No experience in Nursing but wants to start a Career in Nursing!! PLEASE HELP!

Aloha86 · Oct 24, 2008

I'm sorry I have another question I know i've read that you should start as a CNA first just to test the waters. Are you able to go to school for pre-requisite courses and go to CNA classes that they offer on the side would that help? just curious and gosh can't you tell I'm doing my RESEARCH! HAHA! I love this website.

Thanks

- TheNewBee

SunnyAndrsn · Oct 24, 2008

Welcome!

There are two types of nursing programs, one is a two year program Associate degree program (if you go full time), and the other is a 4 year bachelor's degree program.

Completion of both programs allow you to sit for the NCLEX exam, the national licensing exam that all nurses must pass to call themself an RN.

For me, I went back to school at the age of 32. To apply to the nursing program:

-I had to have an ACT score above 24...

-Be CPR certified

-Complete a Certified Nursing Assistant course

I was then placed on a waiting list for a year, started in Jan of 2007, and am getting ready to graduate in December!

While I was on the waiting list, I took all the non-nursing, but required courses I had to take to complete the program. In some schools these are pre requisites.

I already had english, writing, and speech, basic chemistry, basic biology, psychology, and microbiology.

I took two semesters of anatomy and physiology, sociology, developmental psychology, and medical terminology while on the waiting list.

Aloha,
I have just found this website by surfing the net because I am interested in becoming a Nurse. This website has been really awesome and I did register to be apart of this wonderful team. I have no experience in Nursing, the only experience that I have is in the Travel/Airline Industry. I am 22 years old and I want to start my classes to get into Nursing School.
I do have a couple of questions and I know for some schools they recommend that you take pre-requisite courses first.
1. How long has it took for you to finish the pre-requisite courses?
2. How long has it been till you've been accepted in Nursing School?
3. If I want to go to school Full-Time and take my Pre-requisite do you think it could get done in 1 year?
4. How long does it take to grad from Nursing School?
5. Is it worth the try?
6. Did you have any experience before being accepted in Nursing School?
I apologize in advance for the many questions but I really do hope that someone can help me out. I am really excited about starting a career I mean after working for 4 years ever since i've graduated high school I want to put my all in something that I know I will benefit from in the long run. I have no problem with working hard now and cramming up my classes to get a head start because I know that it will all pay off in the end. I really want to be on high hopes with this and I know I'm 22 but I really want to make my parents proud and happy and let them know that I am trying my best to be something in life.
Please if you have any answers to any of my questions or just how you got started in this career that will be VERY HELPFUL. It is so funny because ever since i've become of this team I have a composition book writing down the many useful tips and tricks :wink2: from all you wonderful people.
Thank you so much in advance,
- TheNewBee!

locolorenzo22, BSN, RN · Oct 24, 2008

Generally, you have to have a general education done before you can even apply. Things like maths, sciences, humanities, etc....usually take about 2 years to get all the way done. If you have no basic college courses, it depends on each school.

It took me about 2.5 years to get done with my pre-reqs...and they made an exception for me to take microbiology during my 3rd semester.

It took me another year to get accepted...due to a paperwork snafu, and not having enough points to get in.

I think that it would depend on how many pre-reqs you need on how soon you get done.

You can go the basic 2 year ADN program and get to the bedside, but to do more, you'll have to have your BSN.

Anything is worth the try if you want it bad enough. I would say go for it...you don't want to be 28, looking back and going "If I had started back then...."

Before getting into NS, i worked as an activity director. I had lots of expierence in managing people and using people skills.....which is a lot of the battle on the floor some days.

I would recommend being a CNA to get that exposure....it may be the only way that you would understand the whole role that a front-line health professional does. GL, keep us posted, and welcome to an.com!

6. Did you have any experience before being accepted in Nursing School?

dani_girl · Oct 24, 2008

Not sure where you are Aloha86, but if you are in HI, specifically Oahu, there is a great CNA program that is 100 hours and very good.. most programs I have seen are pretty quick so you can go thru and do your pre-reqs..

good luck

Halinja, BSN, RN · Oct 24, 2008

I didn't have to be a CNA. I had some basics already done (english, psych, math) that I had done when I was just out of high school. I took a year and a half to get my prerequisites, and then three years of nursing school to get my BSN. I was taking upper level college courses at the same time I was in nursing school, they couldn't be taken below the junior year.

I somehow walked into my nursing program. Near me the programs had three year waiting lists. I had called around to programs all over the state, found one that said they were open and applied on the spot. I got right in. The next year there were 300 applicants for 75 spots. So I lucked out big time by getting in when I did. Now??? I don't know what it is like, but I'm guessing there are big waiting lists. I did have to pick up my family and move in order to go to the school, but I felt like it was worth it.

dorselm · Oct 24, 2008

Aloha to you,

You can look up the nursing schools in your area to see what their programs entail and whether nursing is a career that you are interested in pursuing. Since all nursing schools differ in what they require, the school administrator would be able to tell you what prerequisites are required and how long it would take to complete the programs. Also, go to some of the hospitals and ask the unit director if you could shadow a nurse so you can see first hand what it's like to be a nurse. As for CNA experience, after 8 years of accounting and deciding to become a nurse I found a job as a CNA. I applied at a nursing home that provides training and certification and began working to get exposure. I think it would have taken me a long time to become comfortable with giving care and seeing people naked if I didn't have the CNA experience.

patwil73 · Oct 24, 2008

Aloha,

I have just found this website by surfing the net because I am interested in becoming a Nurse. This website has been really awesome and I did register to be apart of this wonderful team. I have no experience in Nursing, the only experience that I have is in the Travel/Airline Industry. I am 22 years old and I want to start my classes to get into Nursing School.

