Did you know about nursing school before you were working towards nursing school?

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Often I think how unprepared many students are when completing their pre-reqs for NS. I know I didn't have any idea about the competitiveness of nursing schools and things such as admittance tests. Hell, I doubt I would know about it today if I weren't on this site.

My background is pretty typical, straight after high school I went to study nursing at a four year university. My high school did not educate me very well. I probably couldn't have told you the difference between a BSN, ADN, and an LPN. But somehow I "knew" nursing was for me. Luckily, after further researching the profession and the endless possibilities I've grown to love it more. But my class (starting NS this Fall), many have already switched majors or transferred because the reality of the job and requirements to complete (or even be admitted) the program were too much to handle.

I wish schools would be more upfront about the requirements and give students a true idea of what will be expected of them. Things I wish I had known

  • What the HESI or TEAS was. Luckily, since I got to a private college that is slightly less competitive I didn't have to take either of these. But had a gone to a public school or CC I would have been caught by surprise
  • Waiting Lists. Once again, those are kept to a minimum at my school, but I would have been in for the biggest shocker if I knew by bachelors could take 5+ years. It would have made me even more thorough in my college search
  • The economy. Although it isn't just nursing that is having a tough time, ads all over television project that nursing will take anyone who has a pulse. And the the jobs and specialties are endless
  • CNA class. Thank God I took a CNA class in highschool, because I did not realize that it would be a requirement. I see a lot of students trying to fit it in before the program starts next year and they are having to go on the other side of the state because the local CC has a waiting list.

Did you guys feel like you knew what you were getting yourself into? I just feel like programs, at least around here, don't tell you what is in store. I wish both high schools and colleges would work in collaboration to give a true outlook on the schooling requirements and the profession as a whole.

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One of the requirements for the school I will be going to is Abnormal Psychology, what is not said is that PSY 100 is a pre-req unless you have the dept chair approval. Also, I didn't know about the TEAS test till I started reading this forum. I then contacted my school and someone explained what all was expected.

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None of the programs I've looked at require a CNA, yet. Although I've seen others mention that. Mostly everything I've learned about nursing, I learned here or by reading information on different schools websites. I've also talked to a few nurses as well.

Oh and I'm a career changer but the different career paths all have similar requirements so I'm ok with doing my pre-reqs, learning something new and starting towards the path of a new career.

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Well I was originally going to school for Hospitality Mngmt/Pastry Arts, but that didnt work out and I was out of school for two years. I started nursing pre-reqs about two years ago and I definitely researched it before I decided to major in it. This website was a HUGE help as were other nursing websites. Fortunately, the school Im going to doesnt require me to have CNA or any entrance test. You just need a 2.7 to get into the program, but of course people will have higher than that.

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Let me correct myself when I said CNA, I meant the course, not the certification. But my program as well doesn't require an entrance test and only a 2.7 GPA. It however offers first priority to students that started there. So a student starting at my school with a 2.7 will get the spot over the transferring 4.0.

Although I was lucky and exceed/meet the requirements, it would save students a lot of money and time in the long run if we were made aware of everything from the beginning. It's sad to see people change there major or be pushed back a year because they couldn't make the requirements/ didn't realize what nursing was.

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