This will be my first post here. I'll try to keep this as short as possible.
In short, when I started university some 4 years ago I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with my life. My grades reflected that. Even the way I was brought up right up till high school didn't help. I was use to getting 80's and 90's with very little studying. After first year, my grades began to slip and from this I began to suffer a long bout of depression. The stress of having to succeed for my parents, the feeling of being lost and alone, and the despair of having already failed.
Since then, I have been doing a lot of soul searching and seeking the help both professionally and from friends. What I'd like very much now is a chance to try again. I've been suspended from UofT for 3 years because of my grades slipping. But it was never because the work was too hard. I would very much like to see what I'm capable of achieving when I finally give it my all. I admit that one day I'd like to go to med school if I've got that ability in me. I just want to see what I'm capable of even though sometimes I wonder if my aspirations are just delusional at this point in my life. I've worked with nurses in the hospital volunteering sense, I've worked in retirement homes, and I'm an active member of the community. I understand that nursing is no joke or stepping ladder. I am genuinely interested in nursing.
So now, finally to the reason for starting this thread. I want to know what your thoughts are. I know that nursing schools are very competitive. So that already limits my options.
At first I was considering doing practical nursing because the time it takes to complete a practical nursing certificate (1 year) is much shorter than that of a bachelor's (3-4 years). I was thinking that being an LPN would give me a chance to really see what nursing was about and provide a very decent income for when I would go back for perhaps the BSN or just another bachelors altogether. Another thing that appealed to me about practical nursing was that PN is offered in colleges too and colleges tend to be alot easier on admissions. However, it seems most places in Canada (Ontario and BC is generally where I'm looking) the practical nursing programs offered in colleges are waitlisted for up to 3 years! The private colleges (ie Sprot-Shaww, Sternberg) have many openings but they tend to charge twice as much as any other place (around $22,500 for Sprot-Shaww). Another drawback about LPN that got to me was that some hospitals apparently outright don't hire LPNs (ie Sicks kids, Mount Sinai) so I take it that there are limitations. I think I also read on here that some places in Canada are starting to phase out LPNs from the health care system?
And so I've been considering going all out for the 3 year registered nursing BSN. Just to clarify though, is there really a difference between a Bachelor of Science of Nursing and a Bachelor of Nursing?
I understand that since most bachelor degrees are only offered in universities, my past mistakes will prevent me from going to most schools. However, I read somewhere here that Athabasca has a Bachelor of Nursing program? I've read a little about Athabasca University before and I think (from what I've read) that they don't care much about your past academic history. Which is great news for a loser like me.
Also, from what I understand, Athabasca gives 6 months for a student to complete a 3 credit course but you complete that in 2 months if you wanted to. This is just absolutely great news to me. It sounds like a very possible option to catch up on the time I've wasted. Sounds like that here's a school that would give me a chance to get past admissions to prove my worth.
I am in AB, Fiona. And it may be as you say... I don't have much idea about any of this. The only thing I think I've heard repetitively is that the only way to bridge from LPN to BScN is through Athabasca, but I don't know much about any of that.
I'm just trying to find out if the program I have access here to is doable - they've changed locations 3 times in 3 years, and I have found communication with them a bit difficult. I'll keep trying though.
Otherwise, there is a BScN program available here, but competition is stiff - 44 seats with usually over 150+ applicants. And then 4 years of full time, intense schooling.
If I was in my 20's I'd go for it, but I'm nearly 33 now. And I have kids, and can't see how I'd juggle everything for that length of time. Still working through all these things, and don't have to figure it all out right this minute. :)
I say "go for it". I went back to school when I was 37 and graduated with my RN (in the US because it was faster to get into school) at 40 years of age. I am currently working on my RN to BSN. 10 classes done and 5 to go. When I went to school originally my kids were still young and are now 10 and 8. It is doable if you have a support network.
Violinist, have you considered taking some prerequisites/transfer credits through Athabasca? My GPA wasn't the greatest, either, but I boosted it with "A's" in A & P (from Athabasca/GMC) and med micro (GMC). Not only did I get the GPA I needed, but I was 9 credits ahead when I finally got into the RN program.
