Advice needed, back against the wall, clock's ticking

Jules A, MSN · Jun 1, 2008

Hi,

Before I made any decisions I would sit down with someone in the nursing program, not just a general counselor, at the local CCs and see what they recommend as they all vary. Good luck. Jules

~FutureNurse~ · Jun 1, 2008

Hi! I just want to say that I have been in your shoes. I started out my college career at the University of Tennessee. I was soo overwhelmed, that I did very poorly my first year, and basically wasted tutition money and my time-because I have to take almost every class over. My GPA was literally like a 1.6:eek:

I never thought I would be accepted. So, I had to make a decision..go to the local community college, retake everything, or just become an LPN (same thing as LVN). I decided to retake everything. It took me almost 2 yeas to retake them, and finish all the other pre-reqs I needed. I have been accepted into a Nursing program, and I start in August. Really it is up to you. I do think you should talk with someone in the Nursing program and they can help you with the decision. And you are 24, that is young!! Just ask some of the wonderful ladies (and gents) on here, a lot of them are over 40. It is never too late.

Good luck!!:heartbeat

futurecnm · Jun 2, 2008

I'm 24 years old and decided to become a registered nurse 2 years ago. Since then I began taking prerequisite courses at my local community college. Ive completed over 60 general education units and I've taken Anatomy(repeated) and got a B, Microbiology(repeated) and got a C, recently took Physiology and got a D.(Just have had a lot of things going on in my life lately). I can repeat Physiology, but would it be worth it to retake that and sit on a waitlist?
Most community colleges do not allow repeats in those courses and with long waitlists and an overall GPA of 2.1 it seems as though my chances of being accepted into a nursing program are extremely slim.
My other option is American Career College, which takes 1 year and $30,000 to become an LVN. After completing that I hope to get experience working as an LVN then do an LVN-RN bridge program. So my question is should I just bite the bullet and go to ACC or try to stick it out in community college?
I really want to begin my career as soon as possible and I feel pretty bad about all the time I've wasted, while watching my peers graduate from college a year ago or more.
Please any advice would be appreciated and criticism will be accepted.

I would definately not pay 30K for a 1 year LVN degree. That is a crazy amount of money in my opinion. And you will still have to do the RN program on top of that. I would search out cheaper options for the LVN if that is the route you want to go. I'd try to re-take classes and try to focus on school, as the pre-reqs are nothing when compared to nursing school. IF you are getting D's then you possibly are not ready for the work of RN school. Sorry to be blunt but just trying to be honest. good luck.

casi, ASN, RN · Jun 2, 2008

Don't most schools require that students have a 2.5 for entry?

You really need good grades to get into nursing school. If you can get onto a waiting list that's great, but I think you need to look at where and why you are having trouble with pre-reqs. Ask yourself if you are really ready for this.

Nursing really doesn't compare very well to pre-reqs. When you get into school there is very little hand holding and they expect you to know you anatomy and physiology. They throw material at you really fast and it's very intense.

Go for the LPN if it's really what you want, but know that 30k for a year is rediciously expensive.

Also know that there are a lot of career oppertunities in the health care field. You may find that one of those click better for you.

Best luck with what you decide.

JustinTJ, ADN, BSN · Jun 2, 2008

I am going straight into the RN program at this school. I am just using it as an example for you to look at. You can probably find a college near you that offers a similar program chain. Or you can move to the sunshine state.

This is a work your way up process, but it's doable.

1) No requirement CNA Program and work as CNA while obtaining FL residency and doing prereqs/testing for LPN program. There are usually unfilled spots open here. $2443.82 out of state tuition, $692.78 in state tuition. Might want to go CNA in California.

http://www.pbcc.edu/pca.xml

http://www.pbcc.edu/x3223.xml?id=8

2) Then do the LPN Program with no GPA requirement. Work as LPN while doing prereqs for RN and bringing GPA up. $4065.00 in state tuition. There are usually unfilled spots open here for LPNs every semester with no wait. You could also skip the CNA step and go straight into the LPN program, but it would take a semester or two of prereqs and testing to get ready to start.

http://www.pbcc.edu/lpn.xml

http://www.pbcc.edu/x3223.xml?id=9

3) Then the RN Program with a minimum GPA of 2.5 to get in, which you could achieve with work and dedication. $5,500.00 in state tuition. It's purely points based, GPA counts for only 1/8th of the total points.

