General Nursing Question!!!

FUTURE_ER_RN · Sep 30, 2008

well unfortunately a lot of schools use GPA as a main factor for getting in. And some schools will average the grade of a class if you had to take it more than once. So I guess if you got a D and re-took it and got an A you might only get points for a C. All schools are different so you might want to look into what the schools you are applying to do as far as grades. Also if you can get say volunteer exp, work exp, and a foreign language then having a lower GPA might not be too bad. A lot of schools give extra points for those so that could raise your points a lot to make up for the lowered GPA. I'm really sorry to hear about your parents, but I think in some ways it gives you a greater motivation to become a nurse. I recently lost my Aunt to pancreatic cancer and I think that because I lost her it made my motivation to become a nurse that much stronger. So just keep your head up high and do your best! Anything is possible if you set your mind to it!

BellasMommyOBRN · Sep 30, 2008

it can't be easy with what your going through:( i can tell you that at some schools (mine anyway) the nursing department will only look at your pre-req course grades, and at the highest grade you made in them. at my school you can retake classes without it counting against you. do some research by calling schools as they all vary in acceptance decisions in some ways. bottom line is that we all go through hard times. cut yourself some slack, you probably worked very hard through a very difficult time. you have the drive, you will do great!

ED4liFe · Sep 30, 2008

I have also found one's GPA considered very important when applying to nursing schools, and especially one's grades in prerequisites. If your desire is to become an RN, I believe you can, but w/o good grades I think you're right in estimating that you wouldn't get into an RN program. I'd suggest attempting to get into the LPN program or an MA program. The wages are lower, but hopefully your financial situation can handle that and your goal of becoming an RN will keep you in the medical arena. If you need to, you could also do the CNA cert. or an EMT-B cert. They're faster, and would get you out of school and, w/ the CNA I'd think for sure, into a job immediately. Experience in the medical field is another factor, besides one's GPA, that nursing schools consider when assessing applicants. You could reassess your options for applying to RN programs after you have a couple years of med. experience under your belt.

Although they may not advertise it, some hospitals, once you are employed there in a nursing support role, will pay for you to attend an RN program in exchange for a commitment (often 2 yrs.) to work for them in that RN capacity after you become certified. If you worked as an LPN or CNA in such a hospital, at least you'd not have to think about tuition again, after your years already in school.

Another tack is this: Lose that poor GPA by attending a completely different school. Yes, you would have to start from scratch again. Do not transfer in any credits at all. Each college/university will ask you to submit transcripts from ALL other colleges/universities attended, but at least in my state they apparently don't have a data system that actually knows where you've attended unless you tell them. I have a friend who, years ago, spent his freshman year of college pretty much partying and so ended up w/ some failing grades before he dropped out. He started school again in his mid-30s at a different school, never transfered those terrible grades, and redid what classes he needed. That second round, his grades were mostly As. You would need to consider that the new college might be puzzled how you became an LPN or MA w/ no college credits to transfer it, so maybe this is an option only if you choose to work for a time in a job that would not require college to land or if you got a CNA cert. I recognize that, if you did this, it would feel like you're losing 5 years worth of work. I also recognize it likely does not feel it but, from my vantage point of years, you DO have the time to do this if you choose.

One more option is to get your EMT-B, work as such for a time, and then go on to get your paramedic cert. In my state that would be a community college AA. Once a paramedic, which will use some of your med.-related prerequisites, you can do an EMT-P to RN online. It is expensive, but it's a clear and existing option to become an RN. The GPA requirements to get into a paramedic program will be lower than for an RN program.

Consider putting your plan onto a longer timeline. If Plan A is not working, craft a Plan B. I'm on Plan C myself. If you KNOW you want to be an RN, do NOT give up. One way or another, you can do this. :redbeathe

ExpatHopeful, LPN, LVN · Sep 30, 2008

Lose that poor GPA by attending a completely different school... Do not transfer in any credits at all. Each college/university will ask you to submit transcripts from ALL other colleges/universities attended, but at least in my state they apparently don't have a data system that actually knows where you've attended unless you tell them.

