pre-nursing question

Published

Hello Everyone. I am a 30 year old mom of 2 currently living in Germany as an Air Force wife. I have always wanted to pursue a career in nursing, but have spent the past 10 years living overseas taking care of the kids while the hubby works all over the place (He's currently deployed to the desert). In the summer of 2007 we will finally be moving back to the states, but I'm not sure where yet. I am finally enrolling in the college on base to try and nickle and dime some of my pre-reqs. I got sick of waiting!! Anyway, I basically went to every college with a nursing degree in EVERY city we may POSSIBLY be moving to, and wrote down all of their pre-requisites. The only classes I have taken so far are Western Civ, and psych 101. My list included english, algebra, statistics, biology, chemistry, anatomy & physiology, sociology, speech and some others I can't think of off the top of my head. I am thinking of starting off with human biology, algebra and english this term through the University of Maryland on base. I guess my question would be, does this sound like a good plan? Are there classes I'm missing on my list? Does this sound like a good idea, with only a little over a year left here to get some of my basics out of the way? Am I missing some other integral part of the planning process? I have lurked on here for ages now, and know that I'm certainly not the only woman of this age going back to school for nursing, so I feel like I'm in good company. My kids are 11 and 8, and capable of fending for themselves if I end up having to take a couple of night courses. I'm sure this has just been one hug rambling jumble of thoughts, so thanks for sticking with this post as long as you have!! Any input would be wonderful.................

Thanks!!

Stine

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in med surg, icu.

Some programs require nutrition and human growth & development... which you might be able to take online or through one of the programs that they might offer on your base...

What bases are a possibility for you? If you end up moving to Robins AFB, there's an *EXCELLENT* nursing program offered by Macon State College, and they allow military spouses to pay Georgia state resident tuition fees (which is a REALLY good deal... and they do have a 2 year ADN program, if you guys run the risk of having to move quickly)). (edit: Ooh... and if you do end up going to Macon State, I highly recommend taking A&P from Dr. Sun)

You also might want to see if you can talk to the base education office... they might be able to give you and your husband some guidance on what your options are.

BTW, I'm totally jealous that you're in Germany! I have a ton of friends who either are there, were stationed there in the past, or are going to be stationed out there. I especially loved the fact that you can buy a small scoop of gelatto for about 50 cents (in euro, of course) out there. Are you guys planning on going back? There are some opportunities for you to work as a civilian nurse at some of the military facilities out there. =)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks for the info on nutrition and human growth & development. We definitely love Europe, and have been stationed in Italy, England and now here in Germany. Europe most definitely has it's perks. I'm horrible with base names, but we can go to:

Whiteman AFB, Missouri

Minot, N.D.

Great Falls, MT

Cheyenne, WY

Barksdale AFB, LA

Nellis AFB, NV

and Albuquerque, NM

Most of these places only have one school nearby (that I can find on the internet) with a nursing program.....with the exception of Missouri. The base is supposed to be around 50 miles from Kansas City, and there are plenty of schools in that area with nursing programs. I know that in Wyoming at least you can pay resident tuition if you're in a military family stationed there.

Thanks for the response!!

Stine

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Thanks for the info on nutrition and human growth & development. We definitely love Europe, and have been stationed in Italy, England and now here in Germany. Europe most definitely has it's perks. I'm horrible with base names, but we can go to:

Whiteman AFB, Missouri

Minot, N.D.

Great Falls, MT

Cheyenne, WY

Barksdale AFB, LA

Nellis AFB, NV

and Albuquerque, NM

Most of these places only have one school nearby (that I can find on the internet) with a nursing program.....with the exception of Missouri. The base is supposed to be around 50 miles from Kansas City, and there are plenty of schools in that area with nursing programs. I know that in Wyoming at least you can pay resident tuition if you're in a military family stationed there.

Thanks for the response!!

Stine

We have Lackland and Randolph Air Force Base here in San Antonio, TX.

How about Government I and II, American History I and II, have you thought about those. Here you don't need any additional biology, only Human Anatiomy/Physiology I & II and Microbiology & Pathology. The science classes have to have a lab. Those and the ones on your list you need here for ADN and BSN in Texas.

BTW I am German, we live in San Antonio and my husband is in the Army (well, he is now in Ft Carson but might come back here after his duty in Saudi where he will be sent to soon)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you stpauligirl. I figured I would have to throw some more history and humanities classes in there. I was also considering taking spanish, as it seems like the most useful second language to have doing stateside nursing. I have some friends who are in San Antonio, but I haven't been there since my hubby graduated from basic training! We can't go there unless my hubby suddenly decides to get a special assignment, which he may do after being in Iraq for a year....... I'm expecting him to return with some form of burn-out.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Thank you stpauligirl. I figured I would have to throw some more history and humanities classes in there. I was also considering taking spanish, as it seems like the most useful second language to have doing stateside nursing. I have some friends who are in San Antonio, but I haven't been there since my hubby graduated from basic training! We can't go there unless my hubby suddenly decides to get a special assignment, which he may do after being in Iraq for a year....... I'm expecting him to return with some form of burn-out.

Spanish would be a good idea, and I am considering the same since we have a huge hispanic population here.

I hope that your husband returns safe and healthy, many come home with post-traumatic stress disorder.

My husband just left and I expect to be by myself with my 8 year old for a long time. If everything works out ok he might retire from the military in 3 years.....20 years of separation and moving takes its toll.

The best of luck to you ;)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks for the info. I'm right there with you on the single-parenting stuff. I think it's safe to call us "military widows". I definitely hope my hubby comes home the same man who left. We have at least 5 years until retirement, so chances are we will end up at 2 more bases before we're done. I AM excited about starting school though, since I put it off for so long. It will be nice to have something of my own for a change. Plus, I've wanted to go into nursing since I was 5.........so I've been waiting for a LONG time!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion