New to Nursing!

[kbuurma1107]

Hello fellow pre-nursing students!

I have just been accepted into CCRI and I am starting my prerequisite courses this fall. I have all sorts of thoughts flying around about nursing as a career and what it actually takes to get through the program. I work full time and I am planning on applying for the evening/weekend program through CCRI next spring.

Are there any of you that are in the same boat or have some helpful advice moving forward? Not necessarily have attended CCRI but just have a good insight to a weekend/evening program and some key pointers that will help me along the way? I am looking into purchasing Saunders Nursing Student guideline book to get me going and try to start studying before classes start to get ahead start. I am just very nervous and really dont want to fail at becoming a nurse!

Any and all advice is GREATLY appreciated! And good luck to all of you working toward your RN :)

[Camwill, ASN, BSN, MSN, DNP, LPN, APRN, NP]

I am happy you are starting your journey! My advice to you is to treat these prerequisite classes just like they are nursing classes. All these classes are important and are what is going to get you into nursing school. So good luck and if you need help be sure to ask!!!

[willowita, ADN, RN]

I attended evening classes while working full-time to finish my pre-reqs. It's definitely tough since there just doesn't seem to be enough time for anything. I had to make school my number 1 priority and everything else was second. Some people don't understand and may wonder why you are distant. So it's important to get the support of your friends and family that get it. Once nursing school starts, you'll have even less time. Of course, try to make time for yourself and have fun. But keep your eye on the prize.

And I agree with the above comment. The pre-req courses are crucial. They will weigh heavily on whether you get into a nursing program or not. So make friends in those classes and start a study group. My study group elevated my level of understanding and my success in my pre-req courses. So don't be shy! And shoot for A's. B's are not bad grades and some people do get in with C's. But you'll sleep better knowing that you got your A's.

[kbuurma1107]

Thank you so much for both of your responses :) I agree that a study group is a really great idea and I will definitely get on that as soon as I start classes. I mostly struggle with math so I feel like the Medical Dosage course is going to be hardest for me so I am taking it now in the fall with General Psych because I want to leave room to retake it if I dont do well. I am setting myself up the best I can and acknowledging my weaknesses now so that I can prevent myself from bombing those difficult classes and never getting into the program. One other thing I am uneasy about is clinical schedules once the nursing classes start. Did those ever interfere with your work schedule? Was it difficult to figure all of that out?

Thanks again for all the advice, it is greatly appreciated!!!

[Malpal23]

Thank you. I'm taking my Pre resquitse course in this fall also,

[willowita, ADN, RN]

Clinical schedules depend on your program. Is your weekend/evening program really just on the weekend and evening? One of the programs I got into was a so-called weekend/evening program but they still required availability during the day for clinicals. So check with your school.

I'm actually going to quit my job because the program I'm attending is 7am-4pm. So I can't hang onto my job anymore (9am-6pm). But I knew that going into nursing. So I saved up for a number of years and will also be using financial aid to keep me afloat for the next 2 years.

If you have a flexible work schedule or if your employer is willing to work with you, then you could make work and school a possibility. Most programs advise against working more than 20 hours a week. But not that's not realistic for some people so they might work at night and go to school during the day.