Hi Everyone!

Congrats on your choice into nursing

Cosmetology women always make my heart melt...

Do you have your pre-requisite classes completed already or are you starting fresh?

I'm starting fresh. I'm not working right now, so I was thinking I might try to get trained as a CNA over the summer so I can be working and gaining experience when I start my pre reqs in the fall... The only thing is I've been reading the nursing gross out stories, and now I'm a little scared :smackingf. Oh well, I guess I better get used to it. Comes with the territory I guess.

What about you? How far along are you in your program?

Thanks for responding!

Melody

I'm starting fresh. I'm not working right now, so I was thinking I might try to get trained as a CNA over the summer so I can be working and gaining experience when I start my pre reqs in the fall... The only thing is I've been reading the nursing gross out stories, and now I'm a little scared :smackingf. Oh well, I guess I better get used to it. Comes with the territory I guess.

What about you? How far along are you in your program?

Thanks for responding!

Melody

I just got accepted into the Chaffey program so hopefully I can update you as I go along in the program =]

IMO since I have been through the prerequisites here would be my steps to get your RN the easiest:

1) Always have 1 science class each semester (Anatomy, then Physiology, then Microbiology). You might need Chemistry as well to take Physiology or Microbiology it depends on your school. I was not smart and started back in school taking English and History my first semester to get back in the groove of things but really I found out ever semester you dont get a science class out of the way was basically a "wasted" semester for me.

2) Make an appointment with a counselor asap to hammer out a education plan on what you will take each semester to get into the nursing program. Plan it out in advance and make small changes as you go along will save you lots of time. Also ask for a FULL TIME NURSING counselor. Part time counselors dont know anything and non nursing ones dont either, they will tell you bad information that will make you take classes you dont need.

3) Start looking at programs around your area that you want to get into. I googled "California college zip code search" and then plugged in my zip code, checked each one for a nursing program on their website, looked at their pre-requisites, and plan your classes accordingly.

Every college might have a random prerequisite class that the other colleges dont require so do your research in advance to make sure you can apply to all of the ones you want to.

Also find out what your time frame is because some schools have a waiting list that you have to wait for a year before you can get in (which is another reason why you want to complete your science classes as soon as possible because the quicker you complete the core pre-reqs the quicker you can get your name on the list), other schools like the one I got in have a lottery system where they draw names out of a hat and you have to get lucky, others have a point system where your grades/gpa matters ESPECIALLY for your science classes.

Do your research in advance on your own (dont rely on a counselors word) to find out the schools you want to go to and how they let people in so that you are prepared and dont waste time taking classes you dont need like I did.

4) Another option I found out about after I took all my pre-req's is what is called a Non-Degree option, where you ONLY have to take the 3 science courses and you can apply to get into a RN program. Once you complete the program you can take the test to become a RN but the catch is you dont get a degree. You can never get a degree but if someone had told me about this option from the beginning I would have done this by far instead of taking all the other random classes like psychology, english, math, etc... ask the schools if they have this option for you if you want to become a RN quickly

5) Make sure to protect your science grades. Last semester I took Microbiology and only took one other class with it because I wanted to make sure that my science classes I had high grades. Dont be in too much of a rush trying to get into the program that you sacrifice your science grades trying to take a full load with other random general ed. Nursing programs really look at science grades alot and you can always take the general ed classes in the summer/winter.

Sorry if this response was long but I just like to help future nursing students so they dont make the same mistakes I did...

I still have lots of other stuff to talk about but it really depends on what your goals are... do you want a bachelors eventually or just want to become a RN quickly and start making money, etc... let me know what you are trying to accomplish and Ill try to help you out

You can always message me on allnurses and I will try to help you out with any information I have on nursing programs...

Thanks for all the advice, I definatly need to call the college and talk to a counselor. My plan is to get my associates degree in nursing so I can get out there and start making the $$$, then I'd like to advance to my bachelors. I've been doing some reasearch and there quite a few places that offer accelerated programs for people that already have their 2 year degree.

I was reading some of your other posts, and I came across the one where you said you would like to get into pediatrics because it would be a lot better cleaning of baby/kid messes that adult messes. I couldn't agree more, in fact thats exactly what I've been thinking about going into. But before I start thinking too much about all that, I need to get going on my pre reqs so I can get this ball rolling.

Anyway, Thanks again for the advice, and let me know anything else you think would be helpful.

i'm gonna start my prereqs at chaffey to get my degree in nursing does anyone know if chaffey has an evening nursing program or a late afternoon

Actually, Chaffey doesn't have an evening program for ADN, only day classes once or twice/week with a 12 hr clinical/week, Care plans due the next afternoon(no exceptions), + 48 hrs of required lab hours. So basically you're at school almost every day. Chaffey is definitely not a place for slackers. You definitely need good time management to be able to fit all the required study time.

But good luck on wherever you decide to go.

thankyou i just attented meeting for adn program at chaffey i will start my prereqs this summer hopefully i will be able to get into nursing program when done with all my prereqs

all i can say is GOOD LUCK with your goal of becoming a nurse and DONT give up..."When one door closes, create another one"

I also took one science classes at a time and maintained a good science/english gpa. One big advice is don't settle for less in Anatomy because that is your "first" science preq. Do well in that class so you dont have to sweat trying to get an B or A in Micro, which is a hard class and requires a lot time plus lab. I know a lot of ppl who retake Micro or have to get an A or they will not qualify to apply for the program.

I would take all my GE out of the way first, especially during summer/winter so you can have a better date to register for those science classes. It is very hard for most people to get into the sciences. Some wait 1 yr minimal.

For an accelerated program, make sure you have a high GPA. Check out RN.GOV