help!

[Jonathan9]

My name is Jonathan and I am 18 years old. I am very passionate about what nurses do, mainly because last year I was diagnosed with lyphoma cancer and being in and out the hospital frequently made me develop a love for what they do. I am treated and everything is going well as of now and I've been looking into colleges to enroll in a practical nursing program. This is exactly what I want to do, no doubts... The only thing is I did not do biology or chemistry in grades 11 and 12. My plan as of now is to go to night school, starting in February, and take grade 11 biology then apply for a psw program at a near by college. After i get my certificate, bridge into practical nursing. Basically what I'm trying to say is, is that a good idea? what should I do?

[mowebs]

Call the school you want to attend and ask them what the prerequisites are. The local community colleges where I lived did have specific prerequisites and also a 3 year waiting list; at 55 and recently unemployed I thought I didn't have time to waste so enrolled in a private technical college. The cost is enormous but no waiting list and very little demands re previous education - high school or GED, and you must pass tests in basic Math and English. People that failed these were offered tutoring to get them up to speed (since they charge 3xs what the community colleges do, they are really anxious to help you.) Community colleges provide a MUCH better educational experience, so at your age I'd make up the classes and get on the intake list, but either way, nursing is very much a "learn on the job" experience. You may find that being male helps you - the school may go out of their way to assist you in order to balance out the gender ratio.

Good luck, it sounds like you'll make a wonderful nurse; we need more people with kind hearts and want the profession, not just the job.