about pre-reqs

GAstudent · Jul 25, 2003

I am also taking my pre reqs at a community college. I was worried about the same thing so i called my local University (that has a CRNA program) and spoke with the director. I was told they just need to see that you have your BSN, then they look at your transcipts for your GPA and grades. I was told that this is what many people are looking into. Hope this helps.

shirleyTX · Jul 25, 2003

Also consider, many nurses start with their ADN (c.c) then go back to get there BS (university) then go all the way to CRNA school. So if they can get accepted I really doubt it would count against you.

PilotJim68 · Jul 26, 2003

Nilepoc and Shirley,

Thanks for the replies. Nilepoc I will definately take your advice and take the "real" classes instead of the "professional" grade classes. It will add a little more time to my degree but I am sure it will be worth it in the long run as far as knowledge and showing an admissions board that I was willing to go the extra mile for this.

So far, my plans are as follows: I have been accepted into the one of the states top nursing community colleges and will be working toward my ASN. After graduation, I plan on going straight into a BSN program while working in an ICU at one of the local hospitals. I can take the Chem and Physics classes at the University in conjunction with my BSN classes. Once that stuff is finished then I may be set up fairly well to apply for a CRNA program, grades and experience permitting of course. I have spoken with an HR rep from the county's largest hospital and they do hire new grad R.N.'s into the ICU. The only thing that could work against me is that it is not a teaching hospital. The closest one is 40 miles away in Tampa. Anyone with advice here????

CougRN · Aug 7, 2003

I know everyone has recommended refreshing chem so I wanted to get some opinions on that subject. Do you think that o-chem is the only chem to review? Or would you suggest the inorganic material too?

Thanks

det01 · Aug 7, 2003

I do not think it will hurt you one bit. I have heard of areas where the local comunity college and diploma programs were much more respected than the local university. In one case they even have a longer orientation for the recent uni grads than for the cc and diploma grads - the reasoning being that the cc and diploma nurses are typically better prepared in that case. I am not knocking uni programs - I was in an excellent one before I had to move. I am just stating that it will have more to do with how weel prepared you seem to be than who taught you what where.

On a side note - I once took a cc class that was taught by a professor from a university. He just loved to teach his subject - I guess. Anyways, the ppl who took it at the uni and paid $$$$$ could have had the exact same class - right down to the teacher much cheaper at the cc.

As for the chem ? - my chem class was a combination of all of it - inorganic, organic and bio. Check out your local class listings and see if you can find a class like that.

Ghetto Supersta · Aug 7, 2003

This is exactly why I do not understand why GPA is so heavily emphasized. I see how a lot of people are manipulating their GPA, going to the easier CC, making the "easy" grades, whereas others like me unknowingly went to the university and got creamed because the professors considered themselves as the "gatekeepers" when they saw your major was pre-med/pre-nursing. I've also seen people get into CRNA school who originally flunked a class in nursing school and had to retake it because their retake grade replaced their original grade. This makes me sick! What's there to differentiate between someone like me who's got a poor GPA and yet is the person whom co-workers explicitly demand to take care of their relatives in the ICU, frequently has to take care of 3 ICU pts, and tangibly, both quantitatively and qualitatively, makes their pts better each and every time vs. someone who pads their GPA with the easier path, can barely take care of two patients, and who is allowed to be charge nurse with one patient on the unit because he happens to be cool with the "in-people"?

Kim62 · Aug 8, 2003

CC is not the "easy" route as you refer to it. I have taken classes both at the cc and university level and I assure you cc is not easier. As a matter of fact, most hospitals in this area PREFER graduates from cc because they receive more clinical training (on average) than the university graduates do. Even positions that require a BSN prefer to hire a graduate that received an ADN from a cc then went on to finish their BSN.

Also, as det01 stated, many of the professors at my local cc also teach at the local universities. Same professors....same material...same courses....same degree of difficulty.

Sorry to get off the subject, but for someone that appears to have never attended a cc, you are extremely judgemental.

Well, I guess in a way I did stick to the tread (kinda). CC are highly respected in my area and you shouldn't have any problems.

Heath82371 · Aug 8, 2003

gre scores, gpa (both science/math and nursing, letters of rec, nursing experience all are important.

London88 · Aug 8, 2003

Ghetto Supersta

I have to second Kim62's comments. What makes you think biochem or A&P at a cc is any easier than at a university. Think about this logically. If the cc classes were any easier they would not all carry the same weight for grad school as those obtained at a university. Many of us have attended cc, then went on to accquire a BSN, and are now in grad school and can assure you that your bitterness is ill directed. What does somebody's GPA have to do with being the charge nurse? You seem to be lashing out at everybody and anybody. Sometimes we need to step back and do some self evaluation, and self reflection to see where the problem really is before blaming everybody else.

VaMedic · Aug 8, 2003

I can agree totally with that London88. I had a disagreement today with another coworker who knocked my taking some distance education classes. Told me that I can sit at home and do what I want and then when the test comes I can just sit there and read the answers out of the book. He is attending a Univ. and is always having problems getting off on time to get to class, but my distance ed is flexible. And to prove the point even further with him, ALL of my exams are proctored at the CC (with a very scary looking woman watching over my shoulder) and I and I alone am responsible for knowing all of the information. I think I have learned more this way since I know I can not blame anyone for a failure now but myself. Good points all (well the non-judgemental ones :) )

haa · Jan 3, 2004

Have anyone of you thought of taking these courses (o-chemistry, biochemistry...) online?

haa

SleepyRN2B · Jan 3, 2004

Nilproc or all other experts,

In response to your statement that the general Chems are not good enough, I have talked to at least 7 different CRNA schools and they all say the same thing that general inorganic and organic are all that will be needed. At GU, do they require upper level Chems to get in?? Do you know any other students that have made it on the generals??? I understand what you are saying in reguards to the foundation to build on once you are admitted, however if you are on a time constraint will it be that large of a hinderance to take the generals?? Currently I have a 3.7 in all my sciences, 3.6 in maths and 3.3 overall... GRE is upcomming...( I am currently in Kaplan review)... I am going to take your advice and apply to only 7 schools...as you stated in your blog... but I do not want to get behind the 8 ball in Chem when the CRNA program starts. Any and all advise are welcomed.. sorry to get off of the straight and narrow of this thread.

SleepyRN2B:confused: