Pre-Nursing Help

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Greetings,

I am trying to understand how the realm of Nursing really works. Whenever I look at the programs at different universities, I find different versions. Some requires Pre-Nursing, some don't show it, and some don't require Pre-Nursing (I think). I really want to be a Nurse but to start that journey, I would like to have some guidance on how it starts because it gets a little bit confusing and irritating looking at different schools of what they offer.

My goal is to earn a BSN. I see some schools have RN-BSN programs, some with BSN programs with Pre-Nursing prior to your application to their BSN program, and some straight BSN (which I doubt just 'straight' BSN). I have no prior nursing experience and I have been out of high-school since 2009; I served in the military and about to get out. I just want to understand how it works and its process.

Please and thank you!

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

It depends on the school. Some schools you enter as a nursing major first year and take your co-requisite classes (anatomy & physiology, nutrition, psych, etc.), general education classes, and nursing classes at the same time. (i.e. First semester Freshman Year might be: English I, Nursing Fundamentals I, Developmental Psychology, A&P I, Humanities class) For example Stockton State College, you are admitted as a freshman and take your first nursing classes in your first year as a student at the university: http://intraweb.stockton.edu/eyos/health_sciences/content/docs/NURS%20Brochure%2010-11.pdf

The next school might only admit students to the nursing major on a provisional basis. These schools you are admitted as a general education/pre-nursing major. In your first two years you complete the pre-requisites & co-requisite courses, hopefully do well then apply before your junior year for official admission to the nursing program.So your first semester freshman year might be English I, A&P I, Statistics, Psychology, Arts and you wouldn't take any nursing classes until the first semester of your junior year. For example at UCF College of Nursing: UCF COLLEGE OF NURSING : Academics

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

And to add RN to BSN programs for those who already have an RN license after graduating from a 2-year associate's degree program or a 3 year hospital diploma program and just need the upper level nursing classes such as community health and management to advance to a bachelor's degree.

Good luck. As a relatively recent HS graduate, you might do well with a 'straight' BSN program like the one listed above from Stockton State. You'll need to contact nursing schools in your area for program information. The state board of nursing can offer a list of approved nursing programs in your state. You can find a link to all the US State Boards of Nursing at the bottom of each page of this site or via this link: Boards Of Nursing for Nurses | Nursing Students

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There are multiple pathways to become a nurse.

One option is to pursue nursing at a community college, and earn an Associate's Degree in Nursing. The nursing component here is generally 2 years with 1 year of pre-nursing classes (anatomy & physiology, microbiology, sociology, psychology, etc). In most community college programs, you do the pre-requisite classes first (pre-nursing) and then apply for entry into the nursing program. There is often some nursing testing program (ATT, TEAS, HESI, or others) to test your aptitude for nursing. After you completed the associate degree program, you could apply for a RN-BSN program (1-2 more years of study).

Many four-year nursing programs have a similar format where you are first a pre-nursing student taking the prerequisite classes, and then apply a second time in the sophomore year to enter the nursing program. These programs are often called "2+2" programs -- two years of pre-nursing, and then 2 years of nursing. Some colleges have a "1+3" format instead. In all of these types of programs, you need to do some preliminary classes first and then you apply for nursing. Not everyone gets into the nursing program. Many of these BSN programs also require testing for admission.

Some 4-year nursing programs offer a 4-year nursing curriculum instead where you are admitted directly into the nursing program at Day 1, and have nursing classes and prerequisite classes simultaneously. My own university is such an option and we admit students directly from high school into the nursing school.

There are still some states with Diploma Nursing programs which are training programs administered by hospitals (sort of an apprenticeship program). These do not award academic degrees and are generally 3 years in duration. There are fewer of these diploma programs now than there were a decade ago.

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My community college requires certain classes to be completed before applying to the nursing program. That makes me a pre-nursing student (until MAY!). Once accepted into the nursing program it's two years worth of classes, and then you sit for your license. After that has been completed, you are able to apply for the BSN program.

The previous posters gave excellent explanations for the different types of programs. What school(s) are you interested in?

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Seems like you're just a little confused about how to approach figuring out what prerequisite courses you need to take and which programs are out there/that you want to apply to. Basically there are two options for a nursing degree (if you want to be a Registered Nurse)

1) Your local community college will have an Associates Degree in Nursing program. This program will be 1 year of prerequisite courses plus the entrance exam and then 2 years of nursing school. You will be eligible to sit for the NCLEX (the state test you take to be a Registered Nurse) upon graduation. Many people will go on to complete an RN to BSN (Bachelors Degree in Nursing) program because the job opportunities for nurses with their bachelors are much better as well the salaries. Programs like this tend last for a little over a year.

