Jul2bRN

Hello, I'm currently pregnant w/my third child and is do during Christmas time. I start RN school in less than a week so I can't really tell you how school & being pregnant at the same time is but was told by others who have gone though it that it's difficult but doable. It depends on the person. If I had the choice I would have waited till I finished school first just because RN school is already intense enough but sometimes things happen for a reason and only you know if you'll be able to handle it all. I probably shoud have delayed a semester and started after the baby was born but since I will deliver during vacation (hopefully) and my doctor gave me the go ahead I will start when I am suppose to and if all else will take the semester off after the baby is born if I have too. Good luck and best wishes if you decide to have a baby now. And maybe if I become not too too busy with school and family I'll repost to tell you how school and being pregnant at the same time really is. I only know right now I'm already a bit overwhelmed having gone though the syllabus/course materials and already have a test a few days after school has started.

If I recall, you can go into there website and under the nursing section they provide a list of schools where you can take patho. You just have to look through it. I think some listed are community colleges and others are not... Good Luck and hope that helps. I know there a community college up north near Sacramento that offers it but I can't remember the name and they do an online class too I think...

Haven't posted in a while so I thought I would. Anyone starting to get scared. I am. Nursing School is starting in less than 8 weeks (Yup, that's right) and I am now starting to feel all the emotions that goes along with stating a new adventure. Not to mention I'm pregnant and my belly has popped so I'm thinking Oh/My what will I look like in that few weeks when the program begins and how will I be able to handle RN school, family and my pregnancy at the same time. I still have to turn in my physical forms which is taking a while due to the required shots & belly, need to register which will occur next week, and still have to get the books which won't be available till the end of July. I just have to keep saying to myself I will not quite. I owe it to myslef to at least try to see if I can make it. I've had alot of negative responses from my parents as to how I can do it with me having 2 kids already, a husband and now another baby on the way. When I informed my parents of our3rd baby, I was treated like a child having a baby even though I've been married for over 8 years and have been with my husband for over 9 years prior to that. (You guess how old I am) Yet, because they knew I was planning to go to RN school, they acted like it was over before I even began. Hopefully, there support will come in time. Regardless, I still have to try. I owe it to myself and my family. Other then that WOO HOO HOO. We are almost starting the race. I'll see you guys at the finish line. Nursing Class of 2010 her we come...

I'm not in the program yet but start my RN program in August (...finally). I just recently found out I am pregnant and when I start RN school I will be 21 weeks (5 months big) pregnant. I'm worried because I too have read all the negatives about being in the program while pregs and it scares me. But at the same time I know there are positives too. Especially the joy of having a child in itself. This will be my third child and even though my husband is thrilled I'm still at the what happened to my 5 year plan that I finally started working on the past couple of years. It will be hard and I'm already having pregnancy amnesia symptoms which I hope will go away when school starts. Anyhow, you're not alone out there and I have been told by others it's hard but doable. Just take care of yourself and the little one and if at all possible be as organized as possible and get as much help as you can. Hey at least you will already have had your baby when you start school.:wink2: Unlike me who will be huge and trying to do clinicals at the same time...

For me, I applied back in summer of 2006 and was accepted to both programs for fall 08. When I first applied, I was waitlisted for Napa in the 430+ something # and solano was like 396 or something. They said the wait was about two to three years and I finally finally finally got in. Good luck to you. All I can say is get your name on the list and just keep applying to the other schools and while waiting finish up your generals so you don't have to worry about them while in the program. If lucky you'll get into a lottery one or 4 year one faster but if not at least you have these schools as back-up. :) That Napa thing you said scares me but it seems like they are much better prepared than solano. Maybe I should've done that program instead. O/well I should just be thankful I finally got in...

Hi Hi, I start nursing school August 18th and at first I was excited until I realized all the demands of the program. Don't get me wrong, I knew about it beforehand but when you it's actually are about to start in a few months, that is when I began freaking out orver how I will survive with my family and such a demanding program. Also I just found out I am pregant again so when 1st semester begins I will be in my second trimester getting bigger and bigger til I pop hopefully after finals and during Christmas break. (At least that's what I'm praying for. Wish me luck...) I hope to graduate May 0f 2010 but baby and my health will determine if I defer a semester or not. Otherwise congrats to all those in the program and best wishes to everyone on becoming a nurse. Go class of 2010....

