I'm in the last few months of an eight year term of service on active duty in the Army. I fully intend on becoming a nurse, but I have some concerns. Some, such as a now five year old misdemeanor, have been slightly alleviated by a pep talk from a doctor who essentially told me to not let having to jump through some hoops with a Board deter me from doing what I want to do.
The time is rapidly approaching when I will have to make some definite decisions, such as enrolling in school. I have a GED, and my college transcripts from the community college (Central Texas College) near my base show a mediocre GPA with the four or five courses I've taken over the last eight years. I've been unable to apply myself to my potential due to service obligations, but I will be focusing entirely on studies after I end my term.
My tentative plan is to seek enrollment in the community college's Associate of Applied Science in Nursing program (the curriculum is on page 82 of this document), and raise my GPA significantly. I'm not sure if I should complete the Associate's, or only complete enough courses to significantly raise my GPA before applying to the BSN program at University of Texas at Austin. It's also not clear to me what is meant by wait lists; is it true that even if you have an impeccable transcript you might have to wait a year or longer before enrollment into a university's nursing program?
If any nurses can offer suggestions for inquiries I should be making or considerations I should be making, I will greatly appreciate it.
Jenni811: The stain on my record is aggravated assault. I got into an altercation in a bar while on leave in the summer of 2006 and couldn't go to trial because I had to return to duty. No violence actually took place; if I was a civilian I would have fearlessly went to trial. I wasn't punished by my unit, and haven't got in any other trouble as an adult.
Whispera: With a 4 year nursing degree, I want to work as a nurse of course :). I'd most like to work in a hospital, and eventually complete the education necessary to become an NP. I'm willing to work for the VA or a home if necessary before getting into a hospital. As another poster stated, I'd be able to come back to the Army as an officer if employment opportunities became severely scarce (though I'd rather not). Thank for the insight on the admissions.
onaclearday: I understand that there are background checks. I will make inquiries to Texas' Board of Nursing and to the schools I intend to attend. I do have a secondary plan if I'm unable to attend nursing school, but let's assume for the sake of discussion that I'll be able to demonstrate my status as a law abiding citizen.
Irobinson5: Thanks, I will.
kalevra: Thank you, you answered Esme12's question perfectly.
outrunningzombies: I want to move to Austin, not stay in Killeen.
ColdChief
8 Posts
Jenni811: The stain on my record is aggravated assault. I got into an altercation in a bar while on leave in the summer of 2006 and couldn't go to trial because I had to return to duty. No violence actually took place; if I was a civilian I would have fearlessly went to trial. I wasn't punished by my unit, and haven't got in any other trouble as an adult.
Whispera: With a 4 year nursing degree, I want to work as a nurse of course :). I'd most like to work in a hospital, and eventually complete the education necessary to become an NP. I'm willing to work for the VA or a home if necessary before getting into a hospital. As another poster stated, I'd be able to come back to the Army as an officer if employment opportunities became severely scarce (though I'd rather not). Thank for the insight on the admissions.
onaclearday: I understand that there are background checks. I will make inquiries to Texas' Board of Nursing and to the schools I intend to attend. I do have a secondary plan if I'm unable to attend nursing school, but let's assume for the sake of discussion that I'll be able to demonstrate my status as a law abiding citizen.
Irobinson5: Thanks, I will.
kalevra: Thank you, you answered Esme12's question perfectly.
outrunningzombies: I want to move to Austin, not stay in Killeen.