mccnp prereq changes?

TinkRN8 · Dec 7, 2007

The new newsletter for the MCCNP will be out January 1st. That is when any changes will be announced. That is per my advisor. I was hoping that one of the changes would be that they would eliminate the Chemistry pre-req :lol2: Like that would ever happen. I can dream though. Chemistry is the class I am dreading most, can you tell?

tobimikal · Dec 7, 2007

I was kinda hoping they would incorporate AP because they have to be taken in 2 sememters and that would put my application in a semester ahead of schedule. I have had to take so many prereqs for the prereqs that its taking foreverrrrr. Plus I moved here from colorado in August so until I establish residency I cant go over 6 credits which is really hard when my classes are all 4. Thats life. Chihmom8, Which school do you go to if you dont mind me asking?

TinkRN8 · Dec 7, 2007

Tobimikal,

I am doing my pre-req's through Rio, but am listing CGCC and Gateway as my top 2 choices when I apply for the nursing program. I am also hoping to get into the Banner program. I am finishing up Microbio in 2 wks, and start A&P I on Jan 7. I still have chem & A&PII after that. My guess is that the A&P's would be the ones they incorporate, if anything. Those would be the most logical choices. There are good and bad things associated with them changing the pre-req's. Good = being able to apply for the program sooner. Bad = more applicants in the pool, so even LONGER wait to get into the program. Hopefully, they have hired more instructors to compensate, but I doubt it.

tobimikal · Dec 7, 2007

chihmom8,

Longer list absolutely. But just being able to submit my appliation would make me feel closer at least. I take classes through Rio too but I am registered for cgcc this spring because I didnt really like it. It is convenient but i like the interaction of campus classes better. Anyhow, I am listing cgcc and mcc as my choices because I live in Gilbert and dont want to drive so far everyday. I have 3 kids ages 4,3, and 1 and I would have to drop them off at daycare at like 5am for 6am clinicals. So I cant be as flexible as some others and it may keep me on the list alot longer but I will get there someday. So anyway if we both end up at cgcc then I'll see you there and thanks for the info. Im soooo excited.

TinkRN8 · Dec 7, 2007

Tobimikal,

It would be nice to submit my application, I hear you there. It just seems like such a long road, doesn't it? I sometimes wonder if I will EVER be done with school. CGCC is my first choice too. I live in Queen Creek, so that would be ideal. However, I am having to broaden my horizons for the Banner program, which I REALLY want to get into to. So, that means maybe commuting to Gateway. Fortunately, I am able to be a little flexible. I can't imagine doing this with 3 kids! I commend you for doing it. Wow. I know it isn't easy. But you can do it! Have you talked to the advisor at CGCC? The advisor is very nice and very helpful. She is the one who told me that they may be changing the pre-req's in January. If you haven't met with her, I recommend that you do. She will go over all of your pre-req's with you and you have to be admitted to CGCC in order to submit your nursing program application. You can just do that online. Just a matter of filling in a form so that you are in their system. You will need to do that at MCC too, same form, but you have to fill one out for EACH college you will be listing on your application, as their systems aren't all tied together. Also make sure you have your fingerprint card and have taken the NET. The advisor suggested I take the NET at least 2.5 months PRIOR to submitting my application, because if for some reason I don't pass I would have to wait 60 days before I would be eligible to take it again. So you don't want to wait until the last minute to take it. You want to give yourself some breathing room if you need to retake it. Also, the fingerprints take at least 6 wks to be processed. So you want to get that done early as well. Anyway, just my 2 cents. I wish you the best of luck!

chihmom8

sassiebaz · Dec 7, 2007

Well, in my opinion, they should eliminate Algebra and Chemistry! I think that a comparable dosage calculation calss should be enough! Of course that is my opinion. I have a hard time with math, algebra especially. I aced my dosage calc. test in MA training. That was after learning it though, it still took time for me to get it. Some may disagree, but when I have talked to other nurses, the kind of algebra required in pre-req's is not used so much. Mainly fractions, percentages, dosage calculations.....

