Pre reqs for nursing school/Long wait list

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So we should hear soon from Maricopa community college on the next placements. I am hoping to get into a program this semester which will be my third semester on the wait list. When I quit teaching high school 2 years ago to get into the medical field I never thought it would take me so long to get into a program. I was going to do the part time program originally but now feel pressure to complete the degree so I may do the accelerated program.

One thing that worries me is when I took the pre reqs. I graduated in 2004 with a B.S. in biochemistry, so it has been about 7 years since I took A & P, and 8 years since I took Microbiology.

For the most part the only science material I kept up on was the chemistry and biology that I taught to high school students. I have not done any complex laboratory test in at least 5 years (urinalysis, hematocrits, WBC, RBC, the normal college class stuff etc,)

Does anyone know what kind of presentation they do at the school, what teaching methods they use? Do they even review some of the basics since it will be at least 2 years in between pre reqs and when people start classes. It does not make sense to have people take pre-reqs then make them wait long periods of time before they need to apply the knowledge.

I spoke to some of the colleges that offer Nurse Practitioner programs back in Massachusetts where I intend on moving, my Alma mater for one thing and they said I could skip BSN in lieu of my B.S. but this long wait makes me think they will have me retake many classes if this drags on much longer. Anyone else in similar situation?

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Specializes in Med/Surg/Tele/Acute Rehab.

Don't worry about your classes being old for nursing school, unless you really struggled with the sciences the first time around. I do, however, STRONGLY suggest you enroll in a pathophysiology course asap. I cannot overstate how important this is. It will help to refresh your A&P, while giving you a leg up on the patho you will encounter in your nursing program. The patho is rolled into the nursing curriculum. But it is alot of information in a short time, with a small point spread (think an 8 point grading scale). I guarantee it will help you. Seriously, you will want to track me down and thank me for the suggestion. :wink2: =4102&institutions[]=CGC08&institutions[]=EMC10&institutions[]=GWC03&institutions[]=GCC02&institutions[]=MCC04&institutions[]=PVC09&institutions[]=PCC01&institutions[]=RSC06&institutions[]=SCC05&institutions[]=SMC07&start_hour=any&end_hour=any&subject_code=any&instructors="]HCR 240 - Human Pathophysiology

As for the requirements of the NP program you are interested in, I suggest you contact them directly and specifically ask about the advancing age of your science courses. It will likely not matter however, as most schools would consider those courses "fresh" because you will have recently passed the nursing core when you apply...it sort of automatically updates everything. But, do check with them on it, and soon. If they insist you will have to retake some courses, and you choose to pursue it, you still have some time to begin to do that now if you don't make it in to a nursing program on this next placement run.

Best of luck to you. :D

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I found on a previous post that MCC had iTunes of an old Patho class and I downloaded them and have been reviewing them...they are very helpful and certainly help in reviewing some of the A&P as well as introducing Patho...

Go to the Banner Nurse Feloows Post look at Post #593( https://allnurses.com/az-nursing-programs/banner-nurse-fellows-171367-page60.html#post3797600)

It gives you the info on them. I agree though 2 years is way too long to keep this stuff locked in your head and not use it to reinforce it. Best of luck!

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Thanks for the suggestion, I bought a pathophysiology book this week and started to read it. I actually have a book from respiratory school that I bought back in 1998 called human disease that seems to have good information that I hope will help me refresh.

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Specializes in Med/Surg/Tele/Acute Rehab.

Yay for you! Pathophys is actually sooo interesting, and dare I say it? Fun! Enjoy. :yeah:

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I agree. Patho is extremely helpful in nursing. Brush up on your patho and A&P. You'll need it.

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