Frustrated at Prereqs for ADN program

nursepearl · Mar 4, 2004

Hi Amber,

ADN programs are interstesting. I am currently in the 4th and last semester in a southern california ADN program. It took me four years of classes to get here and when i graduate it will have been six total years in college. I dont think there is anyway around the prereqs....bottom line is they take a long time. Sorry about your frustration!

Pearl :)

Ps. By the way...it really took me that long because I am a single mother and i could only take night classes.

Sheri257 · Mar 4, 2004

Hi Amber,
ADN programs are interstesting. I am currently in the 4th and last semester in a southern california ADN program. It took me four years of classes to get here and when i graduate it will have been six total years in college. I dont think there is anyway around the prereqs....bottom line is they take a long time. Sorry about your frustration!
Pearl :)

Same here at my SoCal school. It's just the way California ADN programs are structured, I guess. Lots of pre-reqs. It really takes four years or more in most cases.

alk3rainbow · Mar 4, 2004

In illinois in my ADN program you don't need any math classes at all. You also can start the nursing classes and take the general ed classes at the same time. It is a little overwhelming if you don't get your pre reqs out of the way first though. For instance, if someone hasn't take A&P or nutrition before starting their first semester in the program, then their first semester will have 20 credits. 20 credits is a big load...I'd rather do the general eds first.

A lottery system seems unfair too. We had to take placement exams and the people that score the highest make it into the program...that seems a lot more fair then a lottery system.

smk1, LPN · Mar 4, 2004

the problem we are having at my school is lack of available classes, for A&P i have been waiting 3 semesters already to get into the class and the same for chem 111. You an't get into the nursing program until after 3 semesters of a&p are completed and chem 111 is done, you can't take nutrition or micro until you fininsh the above mentioned classes so in reality the 2-3 yr degree is taking more like 5. its getting really ridiculous. They really need to hire more instructors, and it is frustrating for the students because our community college routinely ranks as one of the richest ones in the nation, so we know it is not a money issue.

BabyRN2Be · Mar 4, 2004

Boy Amber, I hear ya... at one of the schools I'm applying to here, I have to take so much math (College Algebra AND Statistics - it really stinks because I took stats for my undergrad, but that class wasn't "good enough" and I have to retake it :rolleyes: ).

What's helping me is this book I picked up at B&N the other night, I don't have the name of it at the moment (I can get it for you if you'd like). It's a book that gives a lot of information on what you need to know, like math for nurses, chemistry for nurses, biology for nurses, etc. It's based on an entrance test for nurses. If you go to a store like B&N in your area, go to the Nursing section, you should be able to help you find a book like that so at least you can get a "leg up" on what you need to know.

Good luck! Hang in there, I'm in the same boat... let's hope it's not the Titanic.

Katherine

Sheri257 · Mar 4, 2004

the problem we are having at my school is lack of available classes, for A&P i have been waiting 3 semesters already to get into the class and the same for chem 111. You an't get into the nursing program until after 3 semesters of a&p are completed and chem 111 is done, you can't take nutrition or micro until you fininsh the above mentioned classes so in reality the 2-3 yr degree is taking more like 5. its getting really ridiculous. They really need to hire more instructors, and it is frustrating for the students because our community college routinely ranks as one of the richest ones in the nation, so we know it is not a money issue.

Yeah, you really have to fight to get into pre-reqs at my school. After other people gave up, I just kept going to class until they let me in. So many people drop that persistance can pay off.

California just passed a bond issue to build more schools. But what we really need is more instructors and pre-req sections. I wish they'd put more money into that.

VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN · Mar 4, 2004

Posted by smkoepke:
"They really need to hire more instructors, and it is frustrating for the students because our community college routinely ranks as one of the richest ones in the nation, so we know it is not a money issue."

In North Carolina, unfortunately, it IS a money issue. The "good old boys and gals" in the state legislature are "penny wise and pound foolish." They lack the foresight in investing needed $$$ into the community college system (which, BTW, is STILL one of the best in the nation, DESPITE their negligence), and give the big bucks to the university system instead. So sad, since this area of the state has been hard hit by NAFTA, and our good jobs have been heading South. It is the community college system that transforms people with no jobs/ low-paying jobs into economically productive, tax-paying citizens.

We are faced with a critical shortage of community college nursing instructors across NC. Staff nurses routinely make $10 grand MORE/ year than ADN instructors. And, IF the ADN instructor has a Masters, she/ he can make $20-$30,000 MORE/year in private practice. We are even having difficulty attracting BSN's to be instructors and most new ADN instructors are BSN. MSN's are becoming a rarity.

However, despite our lack of educational preparation, BSN instructors do a very good job and we are very dedicated. Honestly, I give my 110% (to the point of exhaustion) to my students. I want above all else, to see my students succeed.

It is very frustrating to see the amount of applicants and the alloted "slots." It is getting ridiculous. Our cc can take 42 students and no more (due to the faculty shortage). Last year, we had 347 applicants, this year even more, with no end in sight. The students are jumping through so many hoops and having to wait so long (sometimes 3, 4 years), just to GET IN to our program.

At the same time, area hospitals are DESPERATE for nurses and are importing nurses from all over the world. Local people are out of work and would LOVE the opportunity to enter our RN program.

We can turn out a quality RN in only 21 months. Instructing our future nurses is very labor-intensive (generally 10 students per instructor at the MOST). We could accept many more qualified candidates into our program IF... the state legislature would raise our salaries to the point we can attract and hire more nursing instructors. Most prospective nursing instructor candidates won't even give us a second look due to the salary issue.

So, it all boils down to political PRIORITIES. Legislators who don't see training future nurses as much of a priority in the tight state budget and won't commit the funding we so desperately need.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Mar 4, 2004

It is very frustrating. But you'll be very happy you have those classes out of the way. They are a good foundation for the pathophysiology you'll be studying lately. Plus they can develop your study habits, etc. now. Good luck.

(It's very frustrating that we have the money, but are unwilling to spend it on nursing education. Falls into line that hospitals and communities have the money to pay for nurses and hire an adequate amount and give safe ratios, but don't. )

amber74 · Mar 5, 2004

Thanks for the support! My husband said I will look back five years from now and say, "I would have been a nurse by now. I know I can do it. Let me get past math! I always loved science classes..but math...ugh!I think this board is great.It really is a valuable tool for a perspective you can't find in a book. I look forward to this adventure.

Amber

Sheri257 · Mar 5, 2004

Thanks for the support! My husband said I will look back five years from now and say, "I would have been a nurse by now. I know I can do it. Let me get past math! I always loved science classes..but math...ugh!I think this board is great.It really is a valuable tool for a perspective you can't find in a book. I look forward to this adventure.
Amber

If it's any consolation, the algebra is supposed to help you with chemistry. Or so I've heard.

Good luck.

CVnurse08 · Mar 5, 2004

The ADN program that I am planning to attend here in TN should take me 3 years and one summer. This summer I am taking 6 credit hours, fall 10 credit hours, and spring 11 credit hours and then I should be done with my prereqs and ready to apply for the nursing program in fall 05. Hopefully !! But yeah 5 years is a long time but it will fly by you will be so busy and think how glad you will be when you get done !!