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If you're 40, you probably have more working years ahead of you than you do behind you... I say GO FOR IT!!! You have nothing to lose, and so much to gain in terms of career options as you get older. As far as paying for the program goes, many employers will pay a portion, however small that may be. But many (online) programs are quite reasonable, and they will allow you to proceed at your own pace (within reason) - making it possible to take a semester off if you need to for financial reasons, or whatever. Talk to some admissions counselors - most are more than happy to provide you with answers to any and all questions about their programs! Good luck!

You could put an anonymous note in your teacher's mailbox that says "make sure to keep an eye on so-and-so when we're grading our next test." Then you can feel better knowing that you've brought the issue to your instructor's attention without tattling, and you can leave it up to her to decide what to do about it.

Could it be possible that, instead of "consoling", the op meant to use the word, "counseling" or "consulting"? Since there seems to be a grammatical problem with the sentence, it may be a question of semantics. Anyway, people are being pretty harsh with their comments! This is just a curious person expressing an opinion and asking a question, however misinformed they may be! Be nice!!!

From one second-career nurse-wannabe to another, hello! Some of your questions have been already answered, but here's my two cents! From the academic background you've described, it doesn't seem like you would have any problem getting into and succeeding in whatever nursing program you choose. That said, there are lots of programs out there that are technically two-year programs, but when you take waiting lists into consideration, along with the amount of time it takes to do the prerequisites, it usually takes longer. Although you have much postgraduate education, unless some of your courses at any point have been sciences (A&P I & II, Micro, Chemistry I & II), you will also be stuck taking the pre- and co-requisites. In general, accelerated programs (for people who have at least a bachelor's degree in another discipline) require that you also have most of your co-requisites completed before you even apply to the program (you must have them ALL completed before you start the program). The co-requisites are all the non-nursing science courses (A&P, Micro, Chem, Psych, Soc, etc.) In my area, all of the ADN/RN programs (that I know of) have waiting lists of at least one year, but they are not selective - all you need to do is complete the prereqs to get on the list. Then, you wait. You can take all the non-nursing science courses while you're waiting; you end up in school about 3-4 years part-time if you go this route (many courses must be taken in sequence). The accelerated BSN or MSN programs I looked into did not have waiting lists because you either got in, or you didn't - and they were very competitive. I applied to and got in the program I wanted, but unfortunately I could not start as planned, and they will not hold my acceptance; if I decide I want to start the program at some point in the future, I will have to reapply. The good news about going the associate's degree route is, if you have to do lots of pre- & co-requisites, someone with your academic history should have no problem taking those classes while working part- or full-time. And when you start taking your nursing courses, that will be part-time as well. While you may have more opportunities in the long run if you get the bachelor's degree (it all depends on your career goals - not everyone wants to be a manager!), you will start at the same salary as an RN whether you have an ADN or BSN. At least that's the general consesnus! Since it sounds like you are financially strapped, maybe the ADN route would be a good way to go. You can always continue on for the BSN or MSN, and your employer might even pay for it. One last note - good luck on the financial aid front. There's not much financial aid out there for people looking to earn second bachelor's degrees. (I don't know about the associates or direct-entry master's degree programs). Many hospitals have relationships with universities and are willing to help you out financially if you make a commitment to work for them when you graduate, but you will have to decide whether their requirements are incentive enough for you. I hope this is helpful. Good luck, whatever you decide to do!

FYI for anyone who is worried about the chemistry section of the test: it is very general; I almost killed myself completing my chemistry pre-reqs but got 100% on that section on the TEAS... If you are worried about that section (and any other section, for that matter) get the review book from ATI testing. If you don't want to buy it, you might be able to find it at the library (I, for one, donated mine to my school's library after I took the test) and borrow it or make copies of the sections you need to brush up on. I can't remember what the questions were, but I do remember that ALL of the material was covered in the test prep book. It's not too scary, as long as you are prepared. This goes for all sections of the test! Also, for some FREE practice tests (not exactly like the TEAS, but the review will help you immensely nonetheless) and tutorials to help you with your weaker areas, go to this link: http://www.testprepreview.com/teas_practice.htm Good luck to all!!!

Do not freak out! Go to this link http://www.testprepreview.com/teas_practice.htm and do the FREE practice tests. They will give you a good idea of what to expect on the TEAS test, as well as help pinpoint areas you need to work on before you take the actual test. If there are areas in which you don't do well, there are all kinds of links at the site where you can find help. Also, you don't have to do all the sections of the practice test at once... just do a few here and there, as you have time. Nursing is a second career for me, and I took the TEAS test almost 20 years after graduating from high school. Needless to say, my math and grammar skills weren't so fresh... but, after taking the practice tests and using the reference/study material at this site, I ended up in the 99th percentile when I took the TEAS. So don't freak out!!! Just be prepared. As long as you have access to a computer (which I guess you must, since you are the OP!!!) you have all the resources you need to assess your skills before taking the test... and to prepare yourself to do well!!! Good luck!!!

