Need personal career advice!

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Feb 13, 2013

Frankly, chances are pretty dim for you to get into one of those programs . . . but (gently) you already knew that, didn't you?

Have you already passed NCLEX? If not, that should be your area of focus right now. Take it one step at a time. First, get your career launched with that important first job. Work on becoming a competent & confident staff nurse. THEN start working on your BSN in a way that will help you maximize your GPA and improve your cumulative GPA which would give you a much better chance of acceptance into grad school when you're ready to take that final step.

Who knows, you may even discover that you enjoy being a staff nurse!

triciamatsuda · Feb 13, 2013

yes I have passed the NCLEX the first time. I am pretty sure I want to become a nurse practitioner! I'm not giving up on my dream.

I am just hoping that some school out there will give me a chance! I went through a lot of personal problems at the time, that's why I was unable to complete those nursing programs.

MochaRN424, ASN · Feb 14, 2013

Triciamatsuda,

First congratulations on passing boards! Second the only way you are going to know if a college is going to take you is to APPLY! Don't beat yourself up before you have given yourself a chance. You have a dream...don't quit and cancel youself out...you have already made it over the first hump...pursue and accomplish your goal!

triciamatsuda · Feb 14, 2013

thank you, MochaRN424! I know my chances of getting into a DNP program are VERY SLIM, but I am very capable of getting good grades. I did 72 credits at my first college before transferring into a nursing school (that includes science courses and nursing pre-recs) and I had a 3.7 GPA... after that my life went to hell and so did my grades due to the personal problems I was dealing with at the time.

I have been doing research and some people here have been saying they got into a DNP program with less than a 3.0 GPA (they had to sell themselves at the college interview and explain why they got bad grades), so it seems like it's not impossible.

I'm studying for the GRE, I believe that if I do well they might not even care about my grades so much. I think I also have the option of doing the NP/MSN program, getting good grades and then going for my phD...

If anyone has any recommendations on what I could do to get into a BSN-DNP program I'd greatly appreciate it. I know things may look hopeless for me but I do have a dream and I'm not giving up!!! I'm not a quitter, EVER!!!

MochaRN424, ASN · Feb 14, 2013

You are very welcome...I think your grades will speak for themselves. I just want you to stop speaking so negatively...slim chances...no stay positive and say that you will do it!

jujubeee · Feb 16, 2013

If you want it like you say you do, then I'm sure you'll do whatever you can to get it. Congrats on the NCLEX and good luck!!!

RN12PTL · Feb 16, 2013

Honestly, I think you should go for it. As long as you talk to admissions and explain the reason for the poor performance at first, but how you've improved since ( ex:all a's in your last semester, or GPA before vs. GPA after personal problems) then you'll be fine!! Don't let anyone discourage you!!! You CAN do anything you set your mind to. Praying for you!

triciamatsuda · Feb 27, 2013

thank you very much RN12PTL. I know this won't be easy, but I'm praying they will even give me a chance to be interviewed so I can explain my bad grades. I already have a speech prepared and everything! I am not going to make excuses, I mean, NO ONE wants excuses, I am just going to tell them what happened and how immature I was back then and how much I've grown up and realized that doing good in school is the key for a successful career. I still feel like a failure for failing 2 nursing programs, but what is done is done, I can either sit here and cry my life away because I am a failure or do something about it. I've heard of people getting into grad school with less than a 3.0 GPA, so why can't I?? thank you for the support!!! :)