HELP! I start nursing school next semester and I'm failing a class :(

[ms.hopeful09]

Hey you guys....I need some encouragement. I have been accepted into nursing school to start Spring 2010. At my school you have to take Pharmacology, Patho and intro nursing before you can even begin the program. I am doing good in all of my classes including micro. My only problem is Pharmacology. I have not been doing so well in that class, I need to make a 95 on my final which is 94 questions so that means I can only miss 4 questions to make a 95! I am freaking out my final is on Dec 10th and I started studying today. How am I suppose to make a 95 on a final when on the past 3 exams Ive barley even passed! If I fail this class then I will not be able to begin nursing school in the spring and I cant even apply to the program anymore! Any encouragement would help, I keep telling myself I can do it, I have plenty of time until the final but then I start thinking negative thoughts

[bbroge143]

So, Ms.Hopeful, how did you do on your final?

[dave mooney]

Nurse Training - How to become a nurse

This page outlines the initial training involved in becoming a nurse.

Introduction

To work in the National Health Service, nurses must hold a degree or diploma in nursing (a "pre-registration" program), which leads to registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), enabling them to practice as a nurse.

Nursing attracts people from all walks of life and so groups of student nurses are made up of a mixture of ages, sexes and cultures.

Degrees and diploma programs comprise of 50% theory and 50% practice, with time split between the higher education institute (HEI), which runs the course, and practical placements in a number of healthcare settings.

It is intended that nursing will move to a degree level qualification leading to registration for new entrants to the profession. The earliest possible date this would happen would be Sept 2011 and the details are being worked through at the moment. Courses in 2009 and 2010 will run as planned with no fundamental changes.

Types of nursing

Pre-registration degrees and diploma programs are offered in 4 "branches" - adult, children (paediatric), learning disability and mental health. Some courses offer the chance to combine social work with mental health or learning disability nursing. Typically, you will need to decide which of the four branches of nursing you wish to train for, before applying for a program. A small number of HEIs may offer you the flexibility to choose your branch after having started the course. You are therefore firmly recommended to contact the HEI(s) that you are considering prior making your application.

All nursing degrees and diplomas are comprised of common foundation programs (CFP) that are taught across all four elements of nursing, usually for one year on full-time courses, before specialization.

If, For instance, you choose to go into mental health nursing, the placements during your second and third years of study (on a full-time course) will be mainly concentrated in that environment, and will focus on patients with mental health problems. Nevertheless, certain elements of training will be common to all branches of nursing

1. Pre-registration diploma of higher education in nursing (Dip HE nursing)

*On completion, individuals are awarded both an academic and a professional qualification, as a result of integrated study of theory and supervised nursing practice.

*Supervised nursing practice is fifty percent of the course and takes place in both community and hospital settings.

*The programs are normally three years long, beginning with a 12 month common foundation program (CFP), followed by around 2 years in one of the 4 elements of nursing: adult, mental health, learning disabilities or children's nursing.

2. Pre-registration nursing degree

*On completion, candidates are awarded both an academic and a professional qualification, via integrated study of theory and supervised nursing practice.

*Supervised nursing practice is 50% of the course and takes place in both community and hospital settings.

*The courses are normally three years in length, beginning with a twelve month common foundation program (CFP), followed by around two years in one of the four branches of nursing: adult, mental health, learning disabilities or children's nursing.

*Some degree courses last for four years.

3. Accelerated courses for graduates who hold a health related degree.

*These shortened programs are modified from existing nursing programs and lead to qualification in adult, mental health, learning disabilities or children's nursing.

*Accelerated programs are at least 24 months long. A minimum of six months is undertaken in the CFP and at least 18 months in the appropriate branch program.

4. Part-time study

Part-time pre-registration nursing programs are provided by some universities and normally last for five or six years. They are available to staff working in the NHS - usually as an assistant or an associate practitioner with qualifications up to NVQ level 3 (or equivalent). You'd be employed by the NHS, which would provide support in terms of time off to attend on a part-time basis.

After your pre-registration program

Once you've successfully completed your pre-registration program and registered with the NMC, you can apply for nursing posts. With some experience, you can look to develop your career further, which may mean further study/training.

Healthcare is continuously evolving, technology improving, and the needs of the population changing. Once qualified, it is necessary to keep yourself up to date with health care issues and practice. This will be required by the NMC, and encouraged by your employer.