Feeling hope/helpless

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Hi,

If anyone can give me some advice I would really appreciate it or if someone has been in a similar situation.

Here's mine:

BTW I must add I am currently in an LPN program, receving mostly A's and maybe a couple of B's but mostly A's. My goal is to attend an LPN-RN or LPN-BSN program when I get my license.

I attended a 4 year university for about 2 years and during my last 2 semesters (right when I was starting my science pre-reqs) I did horrible! I had a big life style change (pregnancy, moving out, birth, mothering) and didn't really concentrate in school. I regret it now so much but unfortunately it haunts me and forever will, my GPA that is.

I have a 2.74 GPA

I have 62 credits

I dropped Human Physiology 1 and the lab once and re-took it only to receive a D in the class and a C in the lab

I have a D in microbiology

and a C in nutrition

those are the only science courses I took

The GPA isn't that big of a problem because a lot of bridge programs take 2.75-3.00 and I can always take extra courses to bring it up or I can use the 3 forgiveness policy the university offers to bring it up. The problem is a lot of the schools won't accept you if you re-take the science courses so I feel like I'm stuck. I hate the fact that these grades represent me in paper. There's really nothing I can do to erase those grades I have to work around them but what school would take me??? What can I do?? Am I wasting my time??? Money???

I have talked to advisors at the university I attended and at my local CC and they are very negative. At this point I am even willing to relocate if I know I have a chance at a school in another city or state just to get my RN out of the way.

Sorry so lenghty but please someone help me! I am desperate, is my only option staying as an LPN?? I hope not, I have a lot to offer and at 22 I want to take advantage and go as far as I can.

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I think your best bet is to try and get into an ADN program through a CC. CC's usually aren't that strict...I know CA isn't when it comes to grades as long as you meet min. req GPA and most are lottery based for entrance. Then from there you can try a RN-BSN bridge.

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Thanks. I've tried the CC route for RN but they are even more competitive than anything else out there. People with 3.7 gpas don't even get in or are on a 3 years waiting list, it's crazy! I live in Miami and don't see me getting anywhere I want to be by staying here, the schools are very competitive, and so is finding a job (so I've heard from recent graduates) I am looking at my options in other places, I will look into CA, thank you. My husband is joining the military soon so hopefully I can find a good school that will take me wherever he gets stationed. :)

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Specializes in CVICU.

My advice....complete your LPN and then do an LPN to RN program that at a lot of schools is offered online. It won't be as hard to get into as a traditional CC RN program will be. And, depending on your employer, they might pay for you to go back to school to get your RN.

Good luck to you!:)

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CC's aren't that competitive in CA. For a majority of them, as long as you meet GPA requirements and TEAS score your name gets put into the lottery. Maybe you should move :) But what JoMark has suggested sounds good too.

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In my experience, Community Colleges in NJ are very hard to get into - They are less expensive than 4 year BSN programs (if you live in county) therefore very competitive. the only problem with the plan of getting Associates RN and then the BSN after getting experience and funding, the NJ job market for nurses.

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Same here, CC are most competitive.

At least mine was. No wait list and no lottery. They have absolutely no need to reduce their academic standards to find students. They place students beginning with the top performing students and move down the list. Thing is, there is no room for someone to squeak in these days. People I took prereqs with who could not get in my program were forced to BSN programs which are often easier to get into. I know, I don't mean to start any anxiety for you BSN'ers out there (I already have a bachelors). The expense and uncertainty of employment upon graduation makes universities undesirable for many top students today. That's all.

OP, maybe if you are able to work as an LPN for a while, the situation might change... but for now I think the cost of edu. and uncertainty is going to rule.

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Education.

Finish your LPN. Then start taking some of the pre reqs for the RN at the local CC. Make sure

you do this when you are ready and willing to focus on getting A's. This will help bring up your GPA - then apply to the RN program. You will have demonstrated to them that you are willing to make the effort to do well in the program and you'll have an advantage of already being an LPN. So you already know what it is to be a nurse - that will carry a lot of weight.

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Thanks everyone for your input. Jcole, I think you're right by working as an LPN and applying myself in school with pre-reqs I can show them I have what it takes and the motivation to become a nurse. I just found out about Indiana State University where you have the option for an LPN-BSN program fully online and complete clinicals locally, according to their admissions requirements they only look at gpa (2.00 minimum) and don't have all the "no repeats" in science courses policy. Only problem, it's very pricey, I'm looking at about 50,000 depending on how many credits I am able to transfer etc. Is that way too much for a BSN bridge program? I don't really have anything to compare it too so I am at a lost? I don't know if I'll be spending the same amount of money if I go the LPN-RN and then RN-BSN route. Thankfully I never took out any loans at my university because I had grants and I was on a scholarship. I took out my first loan last month for my LPN program. Sorry I have so many questions, I am so new at this nursing thing and research for schools that I need help from those that have more experience in the field. Thank you guys so much for helping out and whoever else replies in advance :)

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Education.

Why not take smaller and more affordable steps and get your 2 yr Rn first and then

go back for BSN? That way you can pay as you go and as well as getting help from

your employer. Yes $50K is way too much for a state university. I assume it's so high

because its out of state. If you get your RN first then you are not limited to searching for

a LPN to BSN program which as you already know are pretty rare.

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Yeah, I understand the only problem is getting into a school to become an RN, they are very competitive because there is more people trying to get into RN programs rather than BSN and I'm restricted b/c of my grades and classes I've repeated. So at this point I'm willing to go wherever I get accepted. Sad but seems like there's not many options for me.

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Be sure when your husband joins the military that you look at the MyCAA program. They will pay up to 6,000 dollars of school for approved programs. Nursing being one of them (because it's highly mobile).

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