Nursing School Tips, Experiences, Study Tips, Expectations

[KCAmbition]

Hello, I've recently decided I wanted to start my college career to become a Registered Nurse instead of a Biology major. I'm at my Junior College right now starting my pre-reqs hoping to boost myself up to being accepted hopefully in the Fall, then I can start the Nursing Program in the Spring of 2015 and continue into the RN to BSN Completion Program at either Eastern Illinois , Govenors State or Lakeview College of Nursing?

- Would like tips on course loads, study tips for classes and teas, prior experiences from others.

- Should I purchase a Teas-V Study Package in the Spring and start preparing for it in the Fall?

- Was wondering if I should apply to both my JC and Universities Nursing Programs at the same time, and if I do get accepted into a 4-Year Univ's Nursing Program should I go or stay and do the ADN then go.

My planned course schedule prior to Nursing

Classes this Fall (Helped towards Nursing)

Bio 151 - General Bio - B

English 101 - B

Intro to Soc - A

College Algebra - C (Class doesn't really help now, changed major mid-way)

This coming Spring 14'

Heal 109: Nutrition

Psych 215: Life-Span

Bio 250: Anatomy & P

Speech 101

Next Summer 14'

Chem 100: General Chemistry(Not a pre-req but needed to apply)

Next Fall 15'

Bio 251: Continued Anatomy & P II

Soc 290: Cultural Diversity

English 102: (Required for BSN)

Math 128: (Required for BSN)

Honestly, I want to go into Nursing not because my Mom is already an LPN nor am I doing it for the paycheck even though I do want stability in a job. But overall, I just want to do something to make myself proud and I've literally never thought of anything else to go into but the medical field my whole life. I'm very caring towards people, and I've played sports my whole life so I'm use to constructive criticism and I have a sense of humor so I feel I'm almost prepared for this journey. Taking my first BIO course showed me I could honestly see myself putting forth the effort into my science courses.

[JordanHudson]

I think your course schedule plan looks great. Those classes balance one another out nicely. I rented the TEAS study guide from the nursing school that I was applying to about a month before the exam. I was in the process of completing the remainder of my pre-reqs however (20 hours in total) and didn't have a chance to look at it until the night before. I passed with a great score on my first try and was accepted. The biggest thing I just do well in your classes and try to learn those concepts because that is what will be on the TEAS exam. Good luck!

Also I would do whatever program will give you a BSN faster. Thats more valuable.

[pmabraham, BSN, RN]

Good day:

https://allnurses.com/pre-nursing-student/how-get-any-846733.html is an excellent read for which I strongly recommend (btw, you got very good grades; so this would be mainly to check for ideas you may not be implementing).

On the TEAS unless you know for sure the program you want to get into requires it, I would hold off. Otherwise check if you could rent or borrow a copy. I ended up buying the ATI one from Amazon, but then didn't even get to really study because of scheduling conflicts (three days before the test, I had three separate finals at college). I ended up doing well enough anyway. That's not stating don't study, but it's probably something that could wait for a 3 to 6 months before you actually take the TEAS (if you need it).

Thank you.

[RunBabyRN]

For the TEAS, if you re required to take it, I really liked the ATI book. It's written the same way the exam is. I found that reading it cover to cover, and marking the stuff I needed to go back and spend more time on, was really helpful. It took me two days (doing not much else those days) to get through it, and I did very well. Be sure to do your very best the first time around- some schools don't accept repeats, or even your highest score.

As far as applying, I'd say to definitely apply to multiple programs and see what happens. Better to turn down acceptances than apply to one and get rejected.

Studying- figure out what works best for you. For me, it's all about notecards. I also found, for A&P, drawing stuff out on notecards was great, because it really made me focus on the details and processes. I had to make sure that I got everything on there. I had colored pencils, and I'd draw stuff in the lab, like the parts of a bone. Of course, be sure to stay on track or a little ahead.