Hoping to get into nursing school - questions..

Achoo!, LPN · Mar 14, 2004

we have the semesters already mapped out for 2 years. You can take the co-req's ahead of time at your own pace, but once you are in the program, you are stuck with the semesters. If I take classes ahead of time, the core nursing classes would be about 10-14 credits depending on the semester.

wonderbee, BSN, RN · Mar 14, 2004

Most of us are in a similar situation to Achoo. I don't know of any ADN programs that break up the actual nursing courses into parts to be taken at one's leisure. It's an all or nothing thing.

sleepymom · Mar 14, 2004

I guess I REALLY need to hope I get accepted into this school then. Here is what is says on the webpage.

Class Schedule That Suits Yours

In addition to the traditional full time student status, we now offer the opportunity to take advantage of our program as a part-time or accelerated student. Part-time students must finish the program within 6 years. We also offer morning and late day classes to make our class times more convenient for your schedule.

The other nursing school I'm looking in to seems to be an all or nothing type deal.

Achoo!, LPN · Mar 14, 2004

Boy does that sound ideal!! Unfortunately my classes offer MAYBE 2 class times if I am lucky. I prefer to do mornings, 8-12 but only one class fit in that time slot. There isn't a whole lot of leeway. That is with 3 campuses also.

sleepymom · Mar 14, 2004

Ugh, that figures huh?

It seems like more people would go into the nursing field if the schools made it a bit more convenient. Not everyone is coming straight out of high school with nothing else to do but go to class and clinicals full time. I have so much respect for those who are working and going to school full time to reach their goals. Or even single mom's and dad's trying to do everything at once. I don't know how they do it.

Achoo!, LPN · Mar 14, 2004

I agree! It seems this college offers the pre-req's at night so people can work full-time days, but then the nursing program is 7-3. Who knows what they are thinking LOL. :uhoh21:

TweetiePieRN · Mar 14, 2004

I guess I REALLY need to hope I get accepted into this school then. Here is what is says on the webpage.
Class Schedule That Suits Yours
In addition to the traditional full time student status, we now offer the opportunity to take advantage of our program as a part-time or accelerated student. Part-time students must finish the program within 6 years. We also offer morning and late day classes to make our class times more convenient for your schedule.
The other nursing school I'm looking in to seems to be an all or nothing type deal.

Are you certain that it says 6 years and not 6 SEMESTERS. I only ask this because or nursing program can be completed in either the 4 semester, or 6 semester way. 6 semesters is considered "part time". I have never heard of a nursing program that would let you take the actual nursing classes at your leisure. Our school has the classes mapped out for you and the path you need to take to finish it. The reason for this is to graduate as many students possible in a timely matter and to insure that we get all of our clinical hours in each semester.

At our college, there is a 6 year limit on classes. That means that I can take a prereq up to 6 years before beginning the nursing program...or if it was longer than 6 yrs since i had the prereq, i would have to take that prereq over. From personal experience, I would suggest getting thru the school as timely as possible. You get VERY burnt out the longer you are in school!! All of my fellow student friends are going thru this right now since we finally grad in May. It's practically to the point that I almost don't care about studying my butt off...senioritis!! Good luck to you.

orrnlori, RN · Mar 14, 2004

I really think the all or nothing approach is best when I look back at going to school. Once emersed in nursing classes, it's like a snowball rolling down hill, each thing building on the other culminating in the NCLEX. I wonder how well one would do on the boards by taking a class here and a class there. Have to think about that but I think it would tend to produce fewer people able to pass the boards. No one wants to be away from their families during school but the good thing is that you are a stay at home mom and don't have to work in addtion to being a mom and a student. Just my .02.

sleepymom · Mar 14, 2004

Are you certain that it says 6 years and not 6 SEMESTERS.

That was a copy and paste from the nursing school website. It's possible that it could be a typo, but I doubt it. For the record, I don't plan on taking 6 years to get this nursing degree. I've already got my pre reqs out of the way. I just think it's great that I wouldn't have to completely stress myself out about having to get everything done at once if I don't want to. I can see your point about how it's better to get it done and over with as soon as possible. Seems like if you spread it out completely over 6 years then there would be ample time to forget things.

No one wants to be away from their families during school but the good thing is that you are a stay at home mom and don't have to work in addtion to being a mom and a student. Just my .02.

Well, I consider myself a "working" mom even though I don't get a paycheck, but I see your point.

Ruylupez · Mar 14, 2004

I'm in a 2 year program and they have the whole thing mapped out. Each semester we have one lecture class and one lab class for nursiong. You must pass both to go on to next semester. You could take lecture without lab or lab without lecture but nobody does. Non nursing classes can either be taken before beginning the nursing program or along with the nursing classes.

They give us 3 years to complete the entire 4 semester program, anyone who isn't finished in 3 years is out. They also only allow one class to be failed or dropped. More than one and your out.