Audi02

You and I could be the same person. I graduated in December and am taking it march 8. I am taking Kaplan and all it is doing is freaking me out. I have been getting in the high 50s on the practice too. I do a little better in acutal kaplan class. But I am physically getting sick with the stress of it. Please post after you take the test to compare the real thing to the class. But it is good to know there is someone else worrying about the same thing as me. I was a good student in school, so I never thought I would be this scared.

Luv4nurising, thank you so much! that is exactly what I needed to hear. And I agree with everything you said. You described my first semester. I saw the same exact things that you did. But I have been very stressed and not feeling like I really know anything that I have already learned. Good to hear we will feel more confidant when we are actually in a nursing unit.

Hey guys, I'm in nursing II at VCC. Let me just say WOW! I thought the first semester was hard. But they pack a lot more reading and work on us this semester. you have to start memorizing everything about all the drugs while learning all the normal textbook stuff that they give. It is more interesting than Nursing I, but a lot more time consuming. I have doubled my study time. But I'm still excited to be doing it. Good luck to everyone.

Hi, I'm another Valencia nursing I student this semester. Just thought I would add my two cents. The program is definately very stressful. There are days that I love it and others that I'm completely frustrated. I think the professors are really nice. Each one has a strength, but they all really do care about helping you. My frustrations are the test questions are very different and hard to prepare for. I finished A&P as a 4.0 student. I'm now averaging a B and afraid I may even slip further. The test questions are "choose the best answer". Mrs. Stone described them as "two right answers and two wrong answers. But choosing the best right answer seperates the men from the boys" or something like that. Unfortunately I keep choosing the boy answers. It is very frustrating. The other students are all really great and very supportive to each other. You will definately make great friends and spend a lot of time together. I work at night and never have time to keep up with the reading. Maybe that is why I'm not doing as well. There is something to study for on a nightly basis, so plan your time wisely. Good luck! And see you in the practice room.

I love this thread. It is so nice to hear from people going through the same thing as I am. I can relate to the financial problems. There is no assistance for people in our situation. And most of us are now in bigger financial obligations than we were in our original college years. I'm just starting nursing school, and praying I can keep up with my mortgage over the next two years. I am choosing the AS degree just for financial reasons. the community college is the only way I can afford to go. Does anyone know if this is a major pay difference when we start work? I'm also very stressed about doing this. What if I hate this as much as my first degree. I'm scared to waste 2 years of my life and a lot of debt, just to be right back where I was before. It is very exciting, but very scary.

I just went to buy my books for my first semester of nursing school.. Wow, sticker shock!! There are 17 books that equal over $1000. I didn't budget that, as I am paying for everything on my own. I was just wondering if any students that have completed their first semester could tell me if I really need every book. I'm a very good student that never misses class. Are there any books I can get by with out buying just by listening in class. Which books did you use the most? I don't want to look cheap or like a slacker, I'm just trying to make nursing school possible for me.

you are not alone!! I think there are many of us doing the same thing. I got my BA in communications in 2000. Tried the career out and hated it. Decided to go to nursing school, did all the pre-reqs and was put on the waiting list for nursing school. I got frustrated and took my name off during the long wait. At the time I thought it made more financial sense to look for another career within my degree. 2 years later I ended up back on the waiting list. I just couldn't get over my desire to be a nurse. I'm much happier now, and proud that I'm going for it. Although life is a lot more expensive at our age, so funds are tight while I'm in school. But believe me it's worth it. Good luck!

I have taken classes online before. Usually I don't learn as much from them. There is just something about not actually being in the room surrounded by other students questions and hands on experience. A&P is the most informative and useful class I have ever taken (and I have a bachelors degree already). I would not give up the experience of actually learning all that I could for anything. It was definately hard, but my favorite ever!

Thank you to all. This has been very confusing process, but I'm working through it. I found out from calling the FAFSA phone number that I'm a sophmore! How funny, because I have over 200 credit hours. They base it on where you are in current degree that you are seeking. So I guess the financial aide person was right, although I don't think she knew for sure. Anyway, I do qualify for student loans and private scholarships. Just not for a government hand out. They seem to frown upon my lack of use for my first bachelors. But considering the desperation for nurses, I was hoping for a little more help. I can't work while in school, and I'm way out of college, so I have a mortgage to pay. Oh well, life isn't always easy.

Thank you so much for the info. I am in a dilema because nursing is my second career. I already have a bachelors degree so I can't get government aide. Problem is I can't work while I'm in nursing school, so how does my bachelors degree help me? Anyway, thanks for giving me another option to look at.

Could you elaborate on what worksource is and how you got the help. I'm desperately looking for financial aide.

Hi, I have a question. Does this thread mean you already have a bachelors degree in something else. Because that is my situation. I'm having trouble finding financial aide and filling out papers because of this. Do any of you have any suggestions if we are in the same boat?

Hello, I'm currently filling out the paperwork for financial aide. I already have a bacherlors degree in something else, so I don't qualify for a lot of government help. Does anyone know what box I should mark when asking what year student I am. Technically, I'm way past senior year, but in the nursing program I'm only a sophmore. I called the financial aide center and some student told me to pick sophmore. I'm afraid it will come back to haunt me if I do it wrong, and I'll have to return money.

Starting school in summer of 08 at VCC.