Changing Careers

[Goals1118]

Hi all! I am an elementary teacher, and I am looking into the accelerated nursing program at a local college. I have recently applied to the college as a 'transfer' student with a major in Biology. I am looking to enroll in order to take the required prerequisites. (I selected this major at the advice of the school's admissions department.) I am looking to hear from anyone who has taken prerequisites for an accelerated nursing program, while maintaining his/her normal job. I am hoping to take prerequisites while continuing to teach. Am I correct in assuming this will take about a year? There are 5 classes that I will need to take, and 2 of them have labs. Thank you for your time! I look forward to your responses!

[Quota, BSN, RN]

I'm doing to same right now. Taking my pre-reqs online at a CC, 5 classes to complete, 3 with labs. I'm not positive how long it'll take me but less than a year. The next application cycle for the aBSN program is in January so I have enough time for the classes and to prepare for the HESI A2 exam. I just decided to make the leap into going back to school for nursing about a month ago, it's all happening really fast right now.

Almost half way through my first class and start a second on Monday. With taking them online I can mostly go at my own pace. Took the first test in my current class last weekend and I haven't actually done anything for the class since then. Plan to get back to work on it tomorrow, finish the second section during the week and take the second test next weekend. Second test isn't due until the following weekend but with starting an additional class this week I'm planning to hurry up and complete the first one early. The second class is A&P I and until I know the work load I'm getting into with it I'm planning to eliminate the distractions I can.

There is a second school I plan on applying for as a back up and it requires me to take general chemistry again. They have much later application dates so I think I can wait and see if I get into my school of choice and only repeat chemistry if I don't get into my preferred school. Took a year of gen Chem and a year of O-Chem when I got my first degree, too long ago to count for my pre-reqs, still don't want to repeat it if I don't have too.

Good luck on your journey. You can do it if you want to.

[Goals1118]

Thank you for your response! It's inspiring hearing from someone going through what I'm preparing to do. Online classes and working at my own pace sound like a great option for me! Thank you!

[kaiwahine]

I'm also a teacher trying to go back to school for nursing. I applied and am now waiting to hear back. It took me almost 2 years to take my prerequisites because I didn't have a science background. I also only took one class online at a time since they had labs. They were a lot of work and I'm glad I didn't do more than one at a time. Teaching already gives you a lot of work to do at home, add studying and homework on top of that and you will be pretty busy!