Overwhelmed by Prerequisites

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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I was wondering if anyone else feels overwhelmed with what needs to be taken before applying to ABSN or even a nursing program? I'm in the process of taking prerequisites but it feels like in order to take main ones you have to take other classes before taking the one you want and really you want to be done with all of them within a certain time frame. I don't know if the thought of doing that along with working two part time jobs is just making it seem impossible to complete or it could be that I want to be in a program by next year or so. If anyone has any advice on how not to feel like it's going to take forever to complete everything, I would greatly appreciate it

Specializes in PICU, CICU.

At my former school A&P2 and Chemistry were expected to be taken at the same time (both in the spring, no chance to take either of the two in the fall or A&P1 in the spring as they weren't offered at those times). In my past experience, 1 was just a whole lot of memorization (literally didn't need to do much critical thinking at all) whereas 2 was a tiny bit tougher also got the A from committing what I learned in class to heart as well as the additional info needed in lab. Chemistry was tougher for me because on our exams Every question had multiple answers that could be correct and if you didn't get all of the answers correct you'd miss the question in its entirety. What helper was lots of practice. Memorizing every detail pretty much necessary regarding the periodic tables and grouping. Balancing equations, organic chemistry portion was also very fun in my book. I would suggest stacking the 2 together if you can handle it. Just study little by little daily and you'll do fine

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If you feel comfortable taking online classes, I would suggest taking the non-science classes online. I know there is a few that you can take including Intro to Sociology and Lifespan Development. That way you can have a little more leeway in terms of how you want to arrange your time. Good luck!

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

Very much agree with quality and quantity. I am in an associates program but will be doing BSN as quickly as possible after passing NCLEX, so I have already taken all my associate and bachelor pre-reqs before starting my clinical for associates in July. It will have taken me a total of 3 years to do all of those pre-reqs going part time. Up until 6 months ago, I worked 40 hours a week and I have three kids. Because I have only taken 2-3 classes at a time, I have been able to obtain a 4.0 GPA. I didn't rush and although its been in a pain in the you know what to be in school this long, I won't have an issue getting into my program. In some situations, slow and steady really does win the race. Good luck!

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

And ditto non science classes online. I LOVE online learning. I learn best in my own space without other students so it's lovely for me. I work ahead if the professor makes the option available and have the whole class done by midterms. I have taken everything I possible could online (except I chose to take stats in person because I am not strong in math) and enjoyed every class.

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Specializes in Prior military RN/current ICU RN..

If it was easy everyone would do it. If you can't handle it quit and do something else.

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If it was easy everyone would do it. If you can't handle it quit and do something else.

That's the encouragement she was looking for :no:

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Any interest in sharing that study method??

Many schools will have pre-reqs for the pre-reqs which can be annoying. I worked full time while finishing my remaining pre-reqs (yes even with micro which was a doozy). But rather than fall into the woe is me category I was quite the opposite and enjoyed the grind. Sure the nights were long as were my days (class 9-12, work 2-10:30, workout 11-12:30) but I truly enjoyed my job at that moment in time and keeping myself physically fit, helped me de-stress immensely. If you can handle the stressors I suggest stacking your courses, only if you really plan on devoting yourself to studying and working. I ended up with a high A overall in my pre-reqs while maintaining a social life and college Athletics but it's definitely not for everyone. You need to manage your time well and that's something you will learn eventually (the study method I learned from my A&P1 teacher literally turned me from an average student to an excellent one)
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I do like this idea but my jobs go from 6am to 8:30 with maybe a half hour in between but at my second job there are chances to study and then most weekends I have off. I already have an attack plan on managing all of this. To the post that says if If I can't manage it, quit. I'm not that kind of person to just quit something because it seems impossible because I know I can do it and I will make it through this process

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Specializes in Prior military RN/current ICU RN..

Oh so you know what she was "looking for"? If you can't handle the pre reqs then you cannot become an RN. Is this rude to say? The "it will all be ok" stuff is ridiculus and babying. This the real world. I don't care what the OP does. If she becomes a nurse..super..if she becomes a flight attendant..super. The point is it is NOT easy..for a REASON. If you cannot handle it then you can't be a nurse. Am I incorrect? Maybe there are schools were they will feel sorry for you and just pass you because you are "bummed"? You tell me?

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Reminds me of one of my favorite old movies "A League of their Own" quote by Tom Hanks:

"It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard everyone would do it. The hard is what makes it great."

College is hard and worth it imo. It can get overwhelming sometimes if anyone says it isn't I wouldn't believe them easily.

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Oh so you know what she was "looking for"? If you can't handle the pre reqs then you cannot become an RN. Is this rude to say? The "it will all be ok" stuff is ridiculus and babying. This the real world. I don't care what the OP does. If she becomes a nurse..super..if she becomes a flight attendant..super. The point is it is NOT easy..for a REASON. If you cannot handle it then you can't be a nurse. Am I incorrect? Maybe there are schools were they will feel sorry for you and just pass you because you are "bummed"? You tell me?

If you read the original post, she was being discouraged about having 2 jobs and was looking for advice on how to manage it, as well as some encouragement. So YES you were rude AND unhelpful. Telling the OP that nursing school is really hard is obviously something she knows. I don't know what your problem is, but maybe find a better outlet to let out your frustration on than a nursing forum.

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Specializes in PICU, CICU.

TO AGLASS:

My teacher taught us to study everything daily, but in halves. Say i had class M,W,F. Say i took about 2 pages of notes on that Monday. I would study half of what i learned that Monday, then the other half on Tuesday so that come Wednesday everything is committed to memory already. Follow that same pattern with half of Wednesday's material on Wednesday and the other half on Thursday. Same goes for Friday. Also take 10-15 minutes on the next day of class reviewing what you learned the prior class so that its even further engraved in your noggin.

On Saturday and Sunday do brief go-overs of what you learned the entire week, go through all your notes, on both days and wham-o information is installed in your head.

Personally, this method made it so i only had to study 15-30 minutes DAILY regarding my pre-requisites. Prior to that teacher i had a 2.6, after said teacher i finished the rest of my pre-requisite courses with a 3.8 overall and absolutely steam rolled through the A&P series.

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