I have a question for all of you pre-nursing students

tookewlandy · Jul 28, 2006

yeah i hate to say this to but, If you are serious about becoming a nurse, you need to start making TONS of sacrifices and changing some habits. I hate getting up early in the morning, i think most of us do. But I do it everyday. And like the above poster aid clinical are going to have you up early and even your lectures classes. I have to be up at 5:30 to be ready to get to the clinical site by 7:00a when i start,. And then on lecture days i still have to be up by 6 to get to class on time by 8:00a. And i HATE waking up early and winter weather, i was so afraid to drive in the snow. But you know what i get up early every single day and drove on icy rodes, because this is what it takes to do what i want to do. Now im not trying to lecture you im just giving you some input as far s something things like getting up early and getting to school on time go, you know what i mean.

Anyway good luck this semester

Pixiesmom, BSN, RN · Jul 28, 2006

I agree with ukstudent and tookewlandy. If you are able to get all of your pre-req's done at your preferred time you'll be in for a rude awakening once you start nursing school and when you enter the employment ranks as a nurse.

I stated above that I have to work my classes around my daughter's schooling. My husband is the sole provider for our family and he works a lot of shift work and overtime so that I can pursue my dream. I just have to keep my end of the deal and that includes taking classes whenever I can. I'm also not a morning fan but I deal with it.

lisabeth · Jul 28, 2006

To be honest, it may just not be the right time. I wanted to go back to school 5 years ago, but I just could NOT get things worked out as far as time schedules, etc. and being that I am a single mom, my daughter did have to come first. She is up older now, and things are just working out for me now.

It is frustrating to say the least. I was stuck in a job I hated and there was no challenge at all. It paid the bills and still I had some left over to play around with, but all the same, the stress was a killer. I was working for 7 attorneys. :eek:

Good luck, and maybe you wont have to wait 5 years.

ChristineN, BSN, RN · Jul 28, 2006

I don't like doing this, but you need a reality check. You are trying to get into a profession that will require you to get up at horrible hours (I am a night person also) but clinicals start at 6:30 am in a lot of places. Driving during nasty weather is also required as hospitals run 24/7/365. Do the classes during the times you don't like. It will prepare you for what is coming. Good luck in becomming a nurse.

I have to agree. Classes such as A&P can be in high demand filling up very quickly. If you can get a seat for classes you need now, I would seriously consider seeing if I could adjust my schedule to make it fit.

Pixiesmom, BSN, RN · Jul 28, 2006

To be honest, it may just not be the right time. I wanted to go back to school 5 years ago, but I just could NOT get things worked out as far as time schedules, etc. and being that I am a single mom, my daughter did have to come first. She is up older now, and things are just working out for me now.
It is frustrating to say the least. I was stuck in a job I hated and there was no challenge at all. It paid the bills and still I had some left over to play around with, but all the same, the stress was a killer. I was working for 7 attorneys.
Good luck, and maybe you wont have to wait 5 years.

TexasAngel I did a CNA class several years ago and put off starting my journey because the time wasn't right for me either. I'm glad that we both found our way back to the quest.

bullcityrn · Jul 28, 2006

yeah they told me what classes were required for the lpn and adn programs and the computer class wasn't one of them. and as far as the times for the classes i didn't want morning classes cause i'm not much of a morning person. plus having them in the afternoon would make it easier for me to get there on time. and the classes of the evening i didn't want them because of them being late ones and cause of winter weather. as of right now i'm just going 3 days a week because i'm trying to find a job.

although the computer class is not required for the nursing part of the program, it may be required by the school in order to get a degree. for instance, a religion class is required by my school as part of the general degree requirements, but it has nothing to do with the nursing curriculum. still, if i want the adn, i have to take it. so you may want to check to see if the school requires it separately from the nursing program. many schools are requiring a computer technology course these days. however, if you simply don't need it and math is available, i probably would go with the math because that might be helpful when it comes to dosage calculation in the nursing program, especially if it has been awhile since you've had to do any math.

i agree with the others here that you seem to have an awful lot of conditions surrounding the times you will and won't take classes...if you are really serious about pursuing your degree, you might want to consider being a little more flexible or else you could be waiting a long time to get the classes you need. and as someone else pointed out, most nursing programs have very early clinicals, so this would give you an opportunity to make your peace with mornings!

good luck!

casi, ASN, RN · Jul 28, 2006

The computer class maybe helpful to you. Through out school you'll be relying on computers and it seems that everything paper in nursing is going to computer. If it's not required and you don't want to take it then don't. See if there are prereqs open that you want to take or maybe have just opened up because someone dropped (this does happen a lot). Otherwise take something that YOU think will help you on your way, like sociology, psychology, anthropology, women's studies, etc. if you can't find anything that you think will help maybe try taking something you think will be fun.

The first year of pre-reqs is rather hard because you can't get into a lot of the classes you want due to being at the bottom of the totem poll and not being able to sign up for classes right away before they fill up. Sometimes you do have to make some sacrafices of hours or classes. Though I think that those discouraging you because you have parimeters set for the classes you take are a bit out of line. I have one more year left of pre-reqs and I try to make them during a certain time frame and make sure they are all back to back. Why? Because I work. I'm not much of a morning person either. I work overnights, so I take all my classes in the early AM so once I'm done with work I can go straight to school for a couple of hours, or I take them in the evening so I can go to work after school. So far it's worked well. I understand that once I'm in nursing school my life will have to adjust to accomodate for school, but for now I'm basing school around my lifestyle.

The most important thing to realise is that nursing is a hard goal. It's definately obtainable, but it's hard! Even the pre-reqs! Take classes that YOU want to take when YOU want to take them. If you know that you can't take an 8am class because you won't be able to pay attention don't take it. It will only sacrafice your grade.

Best of luck!

hospitalstaph · Jul 28, 2006

Oh the early morning thing...yeah I get up at 4:15 AM on clinical days. I need to be there by 5:45 AM. And in that short time from 4:15 until 5:45 I have to get myself ready and review all of my drug cards and notes about procedures that I will be doing that day. Oh and let's not forget getting three kids up dressed and fed.

We also have to go to the hospital the night before to read our patients chart and have a care plan ready by the next morning.

In nursing school, you almost need to be a night owl and an early bird:)

T

cjm65 · Jul 29, 2006

Oh and also I was wondering should I keep the class or drop it and see about replacing it? I want to replace it. I was recommended to take a math class. I think the math class would help me more and be better then the computer class. What do you think?

I am in my first full week of LPN school, I was required to take Math for meds, Med terms, and a computer class before I started LPN school this week. Hope this helps! :specs: