck!

noahsmama · Feb 22, 2012

Are you set on getting into this one particular nursing program, or are there other schools you would consider? In my area, some nursing schools had a "recency" requirement for prereqs, and others did not. The accelerated BSN program in which I eventually enrolled had no "recency" requirement -- thank goodness, since otherwise I would have had to retake General Chemistry even though I have a PhD in the subject and (in theory) could teach General Chemistry.

I was also able to do my Microbiology requirement as a challenge exam through Excelsior -- maybe this school would allow you to do that?

Good luck!

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Feb 22, 2012

i hear ya, and i hope you can either talk them into giving you a waiver or allowing you to retake their courses' final exams as a demonstration of your current knowledge of the material. there have actually been some interesting developments in the microbiology world since the 90s, i.e., two decades, so i'm not sanguine about your chances on that one. anatomy hasn't changed much as far as i know. well, mine has, but you won't be studying that.

ask to speak to a nursing faculty academic advisor asap, and bypass the well-meaning departmental secretary whose job it is to give bad news in a noncreative way.

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Feb 22, 2012

duplicate... gremlins in the system tonight?