I'm in a difficult dillemma and need some advice cause all this worrying is about to burn a hole in my brain.
I'm 28, and for the past ten years been in the travel industry with no health care experience. In 2009 I was laid off, and decided to go into Nursing as its always been a proffesion I admired; but never had the balls to do it until the devastating lay off.
Jan 2010, I enrolled in a community college and recieved full financial aid. That spring semester I took 13 credits, all pre-requisites towards the nursing program for application later on. Over the summer I took 6 additional credits (all pre-req) and this fall looking into 18 more credits.
Now, this is my dillemma... The state in which I live in requires us to do all pre-requisites before applying into the Nursing program so that when in the program, all concentration is on the Nursing curriculum.
Keep in mind that most of these pre-requisites are very time consuming because some courses require pre-reqs of their own.
After meeting with my advisor, I was told the shocking reality of how long it will take being a full time student to even apply into their Nursing program. We are talking not until 2013! Once in (if you get in) it's an additional two years.
This is ludacris. I don't know if its just for the state of CT or what, but they are telling me, that I will be prepared to appy for Nursing school in 2013, and then an additional two years tacked on?
So, to get my Associates Degree a two year program, really will take me 5 years?
When employers see my ASN....they have no idea as a full time student I actually spent 5 years at that community college. Not two years.
Now..what should I do?
I'm unemployed.
I have a mortgage, and barely getting by.
I have invested full time into school, and know that I cant do that for 5 years and survive.
I have a protective fiance who is covering the expenses until I graduate, and he knows now the reality of how long that will take.
I noticed that Florida Keys Community College, I'm not sure if there are any others out there that are the same as FKCC, but They tell me that I can apply into their Spring 2011 Nursing Program, because I have fulfilled their pre-requisite requirements.
CT requires about 15 or so pre-req's while FKCC requires 3.
Should I do it? So that I could finish faster? Most of the classes I have taken in CT are fulfilling their requirements so thats less time wasted.
Living in Key west should be easy for me, as I lived there for four years before, so I understand how expensive it can be, but you make great money waitressing part time. Thats how I did it before.
Fiancee not too thrilled about this option...but then I could start working as a Nurse sooner...than sitting around here for 5 years.
By the way CT...sucks for jobs right now...cant find didly squat.
Perhaps I should do the CNA course in the fall, and then move to FKCC for the spring courses?
I need your help, this is so fustrating... I appreciate those of you who have read my whole story.
I am not sure about your state. In alabama i did pre-reqs first in 3 semesters full time so basically one year. Perhaps you should consult another advisor.
I would also look at the possibility of taking online courses at other schools. If it takes forever to get, say, the biology class, at your present school, then take it online at another school. Same for the other classes. Look around. Do not limit yourself to your present school, waiting for a chance, when you could be getting courses out of the way by getting them elsewhere.
Did you consider getting your LPN,then getting the RN-bsn while you work? It could work.Does your current school have the Lpn program? If not I would find a private college that accepts financial aid and then find a bridge program.BUt I would surely check out some other programs because 3 years is too long to maybe get in a program.Good luck!!!!!
Wow, this is ridiculous just to try getting into nursing school these days. Why do you want to be a nurse? It is a very demanding profession- emotionally, physically and mentally draining. I would talk to any nurse you might know or ask for shadowing to make sure you want to pursue this profession before you invest your time and energie.
That does not make any sense. I applied to the Connecticut Community College Program and the pre-reqs only took me a year to complete. I graduated high school in June 2008 and took BIO 105 in May 2008 as a summer course in order to be able to take A&P I in the fall and then be able to take A&P II in the spring. During Fall 2008 I was able to complete all the courses needed to actually apply to the program. (Which are only English 101, Math 137, CSA 105/CSC 101, A&P I and A&P II, they allow you to apply if you are taking A&P II during the spring semester that you're applying.) In my case I took it in Spring 2009 and applied for the Feb. 2009 deadline so I met that requirement.
Unless it has changed, it is not a requirement to have ALL pre-reqs and/or general education credits done before you enter the nursing program. It is only a recommendation. The only course I did not finish was Microbiology and I took that concurrently with Nursing 101 in Fall of 2009.
I do not know who told you this, but unless requirements have changed (and I don't believe they did) I think you are being misled. It should NOT take 5 years to complete this. Please feel free to PM me or e-mail me via the forum if you have any further questions. I'd be more than happy to help you.
Check the link out below and see if you can CLEP out of any classes to save you time and money. Check out all programs in your area first so you can weigh all your options. Also, if you decide to CLEP out of a course make sure the nursing school you are going to will accept that course. I did the Psychology & Human growth and development exams. Something to think about too is if you can CLEP out of Chemistry they are not going to make you take the prerequisite for Chemistry. Not that I could ever CLEP out of Chemistry. I took that in the classroom I am just giving you an example. Good Luck in whatever you decide.
Specializes in multispecialty ICU, SICU including CV.
Check the link out below and see if you can CLEP out of any classes to save you time and money. Check out all programs in your area first so you can weigh all your options. Also, if you decide to CLEP out of a course make sure the nursing school you are going to will accept that course. I did the Psychology & Human growth and development exams. Something to think about too is if you can CLEP out of Chemistry they are not going to make you take the prerequisite for Chemistry. Not that I could ever CLEP out of Chemistry. I took that in the classroom I am just giving you an example. Good Luck in whatever you decide.
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An FYI with that -- many schools don't let you CLEP an infinite number of credits. The schools I have attended will take about 12 credits that way, and that's all.
RNljm
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I am not sure about your state. In alabama i did pre-reqs first in 3 semesters full time so basically one year. Perhaps you should consult another advisor.