http://www.pbcc.edu/x1093.xml

http://www.pbcc.edu/x3223.xml?id=73

locolorenzo22, BSN, RN · Jun 2, 2008

my school in IL...only used a 20 point system....10 points from college placement test, a point for CNA class(which you had to have), a point for medical terminology, and a point for any math or science in the last 5 yrs....I had 17 and clearly got in....14 was the cutoff when they used GPAs only for ties....why not check with a actual counselor?

knexx · Jun 2, 2008

Thanks for your feedback everybody!

Jules A: I have talked to many people in 2 different nursing programs and they all had a GPA of at least 3.5 and got in pretty fast. So that discouraged me quite a bit. The school I'm going to now doesn't allow more than 1 repeated science course and they just switched to the lottery system.. so GPA isn't an issue but now I can't even apply there. There are a few other schools that don't have a no-repeat policy but I haven't had the chance to speak to the counselors there or any students in the program.

~FutureNurse~: I really wish I had the time to redo all my prerequisite courses but due to my financial situation I need to begin some kind of work ASAP... The $11/hr I'm getting doing TV sales isn't cutting it and I really need to help out my family right now. I can repeat a course or two in a semester, such as a D I got in weight training because I couldn't complete the semester because of a car accident I was in where I injured my back. Yeah and I know about the people who are much older than me on the road to nursing. I had a few 40 year olds in my physiology class last semester. Thanks for the encouraging words!

futurecnm: Yes 30k is a lot of money, I wish I would have done it a lot sooner, because I have 2 friends who went through ACC and they only paid 20k. But they enjoy their work and nothing really beats experience, and their jobs are paying for their tuition and supplies to become an RN. But I guess I should mention it would actually be 27k because my tribe(I'm part native american of the Kwapa tribe) will give me 3k towards that 30k.

casi: Yes just about every school requires a minimum 2.5 GPA in the science courses and sometimes 2.0 in the overall... My D in physiology is something I'm not proud of, but I had to help my mother take care of my 2 nephews while my sister was in jail(very long story) while working full time and going to school full time. So my ability to study as I should have was hampered significantly, I know its not a great excuse, and others have probably had more on their plate, but it contributed to my low grade. She's out now but still adjusting and I hope to have more time next semester.

JustinTJ: Thanks for your suggestion, I wish moving to Florida was an option but its just not feasible. I need to stay local and help out my family. I will look into similar programs though! Thanks.

locolorenzo22: Here in California from what I've been told schools go mostly by GPA, volunteer work, and if one has experience as an LVN then they are bumped up in the line. But the repeats in the science courses is really limiting my options for schools. I know there are programs through the county but I would have to be employed by the county to even apply. But those go by a point system...

I guess I have some thinking to do still, but again thanks everybody for taking the time to respond.

Kevin RN08 · Jun 2, 2008

knexx,

With all of your distractions my fear is that it would be $30K down the drain. Those programs are usually very fast paced, and there isn't a whole lot of room for error. My two cents say you should really consider where your priorities are, and if they are on nursing school then make your applications and move forward. But you must put on blinders to these problems if you are going to make a commitment to nursing (and to yourself).

I would try and raise my GPA specifically the physiology, and move on from there with a state school or hospital program.

Please don't take offense, I realize that things happen but education takes focus and commitment.

knexx · Sep 26, 2009

Hey just an update, I finished my LVN program with honors, got a 99% on the exit HESI, took the NCLEX-PN in 1 hour 17 minutes, it shut off in 85 questions, i did the Pearson Vue trick and according to that I passed. Now I am just waiting for the results! Thanks again everybody for your support and disapproval, it helped me pass.

caliotter3 · Sep 26, 2009

Congratulations on a job well done. Now take that motivation and turn it on starting over with RN school prerequisites and you soon will find yourself an RN too!

knexx · Sep 26, 2009

Definitely going to do that, I want to work at the VA while taking the prereqs for the bachelor degree. Then after a year at the VA I'm going to take advantage of their VANEEP program, bang out an RN school and probably stay at the VA till i retire while doing part-time ER at a county hospital. (hopefully USC)