I want to be a nurse, have no idea how to begin...Please Help!!!

kmf2005 · Jan 21, 2006

Hi!

I don't know how much help this will be..... but:

You could start by checking with the colleges around your area and find out if they have nursing programs.

Then request information from the programs that interest you. (They should send you program info, costs, requirements, etc.)

Then apply. :)

Like I said, don't know if this helped....And I certainly hope I didn't offend you (my advice could mistaken as a "duh").

Good luck with everything, and keep us posted!!

Kacy

jennl15 · Jan 21, 2006

Thanks...it is actually something to begin on! I hope I can make this work for me. :)

kmf2005 · Jan 21, 2006

I'm sure you can make it work. It sounds as though you really want this now.

Also, something I just remembered: Once you find a school, use the contacts to get in touch with a human! When I found my school, I called and spoke to the program director, and she REALLY helped me. Told me things that weren't in the requested information, where to go to get financial aid, etc.

Using the resources that are (usually) listed in the booklets/on the website can help tremendously!

Kacy

stpauligirl · Jan 21, 2006

Hi, I am 27 years old and have put off my schooling and career to start a family (at 22) and whatever else life has thrown at me. I have never been to college and really cannot afford much at all. I really would like to become a nurse who works in a hospital. I don't even know what kind of nurse that would be called. I don't know anything about college, what degrees I will need, what courses I need to take at all. Can you guys PLEASE help me. I feel so confused and lost, but I feel that if I don't make a move now...I never will. Also, can I do anything for college work online...I know you can, but I mean for beginning courses.

A good place to start is your local Community College. Pick up the phone and call on Monday morning. They'll give you information on what, where and how. Or personally to go to the college and talk to advisors who will discuss and help prepare you for whatever you need.

I remember well when I decided to go to school. I came from a foreign country and was absolultely clueless and scared. It all started with a phonecall to the college and I soon found myself preparing for my GED. My confidence grew and I am now almost finished with prenursing classes and if everything goes well I'll apply to nursing schools next spring.

You go girl, pick up that phone :)

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Jan 21, 2006

visit these web sites to read about the profession of nursing. this will be important reading for you to get an idea of the different levels of nursing and the schooling required. since you don't list your state of residence i can't get you any information on nursing schools, but you can get it yourself by going to the website for your state's board of nursing and looking for a link to approved nursing schools, or sometimes boards list the schools of nursing in their states under a link "education".

http://www.nursingsociety.org/career/cmap.html

http://www.discovernursing.com/

brightmoon · Jan 21, 2006

Hello Jennl15,

I too decided to start a family at an early age and later decided to commit to school. I would like to share with you what I've learned thus far about the whole process. Like what the others have mentioned, it is a good idea to see a counselor to create an academic plan. Before you take the prereqs for the nursing program, take a few general courses that could be applied to your degree like English or math. I say that because college will be a new experience for you. Once you get the feel of having to prioritize your familly time and study time, then you can move on to the science courses. I have to emphasize that if you already have a hectic schedule because of your domestic or employment duties, be careful not to overload your schooling. I would not take more than one science class at a time. You can take one science and one or two other less demanding classes. It is very important that you do very well in the prereqs. Also, try not to withdraw from too many courses, especially from the core science courses because some schools will take into consideration how many attempts you make before passing the science courses. I wish someone would have given me this advice prior to my starting my classes. I took too many science courses at the same time and although I completed them all on the first attempt, I compromised my grades in the end. It would of been different for me had I only had myself to tend to, but with 3 young childeren and a very spoiled husband and working 30 hrs a week, it was very stressful. So please consider your available time for a lot of studying. Remember, its not the quantity of courses that you are able to complete in a semester, but the quality of what you get out of it and that should be good grades and a strong understanding of what you've learned. As for myself, I've applied to a few colleges in my area and while I am waiting, I am keeping up with my reading, especially physiology, and of course, having some fun with my kids before getting into the program. Oh, one more thing, you can get so much info from the net about the different areas of nursing and check out the different scholarship programs at your school. Good luck and drop a post to let the rest of us know how you're doing.

Sincerely,

brightmoon :)

Fun2, BSN, RN · Jan 21, 2006

Visit the admission dept at your local community college, or others around that offer a nursing program, AND local universities that have a nursing program!

Talk to them, AND talk to the financial aid advisors. You could qualify for financial aid and be able to go to the local university. ....You never know until you try. :)

Between these two offices at each place, you should have a good idea of what classes you would need to take. (Some may be the same for all of them, a few may be different.)

Good luck!

stpauligirl · Jan 21, 2006

Hello Jennl15,
I too decided to start a family at an early age and later decided to commit to school. I would like to share with you what I've learned thus far about the whole process. Like what the others have mentioned, it is a good idea to see a counselor to create an academic plan. Before you take the prereqs for the nursing program, take a few general courses that could be applied to your degree like English or math. I say that because college will be a new experience for you. Once you get the feel of having to prioritize your familly time and study time, then you can move on to the science courses. I have to emphasize that if you already have a hectic schedule because of your domestic or employment duties, be careful not to overload your schooling. I would not take more than one science class at a time. You can take one science and one or two other less demanding classes. It is very important that you do very well in the prereqs. Also, try not to withdraw from too many courses, especially from the core science courses because some schools will take into consideration how many attempts you make before passing the science courses. I wish someone would have given me this advice prior to my starting my classes. I took too many science courses at the same time and although I completed them all on the first attempt, I compromised my grades in the end. It would of been different for me had I only had myself to tend to, but with 3 young childeren and a very spoiled husband and working 30 hrs a week, it was very stressful. So please consider your available time for a lot of studying. Remember, its not the quantity of courses that you are able to complete in a semester, but the quality of what you get out of it and that should be good grades and a strong understanding of what you've learned. As for myself, I've applied to a few colleges in my area and while I am waiting, I am keeping up with my reading, especially physiology, and of course, having some fun with my kids before getting into the program. Oh, one more thing, you can get so much info from the net about the different areas of nursing and check out the different scholarship programs at your school. Good luck and drop a post to let the rest of us know how you're doing.
Sincerely,
brightmoon :)

I agree with you about starting out with the basic courses like English, math etc and hold off on the science courses. It is so true that the science courses take up so much time and if you take too many at once you might compromise your grades. Great advice!

kmf2005 · Jan 23, 2006

Well, I see that I might need to take an advising course!! I never thought of starting out with the not-too-hard classes first! GOOD JOB!

Anyways, looks like you've got a ton of starting info now! YAY!

Kacy

L&D_2b · Jan 24, 2006

In addition to checking out your local community college's (which sometimes have distance ed (online courses), I would also look into CLEP. In a nutshell, you can use study guides and study for specific subject tests you would need for a nursing program (like human growth and development, english, or algebra) and then you take an assessment test. If you pass, you get the college credit without having sat in the classroom. Many (but not all, so check first) colleges accept CLEP for credit. However, they all usually have different scores for what they accept as "passing". I would look into it. You can buy CLEP study guides pretty cheap off of ebay. Or I would even buy just an older edition textbook to study from. Either way, it's worth looking into if you are just embarking on your college career. And with small children around, it might be easier for you to get a few of the courses out of the way without leaving home. I believe it is around $50 for each subject test you try to pass to earn CLEP credit. Again, saving you time and money. Here's a link for future reference:

http://www.collegeboard.com/splash

PM me if you need any more info.

Good luck.

NaomieRN · Jan 25, 2006

Jenn if you have the determination, you can make a work.