other non traditional students / moms

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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how are the other nontraditional students doing in their classes?
Specializes in Critical Care.

I'm a single mom, I'll be 26 when I start nursing school this fall, and I have a 7 year old who's going into 2nd grade. I just moved out of my parents' place and started living on my own this January after I finished my nursing school pre-reqs, so my experience was a little different. I got great grades on my prereqs (GPA was 3.9) but I definitely had an easier time of it because I lived at home and had built-in baby sitting and all of that. I'm pretty nervous to strike out on my own with nursing school in the fall, but because of how many pre-reqs I've squared away I'll only be taking 12 credits my first semester instead of the 19 that the school's typical first semester student takes, so that eases my mind a LOT. I have an associate's degree and was able to effortlessly deal with 15-18 credits per semester while having a baby, juggling 2 jobs, and dealing with a custody battle, so I'm not super worried about being able to handle the course work. My main source of stress is trying to figure out how I'll pay for my cost of living. I'm pretty confident I'll get a scholarship to cover most (if not all) of my tuition based on the feedback the school is giving me on my academic successes and need-based situation, and even if I don't, my federal aid will cover it. But cost of living is going to kill me unless I can figure out a good way to bring in some cash without sacrificing my grades. I want to focus to the best of my ability and absolutely kill it in school so I can pass the NCLEX ASAP and get a good job right out the gate, so if I have to take out loans to accomplish that I will.... but I won't like it!

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Specializes in Med Surg/Ortho.
I'm on my last semester and taking the HESI in 3 weeks to apply this summer - good luck (eek)!

Thanks. Good luck to us both!

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I need to take my HESI entrance exam in the next two weeks to apply soon for fall 2016. I'm so nervous!

Were you able to take your test? How was it?

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Specializes in Med Surg/Ortho.
Were you able to take your test? How was it?

I took it on Thursday. It was honestly not as bad as I thought it would be. I've been studying since Christmas break. I got some review books for math, chemistry and biology. I was looking up Hesi questions on Quizlet. But honestly the thing that helped the most was ordering the Elsevier Hesi Admission Assessment Exam Review from their website. I only had this for about 2 weeks prior to the test, and once I got it, only studied from that. I feel like all the other study guides were too broad. The Exam Review really narrowed down what I needed to know from each subject, which really helped. I did much better than I thought I would.

When do you take your test?

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I'm a non traditional 24 year old independent single mother working full time and will be taking the last of my prereqs this fall and upcoming spring.

I do all online courses due to my work schedule. I am an average student with a 3.5 GPA. If I don't do well in Anatomy I will take that as the hint to find another career path. I've wanted to be a nurse since 2008 but got distracted.. decided to work instead. I work in a Transfer Center right beside of nurses for medical transportation. I believe I am ready to pursue my dreams of working the floor. When I feel discouraged I remember that I have worked full time taking care of a 1 year old and juggled 5 classes.. in which I made 3 As and 2 Bs. It's mind over matter for me.

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Non Traditional here! I'm 34 (35 in Sept), work full-time , married, kids (13/9); this is tough! Finishing my 2nd semester of pre-reqs; only took AP1 this semester - so glad! I started off shaky because I didn't know how to study but once I became a regular at the science center my grades went up dramatically. If your school has tutor services, take advantage! I'm such a regular my tutor text me on exam days wishing me luck :-) On the flip side, more time at the science center means less time at home with the family. My husband works long hours so I always feel guilty leaving the kids. My kids are awesome little humans, my daughter is so inspired to get into the medical field; we are constantly discussing A&P. I have another year or more of pre-reqs to do before I can apply to a BSN program. It takes longer with a full-time job and also I want to take my science classes separate from each other. Good luck to everyone - just keep at it, we'll get there one day!

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Specializes in Allergy/ENT, Occ Health, LTC/Skilled.

I am non traditional, 3 bambinos under 8, husband, now only working PRN thank god. It took me three years to get my LPN to RN bridge requirements due to working FT and having our youngest during the middle of it. But I just got accepted into my program with a 3.96 GPA and I start in July! Due to graduate next spring.

I'm so excited and ready to be done. I want a normal life again!! But this has definitely been worth all the hard work.

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I got accepted into my program! They making changes to the department so I won't be starting until January, but still I got in!

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I got accepted into my program! They making changes to the department so I won't be starting until January, but still I got in!

Yay - congratulations!

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Non traditional here. I am 27, with 3 children age 18 months to 5 year. My husband is military so hes gone for periods of time with no set schedule and working on his own degree so he cant help out very much. Our family is all in another state so its rough at times and I dont know how Ill make nursing school work but I will find a way. I am one semester away from applying and have a 3.6 overall GPA in my pre reqs and gen ed classes required for the BSN program I am applying for.

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Specializes in Med Surg/Ortho.

It seems like forever ago that I commented on this thread, and now I am starting my nursing program on Monday! I'm so excited but so nervous at the same time. Good luck to all of your still working on your prereqs. If this is what you want, don't give up.

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It seems like forever ago that I commented on this thread, and now I am starting my nursing program on Monday! I'm so excited but so nervous at the same time. Good luck to all of your still working on your prereqs. If this is what you want, don't give up.

Congrats!

I'm non-traditional. I'm 36, married mom of two girls - that I homeschool (and plan to continue to homeschool). I've got three more semesters until I apply for nursing school (I'm also working on an associate's degree). School starts on Monday and I just bought my books (ouch).

Good luck to everyone this semester!

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