OHHHHH congratulations Hotflashn. You go girl. You deserve it. I'm happy you'll be gettting your BSN at your first choice school. How lucky are you. YAY You. Now you can relax and take a few weeks off to enjoy yourself and family before starting up the whole NS process. :yeah::yeah::yeah::yeah:

Thanks Hotflashn, I really needed that. I thought I was done having my babies but I guess God decided to grant me with one more. It's funny because I don't even know you but you always seem to there for me and the others on this site. Thank you for your words of encouragement and GOOD LUCK getting into that program. You really do have the heart of a nurse and will be great at it. I'm so happy I found this site. It's nice to be able to relate to others going through similar processes and bonding & stressing over what's to come next whether pre-reqs, exams, getting in, program, etc...

I'm a SAHM also with s 6 year old and 4 year old. I start the RN program in August. My 6 year old is in 1st grade right now and I think I will enroll my 4 year old in pre-school when I go back. Either in the school I will be attending or over here where I live. The thing though is the pre-school program is only from 9-12pm MWF. So I still need to make arrangements for her after that. I live w/my parents and husband so I'm hoping they will help me w/pick-up and caring for them while I am in class. They already stated they would but to add to the situation is that I have just found out I am pregnant w/baby #3 due in Dec. So I will be entering the program 5 months pregnant and my parents do not know yet. I'm waiting till my first prenatel apt to make sure everything is fine before telling others. So far only my husband and this site know of the situation. I'm hoping for the most part I can continue on with my plan of being an RN without stopping for any period of time but I guess time will tell and as other SAHM's know it is already difficult managing your family as is without adding anymore to the mix. IF anyone has any advice for me please let me know. THANKS...

Hotflashn, you know I'm in the same boat as you. But we are not losers. You will get into NS either w/CSUEB or the other schools. Don't give up. I haven't. That goes for everyone trying to get into the program. We can't give up because it took us so long just to decide what we want to do, then to get into the impacted Pre-sciences courses by having to either take it in the summer or whenever we can get in. I even went so far at to take my science courses at three different colleges just to ensure I was enrolled in these class. So don't give up and don't ever think of yourself as a loser. You have such a long medical background that you will succeed and make through this hurdle. The onle ones who are losers are those who give up and I know you are not one to do that...

I have orientation this Thursday where we will get all the info needed to prepare for the program. NS starts in August for me. I was looking into what stethoscope to buy and how many uniforms I should get for clinicals and such. Unfortunately a surprise came to me in the form of a pregnancy not only was I getting my two kids and husband ready for me to go back to school, I now have to figure out a new baby into the mix. So now I am totally lost as to how to prepare. Scared, Frustrated, Excited, Emotional Etc... I need help on how to deal?????? I've been waiting to get into the program for 2 years and now that I'm in I don't want to give it up but at the same time I know I need to take care of myself and family. At least my baby will be due Dec. 27th Just as Christmas break occurs and I was advised by an RN (while giving me prenatel advice) that at least it is the first semester and that the duties are still the basics of learning versus going into the other semesters where it gets even more intense. Tell me if she's wrong or right? THANKS....

Thank you for all these support responses. I too just found out I am pregnant. I was trully not expecting it. I thought my family was complete but I guess the higher ups had other plans. I have been waiting to get into the RN program for 2-3 years now and just received my acceptence letter 1st of April. I was so excited. Then this month I missed my period, did not think much of it because I'm always never regular but I wasn't feeling so good so I went in to get tested and this morning the results posted showing positive. Now I am freaking out because all I wanted was to go back to school and become an RN to take care of my family. I'm scared because I know how demanding NS is and with a 4 & 6 year old and a husband who is constantly working out of the home I really don't know how I will manage everything. I already informed him to take a larger role when I go into the program but now with a newborn to be in the basket also I don't know what we'll do. I guess I'm more scared of how I will manage being pregnant the first semester of NS not knowing what is really involved in it. The due date is Dec 26th so hopefully I will be able to "bank clinical time" to make up for in case I deliver early as well. I have orientation this week to get more info on NS so I'll plan better after that. (Hopefully better then last month:uhoh3:) I really don't know how to feel right now and I just needed to let it out. Thank goodness for this site. If anyone can give me advise or share stories of those who have gone through a similar experience please tell me what occured so I can get an idea of what to expect. THANKS...

