noellelynn

Maybe you could consider looking into an LPN program rather than the RN route for the time being. This type of program is not college class oriented-so if you are worried a lot about math, etc. then maybe this program would better suit you (at least for the time being) Most LPN programs are cheaper than RN programs (unless you are talking private schools) but most offered at technical schools are fairly inexpensive. I'm currently in one now, and it's rougly 4000 for the whole program. I'd like to pursue the RN route someday but for now this suits me best. I have a four year undergraduate degree and have taken micro, A&P etc. at the college and community college level and they are difficult. Not saying LPN will be easy, of course not, but might be a better way to start out if you are concerned about RN school being too difficult. I personally think it'd be easier to learn as an LPN and get that really down pat and then move into a RN program with at least a base nursing knowledge gained from LPN school. Just a thought! Good Luck to you!:icon_roll

mkcrturner~ Just wondering how the LPN program was going for you at MTI. I applied there recently to hopefully start this January. I was just wondering how you liked the program so far. I was also wondering how soon you found out you were accepted-this waiting is driving me nuts!! :)

Sally Treat is great for Micro at Brandon. I had her this summer and got an A. You definitely have a lot of studying ahead of you, but it's Micro, so that can be expected. She really is a great teacher though. Just pay attention and study. Hope this helps.

An A is defiitely obtainable-that's what I ended up with in the class. She lectures mainly from her powerpoint-she doesnt send you the powerpoint until after you have that lecture (at least thats how she did it with us) so I just followed along with her notes on the pp as she was going over them and if she added anything when she was talking about it in class I'd just jot it down and where at she said it. Then once she sent us the powerpoint i'd go back and highlight things from my notes in class that she said was important or things she might have added. There are some questions from the book so it helps to read it, but her tests are really from her powerpoint. The lab is really easy-just do all your lab assignments and you'll be fine. The final for our lab was open book, just make sure you organize your notes and lab assignments and know where certain things are in the lab book for the final because you wont have time to flip through trying to find what you need during the test. I didnt end up taking AP 1 in the fall. There was no one else i could take and i didnt want to take Usman, so I decided to wait. Since then I've actually decided to apply to an LPN program only because I can start that this Jan whereas I wouldnt be able to start the program at HCC until Jan 2010. I currently have a 4 year degree and am working in that field fulltime, so I want to get out of this field and into nuring asap. With the LPN program I can do that sooner than the RN at HCC. I want to finish the LPN program and at least get working in nursing and then do a bridge program to RN or maybe even an accelerated BSN program since I already have a lot of coursework from my other degree. Good luck to you!

I already had Micro over the summer. I had *** she was great! It's a hard class definitely, but just study and you'll do fine. Definitely study, study study though. I started AP 1 with *** in the Fall and after a week of class dropped it. There was a language barrier problem for me personally-he was hard to understand (for me) and I figured AP is hard enough as it is-I thought I'd do better with someone else as a teacher so decided to drop it. Good luck!

I am now able to answer my own original post....dont take him if yu can take someone else. I only had him for about a weeks worth of the class and was just too frustrated. He's very unorganized and very hard to understand. At least that's how I felt after the first week of class. I decided to drop it and take someone else. (just a note, I'm not a poor student, I had Microbio over the summer and got an A) so I work very hard in class, but I just felt I would not be able to put my best foot forward and get the grade that I could if I had another professor that was organized and one that I could understand. A & P is hard enough to learn in of itself, let alone in addition to a language barrier, which is what I was finding with this particular prof. Again, this is just MY opinon..I'm sure other people have had different situations and feelings with this prof, this was just my observation after the FIRST week. I knew it wasnt going to suit me. Hope this helps!

The first thing you have to do is attend an information session. There you get what they call an application request form. Basically just your name, etc., showing proof that you've attended the session. From there, you will get an application packet. You have to fill out all that completely-get a physical, specific immunizations, essay. You also have to sign up and complete what they call Health Science Core. It's 90 hours of different things-A&P (just general A&P), blood pressure, pulse, medical safety, lots of different things. The school itself will be able to tell you when they offer Health Science Core. You must get an 80% in core to be able to apply to the LPN program. Once you complete everything get it in by the deadline and that's it. There was just an early deadline for the Jan 2009 start date on Nov. 3. You get certain points for different things-filling out the app. completely, scores on the TABE (or they accept proof of obtaining at least an Associates degree in lieu of the TABE test) also if you are a CNA, etc. you get points. It sounds overwhelming, but just give yourself enough time to complete all the application packet stuff and you;ll be fine. The first step would be to call and find out when the next information session is. I think the next time they are admitting would be in Aug. So it'd be in your best interest to attend the next info. session for that admission period, get Health Science Core completed, that way you have everything all ready when it comes time to apply-you'll need time to get your immunizations and everything. (I attended an info. session in Sept. and completed the whole process by the end of Oct. so it can be done, you just have to stay on top of it all and be organized. Hope this helps! Good Luck.

