Pregnancy and birth

rayrayb, BSN · Jun 25, 2016

OP I can totally understand how you are feeling right now. Not long ago I was in your same shoes. A few years into college and I started feeling like I still had SO many years left just to reach my first goal of being an RN, something I knew I always wanted. On top of what I still had left to do, there was also the thought of how competitive it is and how long some people wait just to get into a program. I got extremely disheartened and I changed my major temporarily. I switched back the very next semester when I realized I needed to chase my dream, not some random degree that I thought I'd at least get quicker. So I wasted even more time! Then I got back to it and I listened to my cc when they said not to take too many sciences at once. I wanted the best gpa possible so I did it... so at this point I had lost even MORE time! Then when I finally applied, I was sure I wouldn't get in the first round and that I wasn't competitive enough of a candidate. I figured there'd be even more time to wait. But I was wrong and I got in! I think you need to follow your dreams the best way possible, no matter how the time commitment feels to you now. It sounds to me like being a nurse midwife or an l&d nurse is what you want. So keep on your path, stay focused, and don't dwell so much on the timeline! At 20, it feels like forever. But believe me it's not! Good luck to you :) and I agree with the others, talk to a counselor from the University! They can give you the info that will be most helpful.

Lakielake · Jun 25, 2016

Thank you so very much for that! It's so nice to hear from someone who was in the same boat. I just have my days where I get overwhelmed and start to wish I could just cut to the chase and do something easier but I know that in the end the years will go by anyway, so I might as well chase my dreams. I appreciate your input, it means a lot. (:

SFnursetobe12 · Jun 25, 2016

If you are in CA then your counselor may have suggested a BSN. If you are getting confused by people at your CC (the advisors at the community college I began taking prereqs at they were not at all helpful) my suggestion would be to make a list of the BSN programs on your area and start calling/meeting with advisors from the 4-year schools. They will be able to sort out the information you have already gathered and you could see if you are on track for applying to their BSN programs. You can do the same for the AS degrees. Speak to the advisors from the schools you wish to attend. It's best to go straight to the source instead of relying on other information. Good luck!!!

**NICU Guy, BSN, RN** · Jun 28, 2016

I think some of your counselors advice may have made some sense. You want to get your pre-reqs done as quickly as possible without sacrificing your grades. Nursing schools are very competitive, so overloading yourself and getting Bs and Cs would not make you a viable applicant. By taking a lighter load of classes, you would be more likely to get As in all of your pre-reqs. Their other advice to continue taking classes that would be required for your BSN while applying to the ASN/ADN program. That way you have those courses done when you apply for a RN-BSN program

MountainBikeChick · Jun 28, 2016

Everyone gave great advice! I'll break down my community college (CC) and university (U) requirements as an 'example' for you.

My CC and U basically had the same pre-reqs! So before you could start the CC program, there was about a year of pre-reqs and two years for the program, technically making it a 3 year degree. For the U it was a year and a half of pre-reqs and a 2 1/2 year program making it a 4 year degree. They both required a couple math classes, science (up to A+P and micro), and English. The CC also requires a CNA class and chemistry. The U only required extra 'electives' for obtaining a bachelors, such as sociology, humanities, art, etc to get to 60 credits.

I decided to become a nurse when I was your age, 20, and due to some crappy CC counselors, I ended up taking some extra classes I didn't need one semester. After that I learned to research everything myself. I printed out the requirements for the CC and the U because I planned on applying to both, in case I didn't get in somewhere. I took classes at the CC that I knew would transfer to the U, and checked with counselors at both schools and on a website that my state provides for transfers. I ended up getting a general associates degree at the CC because I had enough previous credits from a degree I was originally pursing (education). Overall it took me two years at the CC to get my associates because I was also working full-time, and two semesters I was only at 12ish credits (otherwise I was around 16/semester). I transferred to the U for one semester because I knew it would increase my chances of getting into the U program, and I took a Spanish class. I got into the BSN program and graduated this past May after 2 1/2 years. Total to graduate from the time I decided to pursue nursing - 5 years.

It seemed like five years was going to take foreverrrrrr, but I can tell you - it will fly by! I got married right after I started my pre-reqs, then had a daughter in the middle of the nursing program, and I start my new grad program next week at the hospital. It was SO worth it to get a degree and I'll be happy to get my first paycheck in a few weeks!

Lakielake · Jun 28, 2016

That's awesome! I wish I was in your shoes right now lol. I feel like I have so long till I actually reach my goal.

MountainBikeChick · Jun 28, 2016

You'll get there! Take it day by day, not year by year. :up:

ksw1978 · Jul 1, 2016

I was in your shoes 2 years ago, although I'm an older RN student at 38. It took me 3 semesters to complete my pre reqs for the ADN I'm starting this fall. I had to complete:

- anatomy and physiology 1 and 2

- college writing 1 and 2

- statistics

- psychology 101

- sociology 101

- human development through the lifespan

- microbiology

Now I'm accepted onto the nursing program I have only nursing classes to do, plus two more electives. It's time consuming doing the pre reqs, especially if you have to work and look after a family alongside school. But you can totally do 3-4 classes a semester, in fact I recommend it so you get used to committing time and effort to studying as the nursing program will kick your butt if you're not used to this. I have friends who just finished their first year and the ones who had a heavy class load before the program said they're doing better than the ones who didn't.

Anyhoo, best of luck to you. Look at the list of pre reqs you actually need for the ADN and register for those. Don't listen to your advisor as it sounds like they want your $$$ not your success.