A and P over 7 weeks during summer

leenak · May 10, 2012

If you aren't working and it'd be your only class, then you'd have plenty of free time. How much more free time do you need?

I'm working full time, up to 50 hours and I'm taking Chem over the summer. 5:30pm to 10pm (Monday through Thursday) and it is a half hour drive each way. Even counting study time, I'll have some time on the weekend to do 'stuff'. Sure, my time will be limited but my class is only 6 weeks long. I can survive a hectic schedule for 6 weeks.

I don't normally try to get in other people's business but you really do need to get off your butt and get to class or something.

jocy_anne · May 10, 2012

I don't usually get in people's business either, but I'd have to agree with leenak. I think you should do some soul searching and see if you can figure out what it is that you really want to do with your life. If you do decide to pursue Nursing school, you will need to get used to not having a whole lot of free time. One 7-week summer class won't even come close to the amount of work you'll need to put into your Nursing school classes. I'm not trying to scare you out of Nursing...it's just not an easy field to get into and you need to be completely prepared for that. The thing that keeps me going is that I know it's temporary, and I know I will be doing something I truly love at the end of it. Just make sure you're prepared for the committment before you apply to schools.Personally, I think that you should take this 7-week A&P I class. I think it will give you a good idea of whether or not you want to keep taking the Nursing prereq classes. I totally get that you're nervous about going back to school...I was out of school for 5 years when I decided to go back, and I was nervous, too. If you're really passionate about pursuing something, though, you will find the motivation to get through it. I'm honestly not trying to be mean here. I want everyone on allnurses to succeed! Good luck with whatever you decide!

umbdude, MSN, APRN · May 10, 2012

You're only 23...it's not uncommon to not know what you want to do with your life. Chances are, you'll explore, find out you don't like something, and change. Just go with the flow for now. For some people (myself included) it takes time to find out what you want...and it's always an on-going process. Take whatever class you feel like, but be committed to it if you do. I think you'll still have free time, and even if you don't, it's only 7 weeks. It's possible that nursing or whatever career might not be right at this time, but you never know if you'll change your mind next year and if you do you'll have a class out of the way. Good luck!

rystle · May 10, 2012

I'm an only child. My dad works nearly everyday of his life. My mom has never worked since I was born, probably longer. My mom basically sits at home all day and I doubt she would even feed herself if my dad didn't bring home food. It is depressing, I like being at home but then again I don't. I've considered going away to school too. My mom influences me to stay at home and do nothing because it is what I always saw.

I know I'm getting personal, but it is something that bothers me. There is really no reason to leave since I would essentially be living by myself unless I went out of state to school but I would probably miss home either way. There is a 4 year wait list at the school I like near home, but I could always transfer.

leenak · May 10, 2012

Your mother has chosen how to live her life and you need to choose how to live yours. No one is saying you need to map out your entire life right now. The thing is that 5, 10, 15 years are going to pass whether you are sitting at home or whether you map a path to your own career. You don't necessarily need to take AP over the summer but I'd suggest you take a class. perhaps talk to a career counselor about your options. Taking AP (or any class) would be a good first step to just getting out there and starting.

TnMtnRose · May 10, 2012

I took I & II last summer. It is intense but very doable and I think , for me anyway, I did better on those tests than in classes in a normal semester. Here is a great website to help you out, it was recommended by my AP instructor. GetBodySmart: Interactive Tutorials and Quizzes On Human Anatomy and Physiology

jocy_anne · May 10, 2012

I may be wrong about this, but it does sound like you don't want to follow in your mom's footsteps. If that's the case, then I think you should try out this A&P class, just to see if it peaks your interest. The 4-year wait list does suck, but as umbdude said, maybe it will take a few years for you to really be ready for the program. You should check with that school to see what their policy is on the expiration of science classes (I think most programs want you to take your sciences within 5 years of starting). As long as the A&P class wouldn't expire before you started the program, I say go for it and take it this summer.

Honestly, I think it could be a turning point for you - either you'll love it and it will motivate and inspire you to keep pursuing this path, or you will hate it and it will let you know that this field isn't for you. I decided to pursue my MBA early last year because I thought that was really what I wanted to do. I took a Marketing class and realized in a short amount of time that I really didn't have much interest in the field. It was then that I did some soul searching and realized that I wanted to pursue Nursing. So I don't really have any regrets about taking that class, even though it could be viewed as a "waste of time." If I hadn't taken the class, I might not have realized what my true passion was. I'm 28 right now and it's taken me a very long time to figure things out. I even have a B.A. in a whole other field (Law & Justice Studies) because I thought I had to have my life figured out at 22. It's ok to take your time and try various fields in order to find out what you enjoy. That's what I did! :)

SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP · May 10, 2012

I just treasure my free time so much. I love cooking, listening to music, watching tv, plus I surf the net endlessly it seems like. I want to make something of myself though. I love nutrition too, so I thought about going for all different careers including Dietitian, Dental Hygienist, and Nursing. I'm still not sure if nursing is the right place for me. Many told me to become a model because I'm very tall and thin, but that is easier said than done.
I'm 23 and still don't know what I want with my life. If I don't do anything, I feel like my life has no meaning.

I think taking a 7 week A&P class will give you a taste of what the study load will be like in Nursing school. You AREN'T going to have a lot of free time if you get into Nursing school. Most of your "free time" will be used studying or doing clinicals. As other posters have stated before, this could be a big turning point in your life. You can see what you're made of, so to speak. Are you going to battle through it and prove to yourself you can do it? Or are you going to sit by and always wonder for the rest of your life if you "shoulda, woulda, coulda"?

I say...GO FOR IT!!!!