Pre-Nursing student STRESSING PLEASE HELP

dinah77, ADN · Apr 2, 2015

I guess I can't really say much since I am still taking my GE and prereqs. however, DON'T GIVE UP. I believe that there's a solution to every problem. I also am a believer that you can do anything you put your mind to. My only question is, after the first failed chemistry class, what didn't you improve as far as study habits? Maybe you weren't trying hard enough, or if you were, you've got to try harder! If this were truly a dream of yours, I think you could've been more diligent. Aside from that, I say you keep going. The failure is in quitting.Take initiative and find out what you can do! Talk to college counselors, instructors, etc. I know this may be entirely different, but I have a friend who got into Cal Poly for Civil Engineering with a 2.0 GPA. They accepted him, because they saw PROGRESS. I know it may be entirely different, but it's just food for thought. NEVER GIVE UP. YOU CAN GET YOURSELF OUT OF THIS MESS ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. Don't listen to the nay-sayers, follow your dream, even if all odds seem against you.

Okay no. Just a big 'ol NOOOOOOO

This is NOT helpful! Not everyone can be anything they want to be! They just can't, and it is not helpful to tell people this if the writing is on the wall.....Would it be better to wait until a person has stumbled through half of nursing school and then failed out, or made it through and now can't pass NCLEX????

Both scenarios end with the person tens of thousands of dollars in debt, and now with no viable career to pay it off

I was a tutor in my nursing program I saw students who without fail were barely passing pre-reqs, let alone showing any aptitude for being able to pass future nursing courses- and every semester, they failed out, now much worse off. It was downright painful to watch

There is dignity and integrity in knowing when to cut your losses and leave something- life is not a Disney movie, sometimes people fail and that's okay- nursing is not for everyone

brandy1017, ASN, RN · Apr 2, 2015

I took Chemistry 3 separate times under 3 different professors! The first time I took it was my freshman year, I was completely unmotivated and not at all studying! The second two times I studied and my Professors were not the type of teachers to go back and teach what they expected you to already know, I struggled to keep up in the class. It was very discouraging but I will take it again and pass. I am currently at a 4 year University hoping to transfer to another 4 year university to pursue an ADN program since I do not have the 3.0 for BSN. I am finding that the University I currently attend wanted me to take some classes that I don't need for either ADN or BSN programs I am applying to and that my grades from the select classes the programs are looking for are adding up to a 2.8, now this doesn't include my cumulative of 2.38 this is just for those classes they are looking at for the Program. Could I get to RN through ADN? And before I get accepted I would have to pass the HESI, and If I make a high enough score on it could that help me get in even though I have a low gpa? I know I'm asking a lot of questions but I am trying to find my best way to earning a degree in Nursing ADN seems to be the best option for my GPA but I want to be sure that I will still be able to get my BSN and beyond

Why is your GPA so low in the first place both the general ed classes and science classes? Are you not prepared for college level work? Did you goof off?

A large university tends to have large classes where you can be lost in the crowd and obviously a lack of individual instruction. You might do better in a smaller college, but if your GPA is so bad I really wonder if it is a matter of not being college prepared and needing remedial instruction.

Do you have a two year state tech college where you live that you could take your prereqs with. You usually have a smaller class size and more individual attention. But that doesn't solve the problem of your apparent unpreparedness for college especially when you are wanting to go into a competitive field like nursing with all the science prereqs.

There are basic books out there like Math made easy, Algebra made easy to review and relearn math you don't remember or didn't learn. Also re math and science classes there are usually supplemental texts such as a solutions manual that gives you the step by step process to achieve the correct answer. I used these books and the solutions manual and it made a world of difference because I wasn't wasting hours getting the wrong answer and not knowing why. Once you see the correct process you need to do the homework, it is the repetitive nature of homework that helps you cement the knowledge in your mind and do well on tests. The solutions manual are probably not sold at the college but available online from barnes & noble or other college textbook sites. Studying, homework and over preparing is the best way to overcome your weaknesses. There are free lessons of college classes and math on the internet. Khan academy teaches math for free on you tube I think. Check out free college courses on google, granted you don't get college credit but it gives you more of a chance to learn and review what you are weak on.

