Not to go into nursing? If so, how? here's my dillemma...
I work in my school's tutor center- I see a LOT Of people who are barely making it through pre-reqs, have to re-take them as many times as is allowed, etc. I'm not making judgement's about their intelligence, 99% of the time it's a lack of commitment on their part, not willing to put foth the work, etc. All they seem to see is that this is a job that pays well and is stable, etc.
One girl wrote an essay for a pre-nursing class about why she wanted to be a nurse...she brought it in for profreading, and I heard my co-worker say to her "Umm, you didn't put anything in here about wanting to be an RN because you like to work with people, you only talked about the $$" :0!!
My usual "gut-check" for this is to ask myself "Would I want this person at the bedside of one of my loved ones?"
If the answer is "NO!" that's my criteria.
Beyond the fact that I am truly frightened about the thought of some of these people ever being RNs, there's also the fact that I go to a very expensive private University- it's heartbreaking to me to see so many people go through the stress and heartache of nursing school, only to end up tens of thuosands of $$ in debt with nothing to show for it when they finally flunk out for the last time.
Specializes in vitals sign, glucose monitor CPR, rehab.
Not to go into nursing? If so, how? here's my dillemma...
I work in my school's tutor center- I see a LOT Of people who are barely making it through pre-reqs, have to re-take them as many times as is allowed, etc. I'm not making judgement's about their intelligence, 99% of the time it's a lack of commitment on their part, not willing to put foth the work, etc. All they seem to see is that this is a job that pays well and is stable, etc.
One girl wrote an essay for a pre-nursing class about why she wanted to be a nurse...she brought it in for profreading, and I heard my co-worker say to her "Umm, you didn't put anything in here about wanting to be an RN because you like to work with people, you only talked about the $$" :0!!
My usual "gut-check" for this is to ask myself "Would I want this person at the bedside of one of my loved ones?"
If the answer is "NO!" that's my criteria.
Beyond the fact that I am truly frightened about the thought of some of these people ever being RNs, there's also the fact that I go to a very expensive private University- it's heartbreaking to me to see so many people go through the stress and heartache of nursing school, only to end up tens of thuosands of $$ in debt with nothing to show for it when they finally flunk out for the last time.
So , any thoughts on this?
I am a nurse assistant been one for 14yrs, I am a excellent pcna and was always told to go to school to become a LPN or RN, actually I don't want to become a RN or LPN even though the money is great I worked in nurseing homes for six years and worked in the hospitals 9 and I just don't want the pressure of politics and other people lifes in my hands maybe because I have seen medical mistakes and medical miracles and I am also a patient with fibromyalgia along with moderate thoracic spondylosis and lumbar herniation and other illness I rather not get into. I was dedicated to helping the injured and the ill , And now I am hanging up my stethoscope and scrubs to take care of myself because I am a true wittness after you bathe and comfort the elderly and the young ,there is no one there to take care of you.
Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
I have to say it again, grades in pre reqs (if you are getting the minimum required to pass) do not mean someone will not be a good nurse or make it through nursing school.
I had C's in my pre req science classes, like the minimum C. I passed A&P 1 and 2 with 2.5 and 2.6 which was the minimum to pass (2.5 was). I passed Chemistry and Organic Chem with a C as well. I got a C the first time I took Micro (had to retake it not because I didn't pass though) although it was very close to a B and I got a C in Pathophysiology and it was also very close to a B as well. Like within .06 %
Anyway, my point, I struggled with all my science pre reqs and I have done good in nursing school thus far with very minimal effort. Better then some of the people with previous 4.0's and my clinical instructor and instructors during lab (which are settings where a lot more of nursing skills are done) have given me tons of compliments, especially since I have no previous medical experience. They have told me I am going to make a great nurse.
So to tell someone that shouldn't pursue the field of nursing ONLY because they struggle with some of the pre reqs, IMO is out of line.
Also, I know for me personally, I had less incentive for my pre reqs to do well then I have in actual nursing school. For my pre reqs I just cared that I made what I needed to in order to get in NS. I had a lot of crap going on at home and just was focused on that. Now that I am actually in nursing school I challenge myself more to see how well I can do. Since everyone says it's so hard it seems more challenging to me to WANT to do well grade wise. Other people can be like this too.
My username says it all. I've been nursing for 16 yrs, and yet I am still a nurse. I don't think it would be appropriate to tell someone they are not cut out for nursing. However, if someone specifically asks me if I would recommend going into nursing, I tell them the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth as I see it.
I have to say it again, grades in pre reqs (if you are getting the minimum required to pass) do not mean someone will not be a good nurse or make it through nursing school.
I had C's in my pre req science classes, like the minimum C. I passed A&P 1 and 2 with 2.5 and 2.6 which was the minimum to pass (2.5 was). I passed Chemistry and Organic Chem with a C as well. I got a C the first time I took Micro (had to retake it not because I didn't pass though) although it was very close to a B and I got a C in Pathophysiology and it was also very close to a B as well. Like within .06 %
Anyway, my point, I struggled with all my science pre reqs and I have done good in nursing school thus far with very minimal effort. Better then some of the people with previous 4.0's and my clinical instructor and instructors during lab (which are settings where a lot more of nursing skills are done) have given me tons of compliments, especially since I have no previous medical experience. They have told me I am going to make a great nurse.