Congratulations. Nursing can be very rewarding. It can also be very draining depending on whether you find the nursing you like to do - that being said, however, there are literally hundreds of different nursing jobs you can do:

Long Term Care, Med-Surg hospital, specialty hospital (CCU, ICU, Tele, Mother baby, NICU, Pediatrics, specialized surgeries, OR, GI labs, Cath labs, etc), home health, hospice, private care, triage, case review, management, and the list goes on. Check out the specialty forums for ideas on what you might like.

I do have a couple of questions and I know for some schools they recommend that you take pre-requisite courses first.

1. How long has it took for you to finish the pre-requisite courses?

I actually had my bachelors already so most of my prereq's were out of the way. I did have to take sociology, microbiology, anatomy and physiology (2 quarters worth), statistics. I had to challenge English 101 (I had never taken the course, but had my bachelor's in English and had taught it for 3 years prior - go figure) and developemental pysch.

Other prereq's for my program that I already had - biology, another math course (algebra I think), some pysch, and another science (chemistry, geology, whatever)

I finished in 2 quarters - if you are good in science you could have done it in 3 (taking biology and microbiology at the same time - but it would be tough.

2. How long has it been till you've been accepted in Nursing School?

I got in first time - Longview, WA ADN program. I applied when I started my prereq's and kept up with the counselor as to how I was doing - they had a point spread based on gpa so keep it high.

3. If I want to go to school Full-Time and take my Pre-requisite do you think it could get done in 1 year?

Possible but depends on the school and actual pre-req's. If they make you take biology first, then micro before you can get into anatomy, then no.

4. How long does it take to grad from Nursing School?

Mine was 7 quarters. After the first quarter you got a CNA license. After the 4th quarter you could sit for your LPN boards. After 7 RN boards. No summer course so 2 years and 1 quarter.

5. Is it worth the try?

Depends. What do you like to do? Nursing is rewarding and it pays pretty well. You can earn upwards of 100k after a few years depending on specialty and where you work and the OT you are willing to put in. It is also frightening, in that your decisions can mean life or death for someone.

6. Did you have any experience before being accepted in Nursing School?

No. I was a high school / middle school teacher before nursing. I think being a CNA might have scared me off -- maybe not, but at the start I was unsure if this is what I wanted. I grew to love it, not starting off feeling this was my calling.

Hope this helps

Pat

NeoNurseTX, RN · Oct 24, 2008

don't apologize, you're in the right place!

1. How long has it took for you to finish the pre-requisite courses? 2.5 years, would have been shorter but i changed majors. this amount of time was to enter a BSN program.

2. How long has it been till you've been accepted in Nursing School? i was accepted to the first place i applied on the first time.

3. If I want to go to school Full-Time and take my Pre-requisite do you think it could get done in 1 year? NO, i don't even think for an ADN program.

4. How long does it take to grad from Nursing School? usually 2 years unless you do a fast track, then a year or so.

5. Is it worth the try? YES!

6. Did you have any experience before being accepted in Nursing School? i'd never even been in a hospital!

RhodyGirl, RN · Oct 24, 2008

1. How long has it took for you to finish the pre-requisite courses?
2. How long has it been till you've been accepted in Nursing School?
3. If I want to go to school Full-Time and take my Pre-requisite do you think it could get done in 1 year?
4. How long does it take to grad from Nursing School?
5. Is it worth the try?
6. Did you have any experience before being accepted in Nursing School?

1. It took me about 2 years

2. I was deferred because of lack of seats on my first application,accepted on second

3.Possibly, if you can do summer classes, and depending on the program....BSN or ADN?

4.Depends on program. I'm doing BSN and overall it will have taken me 5 years start to finish (from the point when i started prereqs)

5.It is DEFINITELY worth it

6.Just pharm tech and Dr's office experience

allison_lpn, LPN · Oct 24, 2008

I followed a path similar to yours, I worked in the airline industry for a few years, although it was along time before I went into nursing I wish I had done it sooner. I would strongly recommend that you get your CNA first, it will give you an idea as to whether nursing is something you definitely want to pursue. The good thing about doing the CNA first is that: 1. it doesn't take as long to complete 2. you can build on the knowledge you'll learn, and 3.the CNA program is less expensive.

I hope this helps you...and best of luck on whatever you decide.

Aloha86 · Oct 24, 2008

Not sure where you are Aloha86, but if you are in HI, specifically Oahu, there is a great CNA program that is 100 hours and very good.. most programs I have seen are pretty quick so you can go thru and do your pre-reqs..
good luck

Hi dani_girl,

Yes! I am located in Honolulu, HI and my cousins girlfriend actually went to one of the classes which I believe took about 2 months if I'm not mistaken. Is it okay if I apply to join one of the CNA classes and take my pre-requisite courses at the same time do you know if that would be a good.

Thank you for your feed back it is really helpful and kind of you.

Much Mahalo,

- TheNewBee