CONFUSED ! HELP!

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OKAY this is going to be a lot of information but i would really appreciate it if someone could help me! :)

SO.... im starting my first year of college at Hillsborough Community College.. I am interested in the medical field and have thought of doing nursing ..and I am thinking about applying to the nursing program after i finish all of my prerequisites.. my classes now are:

English 1

Beginning Algebra

Microbiology

Microbiology LAB

Developmental Psych

Nursing is under A.S degree, (still pretty much medical) but not exactly.. its health science? correct? I really am not sure if I would want to do Nursing yet, because I was researching other more MEDICAL jobs and some that interested me were (Surgical Tech, Clinical Lab Tech, Medical Tech, Physicians Asst.) Would I have to get my A.A for a job in that direction? Does anyone know the pay for those or anyone that has had any of those careers?? Is it difficult to switch later on from degree to degree??

I just dont want to take all of the prerequisites for Nursing and get an A.S degree if I end up deciding I would like to do something in the other direction.. and I dont want to start taking classes like physics and stuff which relates to sonography (another option of mine..by the way does that pay well??) if I want to do something else like medical assisting.

I guess Im just trying to ask.. should I know exactly what I want to go into right NOW and just focus on the classes I need to take for that specific study?? or can I switch like halfway through or even do both degrees at the same time?? I just dont understand the difference in degrees i guess? It seems to me that A.S in more limited in career options ..like it only has Nursing listed thats health /medical related..

I was thinking .. I mean most of the classes are pretty much all related for Sonography & Nursing.. but wouldnt I have to take like chemistry and statistics for other medical careers?? I just dont want to start in the wrong direction..

sorry.. hope this isnt too confusing...

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It seems you are confused. Most entry level nursing programs award either an associates of applied science or associates of science say for the bachelor's programs. With that, most of the allied health careers ( Respiratory therapy, x-ray technology, and others) will require a minimum of an AS or AAS. Many require a BS for entry into practice.

Therefore, most of the nursing pre-requisite courses will be required for the various other health courses. You will need math, English, psychology, A&P, microbiology, and possibly chemistry for most of these other programs as well as nursing. You may has well take them regardless of your final career choice.

Regarding Physician assistant. Nearly all programs require many science pre-requisites and a bachelor's degree along with a GRE score before you can even put in an application packet. Nearly all PA programs award a MS upon graduation. Therefore, all the basic science courses you asked about will be required along with several upper division courses.

Bottom line: regardless of your degree, you will need these courses for a career in medicin or nursing.

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Okay i understand thanks.. so do you think I'm good for now now taking these? I just kind of gotta take it slow for now.. its only my first year.. I think I'm trying to rush things because I don't want to screw up later on and have to take classes I didn't need to or that I could have taken earlier...

What about prerequisites required to graduate from the community college.. I thought you had to take a history or humanities or something? is that only for a university?? Where do those fit in??

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Every college will have core classes that every student will have to take as a requirement for graduating with a specific degree. Humanities credits are often among the requirements. Speak with an adviser and make sure you have all of these credits under your belt. Some states may even mandate specific requirements. For example, I had to take a state and federal government course as a requirement for graduation. Even though I was a nursing student, every student at my college had to take this course as a degree requirement.

All the courses you have listed are requirements for graduating with a multitude of degrees. You should also look at taking A & P as soon as possible. This will typically take two semesters.

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Alright maybe over summer I can take those "required" ones... and I plan on taking A&P 1 next semester (spring '10) and then A&P 2 fall '10... I couldn't take them this first semester because of my math score on my CPT.. that was my only problem.. English I was okay but for my math I am in Beginning Algebra.. then i have Intermediate Algebra next.. THEN College Algebra. :/ it sucks! but as soon as I finish Beginning Algebra I can take Anatomy.

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That's okay, I had to take algebra for dummies before I could take the transferrable math courses.

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OH OKAY. Do you know anything about applying to different nursing programs at different schools? I understand they all have different prerequisites and stuff but when I finish my prerequisites at HCC I was thinking of applying to their Nursing program but I kind of was thinking of applying to FSU though.. couldnt I apply to both?... which would give me more options? Do you suggest that I focus on HCC's prereqs first and finish all of them, then apply---any extras I have to take for FSU, take those next and apply there also? Is it better to have an idea of just one school?

I would just have to figure out how to fit those in..

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Afraid I cannot answer your question. In addition, I have been out of school for nearly eight years. It has been over a decade since I took any science or humanities courses.

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Most community colleges have transfer centers or transfer advisors that can help you map out a plan of classes that will satisfy core requirements but that will also transfer to other schools. It's really worth an hour of your time to meet with someone as opposed to taking a bunch of classes that you didn't need or that won't transfer. Good Luck!

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