Changing careers...from Teacher 2 Nurse

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changing careers...from teacher 2 nurse

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hi everyone! this is my first post as a "potential nursing student"...i am changing careers after being a high school social studies teacher for the past 8 years...hopefully this is my last full school year teaching...got some questions for all you knowledgeable persons copy%20of%20wink.gif

#1) i am registered for the ap1 and ap1lab, and dep 2000 (prereqs) at mdc...i already have a bachelors degree from fiu in international relations, and thought that the dep 2000 would be "forgiven" because of classes i had taken in my undergrad...does anyone know?

#2) if i apply for the part time (or accelerated) nursing program for next fall, will i be applying for the bsn or the as in nursing?

any help would be gladly appreciated!

teech2nurse

:nurse:

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Hi,

I am actually almost in the same boat you are in. I have been a social studies teacher as well for 3 years and I just applied to MDC accelerated program for the Jan start date. I believe that you do not have to take DEP 2000 cuz that is not part of the requirement to get into MDC if you already have a bachelors degree. You need 15 credits total which eight of them must be AP1 and AP2 w/ labs. The remaining 7 credits can be in any other science or math classes. I would suggest taking Microbiology and if you took a math class in undergrad they will probably take that grade. Their goal is to take the highest grades you have because the program is very competitive.

The program is an AS in nursing at MDC. The BSN program there is only for RN's seeking a bachelor's degree.

According to my advisor who was also my AP2 professor they rank everyone who applies on GPA. He said that it is very difficult to get in with anything less than a 3.5 even though I am sure others have gotten in with less.

I would suggest that you go to the medical campus and speak with an advisor.

What made you decide to go from teaching to nursing?? I hope this is my last year teaching too. Good luck and stay focused in AP1 and AP2 so you can get A's.

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i'm not sure where in florida you are....but if you have a bachelors be sure to look into getting your bachelors in nursing and not your associates

it's more money with more opportunity to advance as far as management goes...and if you have a co-existing bachelors...no matter what the subject...you can skip the AS part....

there are a lot of good all online programs...such as UCF...FSU...UNF

good luck!!

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thanks........i have definitely looked into getting my BSN instead however there are only three schools in the south florida area that offer the accelerated BSN program. These schools are very competitive and I did not get accepted into any of them. Therefore, if I get into an associates program that is okay with me because I plan on going for my MSN and most master's programs will take your associates in nursing with a bachelor's degree in another field.

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Hello Teech and Tracie,

I am also in the process of making a career change from teaching to nursing. I taught for 5 years and now I'm about 1/3 finished with my nursing program. Luckily, I attended a high school with a medical magnet program, where I completed my pre-reqs through dual enrollment with FAU. I'm getting my ASN then doing a bridge program into an MSN. Good luck with your decisions.

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Hey leavingteaching4rn,

How are you enjoying the nursing program?? What ASN program are u doing? Do you feel like you made the correct decision to switch careers?

I have told some of my very close coworkers that I am planning on transitioning to nursing and the encouragement has not been great. They keep saying things such as, "Your going to miss your summers off, what will happen if you don't like it, etc."

At the end of the day, I pray I am making the right decision however I do not enjoy teaching as much as I believe teachers should.

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hey leavingteaching4rn,

how are you enjoying the nursing program?? can't really say i'm enjoying the program. i enjoy learning new things, but the program is quite demanding.

what asn program are u doing?

i'm attending bcc north campus.

do you feel like you made the correct decision to switch careers?

not sure if i made the right decision. in fact, i doubt the decision often. i may enjoy the field of nursing but i don't think i can be a floor nurse for more than a few years.

i have told some of my very close coworkers that i am planning on transitioning to nursing and the encouragement has not been great. they keep saying things such as, "your going to miss your summers off, what will happen if you don't like it, etc."

i met the same type of negativity when i left teaching. the best thing about making a career move from teaching is...you can always go back. i'll only lose a few years on the step system. so, if i decide to go back, i won't lose that much money.

at the end of the day, i pray i am making the right decision however i do not enjoy teaching as much as i believe teachers should.

i felt the same way. i was afraid of becoming one of those teachers in it just for the summers off.
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