Although Ed4LiFe had a lot of good advice to give, I would not recommend doing the above. If your nursing program ever found out that you had lied (yes, lied) by not submitting all of your transcripts you would risk having your nursing degree taken away. It is the equivalent of falsifying your resume or transcript and would be taken very seriously.

I agree with the several posters who have said that going for an LPN or EMT or CNA first and then working your way up the ladder may be a better path for you. Good luck, I hope you get through these hard times and achieve your dreams.

BellasMommyOBRN · Sep 30, 2008

yes i agree with the above poster. not submitting all of your transcripts is fraud. please do not take that advice. go talk to an advisor! they are there to help

txnursingqt · Oct 1, 2008

I have also found one's GPA considered very important when applying to nursing schools, and especially one's grades in prerequisites. If your desire is to become an RN, I believe you can, but w/o good grades I think you're right in estimating that you wouldn't get into an RN program. I'd suggest attempting to get into the LPN program or an MA program. The wages are lower, but hopefully your financial situation can handle that and your goal of becoming an RN will keep you in the medical arena. If you need to, you could also do the CNA cert. or an EMT-B cert. They're faster, and would get you out of school and, w/ the CNA I'd think for sure, into a job immediately. Experience in the medical field is another factor, besides one's GPA, that nursing schools consider when assessing applicants. You could reassess your options for applying to RN programs after you have a couple years of med. experience under your belt.
Although they may not advertise it, some hospitals, once you are employed there in a nursing support role, will pay for you to attend an RN program in exchange for a commitment (often 2 yrs.) to work for them in that RN capacity after you become certified. If you worked as an LPN or CNA in such a hospital, at least you'd not have to think about tuition again, after your years already in school.
Another tack is this: Lose that poor GPA by attending a completely different school. Yes, you would have to start from scratch again. Do not transfer in any credits at all. Each college/university will ask you to submit transcripts from ALL other colleges/universities attended, but at least in my state they apparently don't have a data system that actually knows where you've attended unless you tell them. I have a friend who, years ago, spent his freshman year of college pretty much partying and so ended up w/ some failing grades before he dropped out. He started school again in his mid-30s at a different school, never transfered those terrible grades, and redid what classes he needed. That second round, his grades were mostly As. You would need to consider that the new college might be puzzled how you became an LPN or MA w/ no college credits to transfer it, so maybe this is an option only if you choose to work for a time in a job that would not require college to land or if you got a CNA cert. I recognize that, if you did this, it would feel like you're losing 5 years worth of work. I also recognize it likely does not feel it but, from my vantage point of years, you DO have the time to do this if you choose.
One more option is to get your EMT-B, work as such for a time, and then go on to get your paramedic cert. In my state that would be a community college AA. Once a paramedic, which will use some of your med.-related prerequisites, you can do an EMT-P to RN online. It is expensive, but it's a clear and existing option to become an RN. The GPA requirements to get into a paramedic program will be lower than for an RN program.
Consider putting your plan onto a longer timeline. If Plan A is not working, craft a Plan B. I'm on Plan C myself. If you KNOW you want to be an RN, do NOT give up. One way or another, you can do this. :redbeathe

NO NO NO to the going to a new school and not submitting all your transcripts. You can get caught and I had a friend who did this and got busted. She had a teacher at her new school who just happened to be a teacher she had at her old school and she got busted! There is more to the story but I don't have the time to write that book. :typing

But the above poster did have one piece of good advice. And that is that hospitals will get you your education if you sign a contract. At least they will here in the Dallas area. I know the Methodist hospitals in Dallas will even do this if you are a volunteer! That is right you don't even have to be an employee. They have their own program but it is affiliated with the Dallas CC. You can go to their website and find the info. Maybe there is something in your area that is similar.

Good Luck.