No longer motivated

U.S.A. North Carolina

Published

Specializes in GYN/GON/Med-Surg/Oncology/Tele.

Okay...here's the deal...

I graduated back in Dec. 2005 from ECU with a useless degree in a joke for a major called Information Technologies. Couldn't find a job to save my life nor did I want to do anything in that field...whatever that field is...At the end of 2006 I decided to go to school for nursing but couldn't figure out how I should go about obtaining a nursing degree. I checked into the local community college and started researching the different programs offered in NC. That's when I came across the ABSN programs for people who possess a degree in a field other than nursing. Winston Salem State seemed the most appealing considering the program was fully funded. Since I had already missed the deadline for the following year (2007) I decided to go to the community college and take a NA class that way I could get my foot in the door so to speak. Did that, retook General Psych over the summer, and moved from Rockingham, NC to Winston Salem because I was hired at Baptist Hospital as an NA and couldn't get a job making more than $7/hr in Rockingham.

So here I am...stepping out on faith because I knew only one person in this area and didn't have a place to stay or any money seeing as how I hadn't really worked much. I got accepted into WSSU as a degree seeking student took the science courses required for the ABSN program only to get a C in both A&P 1 and 2. Then my time to apply comes around...I jump on it. Get all of my information turned in before the deadline. Transcripts, and immunization records. I get a letter about a month after the deadline stating the fact that they decided to go with more qualified applicants.

Okay...this is where the ranting comes into play...Honestly...my undergrad GPA from ECU was a 2.9...higher than the minimum 2.6. My pre-req GPA from WSSU was a 3.2...also higher than the minimum 2.6 GPA...I know those two GPA's are exactly what one would consider high but I find it hard to believe that everyone accepted into that program's GPA was higher than mine. Especially considering I had people who were graduating from the ABSN program doing their preceptorships on my unit telling me that some of their classmates had 2.6 undergrad GPA's.

So I quit at WSSU and decided to try the community colleges seeing as how I can only get loans now. Also the tuition is a lot cheaper. I applied to both Forsyth Tech and Guilford Tech only to be put on the alternate list at Guilford Tech and not even be considered at Forsyth Tech because i couldn't score within the 40th percentile on the science portion of the TEAS test. I mean my God...who remembers the different types of clouds and rocks?

Ugh...I'm just frustrated. I mean this is something that I really want to do but am now lacking the patience it takes to do it. I'm tired of waiting and having to try again next semester or next year. I mean seriously...what am I doing wrong. I've even considered enduring the aggravation of retaking A&P 1 and 2 so that I'd be more competitive at the CC's since they use a point system. I've also considered trying a LPN program but because that idea came to me late...(after the deadline for most programs here in NC) I still have to wait until next year.

I love what I do I just hate the way I'm treated. As an NA I'm constantly looked down on by my fellow coworkers (the nurses) They act as if the only thing they're supposed to do is pass meds and check IV's. All other tasks are delegated to the NA...even things we're not supposed to do which is interesting considering I believe that if you were infact an NA and worked as an NA you should know what is in an NA's scope of practice. I do know different facilities have different policies.

So basically I'm trying to find the quickest most economical way to become an RN. Is anyone in somewhat of the same boat as me...not so competitive GPA but is passionate about nursing for the love of the profession and not the money? Have you been accepted into a nursing program and if so, where?

This sucks!!! Encouraging words are needed

Tiff

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Specializes in Psych, LTC, Acute Care.

Tiff,

I felt feel your pain! I too was a 2nd degree student who went and tried to get my RN in 2004. I was a WSSU alumni but I lived in the Raleigh area. I retook AP 1&2 and got A's at the community college but could not for the life of me pass those Hobet and NET test. I never scored high enough to be competative. So after 3 years and applications to 8 schools, I applied to a school that was an 1hr and 15 minutes each way from me and got into their LPN program in 2006. I graduated in Aug 2007 and immediately applied to Excelsior College. Its a online college in Albany NY that allows LPNs and EMT's to get their Assiciates in Nursing Degree. Well finished that within the next year and now I am a RN. It took me 5 years to get it.

You have to keep pushing. Its so competative in these nursing schools, I can see how you can be frustrated. I recommend that you get your GPA up. I had a 3.7 and still couldn't get in. You need to broaden your search and possible travel farther to go to a more ruraul school. Its so frustrating and I know how you feel. I would try for LPN too. Atleast you can do a bridge program if you get it. So Sorry but I think the comeptativeness is all over. Keep trying. Best of Luck to you.

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Specializes in GYN/GON/Med-Surg/Oncology/Tele.

Thanks NC_Girl_RN for the encouraging words. Honestly I think I'm upset more with myself than I am these schools because I'm such a procrastinator and don't really think things through like I should. Had I thought about it I would've applied to an LPN program as a backup and just do like an LPN-RN or LPN to BSN program after like 6 months of experience but that didn't even occur to me until after the fact. And now, the majority of the ADN nursing schools here in NC only have fall nursing programs so basically that's another year I have to wait. But i guess if it's what you really want to do then it's worth it. I guess I'm just feeling down right now but I'm sure I'll eventually, hopefully sooner than later get over it.

