New Nursing Student Questions

crisbiss · Apr 16, 2008

Hi All,
I am not sure how posting works on this site so I will do my best. Okay, so my little sister had a college fund in place that she was going to use to get a crimjinal justice degree. She tragically passed away in January and left her college fund to me. Nursing is something I have always wanted to do but since my sister has left me this money and due to the tragic nature of her death I feel getting my nursing degree is now my duty.
Anyway, I give you the background because up until 2 months ago I didn't have the opportunity to go to college, now that I have obtained the fund I am jumping in with both feet. I start ENG102 tonight to get it out of the way before my prerequisites start in May. I am doing everything online through Rio Salado Community College which is where my questions come in.
1.) Is anyone else in a similar situation with trying to get all of their prerequisites done by the end of this year?
2.) Am I going to miss out on a lot of the comraderie that nursing students usually have by only going online?
3.) Does anyone else have Rio classes starting that include BIO156, 201,202 and CHM130 that they are doing online?
Any insight I can get would be great! I am super excited and I want to make my little sister proud of me. Thank you in advance!

Hi there,

Just wanted to say that i am in a similar boat as you. My big brother was killed this past June and in many ways his death is paving my way for nursing school ( both in his support for me while living, and his financial support posthumously) . It is a weird realization. I also feel it is my "duty" to fulfill this dream of mine as he was so passionate about me and my dream to. So, i just want to offer an understanding ear.

As far as your classes go....i did many prerequisites online and many in person. The sciences i did in person and would not have wanted to do them online. I am the type of student that asks alot of questions and need to SEE things to remember them and understand them. So, i just wouldn't have done well in a micro, physio, anatomy online. I did develop friendships in these classes and years later have found i will be starting NS with some of these past class mates.

Good luck and know your little sis IS proud!

crisbiss

NurseJeanB · Apr 17, 2008

TamTam,

Sorry about your sister, but it sounds like she would have wanted you to do this. I only took non science classes online. As for the cameraderie, it depends. If the people you are taking prerequisites in are the same people you will be in nursing school with then it is a great opportunity to start building the foundation of future study groups etc.

If not, then you have something to look forward to. I have made so many wonderful friends in nursing school. We all are very close and pick each other up. We study together and we are there for each other.

Now even though you are taking prereqs., really concentrate on doing well in them. Most nursing schools base acceptance on the prerequisite GPA.

Best of luck to you.

emmy27 · Apr 18, 2008

I'm so sorry about your sister.

I did about half of my prereqs online. There are a few people in my NS class who I recall from in-person classes, but not that many. Don't worry about the cameraderie; when you're in core nursing classes and you're all sweating bullets over competencies or up for the 16th hour straight working on clinical paperwork, you'll bond then. Trust me. For now just focus on your GPA and getting a strong foundation for your later classes.

Good luck!

Sandy_dfw · Apr 18, 2008

I am sorry for both your losses.

I am taking as many classes as possible online. To me it is a lot easier.