Getting a little discouraged with the overcrowded schools, anyone else?

[LifeIsGood76]

Hi! I am starting my pre-reqs this fall and I'm getting a little stressed out. I am quitting my part/time job to go back to school full time, and the community college I am going to is so crowded that it is hard to even get into the pre-req classes. Anyone else in the same boat? I was hoping to apply to the nursing program Fall 2013, but if I can't get into the pre-req classes, then I can't apply. I'm nervous because I don't want to quit my job if this is going to take longer than expected.

[LifeIsGood76]

Ugh, I'm stressing out! I moved here last year from Upstate NY, and now I really wish I would have done my classes out there. I love California, but there are many things that bug me (like the overcrowdedness). Thanks again for all the advice :)

[umbdude, MSN, APRN]

Ugh, I'm stressing out! I moved here last year from Upstate NY, and now I really wish I would have done my classes out there. I love California, but there are many things that bug me (like the overcrowdedness). Thanks again for all the advice :)

Sorry that you're having such tough times getting a spot in pre-req classes! I never knew that this is a problem in California. Does that school reserve seats for matriculated students? If so, maybe you can matriculate as an undecided student or as a general science major, then apply to nursing. Not sure if that would work, just throwing ideas out there.

[kandamom]

I would stay up until midnight the day registration opened to get in my classes...By 8 the next morning most were filled up! Also if you are on the waiting list, towards the top...go to the class. Just in case people drop! That way you don't fall behind. Honestly the sqeaky wheel gets the oil...almost every person on the wait list that showed up to class, was hand registered by professors, because class size is really at there discretion!

[aflack41]

Home health care is flexible

[Autymn]

Yes Pamleper, agreed...getting into even the prereq courses seems a challenge ;o/

Best wishes for getting lucky and finishing up those classes you still need!

And btw Aflack41 -- sort of derailing this thread a little, but am curious.

Have you been doing Home Health Care for awhile? I will be doing the LNA class in August. That said, I have a chance right now to work for an agency in town that provides homemaking assistant/companion non-healthcare positions. In talking with an LPN I met -- she said she worked as an LNA for about three months while starting into her RN bridge but was crazy beat all the time and starting to feel overwhelmed.

She gave her resignation for the LNA position; had a couple of months off and just concentrated on school but found she really needed to make a little bit of money. So later she applied at a different agency specifically for Home Health Assistant -- she was given two different clients and worked with them three times a week, one for a half of a day twice a week, and the other she went to her house at breakfast for two hours, then returned for three hours in the early evening. She said of course the money was a little less per hour (not much less though) -- but she actually enjoyed it, got to know both of the elderly ladies well and felt like she was much less stressed in her nursing program.

I think that is the plan I am leaning toward. I do want to work as an LNA at some point for the experience it will give me; I know how important that is and that it will help me be more comfortable with patient care etc later. I do not see anything on our state BON that precludes me from being able to work as 'just' a homemaker-assistant once I have my license as a NA, so hope that is not an issue. But I would like to definitely consider this Home Health assistant position now that I have more information to decide about it with.