Take care,

Tiff

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Specializes in Cardiac Nursing.

Tiff, it took me 13 years to finally get my RN. I went to school immediately after getting my LPN in 1995 only to be put on a waiting list. I had the pre-reqs done, yet they were accepting kids just out of high school instead of me. I transferred to another school in VT, loved it but couldn't afford the 24,000+ a year tuition. Moved back home, got a job at a hospital. Moved to AZ, bounced around jobwise. Started University of Phoenix's LPN-BSN program, but couldn't complete due to lack of money as I was between job. Moved back home to KY in 2005, by then my student loans were in default and I couldn't go to school if I wanted. With the help of my mom, I started rehabilitating my student loans to bring them out of default. I applied to RN school in Fall 2006, was accepted for April 2007 and I graduated May 2008. Took 13 years and several months. I researched many, many, many ways to finish my RN from CC to Excelsior College and everything in between. It can be done and I didn't have all the great a GPA especially since mine was over 10 years old.

Keep on trying...its all you can do.

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Specializes in Psych, LTC, Acute Care.

Another thing that helped me was to put all the schools within a 1.5hr distance on a spread sheet and I headed the columns with things like NET/ Hobet. Chemisty, Micro, Start semester, etc and would X off what I had to see whicj school I had the best chance of getting into. Also you have to remember that with the economy, New grads are having a hard time finding jobs so things are not as rosy and they appear for some. Like I said go back to the drawing board because most of the schools start accepting applications in Jan. If your gonna take anything over I say take A/P or anyother class that you have C's in . Some colleges also look at Science classes. They look for anything to weed you out. Sad but true.

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Motivatedone,

It sux what you went thru. I can definitely relate. I became an RRT (2 year program) now I'm in BSN school. It took me almost 2 years to get into a nursing program here in NC. All the hoops (Teas, CNA) we have to jump thru to get in a nursing program. Defnitely find out about all the deadlines of the nursing programs and apply to as many as you can. Also consider excelsior as mentioned by a prev. poster.

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Specializes in Cath Lab, OR, CPHN/SN, ER.

ECU also a ABSN. I precepted a guy who did that- you might have better luck there since you're alumni of the school already.

I left ECU in 2003 with GPA less than 2.5 (hey, we partied hard at ECU back in the day). I ended up at the local comm. college and got in my first try (also aced A&P though). It is possible!

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Specializes in GYN/GON/Med-Surg/Oncology/Tele.
ECU also a ABSN. I precepted a guy who did that- you might have better luck there since you're alumni of the school already.

I left ECU in 2003 with GPA less than 2.5 (hey, we partied hard at ECU back in the day). I ended up at the local comm. college and got in my first try (also aced A&P though). It is possible!

If I had it like that to just quit my job and move out to Greenville or closer to it trust me...I would. It's just that right now I'm not in a financial position that would allow me to relocate. So until I can find a man ;-) I'm stuck here. I'm feeling better about my situation thanks to the responses I've gotten. It's great to know I'm not going through this struggle alone. I think my problem is I compare my life to others' but I'll be okay. What God has for me is for me :-)

BTW...the program at ECU is called an alternate entry MSN program and they don't award you an actually BSN you're just eligible to sit for the NCLEX once you've completed certain courses. Then after a year, you can go back and get your MSN w/o having to actually apply to graduate school all over again. Still a pretty sweet deal either way :-)

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Specializes in Cath Lab, OR, CPHN/SN, ER.
If I had it like that to just quit my job and move out to Greenville or closer to it trust me...I would. It's just that right now I'm not in a financial position that would allow me to relocate. So until I can find a man ;-) I'm stuck here. I'm feeling better about my situation thanks to the responses I've gotten. It's great to know I'm not going through this struggle alone. I think my problem is I compare my life to others' but I'll be okay. What God has for me is for me :-)

BTW...the program at ECU is called an alternate entry MSN program and they don't award you an actually BSN you're just eligible to sit for the NCLEX once you've completed certain courses. Then after a year, you can go back and get your MSN w/o having to actually apply to graduate school all over again. Still a pretty sweet deal either way :-)

You're right- it is a MSN program! I didn't realize that.

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Specializes in Gyn/STD clinic tech.

you need at least a b in a&p.. c's will be overlooked for a's.

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Specializes in Psych, LTC, Acute Care.
you need at least a b in a&p.. c's will be overlooked for a's.

i agree!

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Specializes in Gyn/STD clinic tech.

i am in ns now..

anyone with an a in their sciences are always given 'higher' status.. a&p is most important in nursing, if you can not 'get it', you really can not succeed in nursing school. not trying to be mean, but in ns they have the expectation that you *know* a&p, and the education is biult off of your in depth knowledge of the human body.

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