New respect for ADN Students

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Getting into an ADN program and becoming a nurse was so much more difficult than I thought it would be! For the program I am applying to: 1) the minimum GPA is 3.0 (they won't even look at your application if you don't have a 3.0), and for sciences it is over 3.5--most accepted have over a 3.5 overall GPA, 2) TEAS V tests scores are averaging the high 80's to low 90's for admission, 3) you have to be invited to interview 3) over 300+ apply for the once-a-year entrance for the 30 slots 4) after you go through all that, and are accepted, you have to pass all your nursing classes, 5) then you have to pass the NCLEX, 6) then you have to start applying for a new grad position which, after reading so many posts, I see is very difficult (lots of new grads don't have a position even a year after getting their license!) The GOOD NEWS is that once you have your license and have a year under your belt you can breathe a little easier :yeah: . Congrats to all that have been accepted for 2012 and Good Luck to those that will be trying in 2013!

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I was excited when I found out I was accepted. Now I am terrified. Has anyone ever looked at Rate My Professor? I realize those ratings are subjective, but the instructors I have that first semester did not get very good ratings. That being said, I have looked at these in the past at some of my prereq instructors. Even if they received poor ratings and harsh comments, I always got on well with ALL of my professors. So, I am going into that first semester with an open mind. :uhoh21:

And now, I am fretting about being able to find a job when I get done. Seems like places want to hire nurses with experience and BSN degrees. :sniff: Sorry. I am just fretting and worrying. It is what I do. :lol2:

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I am so excited, and terrified. I got accepted for Fall 2012. I am excited to finally be on my way, get started etc, but all my other classes leading up to nursing are going to be piece of cake in comparison. I have checked ratemyprofessors.com as well. I had professors with bad reviews before, and the one thing I have learned is to adjust myself to the professor, not expect the professor to adjust to me. I figure out what the professors expect from the students (within reasonable limits) and perform accordingly. I can't imagine that nursing school will be much different in that respect.

I am glad that I have a class during the summer to finish up A&P2. It will keep my mind occupied. I am not too worried about getting a job after yet. I have enough to worry about right now, to worry about 2 years down the road. Things can very well change between now and then.

Good Luck to All!!

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

Just starting out in nursing is a rude awakening for somepeople. No one is going to molly coddle anyone. It starts the very first day to begin your journey to critical thinking skills and learning things that you have never seen before. People are far more adpt to post negative comments long before they will post a positive one.

Nursing in unlike anthing you have ever done. You always have to be prepared for the worseand realizethat any mistake can be a fatal one for the patients. There are no second changes when the consequences are do severe. Some people just have difficulty dealing with the mentality that there are no small mistakes. So, initially....I am sure for those who thought nursing is no big deal got an abrupt attitude adjustment. Dealing everyday with humanity in all it's glory and ugliness.....it too much for some.

Study hard. Listen to your instructors. Be involved. You'll be fine...:hug:

Jobs are tight for BSN as well as ADN grads rightnow. It depends on where you live in the country. But, getting a nursing job in 2 or more years is a way off....hopefully things will be better.

Good Luck in school!

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I have checked ratemyprofessors.com as well. I had professors with bad reviews before, and the one thing I have learned is to adjust myself to the professor, not expect the professor to adjust to me. I figure out what the professors expect from the students (within reasonable limits) and perform accordingly.!

I am the same way. I make it my business to find out how they test and what they want. I am not one to buck the system. I am a worrier. Always have been. Haha. I need to quit.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Well, figuring out how they test is going to go away. All the tests will be like nothing you have studied for before, because straight memorization of what the teacher focused on in lecture won't be enough. You will be tested on things that never get lectured on because there are simply not enough lecture hours to cover all you need to be exposed to. And memorization won't get you anywhere.

As far as finding out what they want, that works for projects and papers. It also works for clinicals. I can tell you this much:

1. Be on time.

2. Show up in dress code.

3. Show up with your pre-clinical paperwork 100% done.

4. Follow all the rules.

5. Get along with the other students.

6. Don't whine or complain.

7. Always remember safety first.

8. Work while you are there. No cell phones, texting, Facebook. There is never ever EVER nothing to be done at the hospital. Never.

Good luck in school. It is a wild ride unlike any schooling you have had to date.

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Great advice, not.done.yet. Thank you! I am 48, I am not a whiner, I am old school when it comes to being on time and following directions, and it completely ****** me off when I see people texting and facebooking in class. I can't believe anyone would ever do it during clinicals. Believe me, being a future student, I so appreciate all of the insight! Thank you.:up:

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agree I am not sure if people still beleive getting in the ADN is magically easy because it is a 2 year program and at a community college. Beleive me the ADN can be just as picky just as selective as the BSN. Maybe back in the day the ADN was a sure thing but def. not now. 2 year, 4 year , diploma its all tough.

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Imagine having a 10 year old gpa haunting you to only rear it's ugly face when you finally apply for the 30 out of 300 spots! This happened to me when I applied for spring 2012! But... Insted of giving up, I picked myself up, retook the one class I had a C in, retook HESI A2, reapplied for fall 2012 and GOT ACCEPTED!!!!! I'm proof that no matter how difficult getting in seems... It CAN happen! I have so many emotions about starting! This summer is going to go by so fast yet slow at the same time! Good luck to everyone!!!!

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
Imagine having a 10 year old gpa haunting you to only rear it's ugly face when you finally apply for the 30 out of 300 spots! This happened to me when I applied for spring 2012! But... Insted of giving up, I picked myself up, retook the one class I had a C in, retook HESI A2, reapplied for fall 2012 and GOT ACCEPTED!!!!! I'm proof that no matter how difficult getting in seems... It CAN happen! I have so many emotions about starting! This summer is going to go by so fast yet slow at the same time! Good luck to everyone!!!!

Nice to hear an inspiring story, congrats.

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Thanks for that congratulations. It is amazing to me that 2 years after first conceiving to become a nurse - finding All Nurses and ravenously devouring the posts, I will begin my nursing program at my local cc.

Thank you, not.done.yet for those guidelines. I've read other people's stories not really knowing what to expect for myself, so I now appreciate some points to pay heed to. I imagine I will be posting more on this site with my nursing diagnosis questions in the future.

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