TinkRN8 · Dec 8, 2007

Sassibaz,

Thank goodness I don't have to take Algebra, as I already took it when I got my BA in history. Thank goodness! Although, I think that no matter what you major in you have to take the college algebra. Case in point, I majored in history and still was required to take college algebra, because it is so useful in the history field :lol2: . I am not a big math person either, which is why I am dreading chemistry. I have been putting it off and putting it off, but I am running out of classes, so it is looming, like a big black cloud. It seems to me though that all of the chemistry we need to know for bio, microbio, & anatomy is just some basic principals. At least that has been my experience with the "chemistry review" chapters in my bio/micro/anatomy classes. All those chapters in the different books, basically go over the same things (molecular structure, reactions, transportation, etc). So I don't see why we have to take a whole separate class.

tobimikal · Dec 8, 2007

Your so right. Eliminating algebra and chemistry would be the most productive. Plus I HATE math of any kind. im taking intro algebra in the spring because I didnt have good enough placement scores to take mat120 and dreading it massively. And chemisty isnt really all that necessary because as was already mentioned, we get the concepts that we need in our other science classes. Actually, the colorado school that I came from all you needed was AP, psych, math, nutrition, and english for prereqs and gen eds. I think that the system in AZ is better though cuz Im sure it prepares you better for the STRESS of ns. But even still chemistry seems kind of unnecessary. Oh well gotta do what we gotta do right. Its only annoying to take classes that you know are for no other reason than more money. But if their classes that will help me be successful, then cool. I can take it.

sassiebaz · Dec 8, 2007

Your so right. Eliminating algebra and chemistry would be the most productive. Plus I HATE math of any kind. im taking intro algebra in the spring because I didnt have good enough placement scores to take mat120 and dreading it massively. And chemisty isnt really all that necessary because as was already mentioned, we get the concepts that we need in our other science classes. Actually, the colorado school that I came from all you needed was AP, psych, math, nutrition, and english for prereqs and gen eds. I think that the system in AZ is better though cuz Im sure it prepares you better for the STRESS of ns. But even still chemistry seems kind of unnecessary. Oh well gotta do what we gotta do right. Its only annoying to take classes that you know are for no other reason than more money. But if their classes that will help me be successful, then cool. I can take it.

I also tested into MAT092 and unfortunately I dropped it. It was like a foreign language to me. Im not sure what I'll do. I will start lower with 082 and see if that helps me. It's weird because when I was at Phoenix college I had a 4.0 in all of my classes for my MA program. Some were easy and some weren't. For me, sciences are my strong area. I just don't get the whole algebra thing....UGH!

Knorremeisje · Dec 8, 2007

I can see why they want you to take some basic chemistry and algebra. You do need chemistry to understand how pharmacology works. Your knowledge of chemistry will help you in those classes. Also, if you know how the electrons are arranged in the element K, you will be able to apply this to how potassium influences your heart rythm and why.

You also need basic math. It's not just about understanding algebra, it's about problem-solving techniques. As a nurse you are educated to be a generalist, so you need to be capable to do some math. Just as you need to be able to write a decent essay. And just as you need to have some cultural education. I took MAT142 and loved, even though I barely passed math in high school. MAT142 is more about solving real-life problems unlike MAT120, so I would actually suggest to try to test into MAT142.

Honestly. I hope they drop anatomy, although I do think it's a good preparation for nursing school. It would just allow me to apply about 2 months earlier and I wouldn't have to take the accelerated BIO202. Hehe. I am curious however to find out!!

Good luck to you all!

Zphreaky1 · Dec 10, 2007

I heard they are dropping A&P II from the pre-req list and making it a co-req. I do not think they are dropping chem. They already dropped organic chemistry from the nursing program a few years back.