PS While you are checking out your local community tech college check out other job options like ultrasound tech you could be making as much or more than a nurse and it is a hands on field although I'm sure some basic science is included depending on the program. But it might be more up your alley if college doesn't come naturally. Community colleges are usually cheaper than 4 year universities, have both job specific and college classes so you could always transfer to a 4 year college if you wanted to go that route, but seriously consider the tech school. Not the for profits that advertise on TV or radio they will take anyone and cost a fortune and only want your money. The community colleges are non profit and govt funded so they are your best value!

jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B · Apr 2, 2015

Ok, here's a thought OP--Go to your local high school, make an appointment with the guidance counselor. Make sure said high school has a national honor society group. Part of what kids in the national honor society have to do is community service. Ask if they can set you up with a student for tutoring on an advance placement level chemistry. If they do not have a national honor society group, see if they can recommend a student who might tutor you over the summer. I would even ask if you could buy an advanced placement chemistry book. Also ask about virtual high school summer programs. You may have to start at square one and retake chemistry at a high school level first. Also ask your college that if you were to complete a high school level AP test with a min. standard grade, would that count as a college credit? There's more than one way to work it.

Not everyone is book smart. Some need to feel and do. These kids have all SORTS of stuff up their sleeve to help them succeed. 3-d websites, study tricks....you name it, they have an app for that.

My kid, the self proclaimed nerd queen gets so excited about sharing academics it is akin to someone telling me they are purchasing me a designer wardrobe. Not only is it her passion, but helps with college applications, continuing private scholarships, lots of pros, little cons. There's retired teachers who tutor. There are current teachers who are tutors in the summer. If you have a local adult ed center, use them. They also sometimes have websites that have online courses that help one to get the fundamentals down, and then you take it from there. While you are at it, you can also see about any other tutors you forsee yourself needing--A&P for instance.

Then, go back with fresh eyes on chemistry come fall. If it then doesn't work, re-evaluate at that time. Just make sure you are able to take chemistry again. If you can not, you will have to re-evaluate, and then decide where to go from here.

Best wishes!

Trauma Columnist · Apr 2, 2015

Merged two threads. Best wishes.

ReinventingMyselfAgain, MSN, RN · Apr 3, 2015

OP, if you're still looking for advice, I would like to add to those who are suggesting that you find another route. I am in my schools admissions committee, and I teach in the program. Your application would not even be considered. Your GPA is too low and you have failed a pre-requisite three times. Where I live/work, it is not as competitive as it used to be (I teach in an ADN program and you need a BSN for the majority of jobs in my area). As a result, we have considered students recently that would never have been given a chance five years ago. By that, I mean people who. At have gotten a C instead of a B or A, or a GPA slightly below the requirement.

Historically, anyone who we've 'taken a chance' on has not succeeded. The requirement exist for a reason- if you cannot pass a pre-requisite (after three attempts) the likelihood of you succeeding in nursing is very slim. And is it fair to give you a chance, over someone else who has proven themselves to be competent and capable enough in their pre-requisites? I'm sure that you think it is, Because you say you want this more than anything, and will stop at nothing to achieve it. But you have to walk the walk, not just talk the talk. And thus far, you haven't.

la_chica_suerte85, BSN, RN · Apr 3, 2015

Here's the thng: you likely won't get into nursing school with that kind of track record. Unless you know the point-system that the acceptance into the program at your school is based on and are willing to work every other angle besides grades, it's a hard go for you. Nursing, however, takes a lot of different paths and you can maybe try a different major where you can succeed at and get going in that direction -- like maybe social work or public health. You can volunteer as a health coach in these majors where I go to school. Then, pursue a BSN as a post-bacc. I didn't have a bad GPA or anything when I got my first BA but I went on a roundabout kind of way in getting back to pursuing nursing. It doesn't have to be right this minute. It can wait down the line if you really want it.

donutball · Apr 3, 2015

I was going to say, try and boost your gpa before graduating with another class and graduate with the other degree. Then take chem later somewhere else like at a community college...and then just apply to an accelerated program. BUT... accelerated programs are tough....and I don't know where you're from, but the one I went to only allows you to have 1 C. You get 2 C's in your transcript and they kick you out. Also, you only have 2 chances to withdraw before failing a class, so you can only take the class over 1 more time. If you fail it the second time around you are kicked out the program. Thats how most nursing programs in my area are in general though...So I don't know how good of an idea that is in your situation. Wish you the best.

