I have a dilemma

Careerchange88 · Aug 9, 2015

I know it's a public forum. So I can say what I want too. I guess I've taken a few comments as rude. And bedside manner is different than sticking up for yourself :)

OrganizedChaos, LVN · Aug 9, 2015

I know it's a public forum. So I can say what I want too. I guess I've taken a few comments as rude. And bedside manner is different than sticking up for yourself :)

Sticking up for yourself is one thing, but you are just being down right snotty for no reason. Show me a proof when anyone deserved that kind of comment. I hope you get into nursing school, but people are trying to help & once again there is no reason for the condescending tone.

pmabraham, BSN, RN · Aug 9, 2015

Good day, Careerchange88:

If you re-read my post, I stated how your post comes across to me rather than "you said." My interpretation is correct because that is how your opening post came across to me. One of the lessons most nursing school teaches is all feelings are valid; that goes for mine as well as yours.

Now, I'm sorry you felt you had to come back with what appears to be a rude attack, "How did you do on your HESI reading comprehension?" as well as an assumption (not every school uses HESI).

I'm glad to read the community college you've chosen has a 90% NCLEX pass rate; that's very reasonable. A number of community colleges offer dual enrollment with four-year universities where all (or the overwhelming majority) of your credits will be guaranteed to transfer. If you've not done so already, consider checking with yours to see if they offer dual enrollment, and how to get set up in the dual enrollment program. Sometimes they tie the program to how many credits you have with the community college; at ours, you have to be under so many credits. So I recommend checking earlier than not in case your community college has similar rules for dual enrollment.

Thank you.

blah_blah_blah · Aug 9, 2015

I don't know if this will work for you since you already have a degree, but I knew someone who declared academic bankruptcy. I didn't even know this was a thing until she told me about it. Basically, you erase one whole semester of grades to improve your GPA. From my understanding, you still get credit for the class, but the grade does not affect your GPA. Maybe you can declare academic bankruptcy on the semester(s) that you took those upper level math courses that do not apply to nursing.

I am not 100% sure how it works since I never have done it, but maybe you can look into it.

Editorial Team / Admin · Aug 9, 2015

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SeattleJess · Aug 9, 2015

Out of curiosity, why would your low grades make you a more ideal ADN candidate than BSN?

Excellent question, and the first one that popped into my mind. Most of the students in my cohort had 4.0 GPAs. I could have done an accelerated BSN program, but I have a BS degree and I didn't see the benefit to me in paying university tuition for a bunch of extra management classes. (That seemed to be the primary difference between the NAAS and ABSN degrees, extra courses in management.)

Have you looked at requirements for nursing programs, associate and bachelors? You may need to spend two years taking your prerequisites so you'll have a chance at getting accepted at a school that's respected in the profession and has a high NCLEX pass rate.

Careerchange88 · Aug 9, 2015

That's a good point. I want to end up with the bachelors anyway if I want to work in a hospital. Maybe I just research schools in the states my husband is considering and then do prereqs for those programs. It's just hard because I have no clue where we will end up in 2 years.

sailornurse · Aug 9, 2015

But just because they say they would take 2.6 doesn't mean they actually do. My program has 2.5 gpa minimum for admission, I have yet to anyone in the program with a gpa that low. Most of the people have very high gpa( 3.8 - 4.0), I had one of the lowest with a 3.5 gpa.

Agree, I taught in a BSN program where minimum GPA is 3.0. But many times all 48 that made the cut had 3.5 or above.

ALTONDL · Aug 9, 2015

Have you looked into private colleges with multiple locations. They usually allow you to transfer in between locations.

alamode · Aug 10, 2015

Do you guys have children? Is living separately for a bit an option? Two years is enough time to get pretty deep into your program. It's also a long time to just bide your time.

AspiringNurseMW · Aug 10, 2015

I have wanted to go to nursing school for ahwile now. Problem is with my previous bachelors degree my GPA is too low. So I have to start at the community college level for an ADN.
Other issue is that my husband is a medical resident. He is done in 2 years and will move to a new state for fellowship. Not enough time to get accepted and finish nursing school here.
Do I just stick it out in retail jobs until we are settled and then pursue nursing?

OK ADN issue aside, why not just slowly work and any/most prerequisites for either a ADN or BSN. Actual nursing credits are next to near impossible to transfer, so look at the general ed requirements for different BSN programs and work on the most common ones?

Or you could also get training as a CNA and work as one until you and your husband move. That way, having CNA experience can potentially be something to add to whatever program you end up applying to, as some give extra points for Healthcare experience and others even require CNA certification.