Hello, I wanted to introduce myself before jumping in and responding to posts. My children are old enough now that I feel comfortable going to school and finishing my degree. I stopped school five years ago when I got pregnant with my daughter. I have thought about nursing for five years and no matter how many times I try to venture off to something else, my heart leads me back to nursing. My youngest is now 18 months old and I feel ready to go back to school and have been doing research for the past few months. I am currently taking two classes at Rio Salado and am looking at enrolling for BIO 156 here in two weeks and then CHM 130 and BIO 2o1 for summer courses.
I am nervous and excited and very scared. The bad shape that the economy is in does have me very worried. It seems like everytime I turn around someone wants to get into nursing because the money is good and I feel like screaming because that is the worst reason for going into nursing. It worries me that it will make it that much harder for me to get the job I have wanted for so long.
I would love to talk to others who are in the pre-stages as well as though getting ready to start the program, have started the program, and veteran nurses. Any advice, thoughts, etc will be highly appreciated.
When ALL your pre-reqs and co-reqs are completed, and you are waiting to get into a program, take Pathophysiology...and LEARN IT INSIDE AND OUT. The extent to which you really KNOW Pathophys, will be the measure of how difficult you will find nursing school...also, at that time, buy an NCLEX study book and practice the questions...learning to read & answer NCLEX-style questions, and a thorough understanding of Pathophys will make your life in nursing school sooooo much easier. Luck to all!
If you are taking Medical Terminology, remember to print all your quizzes BEFORE you close them...trust me, you will use them to study for Mid-term and Final.
I just finished the first lab for BIO 156 and it was really cool to be able to do it at home. My 5 1/2 year old had a blast helping me do it, too. I'm a single mom so most of my work has to be done while they are in school or after they are in bed, it was awesome to involve my kids in my school (he's kind of a little geek like his mom so that helps too ). Is anyone taking their CNA before getting in to the RN program? Does it apply? I was in the IT field for 12 years but got laid off and so far have not been able to really find anything, so I was thinking in the meantime I might try to get my CNA license and get my foot in the door somewhere. Anyone have any thoughts on that or done that?
I just finished the first lab for BIO 156 and it was really cool to be able to do it at home. My 5 1/2 year old had a blast helping me do it, too. I'm a single mom so most of my work has to be done while they are in school or after they are in bed, it was awesome to involve my kids in my school (he's kind of a little geek like his mom so that helps too ). Is anyone taking their CNA before getting in to the RN program? Does it apply? I was in the IT field for 12 years but got laid off and so far have not been able to really find anything, so I was thinking in the meantime I might try to get my CNA license and get my foot in the door somewhere. Anyone have any thoughts on that or done that?
Have you called any places to see if they're hiring CNAs? If the are, then that would be a good route to take in the meantime. I've had my LPN for almost about 8 months, and I've not been able to get hired anywhere because I have no experience. I was laid off from Motorola a couple of years ago after 12 years with them, so I know what you're feeling! Good luck to you, and a very happy Mother's Day to you as well!
Happy Mother's Day to all. Do you need to buy additional items to do BIO 156 labs? I'm not quite sure how it will work the lab kit is very basic. Where are all the raw materials like onions or frogs to dissect???
really why did you drop it. i am doing great in the class, but i have also taken bio 201 and 202 before so this is not that new but i suck on midterms and finals
For me, the hardest thing about getting into nursing school, besides taking exams and writing papers, has simply been waiting to get into an actual program. I have been on wait lists both in California, where I did my prereqs, and on lists here in Arizona were I now reside. By the way, everyone is different but for me chemistry and mircobiology were harder than A&P. Anatomy is sheer memorization. Physiology can be pretty hard, but interesting depending on how it's taught. Try not to take more than one summer class at a time, especially the 200 level courses. I did one 5 unit microbiology course in the summer and that was plenty! My advice is to either ask around or look on "rate my professor" to find the easiest/best instructors.
On a personal note, I had been on ADN program wait lists since 07! So, instead of more waiting, probably 2011, I decided to go to a LPN program here in Tucson. I in my 40s so time is of the essence. Thankfully, I start in a few months. I was given so-called advanced placement for having A&P and such. Anyhow, I will fast track into the ADN program at Pima College afterwards.
And yes, a lot of people, for whatever reasons, are flooding the college wait-lists to get in to nursing. But for those looking to get into the field for money reasons alone they will likely find themselves burnt out after working as a nurse within a few years, or less! Although $30/hr seems great, those motivated solely by money may likely feel the pay to stress ratio isn't their cup of tea, so to speak. Think about it. High tech computer jobs can pay way more than $30/hr and machine don't yell, or threaten to sue you!
). Is anyone taking their CNA before getting in to the RN program? Does it apply? I was in the IT field for 12 years but got laid off and so far have not been able to really find anything, so I was thinking in the meantime I might try to get my CNA license and get my foot in the door somewhere. Anyone have any thoughts on that or done that?
I was laid off from Motorola a couple of years ago after 12 years with them, so I know what you're feeling! Good luck to you, and a very happy Mother's Day to you as well! 
HJS27
251 Posts
When ALL your pre-reqs and co-reqs are completed, and you are waiting to get into a program, take Pathophysiology...and LEARN IT INSIDE AND OUT. The extent to which you really KNOW Pathophys, will be the measure of how difficult you will find nursing school...also, at that time, buy an NCLEX study book and practice the questions...learning to read & answer NCLEX-style questions, and a thorough understanding of Pathophys will make your life in nursing school sooooo much easier. Luck to all!