2) You could also just go straight for your Bachelors Degree in Nursing (which is probably the best option because it will most likely be your goal to have your bachelors). This type of nursing degree will traditionally take 4 years to complete. You will have 2 years of prerequisite courses plus the entrance exam and then two years of nursing school. Your will then, just like the associates degree program, be eligible to sit for the NCLEX and if you pass you will be an RN. You can find BSN programs at traditional colleges and universities, but you can also find some accelerated BSN programs as well where you can earn your BSN in 3 years instead of 4 (i.e. Chamberlain College of Nursing). Some colleges and university do have accelerated programs as well. I'm going to an accelerated program in the fall...It just worked out best for me because I need to start working asap.

All of these programs above will require the basic prerequisite courses for nursing - Anatomy & Physiology 1 and 2, Microbiology, Chemistry, College Algebra...etc. These are the courses that all programs have in common but the rest of the prerequisite course are determined by each specific program. What you should do is contact all the programs that you are interested in attending and get all the information about the prerequisite courses they require and then decided which programs are best for you to apply to. Completing your prerequisite courses at a community college is very cost effective and will save you tons of money. Just check with the schools you will apply to to make sure the courses transfer.

I hope this helps you find your direction!

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Seems like you're just a little confused about how to approach figuring out what prerequisite courses you need to take and which programs are out there/that you want to apply to. Basically there are two options for a nursing degree (if you want to be a Registered Nurse)

1) Your local community college will have an Associates Degree in Nursing program. This program will be 1 year of prerequisite courses plus the entrance exam and then 2 years of nursing school. You will be eligible to sit for the NCLEX (the state test you take to be a Registered Nurse) upon graduation. Many people will go on to complete an RN to BSN (Bachelors Degree in Nursing) program because the job opportunities for nurses with their bachelors are much better as well the salaries. Programs like this tend last for a little over a year.

2) You could also just go straight for your Bachelors Degree in Nursing (which is probably the best option because it will most likely be your goal to have your bachelors). This type of nursing degree will traditionally take 4 years to complete. You will have 2 years of prerequisite courses plus the entrance exam and then two years of nursing school. Your will then, just like the associates degree program, be eligible to sit for the NCLEX and if you pass you will be an RN. You can find BSN programs at traditional colleges and universities, but you can also find some accelerated BSN programs as well where you can earn your BSN in 3 years instead of 4 (i.e. Chamberlain College of Nursing). Some colleges and university do have accelerated programs as well. I'm going to an accelerated program in the fall...It just worked out best for me because I need to start working asap.

All of these programs above will require the basic prerequisite courses for nursing - Anatomy & Physiology 1 and 2, Microbiology, Chemistry, College Algebra...etc. These are the courses that all programs have in common but the rest of the prerequisite course are determined by each specific program. What you should do is contact all the programs that you are interested in attending and get all the information about the prerequisite courses they require and then decided which programs are best for you to apply to. Completing your prerequisite courses at a community college is very cost effective and will save you tons of money. Just check with the schools you will apply to to make sure the courses transfer.

I hope this helps you find your direction!

Well, I am not just getting out of high-school. I have been in the military for 4+ years and I getting out to get some school done. Yes, I am a little bit confused on how to approach it. And yes, my goal is to get a BSN. Basically, a '2+2' program. Thank you for the information!

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My community college requires certain classes to be completed before applying to the nursing program. That makes me a pre-nursing student (until MAY!). Once accepted into the nursing program it's two years worth of classes, and then you sit for your license. After that has been completed, you are able to apply for the BSN program.

The previous posters gave excellent explanations for the different types of programs. What school(s) are you interested in?

Well, with me having served in the military for 4+ years, I earned the Post 9/11 GI Bill and I plan to use it. However, there is a cap for out-of-state tuition. Therefore, I am trying to keep it within the East Coast for minimum costs. I am now trying to find out a '2+2' program out of all the schools in the East Coast.

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Some 4-year nursing programs offer a 4-year nursing curriculum instead where you are admitted directly into the nursing program at Day 1, and have nursing classes and prerequisite classes simultaneously. My own university is such an option and we admit students directly from high school into the nursing school.

I plan on doing this rather than the other pathways. It might cost me an arm and a leg but hopefully the Post 9/11 GI Bill will cover most of it. I think this is the best option for since I would like to start from Day 1 for being out of school for almost 5years.

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