I am 40yo (next month) and have a bachelor's degree in a non-science field, top honors. I do well for myself and would be taking a pay-cut to be an RN (could possibly go up in pay if I do an NP), but it's what I want to do. So I want to do a career change to nursing. (I mention all that to say, I have bills, a home, a single mom with a child, etc, so I'm not a 20-something living with parents and can afford to volunteer for 2 straight years like I once could).
I met with the nursing advisor at the local community college to discuss taking a few needed classes to get into nursing school (BSN then MSN). After reviewing my transcripts she said I just needed 4-5 science classes but I couldn't take them in 1-2 semesters like I hoped, that they don't suggest taking more than one science together and that the classes are only offered certain semesters so her plan would have me completing these classes in 2 *years* for a 2018 nursing school entrance, if I start pre-nursing this summer (June)/Fall (Aug).
My questions are:
1. Does pre-nursing really need to take that long? I mean, I'm 40. lol
2. If I do complete pre-nursing as slowly as she suggests (1 science class every semester for 2 years), what do you do with the rest of your time to bring in an income and further your nursing career (because a non-medical job wouldn't look kindly on your pursuing a nursing degree and you don't have the credentials to work in the medical field even as a nurse assistant, EMT, etc, am I correct? So what *do* you do?
Ok...This last semester that just wrapped up, I took A&P 1 with Microbiology plus two other classes and made an A in both. Semester before that, I took biology for science majors, chemistry for science majors, and both of their lab components along with two other classes. Straight A's. Whoever told you not to do it, never did it.
The problem with the sciences isn't necessarily that you shouldn't take them together, it's that you can't take them together. For example you might need to take bio 101 before you can take microbiology, anatomy and physiology.
There is NO reason why a top student like yourself can't take more than one science class at a time, as long as there are no pre-requisites you must take in order to be eligible to take that class.
There is NO reason why a top student like yourself can't take more than one science class at a time, as long as there are no pre-requisites you must take in order to be eligible to take that class.
Sheesh.
Thank you for confirming. That is what I thought too.
Hello, my name is Marcella and I live in Virginia. I totally understand your view point and understand where you are coming from. I went to nursing school very early and did about one year's worth, got my CNA license or certificate, went to medical assisting, patient care technician, learned some medical coding, and I just graduated with my masters in special education. My goal is to take the LVN test and get my LVN license very soon. I think what your school said was very important because I could remember waiting and waiting for certain classes to start and I know it is hard, but it is also necessary. I think that taking their advice would be wise. I also think that if you could take your pre-nursing courses online which now you can at some colleges, that would possibly be a real asset to you. As far as finding a job, you can do an internet research on jobs that pertain to nursing that are non-clinical areas and you can see if you would be interested in working there. You can also get a library book on the different pathways of nursing in order to see which type of nursing you would be interested in. I wish you the best and congratulations on getting into a wonderful field. Being a nurse is such a wonderful field and a rewarding field as well. Marcella 5/20/16
All of your questions are pretty good. I just finished my first semester of nursing school. I also did not come from a medical background. My advisors also suggested that I take 1 science per semester but I had to take A&P II and Micro at the same time. It was a lot of work and I did have tests on the same day or back to back but I managed to squeeze out A's in both classes. I had twin 1 year olds at the time and I was working full time. I just paid attention in class and went to open lab and made the most of my time there. Now my husband is deployed and I have the kids by myself. I dont work but that was a personal choice for me. Some of my classmates are still working. Nursing school is a sacrifice both of time and sanity, but its temporary so I tough it out. You just have to decide how much you're willing to sacrifice to become a nurse.
That's what I was thinking, but has anyone here done it successfully?
I took accelerated A&P 1 and 2 back to back in 16 weeks prior to nursing school (in a 12 credit semester, if I remember right) and Microbiology and Advanced Physiology in a summer 8 week session my final semester (9 credits) to wrap up corequisites. I did fine.
Do you have no way to independently register for classes? If you're a solid student and you're good with science, there is no reason you can't take at least two science classes together.
Specializes in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation.
1) Well it depends on a couple factors. One being how many classes you take per semester/quarter. The more pre-req classes you take/complete in each semester, the faster you'll get in the program in general. Also, I did notice that pre-nursing students or people looking to do nursing tend to get told pre-reqs done should only take 1-2 years or less. Problem with this in this day and age, that's not reality. Depending on where you are from and how impacted nursing in your area is, you may need to add a couple months or years to your school time. If you're going to a community college, you might find the pre-reqs over-saturated with other students and may end up taking you more than 1-2 years.
2) What did I do? I got a job as a lift tech in the hospital while waiting to get into the program. You do need to look to the future and do what you can to ensure you get a job after nursing school and what better way to do that other than getting a job in the hospital even if it's not nursing related. You can always do certification courses while waiting as well in order to get these part time jobs (CNA, EMT, etc). In your case as being a parent and "older", you can always look for a part time job anywhere and just because you're in school, it doesn't mean they won't hire you. Most people will say to get a part time job in the medical field anyway.
I'll be 40 in a few months and just dropped off my first application to nursing school last week! Yay me! I, too have a Bachelor's in another field. I started last summer by taking one prerequisite; A&P 1. I wish I would have started sooner. I just completed the prereqs for all of the programs I'm applying to.
Basically I was dead set on applying for a second Bachelor's or a MSN, so I started taking the prereqs for those programs and didn't think to check the requirements for "lesser degree" programs (my mistake!). Then I started looking into the costs of those programs vs. the ADN program at my local community college (which also has an automatic online bridge program for a BSN). I quickly realized that as a back-up, I should apply to the ADN. I really really really wish now that I would have completed those prereqs first! I basically could have been in nursing school already if I had . Anyways, I am still applying to a ELMSN program, just because it's a dream program and fits my schedule really well. I did mistakenly apply to another ABSN program without having the appropriate number of prereqs done first (and was subsequently turned down). A great lesson in humility for me ha-ha!
As far as taking more science courses, of course you can do it!! You said that you already have a degree and you were a honors student... you've already proven you can do well so I would get started!
Here's what I took:
Summer:
A&P1
Fall:
A&P2
Microbiology
Nutrition
Spring:
Chem
Statistics (killer!) but I still pulled an A-
Psych-Intro (online through UND)*
Psych-Lifespan
*Had to add this class later in the semester b/c it's a prereq for the community college program, and I didn't want to wait another year to apply! UND has enroll anytime classes which are convenient. I chose NOT to CLEP Intro to Psych (as I had originally planned) because CLEP courses transfer in as a "C" grade at the community college I'm applying to. So check on that.
Good luck to you!
P.S. I have a very part time CNA job and also have a large family. Busy is my middle name these days :).
. Anyways, I am still applying to a ELMSN program, just because it's a dream program and fits my schedule really well. I did mistakenly apply to another ABSN program without having the appropriate number of prereqs done first (and was subsequently turned down). A great lesson in humility for me ha-ha!
Erythropoiesis
305 Posts
Ok...This last semester that just wrapped up, I took A&P 1 with Microbiology plus two other classes and made an A in both. Semester before that, I took biology for science majors, chemistry for science majors, and both of their lab components along with two other classes. Straight A's. Whoever told you not to do it, never did it.