Anyone else take the long road to your RN?

U.S.A. New Hampshire

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sooo... i haven't even started my first class yet, i am on the 22nd.. but i feel like this is going to take forever! i have 5, maybe 6 classes to take before i even apply for the rn program. i am taking one at a time right now because of work and $$$. this is going to take absolutely forever. i have to take psych (in it the 22nd), chemistry (never took it in hs), before i take a&p 1 and 2, microbiology.. thankfully i have taken my english, humanities, math and english from my previous schooling! i am being cautious because i have been out of school for a while, have always had a hard time focusing and i have to work full time. i'd like, once i get back into the groove of schooling-to take more than one, but for the courses i have left to take that would be nearly impossible unless i want to fail :(

does anyone have an experiences with taking the long road? some words of encouragement, or ideas on how i could make this shorter without overworking myself?

Hi there. I used the REA Human Growth and Development book for the CLEP. I'll give it to you for free if you want. It's got the book w/ the software. I took the test in Jan. of this year. To be honest, the book didn't really help me prepare for the test, though. Most of the material on the test wasn't what the book had in it. I don't know why that was...as it was the book recommended. Anyway, for what it's worth, I'd send it to you!!!

pm me if you want me to send it or ask anymore questions!

Hey Tamsue,

Thanks so much! I appreciate the offer. I just received mine from Amazon.com a few days ago. LOL But thank you so much for the offer. So, that was all you studied?? Did you take a class like that before? I took child psychology a few years ago, but I don't remember much. Any recommendations??

Thanks!

Hi there.

I have to say the CLEP test for Human Growth was kinda' crazy. I feel like the book I had to study with was almost useless. Most of the info on the test wasn't even in the book. The test did have some Erickson stage stuff and some Behavioral concepts (ie. pavlov's dog w/ conditioning), but truly most of the info was just stuff I know from living. I barely passed the test, and I had gotten really good at the three practice tests on the back of the book. I'm glad it's over. I hope yours goes well for you! Where are you taking your other pre-reqs?

Wow! That's awesome you passed the test! I took my pre-reqs in another state a few years ago. I am taking the Clep at NHCTC-Manchester sometime. I am nervous! I hope I pass! I did order a text book to read through, though. I hope it helps. So you are taking nursing courses now? Are they real hard?

I too have taken a long way through school. I actually went to school in 2002 and got my Medical Assisting. I only did that b/c we weren't going to be living in that state long enough for me to finish nursing school (military family). Then we transferred, and a few months after we got settled, I got pregnant. That was in 2003. I started back to college working on prereqs to the nursing program in fall 04 and then we moved again in 06. I had everything done except for the actual nursing classes. I was finally accepted to nursing school in fall 07. I graduate in May 2009 and I can't wait. I am sick of school altogether and I am just ready to get my career started. Sorry, I guess I wrote a short bio.:wink2:

I'm in the second semester at NHCTC-Stratham. I certainly won't say it's easy, but it IS do-able. Some of the people I'm in school with are also holding down part- or even full-time jobs, and I really don't know how they're managing that. I just started orienting at Portsmouth Regional Hospital for my first med/surge rotation. It's exciting but also very scary. I can't think too far ahead or I go crazy...one day at a time, right!!!! I just try to think of it as a process I just need to go through to reach my goal of being a real nurse someday!!! Good luck to you!!!!

Specializes in Rehab.

Im on the semi long road. I say semi because the only pre reqs I needed were A&P,micro and algebra. Im taking A&PI right now with algebra, this fall I will take A&PII, bio(dont actually NEED it, but I want to take it), and the human body(again, dont NEED it, but it cant hurt with A&P !!!). Ill take Micro in the spring, and hopefully, when I retake my pre entrance exam, I will score better(it was just a bad week that week!), and will start next fall. Now that I have written a bio as well lol! Good luck with your classes!

Thank Goodness for this thread. Do to life circumstances EVERY time I tried to take A and P II I had to stop. Three times I've tried. I've had 2 deaths and I was pregnant the last time. So here I am taking A and P I over, because by now I feel I am not as efficient in knowing the material and I will take A and P II again for 6 weeks in the summer. That's much easier than the longer period of time where I risk something happening.

I haven't even finish my applications, because I'm so scared how schools will look at this. I have a 3.8 GPA but that A and P class will really look shotty. Anyone ever go through this?:crying2:

I just want to finish nursing as soon as I can. Finances and life have caused me to take the looongg road.

Nicole,

Don't worry...there are actually several people in my nursing class who took A&P 1 the first semester, A&P 2 the second semester, and micro during the summer. It's doable. What I would do is try and study as much as possible for the NLN exam you have to take in order to get in. I also have 2 kids and can't imagine having to do any other classes on top of nursing. Last semester, I did the online Developmental Psychology which was pretty easy. It's doable...the people I know who took those other classes in addition to nursing also had kids. Good luck!!!

I am doing exactly what you are!! :yeah: I started 2 years ago with just the non-nursing classes...the microbiology, A&P, etc because I work full time and didn't have the money not to!...and now this fall I am FINALLY starting the Nursing program to get my RN...

To me, it seemed like it was never going to end! Like I was just going to be taking classes to get into Nursing school for the rest of my life lol. But now there's finally a light at the end of the tunnel--only 2 years to go. I actually think doing it this way benefited me because I learned how to get organized and take good notes, and stuff like that so that I am more prepared for Nursing this Fall...

You can do it!! It'll go by faster than you think....soon this semester will be over, then the next, then you'll be ready to graduate lol.

well you have probably graduated by now but I just wanted to commend you for your efforts. I graduated in 2003 with my Medical assistant degree, worked for 5 years, took classes towards my LPN, graduated with a LPN diploma in 2008, and have just finally started taking my science classes again towards my RN. I hope to be accepted into a program fall 2013. I think the most important take home message is never give up on your dream. I wish you the best of luck! I think in this economy (and for your sanity) taking it step by step is the way to go!

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