hi everyone! i originally wanted to go back to school to become a rn, but have decided to pursue a lpn program instead, to get me out of the job i'm in now and into the nursing field faster. then, do a lpn-rn program later on. i thought i'd like to be involved with the nicu, but am wondering if i complete an lpn program if i'll still be able to be involved in the nicu? if lpns don't normally work within the nicu, can someone suggest other routes for me to at least gain experience until i complete the lpn-rn program? would women's centers in hospitals be a good idea? mother/baby units, labor and delivery, peds? would those be possible areas that would get me the most experience while pursing the lpn-rn if i want to ultimately work in the nicu? or would a pediactrics office be better? or ob/gyn? i would assume if i want to work in the nicu, working within the hospital would be best rather than a dr's office. any insight anyone can give me on any of this would be greatly appreciated. i'm in the tampa bay area by the way, just in case anyone knowns specifically of any hospitals that hire lpns. thanks!!:heartbeat

As others have said depending on where you are or if you can move for school...I know one school where I live that offers a couple different options that might work for you: The student concurrently earns two degrees: a Master of Science (M.S.) from the College of Nursing as an Occupational Health Nurse Practitioner and Adult Nurse Practitioner (ANP) and the Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) from the College of Public Health in Occupational Health. The program is open to RNs with a baccalaureate degree in nursing or another discipline. An admission option for the Associate Degree Nurse is also available. http://health.usf.edu/nocms/nursing/Programs_of_Study/mshealth.html For students that already have a bachelor's degree (not in nursing) http://health.usf.edu/nocms/nursing/Programs_of_Study/accelerated_admission.html Hope this helps!:) Mainly with USF at least, you'd need either an associate's degree, then do the masters program for ANP or the masters program in nursing with the MPH. There are a lot of different Master's programs at USF for nursing. You don't necessarily need a bachelors to start them. You have prereqs and everything of couse, but you can still do it that way. If you don't want to get an associates degree I'd suggest the accelerated BSN, since you already have a bachelors degree. Then go from there with the np or mph, etc. USF has it set up so you can really do anything there with nursing, it's amazing! I am taking a different route and am in a similar situation to you. I graduated 3 years ago with a bachelors degree and am now going back for nursing. If I could do it any way Id like, I'd do the accelerated BSN program then go for either the MSN or NP. I have to work though and cant go to school fulltime, and the accelerated BSN program is fulltime--so I'm going for an associated degree first, through an evening/weekend program. Then once I'm working as a RN I plan to apply to USF for their masters or NP programs. Just my !! Good Luck!

Hey there..I was just wondering if anyone had a professor Ramesh Usman for AP1 at HCC? I have him/her tomorrow evening for class and was just wondering if anyone had any insight on this professor! Thanks!! :)

Good Morning all... I currently work in the engineering field. I don't like my job, that's why I'm here, and going back to school for what I want to be doing-nursing! I currently work within the field I went to college (the first time) for, have been working at this company for just over a year. I hate it. But it allows me to pay the bills, and take classes currently prereqs for a nursing program. My job is driving me nuts-it feels so meaningless and frustrating. To make matters worse, a co-worker will be leaving the company soon for another job in another state. She was my saving grace! She felt exactly as I did about the job and it was really someone to talk to and understand how I was feeling. She was going to apply to nursing school with me as well. Anyways, now she will be leaving soon, it'll be even harder to go to work there everyday. I wonder if I should look into a job in the health care field, since I want to go to nursing school, or if I should just try to stick it out, until I'm done with nursing school. If I took a job elsewhere, including the healthcare field, I'd probably be taking about a 50% paycut...which wouldnt be helpful at all....not to mention, what if I dont get into nursing school? If Im not cut out for it? Then I've quit my job in engineering and have to start all over from square one finding a job with that again? I'm so sure nursing is what I want, but it's all those what if's that have me scared. Does it seem a little premature to be quitting a well-paying job (that makes me miserable) when i havent even gotten in to nursing school yet? I gues everyone's situation is different, but I guess I already know the answer to my question, just wanting some other opinons of what you'd do if you were in my situation? Thanks a bunch!

It's just the way HCC has decided to choose their applicants. There are many many schools out there that DO consider other things such as work experience, volunteering, other degrees, etc. but it's just how one school decides to choose applicants. It makes it a pretty easy to understand what you are judged on though. It's cut and dry so I guess that positive way to look at it. Good luck!

When I spoke with the director, she didnt say anything to me about Hillsborough County residents getting preference. I understand it's solely prereq GPA.

I spoke to the Nursing Program Director at Dale Mabry and she never told me that the average was 3.8. I just spoke with her in March or April this year I'd say, so it wasn't all too long ago. I was told by her that it varies. So we have no idea what the average will be during the semester we apply. As we can see, the average changes all the time. By no means does it seem if you have any less than a 4.0 or 3.8 will you not get in the program. But if there are enough applicants that apply during the semester you do, with 3.8 or 4.0 then that will be the so called "cut off". They just list everyone's GPA that applies and take the top how many ever they have spots for. The only thing we can all do as applicants is do the best we can. The higher our GPA, the higher our name will be on that list to get in. Good Luck!!

Anyone taking A&P 1 at the Brandon campus this Fall? Evening class?