I'm kinda curious here...I'm starting to think I made a mistake by applying for a nursing program without actually starting on pre-reqs first...I could very well be wrong, but hey! Here's my story:
Maybe six months or so ago, I started having doubts as to whether or not I wanted to stay in my current field (education). I looked for alternatives and started to ask myself where I could utilize my people person skills and my willingness to help others. Clearly healthcare is the way to go...I wasn't even thinking about pay...just the skills that I currently have and what I'd like to develop into/learn. So I began researching schools and started to say "Hey, I think I could do this," so in April, I went ahead and started requesting transcripts. I applied for an ASD program run through a hospital. I didn't know whether or not to apply for nursing or pre-nursing, but the application had a table on it which included average high school GPAs, college GPAs, and SAT scores for applicants for each program. My scores were above the minimum averages for both programs, so I decided to give nursing a shot.
I've read and heard that you can take your pre-reqs while in the actual nursing program, but it makes life a bit harder. I did take college chemistry courses and made an A in one section and a B in the other. I took a year of biology also, but it was general biology, not A/P.
In reading many posts on this forum, it looks like most people began on pre-reqs and were on waiting lists for some period of time. Should I go ahead and mentally place myself on a waiting list before the college does so for me? :) Or is it really possible that the admissions departments see some transcripts, say "This person might be able to handle the extra load," and put enough faith in them to put them directly into nursing? If anyone has a story to share, I'd love to hear it. Thanks for all your posts--I'm learning a lot everyday!
"Even the most lenient of RN schools won't let you start nursing classes until you have taken anatomy. They'll let you take physiology and microbiology along with nursing as long as you finish physiology by the end of semester 1 of nursing classes and Micro by the end of semester 2 of nursing classes."
Daytonite,
I have to disagree with this. My school doesn't require A&P to be completed until the end of the 1st yr. Microbio doesn't have to be completed until the first summer. In fact, I didn't even have chemistry completed when I was accepted. Of course, I was required to complete chem before starting in the fall. I really think I was accepted was due to my GPA and test scores. I have a few friends that got accepted to other local schools for the fall and they don't have A&P completed yet either. Mel
I can't even imaging getting through nursing school without the knowledge I received from A&P and Micro! My friend took micro during our 1st semester, and did fine, but it was just that much more to do. I was soooo glad I had it out of the way and couldn't imaging having to take it with the nursing courses. If your school allows it, then it must be manageable if all your ducks are in a row. If it is too overwhelming, you'll have to back out of your program, which could put you even farther away from graduation. Be honest with yourself about if you can handle it. We are all extremely excited to reach the stage and get pinned.
Even though my school doesn't require A&P and Micro to be done, I will have completed them before the nursing classes start. I took A&PI last semester, just finished Micro yesterday, and I start A&PII on Monday. It's been a pretty hectic summer already and I'm sure it'll get worse on Monday when A&PII starts. But I don't want to chance getting into clinicals and having to deal w/ A&P. I agree, it could be overwhelming. The only non-nursing course I have left is Child Psych...which I've heard isn't that bad. Hopefully by doing it this way I won't be nearly as stressed out next semester!! Mel
As everyone else said, it depends on your program.
I know for the schools I'm perparing to apply to, you need 30 credits to apply and 9 of those credits have to Math 095 and A&P1.
AFter you're accepted, before starting the program, you need 45 credits including the rest of A&P (2 more classes), 2 Writing classes, Nutrition, and Human Development. By the end of the first term, you need to have finished Biology w/Genetics and Microbiology.This is for entrance into either the ADN or the BSN.
Specializes in Endocrine (Diabetes), Pediatric Psych.
I really dont think you want to take pre-reqs along with your actual nursing. Pre-reqs are hard enough on their own. My school wont let you in untill you have most or all of your pre-reqs done, there is two many people wanting seats who have completed them. Its hard enough getting in with them all done!
Ditto. My school won't let you start unless every last pre-req is done, no exceptions...I couldn't imagine taking A&P alongside nursing classes, just because it takes up so much TIME!!!
At my school you don't have to have A&P before you start the program. You have to take 12 allied health credits before you can apply, unless you are trying to get in just on NLN scores like i did. I did not have to take A&P but i decided to because if you don't take it before regardless you gotta take it with Nursing 1 when you start. DO some schools not combine A&P, do they have separate Anatomy and separate Physiology classes. I think that would make things easier in these classes to do it that way sort of easier at least.
Melcia060
58 Posts
"Even the most lenient of RN schools won't let you start nursing classes until you have taken anatomy. They'll let you take physiology and microbiology along with nursing as long as you finish physiology by the end of semester 1 of nursing classes and Micro by the end of semester 2 of nursing classes."
Daytonite,
I have to disagree with this. My school doesn't require A&P to be completed until the end of the 1st yr. Microbio doesn't have to be completed until the first summer. In fact, I didn't even have chemistry completed when I was accepted. Of course, I was required to complete chem before starting in the fall. I really think I was accepted was due to my GPA and test scores. I have a few friends that got accepted to other local schools for the fall and they don't have A&P completed yet either. Mel