I'll be finishing up my pre-requisites this fall, and then applying in the spring for the Summer 2010 session. I still need to study for the NAT and actually take the exam and take a CPR course. I'm considering getting my CNA and trying to find work in healthcare to get my foot in the door.
I am so nervous about the whole process, nervous about whether I should try to work and go to school, and especially nervous if this is something I can handle. I am afraid of all the responsibility.
Anyone else planning for next Summer? What is your process looking like, what are your thoughts/feelings?
Specializes in Emergency, Med/Surg, Ortho, Home Health, Public He.
Well, it has taken me a while to calm down from today. First of all, the NAT is not as difficult as I was trying to make it. I got 98.56 points on my first try. I went through and answered the ones I knew and went back to answer the others. I left several of the math questions blank at first and went back to do them with what time I had left.
Now, on to the frustrating part, which is partly my fault. I unknowling counted Chem in my points (which I got an A in). After taking Chem out my points dropped from 112 to 100. Then, as I was turning in my app the lady taking it told me my SYG would not count because it was SYG 2010 not SYG 2000. I went by the degree planner (audit) in Artemis and it specifically lists SYG 2010 as an option. I got a B in the class and this takes my points from 100 to 91. After adding my points from pre-reqs and points from the NAT I get 189.56. I do have 5 additional points from work experience so I end up with a grand total of 194.56 without the SYG class. After the person in the nursing office discovered this she conferred with someone else in the office and sent me downstairs to talk with the Dean. Well, I went down and TRIED to meet with the Dean. I sat there for almost an hour trying to talk with him and finally got frustrated and left. I will be trying to get an appointment with him or speak with him on the phone regarding this matter. I was following the degree planner in Artemis. So needless to say, I am not a happy camper! Sorry to rant!
Ouch. Lots of things going wrong for you in such a short time. 194pts is still good though. It's above the cutoff for last semester I think.
I figured out on this website that Chem doesnt count in points which freaked me out at the time since I wanted as many points as I could get before taking the NAT. Too bad its only a prereq to take Micro. They should make that more clear since I've seen a lot of other people make that assumption.
What class is SYG2010 anyway? I know SYG200 is intro soc. since thats the class I took.
I use the RN program handout worksheet or whatever to see what classes I needed and SYG2010 isnt listed as a prereq. Just SYG2000. If SYG2010 is higher than intro soc, I dont see why they couldnt just let it slide.
Any way you can enter a SYG2000 class right now even though this semester started?
It'd put you in great shape for Fall semester applications if you unfortunately dont get in for summer.
Oh my Salena, that sounds like a stressful day! I'm glad you found the NAT to be easier than expected. I did too. That is crappy about SYG, I think the dean should accept it but if he does not, SYG 2000 is quite easy and you can even take it online (I did and got an A). And the worst thing that could happen is that you wait and apply for August, it's only a few months later than you planned. So don't worry! Everything will work out fine :)
Salena, I'm glad you did well on the NAT. Sorry to hear about the other stuff though. I hope you can talk with the Dean today and maybe they can make an allowance for you.
Specializes in Emergency, Med/Surg, Ortho, Home Health, Public He.
Thanks to everyone for the encouraging words. I have m.ade an appointment for tomorrow with the Dean. Not sure if it will help but it can't hurt to try. If it doesn't work I just have to hope I can squeeze in above the cut off.
I also retook the NAT yesterday... my original appointment was for 2pm but I called in the morning and changed it to 11am... Probably should have kept the 2pm time...
When I first took the test I got:
Verbal: 23
Arithmetic: 19
NonVerbal:19
TOTAL APTITUDE: 61
READING:27
SCIENCE: 72
TOAL 160=102.4
THIS TIME:
Verbal: 21
Arithmetic: 19
NonVerbal:21
TOTAL APTITUDE: 61
READING:29
SCIENCE: 66
Total 156=99.84
So IF they take raw scores from each section and NOT just the Total Aptitude column... And the best grade from each test... My NAT results are 164 = 104.96 BUT if they take column 4 I have 162 =103.68
It wouldn't be so bad but I had 193.4 going into the test and the cut off last semester was 194... With fewer seats in the summer I was hoping to improve my chances by boosting up my NAT score. If I go worst case scenario I improved it by only 1.28pts Which WOULD have gotten me in for Spring but who knows for summer and fall. I was trying to gain 6 points to give myself a safety buffer. FAIL! Hoping they go with the better of the two scenarios and I improved 2.56 points giving me 195.96... something tells me that either way, i am going to have to wait until all the declines due to not getting N/W come in before I hear anything. Last time I didn't get my letter until 2 days before finals week in December.
Worst of all, i can't take the NAt again until September 29th... So if all else fails I can retake it before Spring applications 2011 I seriously will cry if that happens.
Also, I just got my Basic Life Support CPR certification thing today. Only took like 2-3 hours for the class and 25 dollars.
All they gave me after was a paper card thing from the American Heart Association that says Healthcare Provider in the front and says the card certifies me for BLS.
Is that all we get/need to be certified? I expected more than a flimsy paper card, lol
I could be wrong here but they don't want the basic life support CPR they want the CPR for Healthcare Professionals (Adult and Child with AED). That is what the application packet states... I hope you didn't just waste $25 and half a day... It would suck to have to retake it b/c of an error like that...
I could be wrong here but they don't want the basic life support CPR they want the CPR for Healthcare Professionals (Adult and Child with AED). That is what the application packet states... I hope you didn't just waste $25 and half a day... It would suck to have to retake it b/c of an error like that...
I think it's the right one.....
They taught us about CPR and Heimlich maneuver for Adults, Babies, and how to use the AED so I hope so.
The card says:
This card certifies that the above individual has successfully completed the national cognitive and skills evaluations in accordance with the curriculum of the American Heart Association for the BLS for Helathcare Providers(CPR & AED) Program
Which WOULD have gotten me in for Spring but who knows for summer and fall. 
I was trying to gain 6 points to give myself a safety buffer. FAIL! Hoping they go with the better of the two scenarios and I improved 2.56 points giving me 195.96... something tells me that either way, i am going to have to wait until all the declines due to not getting N/W come in before I hear anything. Last time I didn't get my letter until 2 days before finals week in December.
I seriously will cry if that happens.
When I read your post my heart sunk for you thinking you may have taken the wrong one...
SaraFL
181 Posts
Good luck Salena! I'll be taking it tomorrow, so I'm eager to see your experience taking it.