So to tell someone that shouldn't pursue the field of nursing ONLY because they struggle with some of the pre reqs, IMO is out of line.
Also, I know for me personally, I had less incentive for my pre reqs to do well then I have in actual nursing school. For my pre reqs I just cared that I made what I needed to in order to get in NS. I had a lot of crap going on at home and just was focused on that. Now that I am actually in nursing school I challenge myself more to see how well I can do. Since everyone says it's so hard it seems more challenging to me to WANT to do well grade wise. Other people can be like this too.
In our program, we take two terms of Pathophysiology (taught by our nursing Prof's) in the first year of the program (A&P, micro, etc are done before the program). These are the classes that those who struggled at all in their science pre-reqs really struggled in and we lost folks due to these classes.
So, I guess it depends on how your program is structured as well.
Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
Pathophyis is a Co Req at my school but you can take it before hand if you want that at Nutrition. The rest were all pre reqs. I just took Patho ahead of time. But regardless that had little to do with the point I was making.
Pathophyis is a Co Req at my school but you can take it before hand if you want that at Nutrition. The rest were all pre reqs. I just took Patho ahead of time. But regardless that had little to do with the point I was making.
Sorry you felt that way. I was just stating that if there were more science classes that were part of the program, not co-reqs, these are graded like nursing school, not like pre/co-reqs....then struggling in science pre-reqs might be more indicative of not succeeding in the nursing program itself.
Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
Sorry I felt what way???
Majority pre req science classes are the same across the board. A&P 1 and 2 and Micro, some schools require Chem and/or Organic Chem (one of mine did) some do Patho during and some allow before. I did better in Patho then I did A&P in fact after thinking about it I took A&P twice the second time is when I got the 2.5 and 2.6. Besides a 4 year BSN where I know a lot of these classes are done first. I have never known of a 2 year program that didn't require A&P and Micro before hand. If their are some I am sure it's the minority.
Although I struggled and did not do well in my Pre Req science classes I am doing good in my nursing program, better then a few of the Straight A Pre Req students.
So my point stands. Someone struggling in the Science Pre Reqs can still go on to do well and I don't think a tutor especially one that is not a nurse themselves, can fairly tell someone struggling that they should not go into nursing.
All my opinion of course. Nursing is not black and white.
Majority pre req science classes are the same across the board. A&P 1 and 2 and Micro, some schools require Chem and/or Organic Chem (one of mine did) some do Patho during and some allow before. I did better in Patho then I did A&P in fact after thinking about it I took A&P twice the second time is when I got the 2.5 and 2.6. Besides a 4 year BSN where I know a lot of these classes are done first. I have never known of a 2 year program that didn't require A&P and Micro before hand. If their are some I am sure it's the minority.
Although I struggled and did not do well in my Pre Req science classes I am doing good in my nursing program, better then a few of the Straight A Pre Req students.
So my point stands. Someone struggling in the Science Pre Reqs can still go on to do well and I don't think a tutor especially one that is not a nurse themselves, can fairly tell someone struggling that they should not go into nursing.
All my opinion of course. Nursing is not black and white.
Uhm, sorry you felt that my post didn't pertain to what you said. I contend that it does. As you stated, you did all your sciences outside of the nursing program. I think it's great that you're doing so well after your first term....I'm just stating that if some of those sciences are within the program and graded as nursing classes (as opposed to pre/co-req classes) folks who struggled with their science pre-reqs might not do well with the science classes in nursing school. That has played out in my program.
Oh and in my program ( a BS program), Micro actually is a co-req...but most get it out of the way before the program.
My point stands as well. Congrats on your successful term!
And now I am hanging up my stethoscope and scrubs to take care of myself because I am a true wittness after you bathe and comfort the elderly and the young ,there is no one there to take care of you.
Wow. That's deep. I totally agree with you and I've often thought of that myself. If you don't advocate for yourself, who will?
Hi, I am an LPN student. Yes, the money is important but you really need to want to take care of people. I think it's perfectly acceptable to tell someone they are wasting their time. If nothing else, it may motivate them to prove you wrong.
Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
Uhm, sorry you felt that my post didn't pertain to what you said. I contend that it does. As you stated, you did all your sciences outside of the nursing program. I think it's great that you're doing so well after your first term....I'm just stating that if some of those sciences are within the program and graded as nursing classes (as opposed to pre/co-req classes) folks who struggled with their science pre-reqs might not do well with the science classes in nursing school. That has played out in my program.
Oh and in my program ( a BS program), Micro actually is a co-req...but most get it out of the way before the program.
My point stands as well. Congrats on your successful term!
I didn't say it didn't pertain at all, it just wasn't the main point I was getting at. Just like I also said, I am sure their are probably some schools where things aren't always the same, but majority of them seem to be.
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kenni
75 Posts
nurses might get paid "good money" but they also work hard for that money! anyone who is doing it only for the money won't get very far!