Pre-Pre-Nursing Student Here!

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In other words, I want to go to my local community college and take my pre-reqs so I can go into nursing school! The RN programs around here are at the local CC, and two local hospitals (one in my county and one in a neighboring county).

I'm so excited about this, and it's driving my crazy lol. I was on my local CC's webpage, and requested an information packet for the practical nursing program there. I don't know how long it takes for them to mail them out, so I'm waiting patiently.

I'm still undecided to go for lpn then bridge to rn later. Or just go for my rn right off the bat. I figured I have time to debate w/ myself til I have my pre-reqs done. They're practicaly the same pre-reqs for both programs.

I'm 26 and have been a stay at home mom since I was 18. I have three children ages 8, 6, and 2.5. So I do have my hands full. But I really want to do this, also thinking about taking the cna program while I'm taking my pre-reqs. Unfortunately only 2 cna programs near me, the one at the nursing home right down the street from me will only hire you for the night shift, and that just doesn't work w/ my family. And the other one I might try for at the local CC.

:heartbeat This forum, it's so informative!

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Hello, I just started school at 36 after being stay at home mom since I was 19

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sorry about that........

Well, I took basic math and worked up thru algebra last year.

Taking chemistry now and mabye bio and english next semester.

I have 4 kids, youngest one starts kindergarten next year.

Why not start out with 1 class and see how you manage your time with that. Dont get overwhelmed right off the bat.

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I'm in the same boat :) I'm starting my prereqs in January. Thankfully I already have two out of the way from when I started college 14 years ago. I'll be doing a 2 yr program at the local CC. I have 5 kids and a full time job in the evening. 4 of 5 kids are in full time school during the day so that should help me out some. I'm so excited and am already trying to get a leg up on the prereqs that I plan on taking first semester.

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Specializes in 6 yrs LTC, 1 yr MedSurg, Wound Care.

I could almost have written your post myself except that I'll be 25 on Saturday and I only have 2 kids, 5 and 15 months. I have also been a stay at home mom since I was about 18.

I am also trying to figure out the route I want to go. I have definitely decided to become a CNA first, just to makes sure that nursing is for sure the way I want to go before investing loads of time and money into college.

I think I am going to work as a CNA while going to school to become an LPN. Then I'll probably work as an LPN while going to school to become an RN. CNAs just don't make very much money and I want to be earning more if I have finished that part of my education, if I can. Does that make sense? It's just too hard these days to live on one income and we have been doing it for quite some time. I'm ready to get out of the house too!!

I still need to figure out the details of which schools I would like to go to along with some other things (like when will I find the TIME?!?) but I guess my rough draft is pretty much done.

Good luck to you and I hope things work out well for both of us!!

I can't wait to get started! It's killing me!!

How long does it take for that informatio package to get here? I requested it 2 days ago, hurry up already!

Dondie

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Specializes in Future - Midwife.

Well, I don't feel so alone, now. I am 34, married w/ 3 kids (17, 13 & soon to be 8). I have worked for the local government for a couple of years. I wanted to be a nurse ever since I was in kindergarten, but life & family took priority. Now I have been given a 2nd chance. I went to take the test at my current school to get into the LPN program, but since I've been out of school, I was a lot slower taking the test. So I failed, not b/c I couldn't do it, but b/c I ran out of time. I took it a second time and stopped at the same spot and received the same score...lol. So along with my advisor we devised a plan to atleast get me in the door and that was to take the Med. Asst. AAS program. I am taking math right now and if I pass the current math with a C or higher I will go directly into the LPN program. If not, then I will just go into the Med. Asst. I know that's not a route a lot ppl. would take, but I need to kick in the door by any means necessary. I don't mind starting from the bottom and working my way to the top. I've done before and I've done darn well for myself so far. It may take my longer to eventually become the nurse I am looking to become and I'm ok with that. This is just a sacrifice I am willing to make. BTW, Med. Asst's make pretty good salaries in my area. Thanks for the thread, I really needed to see this today! :D

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Specializes in 6 yrs LTC, 1 yr MedSurg, Wound Care.

Good luck Tonnie! I'm starting out at the bottom too so I know how you feel. I think that doing it this way will give you valuable experience that you wouldn't have otherwise gotten. It's also an edge over everyone else!

That's the way Im trying to look at it anyway.

What's the difference between a Med. Asst. And a CNA?

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Specializes in Future - Midwife.

[color=#333333]thank you very much. cna's & cma/rma's aren't that different, but the responsibilities vary. also, you can get an aas degree in ma or if the dr's. office you work for is willing to train you in med. office duties, you can still be considered an ma. as far as a cna you have to be certified to practice. i'm not sure about anywhere else, but in va some of the hospitals or nursing homes have cna classes that you can take for like 4-8 wks (not sure) and you can practice until boards. 10 yrs. ago i started out as a nursing assistant, but i did not like the nursing home i was working for so i never obtained my certs. i liked the work, but not the facility. it was a very unprofessional place as a whole.

[color=#333333]

[color=#333333]certified nursing assistants (cnas), also known as nurses aides, orderlies, patient care technicians, and home health aides, work under the supervision of a nurse and provide assistance to patients with daily living tasks.

[color=#333333]a medical assistant has training in medical procedures and medical administration. they help and assist the medical providers (physicians and physician assistants) by performing tasks such as ear lavages, injections, and blood pressure readings. they are able to generate and complete authorization requests for prescriptions and tests/referrals for specialists.

good luck to you & everyone on this board and i will post as much as possible to show where i am in my nursing walk. . . :)

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Hello!!!

I just started my prereq this semester and i am still a stay at home mom (4 years now) that can't wait to be done with school and start a career!!! Living on one income is just not doing it for us anymore (and anyways I want to work staying at home is not for me)!!!

Go for it!!!!

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