Myriad of questions from the newbie...

Trauma Columnist · Jul 24, 2007

As a military wife, I know the unpredictability of orders and PCS'ing! Ugh. Anyway...I too would advise the ADN route for now - it will still take 3-4 years due to the pre-reqs required BEFORE the nursing program even starts. However, this is the fastest method for you. You don't want to move halfway thru the program. Don't know anything about any particular schools, but wish you the best.

al7139, ASN, RN · Jul 24, 2007

Hi,

First it would help if we knew what part of VA you live in...it is a big state after all, and there are lots of schools. I live in the Hampton Roads area, and can tell you about schools here, but I don't know about the rest of VA.

Amy

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Jul 24, 2007

Hi USMCWife07, I'm also a military spouse :) It's rought with the moving, but not impossible: I did manage to get all of my pre-reqs done while we moved across the country and back--most were done online, and the sciences I took at the local CC wherever we were stationed. We'll be here in VA long enough (HOPEFULLY!) for me to finish nursing school.

You're right, you're too late to make an August start in nursing school, but it may not be too late to get into most CCs to start on the pre-reqs this fall. I'd make an appointment with one of them right away to get admitted. Also, the advising office could help you decide which path to take--since you already have college credits that are fairly recent, some of them could transfer over to a BSN or ADN program.

USMCWife07 · Jul 24, 2007

Thank you ladies...(Yes, PCS'ing is suuuuch a great time - HA!)

I actually live in Woodbridge Amy - sorry, I didn't think to mention that off the top of my head.

So, trauma, are you saying 3 to 4 years for the pre-req's AND an ADN or just the pre-req's? I do know I'm lucky to have at least a few classes done that will transfer over, so that's something I'm happy about.

What about all of you - what was your timeline for schooling like?

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Jul 24, 2007

What about all of you - what was your timeline for schooling like?

I started taking pre-reqs in Summer 2005--because I had a newborn when I started, I felt comfortable taking only one class at a time. I definitely would have taken more had I known that a newborn would actually easier to work around than a toddler! I took as many classes online as possible inlcuding A&P (I had to come into campus for the labs though). It took me two years inlcuding summers...again, that's taking only one class at a time.

Since I knew I'd finish the pre-reqs by the application deadline in May 2007, I went ahead an applied in Fall 2006 for admission the following Fall...which I got, and if all goes well I should graduate in Spring 2009.

I decided to get the ADN since I already have a BA, the ADN was the fastest option (we should remain in the area well into 2009), and because I had enough credits to transfer over, the ADN is actually costing me less than the diploma programs in the area would have (my school also gives military dependents in-state tuition rates, but I'm already a resident so that didn't matter).

Eventually I'll go get a BSN...or not. We'll see :)

USMCWife07 · Jul 24, 2007

Meriwhen -

Where are you going to be getting your ADN?

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Jul 24, 2007

Meriwhen -
Where are you going to be getting your ADN?

I'm down in Southeastern VA.

USMCWife07 · Jul 24, 2007

Oh ok - well thank you for the info and your timeline - it gives me a better idea of what to expect!

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Jul 24, 2007

Well, like I said: I did it the slow way :) I probably could have done it in 2 or 3 semesters if I was a full-time student.

But you should really get yourself over to your local CC now to get enrolled, then you can start taking pre-reqs. I went to mine on a Monday and received a letter of admission by Thursday

USMCWife07 · Jul 24, 2007

Awesome - well, I plan to go full time - it will be tight, but DH and I talked and I am going to go to school full time while he supports us.

I made an appt at NOVA to see an enrollment counselor but the soonest I could get in is Friday because I will be out of the area tomorrow and Thurs.

Do you think I'll still be able to get in by this fall to start finishing my pre reqs? (Some of the classes I have completed already are: advanced algebra, health and nutrition, english, history, psychology, communications (public speaking),etc...(unfortunately, for science, I took geology which I know is obviously not going to help lol...) But hopefully having some of the others out of the way will help?

I'm pretty sure it's too late to get any financial aid so I don't know if there's any other options this late for any grants, loans, etc... :uhoh3:

krenee · Jul 24, 2007

:welcome:

Hi, I'm going to NOVA, just got into the nursing program this fall. First, did you take Chemistry or Biology in high school? If not you will need both of those. Also you need a C or better if you did take them in HS. Other than that, you will need NAS 161 and 162 - those are also known as "Health Science" and basically combines anatomy and microbiology. Tough stuff, be prepared! I took them online and it was hard, but it can be done. Also if you haven't taken any official "orientation" type classes at your other school, you will need SDV 101. I also took that online and it was a breeze. It's a one credit class.

And that's it - you're good with the algebra but I think they will still have you take a "math competency exam" as well as a computer competency exam. And you will need to take the HESI pre-entrance exam prior to applying for the nursing program.

If you have the chemistry and algebra, it is possible for you to apply for the fall 2008 nursing program, but if not it might be tough. They recommend the biology and chemistry before taking the NAS classes, and I can tell you it would've helped - but I didn't realize I had a D in chemistry so I took it after NAS 161 and still did OK.

Any questions, feel free to lmk. I hope this is somewhat helpful!

BTW, the counselors at NOVA are kind of worthless. Everything they told me I could find online. Go to this website:

http://www.nvcc.edu/medical/health/nursing/

Good luck and welcome to our area! I'm in Montclair so right next door, basically.

Kelly