i need your help nurses!

Hospice Nurse LPN, BSN, RN · Jul 23, 2011

i'm fresh out of high school and i need some guidance! (no better then from licensed this one may sound stupid--but i need to ask: once i complete my 60 credits do i become a nurse? or am i taking pre reqs to start school to get my BSN? i read everywhere but i just keep getting more confused!!:kiss

You are taking prereqs. You must apply to the school of nursing...some are very competitave. After graduation, you sit for the NCLEX (boards). If you pass, then you'll be a nurse.

NSGstudent12 · Jul 23, 2011

I'm not sure about that school, but if it's a jr. or community college you should be able to get your ADN and then take the NCLEX. You can be an RN with a 2 year or 4 year degree. You don't have to go on for a BSN unless you want to. If it's a university then you have to go 4 years to become an RN.

If you don't think you will have a hard time with the classes you are enrolled for you can always add one more to try to get done faster. If it's going to be hard then 13 hours is fine, you will still be full time.

When i decided i wanted to do nursing i went back to school, took 2 semesters of pre-reqs, then entered an ADN program which is about 2 years.

Hope this helped, good luck!

LadyinScrubs, ASN, RN · Jul 23, 2011

Route to become a nurse:

Take the required nursing prerequisites and gen education courses

to qualify you to apply to a nursing program in:

a. a community college for an ADN (associates degree in nursing),

b. a university for a BSN (Bachelor's degree in nursing)

or

c. Graduate from a community college with your nursing prerequisites done and then transfer to a university's nursing program. You apply to the university and to the university's nursing program. Transfer your associate's degree units/classes to the university, take the required pre nursing tests, and wait for an acceptance letter. When you graduate you would have two deegrees, one from the community college (AA degree) and one from the university (BSN).

rn/writer, RN · Jul 23, 2011

I'd stick with the 13 credits for your first semester. College is a lot different from high school. See how you do in this new environment before taking on more. Congrats on the AP credits. That was a smart move.

You will take pre-reqs until you finish them. Then you will start clinicals and co-reqs (academic classes relating to nursing). When you're done with clinicals and co-reqs, if everything else is complete, you will graduate from nursing school. Then you will take NCLEX-RN, the licensing exam for registered nurses.

Whether you will have an ADN (associate's degree) or a BSN (bachelor's degree) depends on the school you attend and the number of credits you accumulate. The 60 credits you mentioned would be an associate's degree.

You can pass NCLEX, find a job, and start a bridge program to complete your BSN. Often, the employer with reimburse you for classes that you pass with a B or better. Many people choose to go this route. It takes longer, but costs a lot less.

Best wishes to you in your endeavors.

Mrs. SnowStormRN, RN · Jul 23, 2011

I agree with all the posts here, but I would like to add that the college I went to had academic advisors specifically for nursing students. It was optional to see them. If you decided to see them, you would make an appointment and they would map out a plan for you and show you exactly when to apply to a program. They could set up a schedule for each semester and suggest appropriate classes. Your school will have academic advisors as well (whether they have advisors for nursing only, IDK) GOOD LUCK TO YOU!!!

MTRN13 · Jul 23, 2011

I would take the 13 credits and focus on getting good grades. Like a few have already said gettting into nursing school is very competitive. Also if you are doing well you could volunteer a few hours a week at a local hospital, and I would recommend on a unit that may interest you in the future if possible. It will give you a chance to see if nursing is really for you, and look good on your resume. There are also forumns on here for people wanting to get into nursing school, and those that are already in nursing school.Good luck !

tokmom, BSN, RN · Jul 23, 2011

I have no advice, but just wanted to say good luck in your studies. Keep us posted on your journey.

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Jul 23, 2011

If you can take as many non-clinical (any class that isn't directly a nursing class) classes as possible before adding actual nursing classes, the better you'll be. I got a lot of the nutrition/English/sociology/psych/chemistry/microbiology classes done either before the nursing classes started, or in summer school. Nursing classes may say a certain number of credit hours, but there is a lot of homework (or at least there was- I'm guessing it hasn't changed). :)

If you have to work (I did doubles on Friday & Saturday- 3-11 & 11-7, then 3-11 on Sunday for my 40 hrs/week), then this will be even more beneficial.

Good luck- and remember that most nurses (the ones I know anyway) have been overwhelmed during and after school- it's a lot to learn, and normal to feel lost at times:)

EmergencyNrse · Jul 24, 2011

It's nice to come here and ask out opinion about career paths but you really need to meet with a guidance counselor. Requirements vary from school to school and state to state. Your local counselor or college of nursing is the ultimate authority on classes and standards of admission. Especially when it comes to qualifying for their nursing programs.

Good luck with your studies.