Follow this link and do the practice tests (no charge!!!!). I did each of them at least once, just to make sure I had the background info (especially for the math & grammar sections). I found the practice tests to be more difficult than the actual one... but maybe that was because I practiced! (My scores were 99th percentile nationally and for the program.) Good luck!!! http://www.testprepreview.com/teas_practice.htm

I just got my acceptance for an accelerated BSN program beginning January 2008. :-)

YOU hit the nail on the head, motorcycle mama!!!!! The following link calculates how much you pay in interest - and how long it will take you to pay off your credit card - if you make minimum payments only. SCARY!!!!! http://www.webwinder.com/ww_display_calc.php3?old_script_id=2

Hello there - I am not any kind of a nurse yet, but as a newer mom who read every available resource on natural childbirth, and whose childbirth classes supported medication-free births and meditation as a pain-management tool (not hypnotism per se, but relaxation techniques & breathing), I can say that it is very effective (at least it was for me!). I still ended up with an unplanned c-section, but easily managed without pain medication up until the decision was made for the emergency C (three days after I started leaking amniotic fluid and after about 12 hours of active labor, my cervix still had not dilated - even after induction!). I saw a great program on discovery channel (I think!) about hypnobirthing before I even got pregnant, and I decided that it was how I wanted to approach my own childbirth experiences. If your doctor/hospital isn't supportive of your birth plan (most of the my friends/family have had absolutely no problems having their wishes respected as far as meds, music, quiet, etc... as long as neither they nor their babies were in any danger), there are plenty that will be. Something to keep in mind, though - if you do choose to give birth in a hospital, they have rules and procedures for a reason. If you do not want to be seen as a "pain in the a$$" but you don't want the nurses/doctors to do the jobs they are required to do (within reason), you should consider giving birth somewhere else - at home, or at a birthing center if there's one nearby. I have several friends who have given birth at home with outstanding results - one even had a completely natural birth with full-term twins. (not sure if I could have handled THAT!!!!) She even went for a walk (back and forth on her porch on a beautiful spring day) between twins!!! Just something to keep in mind! Good luck, and congratulations!!!!

Earlier this summer, before I took the TEAS test, I used the link suggested by txmommyof3 above. It had been 15+ years since I had taken math, chemistry and physical science, and the individual skill sections at this site were a great review tool. Without them, I never would have scored in the 99th percentile nationally! I surprised even myself!!!! Put that site on your "favorites" list, and do a different practice test whenever you can. If you find you're particularly weak in an area, the review book that's available at atitesting.com is a lifesaver. In my opinion, the actual test was easier than the practice ones online... and MUCH easier than the practice tests in the book available through atitesting.com! Good luck! :typing

Something to think about - if you are paying for school on your own, or with loans, once you get your initial bachelor's degree, your financial aid options decline significantly!!! I know I never thought much about the financial aspect of college when I was in high school... and even most of college! My parents just applied for financial aid on my behalf, and I was responsible for paying it back when I graduated. I never knew that most of that same aid wouldn't be available if I went back for a second degree. If you are counting on financial aid as a means to get through school, I would definitely suggest getting your nursing degree the first time around. Lots of things can happen over four years, and you may not want to - or be able to - go right on to get a second degree. If something happens to disrupt your plans to stay in school after you get your first degree, wouldn't it be nice to have a first degree that would provide you with a good job with decent pay that will help you face life's other challenges? If getting a second major in another area is a high priority, remember that it's always something you can go back to, once you're set financially. Good luck!

I've been in situations where my lab partners have not wanted to do any work, or just wanted to watch me do everything. Sometimes it was because they were afraid of screwing up, sometimes they were just lazy. Whatever the reason, in those situations, I have learned not to worry about anyone but myself. I love to do dissections, work with the microscope, and do all kinds of experiments, and I don't mind working with others who are making an effort to do the lab exercises. If they want to leave class early, or sit around and text message people, or otherwise blow the class off while I do the work, I don't care! I need to make sure that I am getting what I need to out of the lab. Since I worked in another profession before returning to school for nursing, I am used to other people (on the job) not pulling their weight. You can either put up with it, say something to them, or say something to their teacher/superior. (I don't ever complain to the teacher. Believe me, the teachers know EXACTLY what's going on, and they probably hear enough whining from the slackers to begin with about how hard the class is... they don't need to hear even more whining ABOUT the slackers!) I choose to say something to the lab partner to let them know I am serious about the class, and that if they don't want to participate in the labs, that's their choice, but they are on their own as far as the lab reports go. Usually that's enough to get them participating. If it's not, and if that means doing all the work myself, so be it. People who don't care enough to do things right generally don't care if you take over their share of the work. Just remember, you have to learn it ANYWAY! I don't know too many students (or employees, for that matter) who can afford to let someone else's lackadasial attitude influence their own performance, or grade, or project outcome. The important thing is not to let others take advantage of you by letting them copy your lab reports, observations, etc. Don't be afraid to put your foot down and assert yourself! I know it stinks when people don't do their fair share. Just try to look at it as an opportunity to improve your own skills and knowledge, and possibly an opportunity to set a good example.

I don't think anyone, myself included, is denying the need to understand biochemistry (which we are taught in biology)!!!! I was actually the one who explained the gas exchange process, over and over again, to the other students at my lab table in A&P! The stuff I'm having trouble with is thermodynamics, quantum theory, and memorizing and appling multiple formulae that have nothing to do with human physiology!!!!! I just don't get it!

I worked very hard for my ADN... and I took general chemistry and biochemistry, as well as microbiology. It was required coursework... and it helped me very much when I entered the nursing program. Please don't think I was trying to say that the ADN is easy!!!! It just would have been easier for me, personally, to not have 2 semesters as gen chem as a requirement! (and the cc where I am taking my prerequisites does NOT require any chemsitry for their ADN program!) I know, I know, many AND programs DO have this requirement... I did not, in any way, mean to offend the ADNs!!!!! Thanks again to all for your posts!!!