Is Nccc 2 year associate degree possible in 2 years

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My daughter started the 2 year nursing program at Niagara County community college and is taking all her courses in the 2 year program, 16 to 18 credits per semester. Including a&p, psychology, nursing, med math for the first semester. She is giving it her all but struggling, sometimes 3 tests a week between all the courses. She dorms there and works 7 hours work study per week. I know a lot of students take some pre reqs before starting the nursing so it ends up taking 2.5 to 3 years to complete. I'm curious if anyone has done the program as its set up over just the 2 years and made it

I feel like it might not be possible but would love to hear from others. She is studying hard and passing all but the theory part of nursing. Anyone have suggestions or words if encouragement that this is possible? I'm an RN myself so I feel that she should stick it out especially since she dorms, doesn't have to spend time driving and only doing the 7 hours a week work study where she is able to study also.

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Specializes in Rehab, Ortho-Spine, Med-Surg, & Psych.

Hello,

Why is she in such a hurry? It is best to follow the program at a pace one can handle. As you know, nursing school is stressful as it is. If I was her, I would not be concerned about how others do, but how the curriculum would best work for me. Time is going to go by on life no matter what you do; might as well use it wisely & according to your capabilities.

If she needs to be a full-time student for financial aid and/or qualify for a dorm, then sign up for the minimum required credit hours. No more. Nursing education is a lifelong commitment (as you know), so she should pace herself. It will all be worth it in the end.

Just my 2 cents. Hope it all goes well with her! :up:

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NCCC has a rigorous program. I have failed myself at a different RN program and am reapplying as an LPN bridge student. The last year at NCCC is tough. I can't beleive your're an RN putting your daughter through this. If she still has to take her sciences with all her nursing classes then I feel really bad. People get screwed rushing in these nursing programs. The third semester theres a 10 credit nursing course I believe and if she still has to take micro. I would withdraw now! Save your GPA while you can!

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Hello, I just graduated from NCCC this past May and found a job the day after pinning so yes it is a great program, but tough! I did it in 3 years so I could take just nursing classes alone. I will tell you that first semester is the easiest and people that attempt to do it in 2 years typically pass first semester and fail out in second. I'm not saying that she cannot do it because I did graduate with someone that was able to, but you also want to take into account GPA. By doing it in 3 years I was able to graduate with a 3.9, just saying. If she is struggling this semester and barely passing, I would withdraw, finish my co-reqs and join again in nursing 2. It would suck to have to repeat a semester. Everyone is different though, best of luck to your daughter!

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Thank you for your advice! It is so hard not having anyone to ask if they know if people have done it this way easily, to know if it's really possible for an average student. Part of me was thinking that if they have it in a two-year program it must be doable and the other part of me, thought she should get out now and do the prerequisites but we were both very worried that because she would withdraw in a failing state, it would count as her one fail and she would be kicked out of the program if she struggled once she got to just nursing courses. The nursing advisor was stringing her along a little bit telling her to wait till the next test which brought her to the end of October, and then she was failing the nursing Theory and did not have a c in anatomy either. Finally we were able to meet with a nursing advisor and switch her out of nursing into liberal arts this semester and it won't count against her that she's not at full time credits. Then she will do all prereqs next semester and one summer micro course to have all her sciences done and then go back into nursing in the fall. She felt like a weight was lifted off her. It is really unfortunate that they do not advise students before they accept the slot in the nursing program, that it is very difficult and most do not succeed and that it is recommended to start off doing pre Recs first . Thank you again for your advice

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No, you're quite wrong. I am not putting my daughter through anything rather trying to help find the best way to go forward because she was already a month-and-a-half into the program and not doing well and didn't know if she should risk it by withdrawing in a failing State and possibly not getting accepted back into the program again, or just continue on and see if she could do it since she was already past the withdraw/add date to keep her credits at full time . She was accepted into the program having not been giving any advice how difficult it would be and how very few people are able to do it this way. So we both were under the thought that if it's set up as an year program, it must be doable. That was why I was posting the question so I could get other people's perspectives if they have seen many people do it or that it is really not feasible for most individuals. Along with posting the question we were waiting for a meeting with her advisor so we could see what her options were so I was hoping for Input from others so she had advice before the meeting. Thank you for your suggestions

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I'm just reading this now. I'm sorry for what happened. All I can is that sometimes the best advisor is another nursing student. Many students don't make it with all thier anatomy courses. I've seen many people fail out around me. The best way is to take baby steps. I hope your daughter is ok after going through all that.

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