Anyone at all willing to give any input? Please

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i have posted my thread a few times and no one is willing to give me any input! i am just looking for anyone who has insight on what it's like to be a cna or anyone who has done bad their first semester in their college but has overcome it and gotten into a nursing program?

here is my original thread:

"i want so bad to be a nurse, but, i messed up my first semester at my jc (i was unmotivated and undecided on what i wanted to do). i know, i screwed up big time. had i known i was going to be wanting to enter into such a competitive career path, i think i would have done better :crying2: ...... i was wondering if it is worth the money to become a cna before becoming an rn. does becoming a cna really give you that much of a leg up and help out?

now that i realize i want to be a nurse, the fact that i completely bombed my first semester makes it unlikely that i would be accepted into the srjc nursing program in santa rosa, considering it's extremely competitive and there are many other girls out there with near perfect gpa's.

is it a good move on my part to become a cna for a while first, and take that step to becoming an rn a little later? anyone else who has made this decision or who have bombed their first semester?

thank you! i am just confused and want so much to succeed and become a great nurse. taking the steps to that however is something i'm having difficulty figuring out! "

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i'm still a nursing student, so i can't give you any perspective on what things are like in the "real" world. however, i can offer a bit of advice about getting into an adn or bsn program.

it's unfortunate that you are saddled with some bad college grades, but it doesn't necessarily doom your chances of getting into nursing school. here are a few strategies you might consider pursuing:

1) many community colleges will allow a student to petition for academic renewal. this essentially lets you wipe out your past college history and start fresh. i checked and srjc has an academic renewal program. to be eligible, you must complete 24 units with grades of c or better and let four years elapse. i know that's a long wait, but it is an opportunity to wipe the slate clean.

2) the nursing programs at a number of csu campuses look only at a student's gpa for their last 60 college units plus their grades in pre-req classes. this would require four semesters of hard work, but you could put yourself in a position so that your "false start" doesn’t hold you back.

3) nursing programs at a few california community colleges require only that students meet minimum eligibility requirements (such as a grade of c or better in specified pre-req classes). students that meet the basic standards are then placed on a waiting list. solano cc in fairfield is one such school. the waiting list is a couple of years long, but it's a way to get into a nursing program.

4) you can retake any classes in which you received a d or f grade. many nursing programs will accept the higher grades. this strategy would enable you to retake any core or pre-req classes, although the original bad grades would still weigh down your overall gpa.

i would strongly encourage you to explore every possible option. if you're truly determined to become an rn, there's a way to do it. it just might not be immediately obvious.

best of luck!

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Being in the medical field before going to nursing school has its advantages, and doing not well on your first semester of school ever it is ok, if you need to do over some of your classes I would do it, but I really wouldn't worry too much about your first semester of prereques...Ive done over a few classes a few times(that was when I had no idea what i wanted to do with my life and I really didn't care about my grades..oops.).I still made it into the nursing program and am doing pretty well...but my school goes with the point system, along with a list...so if you do have a background in the medical field, it really helps. Also, you really need to talk to a counselor at the nursing program were you want to apply, they have a lot of information and will help you figure out what you need to do! Good luck!

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Thank you so much for your replies! I know I have the ability to get amazing grades and I feel inspired not to let my previous grades get me down, yet another part of me thinks the CNA experience would be good to have before going straight to RN. Still a lot of thinking to do but this information has helped me a lot and given me a lot to think about! :D Either way I know I'm going to end up a Registered Nurse! ;)

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I had a 1.5 GPA from my first year of college 10 years ago for the very same reason as you. I did a fresh start with the college (they wipe out your bad grades and give you a fresh start) and plugged away at my prereq classes. I earned an A in every single one of my classes which certainly shined much brighter than my previous grades anyway. I took classess over the 2 summer sessions and the fall and spring and applied to the CC I was taking my classes at and a very competitive nursing program at a nearby college. I was accepted to both on my first try. I have no previous medical experience. I was not lucky to be able to focus on school and not work but I probably would have become a CNA while in school if I needed to work. It really helped to be able to not work(especially since I have children which is a big job in itself). Many of my classmates cut their hours while in school as much as they could anyway. Becoming a CNA or PCT can be beneficial but many have said the transition can also be difficult. If you were to stay in the same facility transitioning to a RN, or if you learn things one way as a CNA/PCT then another as a RN. My opinion/advice is to have confidence in yourself and prove your worthiness to get into those programs by getting good grades now. When I interviewed at that competitive school I came right out and said basically that I was young and dumb...lol much more eloquantly...but that I have grown up and know what I want now. Keep your eye on the prize! What you do now if far more important than what you did in the past. Good Luck!