Good Luck

juellner · Apr 3, 2015

Push forward and apply. Sometimes chance is what you make it. In other words, control your own destiny. If your GPA isn't competitive enough to get you into ADN, you can work on raising it. Chemistry by no means is a predictor of how you'll do in nrsg school. We all have had our THORN IN OUR SIDE classes. Mine was statistics. But I got through it because NOT to do so was NOT an option.

MochiMadness · Apr 6, 2015

OP, this advice is from someone who dropped Chemistry THREE TIMES in her long healthcare career. I didn't fail, I simply became too afraid of the word problems and RAN.

I altered my career course from RN to Radiology as a result of that fear. If I thought it was going to be easier, I was dead wrong. Radiation Physics. Try it sometime.

Anyway, the thing that some seem to misunderstand here is the reason certain subjects are required. The way that you must train yourself to think for Chemistry is very similar to the way that you must think as a Nurse. This goes for some of the other "nonsense" courses that pre-nursing students complain bitterly about taking. It's an indication of your thinking and problem solving process.

Tutors can help just so much. If you have difficulty with moles and conversions---I've got news for you---from Day 1 in Nursing, you have calculations. If you can't do them now, how do you expect to do them in the program? I did find one tutor who showed me something that clicked with me--it took her 5 minutes to teach me, and I've never gotten a problem wrong in the time I've used her method. But. It was something that worked for me.

I disagree with the poster who said that taking Chemistry during the summer is not a good idea. I would absolutely do it in the summer. Shorter term, no nonsense, cut down to the nib as to what you absolutely must know to pass. An Anesthesiologist at my hospital told me pretty much that same thing---she passed O-Chem and BioChem only by taking those classes during the summer. It's a grind for 16 weeks!! Take it in 8 and be done!

As for failing 3 times. I'll try to say this as kindly as I can--if a subject that closely parallels the thought processes of Nursing, such as Chemstry--has been presented to you for what amounts to an entire year's worth of instruction--and you still have not grasped the concepts---I am not sure that Nursing is for you.

This doesn't mean you are not an intelligent, kind, compassionate and worthy person. The math and abstract thinking is something that you will absolutely NEVER get away from in healthcare, whether it's Radiology or Nursing. These things may simply not be your forte

RNtobe17 · Apr 7, 2015

You do not need to give up. You can do this. You just have to try something different.

Find a community college that lets you take classes as many times as you want.

Retake your prerequisites that are lower than an a.

Take the hesi... And apply. Get accepted. And become a nurse.

OrganizedChaos, LVN · Apr 7, 2015

If the OP can't pass chemistry in 16 weeks (3x) how can (s)he pass in 8? OP has more time to study, less material crammed on the tests & quizzes & lab tests.

I don't know of any accredited school that would accept the OP. The OP can probably get in if (s)he pays a hefty amount & goes to a school like ITT Tech (for profit school). But if OP can't grasp a science, it's best (s)he goes a different direction. It's not that the OP isn't caring, nursing is very heavy on the sciences & if the OP can't grasp the basic sciences (s)he probably wouldn't do well in nursing school.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Apr 7, 2015

I disagree with the poster who said that taking Chemistry during the summer is not a good idea. I would absolutely do it in the summer. Shorter term, no nonsense, cut down to the nib as to what you absolutely must know to pass. An Anesthesiologist at my hospital told me pretty much that same thing---she passed O-Chem and BioChem only by taking those classes during the summer. It's a grind for 16 weeks!! Take it in 8 and be done!

To be totally fair, we cannot compare an anesthesiologist's ability to ace summer sessions of OChem and BioChem with the OP's three chemistry failures. Generally speaking, people who are aspiring to attend medical school have solid study skills and a sturdy foundation of the basics.

I'm going to say this as gently as possible...medicine attracts a different caliber of students than nursing. We do not hear of aspiring medical students who fail OChem three times and say, "I know I can be a good physician, so I am going to keep trying." A person who repeatedly flunks a crucial prerequisite course would not be tolerated in medicine; they will be weeded out.

In essence, I agree with people who have advised the OP against taking chemistry during the summer. The pace is going to be fast and furious, which might spell disaster for a student whose academic foundation and study skills are probably suboptimal.