Help please?!

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Hi everyone!!

I am going to be a senior in high school next year, and I am currently trying to make plans for my college years. I really, really want to study nursing, but I have lots of questions about where to begin.

For example:

What are the different types of nursing that one could go into?

How much math will I use each day? Should I take a pre-calculus course next year to prepare for courses in college?

What are the best schools to study nursing at?

I know those are all very disjointed questions, but I would appreciate any help at all from someone who is actually in this field of work!! I am so grateful to have discovered this website.

I hope you can help :)

Thanks so much!!

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You can start by doing some research and reading in the student forums on this site. Also go to the website link for the local nursing schools. Make an appointment to see an advisor at the local nursing programs to get questions answered after you have looked on the websites for the nursing schools. Also see your guidance counselor at your high school.

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Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.

You sound like a smart young person...pre-calc and nursing? AWESOME...:yeah:

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Specializes in Nursing Education, CVICU, Float Pool.

Power to you with that pre-calc I just graduated from HS and didn't take it. Glad to see you here, welcome to allnurses.com!!!! I had questions about math myself because it is my least favorite subject and most nurses say that there is no outstanding math required for their daily activites. Try to shadow a nurse this year and volunteer if possible. Also Google evrything you can, a lot of the info you will pull up will lead you back here.

I would suggest taking an Allied Health course if your HS offers one, I took the second level Allied Health this year and it prepared me to take the CNA exam (which I passed) and now @ 17 I have a job offer at the local hospital starting off at $9.00/hr (which is heaven when your used to making minimum wage Lolz!). Get your CNA if you can, you'll gain some good experiences.

I wish you well in your endeavors.

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Definitely take precal! I took it in high school 8 years ago. I struggled through every minute of it but it has been very helpful for SAT, nursing admissions test and numerous other things. Great idea!!

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

Definitely take pre-calc. Take anything you can that will make you learn something new. I took three years of calc in high school and one additional one at university. Do I use any of it anymore? No. The most advanced you will get in nursing is stoichiometric conversions. And simple algebra with fractions and decimals. It is good to know how to do more, most definitely ;)

Like another poster said, it will help with your ability to test into the "best nursing schools" as they are becoming highly competitive. I went to ASU and would say it is considered to be one of the top rated nursing schools.

Going for a bachelors in nursing is pretty much the only option at a university, you dont choose a focus like with a masters (education, community health, advanced practice, etc) and usually it is 2 years of pre-reqs and then you apply for a few coveted spots to complete the program.

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Specializes in Long Term Care, Pediatrics.

I would also suggest taking statistics, can be a hard class, but using evidenced based practice, you need to know how to validate the research. Plus, it's required if you go on for a master's degree.

Also, you are young; when I was your age, I was just not responsible enough to do nursing work. Back then, if someone had come to me and said, "Mr. X's colostomy bag just spilled and you need to clean it up," I would have responded with a string of profanities and a flat "no". Now, I'm not saying that you are too young for nursing, but I would encourage you to try to follow some nurses in different settings to get a feel for things before you devote yourself to nursing.

Also, beware, the job market is terrible. The "nursing shortage" is a myth, but if you have a passion for nursing, you will be able to land a job eventually. Don't let my post discourage you from your dream, just make sure you are fully aware of the realities of nursing. Good luck to you. :nurse:

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Margaret, welcome!

I would advise the pre-calc and another science. If you can go straight into a BSN program. The more math the better suited you will be should you someday decide to go into nursing research, which relies heavily on statistics.

Good luck to you.

:)

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Go with the pre-calc. I took it a hundred years ago when I was in high school, and I don't remember ANY of it, but it helped me out later so I didn't have to take so many math classes in college. I took college algebra and would not have been able to if I hadn't had pre-calc. I would recommend a statistics class. I haven't taken one, but I wish I had because Master's programs require it. I agree with others who have said try a CNA course and see how you like it. There are many, many specialities to go into. As to prestigious schools....pffffft. I don't think it really matters where you go as long as it's a good program.

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