CA woman looking for advice on going into nursing

[SimoneB]

I am a 26 year old Californian interested in going back to school for nursing. I live in the SF bay know that openings for nursing schools and jobs are very competitive right now. Forgive me, but I have a lot of questions and hope that some of you can help me out.

I have two and a half years of college credits from a prestigious liberal arts college but not a lot of experience in the sciences. I worked in sustainable agriculture for four years and have been working as an office manager for an insurance broker for the past two years. In my current job I do a lot of reading and writing about health care policy (I write a weekly blog for my boss) and am pretty well informed about current issues in health care reform. I just completed a three month training to become a collective member of the Berkeley Free Clinic, where I work referring low income people to the health and other social services they need.

I am hoping that the interest in public health shown in my recent work can help me get into a nursing program. I know that I could finish my bachlors in something else and then apply for the accelerated BSN or masters program but I feel like I probably have to take so many science classes anyway that it might be wise for me to transfer into a BSN program at USF or Mills/Samuel Merritt. I am a good student but I am concerned that the accelerated programs would be very stressful.

So my quesions are:

1. Will it be impossible for me to get into a bay area program without a long history of work in the sciences? Can I succeed in nursing school if I haven't alway been a "science person"?

2. Where should I take some pre-nursing classes before applying to transfer into a BSN program? The Mills program says, "We recommend refreshing your knowledge of chemistry and biology in order to make a successful application.Take community college classes in introductory chemistry, biology, and English before applying for admission."

I took chemistry and biology in high school but clearly that was a while ago. Is there a community college where I can take science classes designed for aspiring nurses?

3. I am more interested in working in a clinic or private practice than a hospital. Is it impossible to get such a job as a RN grad? Could I go straight from getting my BSN into a masters program to become a nurse practitioner or do I need work experience first? How about going from a BSN into a Physician's Assistant program?

Thank you so much for any advice you are able to give me; I really appreciate it.

[youknowho]

My advice would be to talk to a college counselor. They can tell you which classes you need to take now. You will need specific science classes to get into any nursing program. You will need chemistry, anatomy, physiology, microbiology for sure. If you have your heart set on a school, then talk to them in person or an information session. Nursing school is typically competitive as far as getting in so you might have to apply to a couple of schools. Just check around. There is a listing of accredited schools on the board of nursing website.

Yes you can get a job outside the hospital to start but its not always easy and they dont always pay as well. I know the public health system takes new grads but the budget issues are horrible.

yes you can go into a masters program right away but I am sure its very helpful to work first since transitioning to a new nurse from a student is hard. Big learning curve. Good luck:nurse:

[Mossback]

1. Will it be impossible for me to get into a bay area program without a long history of work in the sciences? Can I succeed in nursing school if I haven't alway been a "science person"?

The selection criteria for most programs is based on some combination of overall GPA, pre-requisite grades, and test scores. I don't think the fact that you haven't been a "science person" will hurt you. It certainly didn't hurt me. I have a BA in journalism from a number of years ago, so my science education during my first stint in college was nearly non-existent. Nevertheless, I managed to get into a second bachelor's program as CSU Sacramento on the strength of my pre-req grades and a decent score on the GRE

2. Where should I take some pre-nursing classes before applying to transfer into a BSN program? The Mills program says, "We recommend refreshing your knowledge of chemistry and biology in order to make a successful application.Take community college classes in introductory chemistry, biology, and English before applying for admission."

I took chemistry and biology in high school but clearly that was a while ago. Is there a community college where I can take science classes designed for aspiring nurses?

In all likelihood, your high school classes won't do you any good. Most BSN programs require college-level anatomy, physiology, microbiology and some form of chemistry (often organic chem). Many also require psychology, nutrition, human lifespan, some form of interpersonal communications course, and a higher math course such as statistics.

I highly recommend taking all your pre-reqs at community college. You'll find the relevant science courses are full of prospective nurses. In fact, many CCs now offer chem classes geared specifically for students headed for health careers. The beauty of taking pre-reqs at a CC is that you'll get a good foundation for nursing at a bargain price ($20 per unit at most CCs). However, you should be aware that it'll probably take at least three semesters to get all your pre-reqs done, and it may taken even longer. Also, some of the pre-req classes has pre-reqs of their own. For instance, it is not uncommon for a microbiology class to have college-level chemistry as a mandatory pre-requisite.

I would strongly advise you not to rush the pre-reqs. The courses are quite challenging, and you'll need to get the highest grades possible in order to compete for a space in a BSN programs. Most of the programs in California get hundreds of applicants for a handful of seats. At many colleges, it takes a pre-req GPA of 3.8 or better to be in the running (don't be fooled by the published minimum standards).

Before you start back to school, I think it would be worth your while to research all the nursing programs in which you might have any interest. Get to know their entrance requirements, and plan accordingly. Consider applying to multiple schools (including the ADN programs at CCs). For a rough gauge of the quality of a nursing program, consult the California Board of Nursing website to determine the licensure pass rate for graduates of a particular school.

3. I am more interested in working in a clinic or private practice than a hospital. Is it impossible to get such a job as a RN grad? Could I go straight from getting my BSN into a masters program to become a nurse practitioner or do I need work experience first? How about going from a BSN into a Physician's Assistant program?

I'm still in school, so I can't comment much on the employment situation. However, it is my understanding that nursing positions in the Bay Area and Sacramento region have a surplus of applicants, and new grad positions of any kind are hard to come by.

All this having been said, I wish you the very best of luck. If I can do this, anyone can. Going back to school has been one of the best experiences of my life. Just enjoy the journey and keep your eye on the prize!