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I agree with a lot of what the other posters said. If you want to become a nurse, I definately think that you should talk to counselors at different schools to find out what you will need to retake or what is required for entry into their programs before undertaking the time and expense of retaking classes or becoming a cna. Personally, I think it is pointless to become a cna. I think you should focus on boosting your grades and getting into nursing school if that is your ultimate goal.

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Hi, I am waiting to hear back from SRJC. When you say bombed your first semester, what did you take, how bad did you bomb? What were your grades exactly? Have you taken classes before?

As you know, they look at your last five years worth of work. So if you are just starting, this will affect your GPA.

They look at GPA, your english grade, and your science average. Also, they look to see if you have any repeated classes in your sciences -anatomy, physio, and micro.

So, if you bombed english, and took some sciences and did badly, then you are not in a great position. I just need to know more. If you want to do the CNA course, the Red cross offers one and is supposed to be a good one to take as an alternate to the JC. The plus in taking it at the JC is that you can begin rebuilding your average and focus on getting straight As. To apply to the LVN program you don't need the heavy sciences to apply so you may want to take Anatomy 58, etc and try to get in to the lvn program. You can then bridge to the ADN program. I have to say, if you aren't in the right frame of mind to tackle Anatomy 1 and Physio and Micro at SRJC, don't even attempt. Anatomy 1 is like going to medical school. The teachers know the program is highly impacted and use these classes to weed out those that can't take it. Micro was by far the easiest but do not take Jen.

Tell me more specifics and i can better guide you.

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I haven't read any of the other replies, so I don't know if I am repeating anything but...I think it would be beneficial to become a CNA first and then try to become an RN...then if your grade point average hasn't improved you can become an LVN and if you work as an LVN you may even get your RN paid for by the hospital you work for..there are different paths to get to where you are going...good luck...take care...

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I don't know the situation that u r in.. but for me, going for my CNA before my RN is a waste of time and money (i 2 little ones and live with my parents, and i also pay for student loans)..

At my school they let you apply for both LPN & RN at the same time ... if your school does the same, then that is what i would do if i were in your shoes.

Good Luck!!!

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Specializes in ER.

I don't think it could hurt you - you'd learn an essential component to nursing, which is patient care. I don't know what you do to "mess" up, but as far as your question of being a CNA, yes it can help you - you'll watch nurses and learn from them. You'll understand VS, blood sugars, basic care of patients, and learn prioritization, which is immensely helpful to being a nurse. Good luck!

It's also helpful to work as a CNA at the hospital where you'd like to work as an RN. You'll get in with the staff you need to know and make a good impression. Be a great teamplayer and it goes a long way!

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Hi, I am waiting to hear back from SRJC. When you say bombed your first semester, what did you take, how bad did you bomb? What were your grades exactly? Have you taken classes before?

As you know, they look at your last five years worth of work. So if you are just starting, this will affect your GPA.

They look at GPA, your english grade, and your science average. Also, they look to see if you have any repeated classes in your sciences -anatomy, physio, and micro.

So, if you bombed english, and took some sciences and did badly, then you are not in a great position. I just need to know more. If you want to do the CNA course, the Red cross offers one and is supposed to be a good one to take as an alternate to the JC. The plus in taking it at the JC is that you can begin rebuilding your average and focus on getting straight As. To apply to the LVN program you don't need the heavy sciences to apply so you may want to take Anatomy 58, etc and try to get in to the lvn program. You can then bridge to the ADN program. I have to say, if you aren't in the right frame of mind to tackle Anatomy 1 and Physio and Micro at SRJC, don't even attempt. Anatomy 1 is like going to medical school. The teachers know the program is highly impacted and use these classes to weed out those that can't take it. Micro was by far the easiest but do not take Jen.

Tell me more specifics and i can better guide you.

The classes I specifally bombed are Philosophy 6, which I'm going to retake, English 1A which is not the best class to screw up in and I'm also retaking, Calculus and Humanities. I've taken Trig however and passed with a B but I don't think I'm going to be calculating Sines and Cosines as a nurse haha. Not the best grouping of classes. No, I have not taken any science classes yet which is good.

I have a feeling that it's going to be a long, bumpy, expensive road to RN. I'm thinking I'm probably going to take the CNA course, to LVN, to RN because that may be the most logical at this point? I'm disappointed in the grades I got, especially since I've gotten straight A's before and I know I have the ability to get great grades.

I've already signed up for classes this upcoming semester that starts Jan. 11 for me and I'm taking (at SRJC) FDNT 62, Sociology 2, English 1A (again), and Pysch1A. These are all prereques for the RN program but I am thinking after I get this semester done with I will sign up for the CNA course. Can't go wrong with that I guess?

Thank you so much for replying, its nice to hear from someone who's actually going to the same school as I am!

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