Actually a few questions..............

LuckyKelleyK, RN · Dec 8, 2008

I am researching my options for nursing schools and can use some insight. I am married with the three kids and work a full time job. My husband works two jobs so he's not around alot to help with homework, studying, dinner, etc. Alot falls on me and I'm worried that if I throw nursing school into the mix it might be more stressful on everyone. My questions are:
Would it be easier for me to do an online course for my pre-req's? If so, is there a big choice/difference between them? If I do decide to do on line courses, can I do it full time?
Thank you to all who reply and provide the info I need.

Well, I know that you can do partial online classes for physio, anatomy, and micro, but you have to go to school for labs. I tried taking physio with online lecture, and I have to say, it is much more difficult than going to lecture. Basically any class with a lab you might as well take on campus. Especially for someone with a full plate like you have it is probably best for you to only take one of these classes at a time.

BellasMommyOBRN · Dec 8, 2008

well, i know that you can do partial online classes for physio, anatomy, and micro, but you have to go to school for labs.quote]
actually there are labs offered online, they simply send the materials you need to your house. if it has been awhile since you have had science, i wouldn't recommend it. it's an option though! if you do take online courses, start off with some of the less demanding courses like psychology and english. see how you like the format. and yes, you can be a full-time online student (at least at my school you can)
good luck!

LuckyKelleyK, RN · Dec 8, 2008

well, i know that you can do partial online classes for physio, anatomy, and micro, but you have to go to school for labs.quote]
actually there are labs offered online, they simply send the materials you need to your house. if it has been awhile since you have had science, i wouldn't recommend it. it's an option though! if you do take online courses, start off with some of the less demanding courses like psychology and english. see how you like the format. and yes, you can be a full-time online student (at least at my school you can)
good luck!
it doesn't seem like you could possibly learn as much doing it that way than having on campus labs. in physio we gave each other ekg's, did metabolism experiments on mice etc. in micro we grew cultures and did a lot of other stuff you couldn't do at home. the only lab that i think would really be do-able at home would be anatomy. although, you wouldn't get the benefit of looking at cadavers obviously. i really doubt it would prepare you as much. i would also venture to say that some nursing schools wouldn't accept transfer of online labs. however, i do agree that if you can do any other class online (like pp said, psychology, english, nutrition, even stats) then definitely do it. i love online classes!

sunray12 · Dec 8, 2008

It's possible to take A&P with labs online. It's also possible to take other science courses with lab online although these can be harder to find than a&p online. Online course work is not easier than classroom & onsite lab work but when you have a ft job and/or kids it can be logistically easier not to have to commit to spending x-hours on campus per week plus time driving to and from school, etc. Instead you have the flex to do your reading and assignments at a time that works for you - whether that's early in the a.m. before work or at night after the kids go to bed. Keeping up with assignments is key. If you have good time management and organization skills then online classes can work for you.

Sand_Dollar, BSN · Dec 8, 2008

I home school my 11 yr old son, but luckily I am able to stay home and don't have to work full time. I also have a 14 year old who I home schooled until recently, but she is still home doing school online. I just finished my first semester of pre-reqs online through CCConline. I took Eng 121 and Bio 105. The Bio is a pre-req for A&P1 at this school. I only took 2 classes because the last time I was in school was 20 years ago and my hubby wanted to know it I was ready. I got both A's... so next semester I am taking 3 classes. I would take a full load, but I have a budget I have to be within.

If you do a search on here about CCConline, you will see how much I am for it. These are my pre-reqs: AP1 w/lab, Dietary Nutrition, Sociology, Human Gr & Dev, AP2 w/lab, Micro w/lab, Pathopsychology, Psych, Stats, Chem w/lab. I will be done them at the end of the Spring 2010 semester. The only class I can't find online is Organic & biochem.,I will have to take that at the U that I am going to apply to (going for my BSN). And what I hear, the classes show up as regular classes from my home college, not ones done online.

Now why do I love online? My school schedule is my own. I don't have to go to classes at a set time in the day or evening. My hubby is building a power plant and it is a VERY stressful job, I have to be here for him in the evenings and the daytime I'm here for the kids. But, during the day there is lots of study time for me as well as the evenings when my hubby is playing on his computer. I can fit my work in anytime I find time. The labs are also great to use to teach the kids, my 14 year old is going to graduate HS and pursue the same BSN program I am starting in Jan 2010, this is great practice for her.

There is a debate going on about the labs online as well. I can tell you although my bio class was an intro, it was not 'easy'. I took the shorter 10 week class rather than the 16 and I had 11 labs (2 were extra credit), 16 assignments, 1 term paper, and 6 exams. As well, you have to participate in the discussions on the class board. The exams are open book but some of the questions were HARD, online does not mean easy. I find the online format fit me well. I am organized, can learn from the text by myself (my preferred way anyway) and can find time to do the work.

Don't forget, if you need to go to campus, you are still going to have to find time at home to study. I would rather save the drive and lugging all my books around and do everything at my desk. My school did offer hybrid classes (class online, lab at school), but I love doing it all at home.

singlemomof3 · Dec 8, 2008

I am researching my options for nursing schools and can use some insight. I am married with the three kids and work a full time job. My husband works two jobs so he's not around alot to help with homework, studying, dinner, etc. Alot falls on me and I'm worried that if I throw nursing school into the mix it might be more stressful on everyone. My questions are:
Would it be easier for me to do an online course for my pre-req's? If so, is there a big choice/difference between them? If I do decide to do on line courses, can I do it full time?
Thank you to all who reply and provide the info I need.

Hello,

I am a single mother of 3, I work full time and go to school at night. If you want nursing bad enough you can make it work. We had a family meeting and I told my kids what I wanted to do. I told them I could take one class at a time and take forever or take 2 or3 classes at a time and finish faster. I told them they would have to pick up the slack at home. I have kids that are 10,13, 15 so they understand. We all agreed and they back me 100%. I do not get a lot of sleep, I go to bed late and get up early. I am always doing homework at the kids games. Where there is a will there is a way. Follow your heart, when you set your mind to something anything can happen. I would rather my kids see me fight for something, rather than not trying at all:D

GOOD LUCK

singlemomof3