Pre Nursing looking for ABSN program - low gpa

Like other posters have said, an ABSN may be very difficult to get into. The one I was looking at before I went to nursing school told me to not even bother applying if I didn’t have a 4.0 in the science prereqs, but that one was exceptionally competitive, and they didn’t even offer it anymore by the time I finished my prereqs. ?

I’d like to give some advice from an ADN perspective. I have a prior non science BA and decided to go the ADN route due to cost and ease of location. It was an excellent and well-respected program! I worked a lot, which sounds like that may be something you have to do judging by how much you worked through your first degree. It doesn’t take much longer than an ABSN program, so I would really look into these programs. They are also very competitive and very tough to get through, but if you get good A&P grades and a good TEAS test score, you will probably be a great candidate.

One more thing! CRNA schools USUALLY take those with ICU experience and a very good academic record in nursing school. I’m not saying this to be rude at all, but you may have a better chance at that if you do an ADN program that is slightly longer, not as compressed as the ABSN. You may also be able to do your senior rotation in ICU and land that job out of school (I know because I did it!), getting you closer to CRNA sooner, if you decide that’s still what you want. The professional path to CRNA with a great academic record is more important than the quick educational path, especially if your educational path is less than stellar due to going through an accelerated program. Just my two cents from what I know about school and taking that step into the real world of nursing. Good luck to you! Aaaand sorry I’ve written a book here.

On 3/11/2019 at 5:56 AM, NICU Guy said:

Look into Indiana State https://www.indstate.edu/health/program/accelerated-2nd-degree-track-bsn

There is one application cycle annually for our Accelerated 2nd Degree Track for students who have earned a Bachelor’s in another field.
Applicants are ranked using three criteria:

Cumulative pre-requisite course GPA;

Science GPA (anatomy, physiology, chemistry, microbiology and their accompanying labs); and

Admission exam scores.

Averages for recently admitted students are:

Cumulative Pre-Requisite Course GPA: 3.41

Science GPA: 3.36

Kaplan Admission Test (KAT) Overall Score: 78%

Thank you for the suggestion. I visited the website and I'll contact the coordinator this week. I've self tested the KAT a couple times and scored over 85. I'm also studying A&P now to help get an A when I take the class in a few months.

22 hours ago, Thanksforthedonuts said:

Yikes. I agree with most that with your GPA going for ABSN (and nurse anesthetist) is a big over zealous. Regardless of the circumstances, even your most recent science course were not too hot (B in micro). Please look into a community college or typical university route. It will give you the best hand at completing a program. Getting in a program is one heck of a feat, but staying in it is a total other world.

Everyone and their grandmother wants to be a nurse anesthetist... and usually they all say that before they even know what nursing really means! The road to a nurse anesthetist is a long and hard one.

A bachelor's degree in communication (a degree I highly dislike) is a cake walk compared to nursing school. I would prepare yourself for the amount of stress nursing school has on a person.

I'm sorry since I know I'm being negative but I think you need a reality check. I'm not saying it cannot be done but it's not as simple as your laying it out to be.

Thank you for your input, but my question was to invite HOW and WHAT programs I could look into and suggestions to make me a better candidate. You are just giving me why it's impossible (my translation of you saying it's over zealous). So everyone that got into an ABSN program only earned an A in micro? Nothing in life is simple and I am a seeker of information and perscpectives so that I can strategically go after whatever goal I seek. I'm also not a stranger to stress and have a high tolerance for it. Life has trained me. Of course, I'm not a nurse, but to get an idea of the CRNA role (outside of what I read) I did about 20 hours of shadowing.

On 3/11/2019 at 12:21 PM, FullGlass said:

An Associates Degree takes 2 years and will allow you to sit for NCLEX for the RN. You then do a bridge program to the BSN, which can be done online.

Most ABSN programs are 16 months, which is not that much shorter than an ADN program.

You can also look into BSN programs that will waive the general ed prereqs for someone who already has a bachelor's degree.

I'm suggesting other options in case you can't get into an ABSN program.

Good luck.

Thanks for the suggestion. I'm definitely researching ADN programs! I actually found a concurrent enrollment program in Denver that has transition to BSN built-in to the ADN program. If you happen to hear of know of a program please let me know. I can move to wherever I need to be. Thanks again.

11 hours ago, lifesaver808 said:

Thanks for the suggestion. I'm definitely researching ADN programs! I actually found a concurrent enrollment program in Denver that has transition to BSN built-in to the ADN program. If you happen to hear of know of a program please let me know. I can move to wherever I need to be. Thanks again.

I want you to be successful. As someone who did an ABSN, I know that it is an extremely stressful program for most students. Since it is so hard to get into a good CRNA program, my advice is to take the route that will maximize your chances for success, which means a nursing program in which you can be very successful and get good grades. You don't need to rush this, unless you are in your late 40s or older. One of our favorite clinical instructors at Hopkins was a CRNA. She told us she started out as a CNA, then LPN, then RN, then she became a CRNA, and then began part-time teaching on the side. Good luck.

I am in the same boat cum gpa 2.83

A&p 1- C

A&p 2- C+

Micro- A

Stats- B

Chem- B

Haven't had any luck in the programs I applied to thus far does anyone have any recommendations? loosing hope

3 hours ago, ct0612 said:

I am in the same boat cum gpa 2.83

A&p 1- C

A&p 2- C+

Micro- A

Stats- B

Chem- B

Haven't had any luck in the programs I applied to thus far does anyone have any recommendations? loosing hope

I don't think you'll have any luck unless you repeat (and ace) A&P. Most people in admissions I spoke to said they look very specifically at that course because it often correlates with how well you do in Path, Pharm, Health Assessment, etc.

20 hours ago, ct0612 said:

I am in the same boat cum gpa 2.83

A&p 1- C

A&p 2- C+

Micro- A

Stats- B

Chem- B

Haven't had any luck in the programs I applied to thus far does anyone have any recommendations? loosing hope

As other posters have stated, ABSN programs are very hard. Admissions requires evidence you can succeed in a grueling academic program and your GPA does not provide evidence of that. You need to look into programs that you can get into and graduate from. Bluntly, you are not going to get into an ABSN program with your current GPA and even if you did, I highly doubt you would be able to complete the program.

I have around a 2.7 gpa in my undergraduate as an HR major but I went to CC and earned around mostly A's in my pre reqs. Can anyone tell me my chances of getting into any ABSN programs in the north east region? Thanks!