New Student and Confused!!!!

Welcome aboard~~~~

I will do my best to try and answer some of your questions.

1. For a syllabus of the program, you might request info from where you applied to attend school. I know that you will be required to take prerequisites such as English Comp 1 & 2, certain math courses, certain science courses, etc. If you are not able to get a syllabus of the program from the school, try to locate their website and see if one is listed.

2. I know that where I live and where I moved from the ADN(Associate Degree Nursing) was changed from a 2 year program to a 3 year program. However, if you do not get "burnout" and are able to attend what is called mini-mesters(classes that are held inbetween reqular semesters)this helps speed up the process some and you are able to get in some of your prereqs doing this. The mini-mesters are short and this way you are not having to do the Nursing Part of the program along with having to do the prereqs.

3. A Bachelor degree in Nursing requires more courses and 4 years to complete. This degree helps in the fact that you are able to work in a supervisor position eventually and have the opportunity to be a Nursing Instructor. I, personally would recommend going for the ADN first, get some hands on knowledge by working and at the same time take 1 or 2 courses at a time to recieve your BSN.

4. NP stands for "Nurse Practioner" and I believe that what you listed as FN is also called FNP which stands for "Family Nurse Practioner". My understanding of these degrees is you are allowed to work under a physcian and actually see patients. I have had more contact with PA's(Physician Assistant) and they are allowed to write perscriptions except for some of the controlled substance drugs.

I personally would recommend getting your ADN first and then proceed from there. Nursing School is very stressful and alot of students do get burned out when they attempt to go for it all up front. Another important thing to do is if you start with the ADN program and know that you wish to continue to get your BSN contact the University that you will go to for the BSN to make sure all that you take for the ADN will be transferable to the BSN program.

You will find that you will have many choices after completing either degree. Our Nursing Profession is going through alot of changes, some good, some bad. Just like with anything else. However the best expierance is in the "field", because the "real world of Nursing" is totally differant from the "school world of Nursing". There is a big transistion and so many graduate Nurse's find it overwhelming to deal with.

I wish you luck in your endeavor to join the Nursing Profession and welcome to the Nursing Bulletin Board!!!!

P.S. I forgot to mention a website that might also help to answer some of your questions....www.nurse.com...it is an excellant site and when you start school you will find it as a good "resource" for helping with some of your educational needs.

Proud to be a Nurse......

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C.E.Worden,LPN