New about to be Student with Questions

*CJA* · Jun 12, 2006

Is it a community college or a university?

Are you going for an RN program?

For all the RN programs I know of, you need several prerequisite courses before applying to the nursing program. An advisor at your school should be able to spell it out for you.

myonlyboyluke · Jun 12, 2006

It's a community college and, yes, I would like to be in the RN program.

What kind of prerequiste courses?

Thanks so much,

Lee Ann

*CJA* · Jun 13, 2006

It varies but you're usually looking at several science courses: anatomy and physiology, microbiology; college algebra, phsychology, etc. If you've had no previous college, you'll need some core courses like English, and maby sociology, too. Again, it varies, but if you don't need any pre-prerequisites (like biology before microbiology, for example), it usually takes about a year to a year and half full-time before you are eligible to start an associates RN program - if you get accepted (no waitlist, etc).

Most schools have websites where it's all explained pretty well. Beyond that you really need to go to the advisement office.

TallGirlAni · Jun 13, 2006

I went back to school at 29 for my bachelor's in nursing. I didn't know what to expect, or even if I would like it. I just took each semester one at a time and tried not to overwhelm myself with all the classes and all the work ahead of me in the next few years. Ease into the going back to school. If you can, don't overwhelm yourself with a full load the first semester and try to take a class an elective, that is not science-related (but you will need for your degree, anyway. Mine was English, and it was nice to have some variety.

Going back to school was fun, but I did not have children. It was a time for meeting new people, learning many new things, and relearning how to study and to become disciplined in my studies. I did know many people who were married and had children, and they did just fine throughout our course of schooling. One of my friends had 4 children, and had her fifth baby over spring break our last semester. She returned after spring break was over, and was ready to resume.

You will find your own way, your schedule, your studying groups, etc. And, you will find that each semester is a building block. You will draw upon previous classes to help you with your current ones.

Try to find study buddies and study groups. They will be helpful throughout the years.

It goes by pretty quickly. I can't believe I am done, and sometimes miss the variety of classes, and that each semester was a new and fresh schedule.

I made sure I had plenty of stress relieving activities on hand, and even took a relaxation and meditation class one summer. It helped me out a lot for test-taking.

Welcome to your first steps to nursing and I feel like this was the best decision I made in my life. Nursing is the type of career in which I feel like I made a difference and for the first time in my life, I felt fulfilled when I got home from work.

My biggest advice is to surround yourself with supportive people who understand that studying nursing is hard work and requires dedication. Stay away from negative people and people who will emotionally exhaust you, including people from school.

If you want it, YOU WILL achieve it!!!

Good luck and keep us posted. WE are here to support you. I did not find out about this website until after I graduated, and I wish that I had found out about it while I was in school. I have learned so many things from reading the threads, and find it to be a very positive resource.

myonlyboyluke · Jun 13, 2006

Thank you so much for those thoughts. It certainly helped with already starting to feel overwhelmed. Everyone on here since I started has been absolutely wonderful and I will rely so much on these boards as I go through.

I guess I was just trying to figure out how long this was all going to take. I guess I have a couple years of study and THEN finally nursing program? I think that's what it is. I get so confused.

I do have a wonderful family. I am SO lucky to have an EXTREMELY supportive husband who does just as much as I do with our children. We have six children so we are both equally involved with them and each other. This is so important to me for me and for them.

Thank you again so much and I'll let you all know how I make out after orientation on the 27th.

Take care,

Lee Ann

NaomieRN · Jun 13, 2006

Hello and welcome to allnurses. I am going to start nursing in the fall. I am excited! I am prepare for the challenges that line ahead. Good luck to everyone.

HelanaDietrich · Jun 14, 2006

You don't have to be that great in math. You need to know basics, converting fractions, decimals and percentages. This is the basis in order to be able to figure out proportions (converting metric measures). Chemistry is included in most sciences, so you will learn basic chemistry throughout your Anatomy and Physiology. Just be sure when you take microbiology you have a teacher that you feel you can succeed in her class. This is a crucial course, as it can become tasking.

Nursing school (like any technological program) is a lot of hard work. ANY medical program takes total devotion to complete.

I went through an 18 month LPN program (summer break). The first year I worked full time. It was very rigorous at times. The second year we spent 3 full days in cllinical for 9 months, and 2 days a week in the classroom. I only worked weekends (while raising a toddler). The second year was much easier since I'd gotten the basics down the first year and worked through all the kinks. If you maintain a full-time job during nursing school, be prepared to put most of the other aspects of your life on the back burner. Anyone who's been there will tell you it is one of the hardest things you could ever get through.

You just have to decide if you have the determination and desire to completely devote yourself to the 2 years of nurse core requirements in order to become a nurse. There were over 70 students in my program starting out. We graduated 29, which was the largest graduating class in the school in 30 years.

Another point I'd like to add is that there were students who gave up, thinking they could come back at a later date and try again. Some were not accepted back in later because the staff felt they had not had what it takes.

They reserved those spots for new applicants rather than risks possibly wasting those spots again.