Having a hard time with NVCC prerequisites and application...

[akoukla22]

Oops - I have posted this on the Colleges section as well as the Students section, and then saw I should be posting here if i have specific questions about a specific program. Hope i dont annoy everyone by posting it in so many different places! This is my first time posting and I really appreciate any help!

I am hoping to apply to the NVCC Traditional Track (Fall 2014) - applications are due by the end of Spring 2014. I spoke to two advisors in September who recommended I take Biology and Intro to Medical Terminology this semester and Health Sciences I and II along with General Pharmacology next semester. So far I have A's in my two classes this semester and am all registered and books purchased for next semester.

My question is this - I see in the brochure that the Medical Terminology course and the Pharmacology course are both part of the program once you are on the track. It specifically says that you can take them beforehand, but you're still going to have to take them once you're accepted.

page 3: http://www.nvcc.edu/campuses-and-cen...rack9-9-11.pdf

I emailed the department and they gave me conflicting information, saying I wouldn't have to retake those courses. Does anyone have experience with this?

If I have to take them again, I think I'd rather drop the Pharma class next semester and instead, take Algebra and Chemistry. I see they are prerequisites as well and I took them 15 years ago in high school and only got C's.

My other question is - what do you think would give me better chances of getting into the program? Would taking a class that is in the Nursing coursework (Pharmacology) and getting an A in it show them that I'm serious and will be a good Nursing student? Or would they rather see above-average grades on all of my pre-reqs?

I plan on going in to speak to an advisor next week, but thought I'd reach out to you all and see if you had any advice first.

Also - are there any advisors that were standout that you could recommend? I have gone in twice and talked to two different people who seemed pretty indifferent about me. This is a huge life and career change for me. I was laid off of my sales job in August - the 4th time I've been laid off in 2 years. I sat down with my fiancee and had the "we cannot start a family if i'm being laid off every year" conversation and decided to take the money we had saved for our wedding and invest it in my schooling. My now-husband has sacrificed a lot for me to do this career change and I want to do all i can to be accepted! My biggest fear is that I will not be accepted and then I will have blown a few thousand dollars on some pre-req courses and still be unemployed, a year later.

Any help/guidance?

Thanks all!!!

[tdi213]

This information should answer all of your questions:

1) You do not need to retake these courses once you are in the nursing program. All the application literature says is that, if you wait to take these courses once you are in the nursing program, then you CANNOT take them until the designated semester. For example, you are taking Pharmacology next semester. If you instead wait to take this class when you are in the nursing program, then you cannot take it until the second semester of the program.

2) Since you took Chemistry over 10 years ago, you are going to need to at least take CHM 101. They do not consider your grade in high school algebra when making an admissions decision, they just want to make sure that you actually took the class. However, your math skills will be tested on the TEAS.

3) BSNs are preferred over ADNs in all hospitals. While I don't think hospitals will stop hiring ADNs in the near future, I do see almost all of them going the route of the INOVA Health System (making you sign an agreement that you will obtain your BSN within 3 years of employment). The NAS courses that you want to take are worthless outside of NVCC's ADN program. If you want your coursework to transfer to a BSN program, take BIO 141, 142, and 150 instead.

4) Take this with a grain of salt, but I'd hazard to guess that you have so far been treated with indifference at the MEC because, as of right now, no one is currently eligible to apply for the traditional program starting in Fall 2014. I am starting the Online Hybrid program in January and I could tell that, on the two occasions I went to the MEC, that the admissions advisors were swamped and overworked worrying about the upcoming online hybrid course. They'll be much more receptive to you once the admissions window opens for the program you want to apply to.

[hanoi98]

I would suggest you take all the non nursing course such as Pharm, medical term, psy 201, 202 before start the program. The nursing course work is heavy and you don't want to add any extra classes unless absolutely necessary.

I am not sure about the BIO 141, 142, 250 track versus the NAS 161,162. I got conflict info on that also, but they are always subject to change. I took the BIO route because i also consider the ABSN programs.

If i were you, i would take the BIO track just to make sure i am competitive for the BSN program elsewhere.

[akoukla22]

thank you so much for the information! I'm so glad to hear I wouldn't have to re-take the courses - it wasn't very clear to me from the document, so i appreciate your clarification!

The only reason I chose the NAS track was so that I would have the prerequisite classes done in time to apply for the program. My plan is to take 161 during the first part of the semester and 162 in the second part. That way, I can have the prereqs done by the May deadline for applications. The BIO track is 3 courses, so i definitely wouldn't have time to do all three before the application deadline, right? Do you think if I have A's in medical terminology and biology from this semester and then next semester take pharmacology, chemistry and the two NAS courses, that would set me straight? It's been a long time since i've been in school, so i want to make sure it's not too heavy of a courseload and i could still get A's. I will be working part time and studying for the TEAs as well. From reading other threads, I see the program is VERY competitive to get in and I just want to make myself as desirable to them as I can be!

A note on my issue with the advisors - It was September when i went in and i was CLUELESS. i think they probably get a million people like me around that time of year. No harm, no foul.

Regarding the BSN - My primary goal is to be accepted (and succeed in!) the NVCC nursing program. And since it seems that ADN's are still being hired (at least for the foreseeable future), I'd be fine sticking with the NAS coursework, since it makes me eligible for application faster than the BIO coursework. Once I secure employment, and need to get the BSN, I'll be okay with re-taking coursework if my NAS courses don't transfer over.

So you are in the hybrid program? How do you like it? Can you tell me what made you choose that program rather than the traditional one? Originally, I (naively) thought 'Oh, I'll just apply to the traditional program and if i don't get in, I'll do the hybrid." But from some of the other posts i've read, I see that the hybrid program has less spaces than the traditional. So, I'm assuming it's *more* competitive?

I am so excited about the prospect of becoming a nurse and also about being in school, so if either of you have advice about the application process from your experience, I'd love to hear it.

Thanks again!!!

[LuLuLady]

Hi, I'm in the traditional nursing program at NVCC. Nursing was a career change for me too (previous BS and MS in a non-nursing field)

I would not worry too much about taking NAS classes, because there are schools in the area that will accept the NAS route for their RN-BSN Programs. For example, after you have your RN license, George Mason, GW, etc. will allow you into their RN-BSN program.

As far as competitiveness, get decent scores on your TEAS, try to get all "As" in your prerequisites and if you can take the co-requisites (pharm, psych II, etc.), I highly recommend it because the nursing classes will keep you busy. Get "As" in the co-requisites too. Do you live in NOVA? Being a Fairfax county, Prince William, Loudon, etc. (NOVA) resident gives puts you ahead of other non-NOVA folks.