EDIT: also, I started school when I was 33. OK, no kids, but there were plenty of people who got through it with kids-- even a few who had babies during the school year!
Thanks for all the replies. They do mean a lot to me right now after my colossal screw up.
If I did have a choice, I think I would go for the BScN even though it would mean for 2 more years of time commitment. From the financial aspect the pay, job security, job advancement, and job demand of being an RN is much better than LPN.
But since most BScN programs are offered only through university it would be harder for me to get in after my screw up in university. Unless... of course if I happen to omit that blemish.
Whereas colleges seem to be a little more relaxed with admissions. If this was 4 years ago, not to sound arrogant, but I would've had a much higher chance to get admitted. I graduated high school with honours every year and took all the required grade 12 university courses and had all 80's and 90's.
And so I'm thinking that getting into a PN program in college would be alot easier. Although I've been reading that there are some college-university joint BScN programs and I'm now wondering how likely would I be able to get my sorry ass into one of those.
Also it seems it'd be in my best interest to get a PN diploma as opposed to the 1 year certificates.
About taking A&P online courses through Athabasca... first off, what's A&P stand for? Arts and something? And what courses would I need exactly?
Thanks. Sorry for taking so long to get back to this thread. All help is really appreciated.
It's OK to mess up university the first time. There are so many people with Honours in HS who just didn't have the study skills and discipline that post-secondary demands. Decide what's best for you, and go for it.
It's OK to mess up university the first time. There are so many people with Honours in HS who just didn't have the study skills and discipline that post-secondary demands. Decide what's best for you, and go for it.
It's easy to say that it's alright to screw up. But now i'm finding it difficult now trying to figure out how to get back into university. Falling through cracks will do that to you.
If it was just my high school marks then I'd be fine. But most universities if not all will ask for all your transcripts so messing up in university before will ultimately crush whatever aspirations i had for school.
Hang in there. You are NOT a loser. Everyone screws up. I dropped out of high school and found myself at age 36 separated with two kids to support and no skills. I started off by getting my PSW certificate, then I got accepted into a part time PN program( it took almost 4 years to complete)and have been working at my dream job for a year. I am now planning to return to school for my degree.
It doesn't matter what happened in the past, just what you make of your future. Best of luck.
But most universities if not all will ask for all your transcripts so messing up in university before will ultimately crush whatever aspirations i had for school.
Just chiming in again...
I'm taking pre-reqs. Many of the girls in my Bio and Math classes are trying to get into the BScN program. One lovely young girl (she's 25) is getting very discouraged by her perceived inabilities to get the high marks that are required to make it into the program. She calls herself down constantly, and is focused more on her inabilities than her abilities, and is constantly comparing herself to the other students and looking at the competition and getting dismayed. I had a "stern" talk with her today because there is a verse in Scripture that says "As a man thinks, so is he". Which is actually ancient "power of positive thinking" teaching.
All this to say: You MUST let go of the past, and focus on the now. You have the ABILITY to achieve good marks. And that is what you MUST focus on. Any time you want to start beating yourself up, choose to say (out loud!) to yourself something positive to affirm your abilities, instead of calling yourself down.
I think that attitude in life is one of the biggest determiners of success, and that is what pushes me. I may have to study twice as long as all the younger students, but I WILL succeed. Because I know I can.
The old saying, "If you think you can, you can. If you think you can't, you're right" has some truth.
You'll find a program, you'll get into it. You might take longer to get it done, it might be in a series of steps. But you CAN do it, and you will. So stop beating the dead horse of the past, and ride the horse in front of you.
talk with her today because there is a verse in Scripture that says "As a man thinks, so is he". Which is actually ancient "power of positive thinking" teaching.
RNGrad2006
450 Posts
I say "go for it". I went back to school when I was 37 and graduated with my RN (in the US because it was faster to get into school) at 40 years of age. I am currently working on my RN to BSN. 10 classes done and 5 to go. When I went to school originally my kids were still young and are now 10 and 8. It is doable if you have a support network.