El Paso Community College Nursing Student

hello i am new to this forum site...i am also in El Paso, Texas and am researching my options...i'd like to switch from business to nursing and plan to attend EPCC. i have tons of business experience but no med background i am learning the steps and process required to become a nurse. Maybe you can provide some feedback, opinions, and or experience :) i wish there were more EP nurses posting on here :)

hello there Thanks so much!!! i didn't think i'd get a response lol...very glad i did and super fast too! i appreciate your time...

i went to speak to a counselor for RN program and she pretty much scared me lol...BUT i've felt i always wanted to do this even before i got sucked into business i was discouraged but i feel like its what my passion is...

i've heard many many mixed opinions about starting off w/RN or LVN. My main concern/scare is failing classes or not ranking high enough to make it...i already have about 5 classes done that RN requires such as math, speech etc. i don't want to waste time as im doing a switch so late in my career path but i don't want to fail RN, i want to be an RN then get bachelors, to be nurse practioner eventually...i am not even at all educated on the different career paths or speacializations i can do BUT im intrigued and excited to hopefully start next semester but also very scared its very much unknown to me!

a nursing friend recommended i start LVN and bridge to RN but in terms of time in years i am not sure if that would take longer or not...i also don't know the level of difficulty the material covered in class. at this point its so new to me that i am affraid of failing...

i have not yet started any of the pre-reqs i am barely trying to figure out what i need, how to get there, and how to pay for it :)

the accuplacer: what does it consist of? i believe i took a similar exam years ago to place out of math and remedials etc it was reading writing and math basic stuff pretty much...i placed well i am wondering if its as easy as that one...i was even given a study guide...

my business math was super super hard i managed to get an A thanks to lots of studying and tutoring from my sister in law (math whiz) my teacher was too fast and hard to understand thank god it transfers...

you've been incredibly helpful!! how did you manage to get As? any tips you have? im curious what material the courses cover...i know this is a stupid question but is there a way to make up assignment grades like in business there were ways to get extra credit incase didn't do so well on exams...

the accuplacer sounds like the exam i did long ago before i started college at all, i know i need to take it again but i'd love to be as prepared as possible i haven't been in school in 2yrs and need to refresh my math skills which don't come too naturally to me lol...do they provide study guides to help prepare?

im still so very confused about which route to start with LVN or RN since sometimes i think "well if i had known i wouldve done this" or "this would have been smarter" after its too late...i was told LVN will help prepare for RN and many students fail out of RN because its very difficult and end up LVNs to redo RN...

do you have time to work?

it takes both RN/LVN at least a yr to do the prereqs and how long thereafter?

your histories and politcal sciences counted for RN? or will they count for bachelors? i have all those too...counselor said some of my courses counted but didn't say antyhing about histories or politcal sciences...i will go and talk to LVN counselor too...

I've been working in getting into the nursing program at EPCC for some time now. I'm a mother of three, and started attending in the Summer of 05. It was a painsaking and difficult time. I had just lost my father and attending schools was one way of dealing with my loss. I can't say it's been an easy ride, because it hasn't. But, I'm on the verge of ranking in June. God Willing I'll pass the math portion of the accuplacer. It was to the trig portion that my earlier attempts I had failed. But, I've strapped my boots back on and like they say "Got back on the Saddle". I've been taking tutoring on the accuplacer web site as well as the college web site. If ever you feel scared of a counselor feel free to look for another one. Ms. Guerrero at the Rio Grande campus is a fine one. Never ever hesitate to ask questions, cuz at times you will be told many different things and given bogus info. As for paying for nursing school. Here's the heads up once you've completed your pre-req attending the Nursing Orientation. If you rank into the program look into the program available by Project Arriba. They are located at the Atrium bldg. on Westmoreland on the side of the Sams located at Cielo Vista. This program will generally cover most cost. With the only condition that you will already be entering the program and that you fall in the wages category. And the counselors there are AWESOME. They are always there to help with whatever you need. I wish you continued success in your nursing future.

Also great instructors are as follows: for AP 1 Mr. **** ******* for Microbiology Ms. *****, AP2 Ms. ****, Pharmacology Mrs. * at Rio Grande. First three are at Valle Verde Campus.

Thread Hijack!!!!!!!

I love all my El Pasoans!!!!!

Viva La Chuco!

Also great instructors are as follows: for AP 1 Mr. ***** ******** for Microbiology Ms. ******, AP2 Ms. ******, Pharmacology Mrs. 8 at Rio Grande. First three are at Valle Verde Campus.

hello there thank you so much for your input...i have been looking into Project Arriba and i know they have testing as well as income guidelines...i am going to set up an apointment with them...i was finally advised by Mrs. ******** ( i was referred to her by a friend as well) and she is in deed a fine counselor .... she helped me set up the order of the pre-reqs i should take etc...unfortunately i have alot of catching up to do on the sciences and will not be able to rank until june of 2010 minimum im excited and more at ease without trying to rush everything...meanwhile that gives me time to concentrate on pending business projects and getting As in ranking courses....good luck in ranking :) although i was once told "no one needs luck, just be prepared"

PS im glad more people from EP are beginning to speak up on their experiences...its been very helpful to someone like me with only business experience...

Hello, I'm excited to discover this website and to see that there are posts up from students from EPCC. I have a lot of questions about the program so I'm hoping to get some good responses.

I've completed both AP I and II, I just need Micro to rank. I was hoping to take it this Summer and apply this Fall, but since I work full-time I could only take evening or weekend classes and they weren't offering it at those times, so I'm taking it in the Fall. This pushed me back a year, so now I have to wait to apply for the program in June 2010!!! Oh well, its not too far away. I plan on taking Pharmacology in the Spring of 2010. (Has anybody taken that class? What instructor(s) do you recommend?)

Anyway, I'm excited to of found this website and I hope to get some responses.

Thanks,

Ernesto