Tell me about it. That's why even though I would love to go back and get another Bachelors degree or even masters, I can't afford it. Not w/me being a stay-at-home mom. I already used up the grants and such for my first degree and truthfully I hate the idea of owing money which is why I think it's better for me to just go with an Associates (which I also already have) so that I when I'm finished for second time what I make will be mine for my family and not the schools. (Not that loans are bad, I just hate interest costs. But I'm glad we have them to fall back on.) Especially since I just got into an uproar w/my Mom regarding my husband & kids. And the sad thing is I do need her to help me when I go back to school again. :uhoh21:. (babysitting duty) So I'm kind of . O/well that's life. Thanks for listening. Just needed to vent. GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE. WE WILL BE NURSES AND WE WILL SUCCEED.

I started applying in the spring/summer of 2006 for fall admin with 4 schools, (2 waitlists and 2 lottory -all CC's). Was put on the waitlist for the two waitlist schools and did not make it to lotto ones. Following for spring term I applied to another CC (lotto) also did not make it. Then again to 3 CC's (lotto based) and one school out of state for fall 07 and was not selected for CC's (Alternate -did not count) but was accepted to out of state but could not go because family couldn't handle me leaving. (It was only first step to application for that school anyway. NS process still had to start). I took this year off of taking any classes but did apply to only one CC and am still waiting to see if accepted or not (will not find out for another 2 weeks:uhoh3:) I was however accepted to the both waitlist schools for this fall. So after all my tries, I waited out my time and at least got into the two waitlist schools on my list. How many times was that I applied, I couldn't really tell you but it was pretty much the same schools over and over again. Oh my GPA for the school since last checked was 3.7. My GPA was okay and I probably should have applied to the 4 year schools but I didn't and thus the reason why I had to wait two years to get into the nursing program. Best shot if you want to get done ASAP is to either go straight from a private school or increase your chances by also applying not only CC's but also 4 years. I'm in Northern CA and it's really difficult to get into the NS system over here. Just as it is everywhere else you turn.

Thanks stevern21, I just read your post because I'm trying to prepare for NS this fall and am trying to get some tips. After reading your post, it made me remember why I am putting myself through all this hardship with what seems like never-ending challenges. Your post makes me remember why I wanted to become a nurse in the first place and hopefully in a couple of years I will get to experience the joys you are getting as an RN too. :)

The science portion is hard in any program you go to especially w/lab. Most schools do require lab and as a safety I would take the classes w/lab so just in case you decide later on to go to another school, you would not have to go through the process of repeating these science courses. If you want your BSN go for it, don't let the science portion be your fear because I've learned as going through this process that every step I/we take to becoming a nurse we're always encountering new fears (new situations) and have learned to just do my best, take advantage of school and fellow classmates resources and just keep going. It's hard going back to school with a family already intact, but I'm doing and you can too. GOOD LUCK.

It's not aiming too high. My sister-in-law has a GED and went to school to become a medical assistant. Today, she is in her last semester of her RN program -graduating at the end of this May. So if she can do it, you can. Be confident in your abilities and you'll suceed. Don't let just having a GED be your downfall. It's not and it should not stop you from doing what you think you want to do. GOOD LUCK...

Hotflashn, I am on a couple of waitlist schools but LMC has always been my first choice. I started my NS pre-reqs there and would like to finish off the process there as well. I've been told by others who have gone through that program that they enjoyed it versus other CC's. Don't getme wrong, it was a hard process but they liked it. Unlike my sister and her close friends who went to CCC. She said she learned alot and most of the instuctors taught her well thus the high nclex pass rates but she also said there are one or two instructors there that made being there more difficult especially for one of her friends. And now she teaches there part-time for clinicals and says she feels sorry for us upcomming NS students because they expect so much more out of us now and the content has become more complex then ever. Anyhow GOOD LUCK to you. And yes the list on the door is just to see if you are eligible which is also hard to take because last year there were I think eight sheets of paper and the list list was full of names two or three columms long. So that gives you an idea of how many apply. Then you go to see if you made it or not and your reaction of happiness or sadness for all the public to see which is just for an advance knowhow before your slow-mail comes. I don't know how long the campass if open till probably 9pm or so but just check it the next day instead just to be sure.

