Hi i'm new here

[CoolingOutNJ]

Hi i'm new here. I'm a black male from New Jersey with a BA in Political Science. I'm looking for Secondary Degree in Nursing. I plan on applying within the fall and enter into the Fall 2010 class. But before then i'm looking to get as much information on Nursing as possible.

I received my degree in 2005 and I havent had much employment, a few temp jobs here and there.

I want to know exactly what I would be getting into. I dont like surprises.

I dont have a science background (never took Bio or Chem) so I will need to take all the required pre-reqs. Since I dont have much a science background I decided not to take the accelerated program. I heard its intense.

I would like to know what are some things I should be doing now? What are some things I should know before applying?

I met up with one student in Nursing at the campus, i wanted to get more info from her but she was in a hurry.

Share any valuable info you have.

Much appreciated.

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

read the information on these websites set up specifically for people who want to go into nursing:

• http://www.discovernursing.com/
  
• http://www.nln.org/careers/resources.htm - nlns resources page for nursing students
  

you should also see these lists of the rn programs in your state from the new jersey board of nursing and contact the individual schools for specific information requirements to get into their nursing programs. almost all have online websites:

• http://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/nursing/bacschools.pdf - nj bsn programs
  
• http://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/nursing/adegree.pdf - nj adn programs
  
• http://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/nursing/dipschool.pdf - nj diploma schools of nursing
  

the individual college catalogs or nursing department websites will tell you what the application to their nursing program involves. in general, most nursing schools require anatomy and physiology, some degree of chemistry, psychology, biochemistry and math. each school may have its own individual requirements as well. since you already have a ba you may have some of the pre-requisites already that you can transfer.

[picurn10]

I think one thing I wished I would have done (which really helped my classmates) was to get my CNA or be some sort of a tech or unit clerk. I felt so lost because I'd basically never set foot in a hospital so everything was brand new for me, but my classmates who'd been working as aides or techs knew a lot just starting off: what labs were, how to do basic nursing care, meds, etc... I did fine, but I just think it would have been much more comfortable if I'd done that first.

Also, I think being a CNA does give you a taste for what nursing is like. You do basic pt care that all nurses do, you do some simple charting, finger sticks, learn intake and output, and so on. Plus you'll get to see the nurses up close and see what their job really looks like. It was a lot different than I imagined.