Hi Hotflashn, Looks like you applied to LMC also. Tell me if I'm wrong. I just got home and tore that letter open to find out the same thing. They did the same thing last year also. Only diff. is that it the process occured closer to June, which is a very long time to find out if you're in or out. I already applied 2 times prior to this and it is now my third time. Hopefully, three is the lucky charm. Good luck to you too. See you at the doors if you go. I never really plan to go because I assume you are on the list of eligiblity if 1: we get that letter and 2: we got that first letter telling us our status when we sent out the applications. But I always fool myself into thinking I better check just to make sure I'm still listed... So we'll see again this year as to what happens. Juls "Today I got a letter from one of the ADN lottery school nursing depts. I tore into it like crazy. All it said was that eligible applicants' ID numbers will be posted on some door on Wednesday and those chosen for lottery will have their IDs posted on May 1 at 5 pm. What is this? The results of the auditions for a high school play or volleyball try-out? Can they not send a letter, email or make a call? Lame. I really don't feel like trudging out there (it is across a toll bridge and several towns away) during commute time to check the door like I am in 10th grade or something. Especially if I am one of 400+. At least I will know about that school in a couple weeks. Probably a month away from any hope of finding out about the BSN program, and 6 months away from finding out about the other ADN programs. Sigh. Good for you though, that is great news. "

When I took Anatomy,we had a couple of cadavers that we worked on and examined on a weekly basis and this was during the summer session. It's a bit odd and eerie no matter how many times you go into the cold room but it's part of the Nursing program process. I hated the experience but at the same time was amazed at how much you do learn. My sister who is a Peds RN has gone through several patients that have past away. (Not her doing :wink2: by the way) but she says it's part of the job. You deal with the sick and our job is to make them better but sometimes they can't be saved. It's always a hard experience but you get though it. Just my . I also think, don't let that fear get in the way of your dreams. If you have the heart for it keep at it.

When I applied to the CC schools in my area, the waitlist for two of the schools was also 3 years (as I was told.) That was in the summer of 06. I applied anyway because it was better to be on a list that I knew I would eventually get in and at the same time I still kept applying to the other CC's. I wanted to go to a CC versus the 4 year /private schools because I already have a degree and can't afford to pay the tuition. I didn't want to take out loans and so opted to buy my time on the waitinglist and keep trying to get into apply to the other CC's to get in but even though you meet the reqs, it's still lottery and I kept losing:no:. So now after two years of waiting I am offically accepted into the RN program for both schools starting this fall. A year sooner than was told. I suggest you apply anyway and use it as a backup to whatever other schools you apply to. That's what I did and I'm glad because the lottery thing sucks:madface: and you know at least you'll get in eventually to you waitlist school. That's my . Good luck to you.

Relax. You have a supportive husband which is more than alot of people have. Also, just take it step by step like what bicster said: formulate your plan and then run with it. If you are determined to do this you will make it. It's a hard process and it never seems to end. There is always something else we need to get done before moving to the next step. Pre-reqs, TEAS/NET exam, NS program, NCLEX exam and so on but you know when we finally make it and reach that point, you'll be so proud of yourself at your accomplishments and who knows what your husband may even give you as a reward for making it through. Personally, I think as an incentive everytime you reach one of those do lists goals, reward yourself with something cool to keep you going. That's what I do. Like right now I just got into the RN program for Fall and as a reward I am going to buy myself one of those cool Littmann stethoscopes and engrave with my name.

We have BART which is our version of the subways of New York. I don't know how far they travel but you can check them out on there website. Bart.gov... Lucile Packard is wichin the Stanford Unveristy side (Palo Alto area) so that's way off on the other side of where I live. But you may want to look into the school there too if BART possibly has a shuttle going that way for students and such. (just an idea) GOOD LUCK to you and hope you knock there socks off on the interview. :nuke:

Congrats , I was accepted into their program for this Fall 08 also. Sorry, I don't have any info on the teachers but you can go into rn.ca.gov to see their nclex stats. From going into Napa's school website, they seem very organized in terms of what you already need to do to prepare for the program and based on the stats their pass rate has gone up in the last couple of years. Unfortunately, I may end up in Solano instead because the commute for me might be easier. But I do like the way Napa's RN program gives you info on already getting your supplies put together. Did you do the online orientation, that may help answer some of your Q's. Good Luck to you and congrats, I'm sure you waited just as long as I did to get into that school.:chuckle

Tell me about it. When I applied to Solano back in Summer of 2006, I was waitlisted at #394 and at Napa #432. I thought I wouldn't be in the RN program until Spring of 2009 but I guess enough spots moved up to let me in this year. :yeah:I did have to wait a long time but it's okay now. These schools were my back-up to the CC lottery game and unfortunately I kept losing that game.