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?

I'm completing prereqs at HCC right now. I have two more left before I can apply to the program. One this fall and one in the spring.

Who do you have for AP 2? I will have to take that in the spring semester, also at the Brandon campus. Did you have AP 1 at the Brandon campus too? If so, who did you have for that? Are there any classes that you took online that you would recommend? Nutrition, etc? Thanks and good luck with your application!! :)

I'm taking 1 prereq (Sociology) online at St. Petersburg College and Microbio/Lab at Hillsborough Community College. I still have A&P 1/Lab and A&P2/Lab to finish before I can apply to HCC's nursing program at Dale Mabry! I won't finish all the prereqs untill next May (2009), and the program I want to get into doesnt start untill the following January(2010) So I can't wait to just be able to apply!! Counting down the days!

What would be some advice to getting in the nicu fresh out of school? For someone hiring in the nicu what would an ideal candidate be? someone who did a residency or preceptorship in nicu after school? is there a difference between the two? is the best thing to do to look for a hospital that has a program such as a residency/orientation type setup for new grads? is that how most new grads are hired into nicu right out of school?

Okay, that makes sense now. Well good luck! :)

i think i'm confused, sorry. you said you hope to take it this spring and summer if you clep out. it's summer session now..or do you mean this fall/spring? hopefully you can clep out like you said so you can take the classes in the fall and spring (which is when i'm taking them too!) but i'll be taking them at the brandon campus as long as they are avail there. which i know ap 1 is avail at brandon this fall, so as long as ap2 is avail at brandon this spring that's where i'll be! but hopefully you can take them this fall/spring because the deadline (as im sure you already know) is june 1. that's why i have to make sure i dont miss any semesters and take things in the proper sequence because if i want to apply after the spring semester's over (may-ish) for the june 1 deadline for the jan 2010 also evening program at dale mabry. everything has to be just exact! but like you said, if you arent able to, then you can at least try for the next semester! as long as you get to apply one of the semesters that's what matters. i'm also not 100% sure what specialty-i dont have much experience in different units to really know. i've shadowed a couple different nurses to see med/surg/telemetry as well as icu and ccu (all were for adults) and also i worked in an assisted living facility for a short period of time. they are definitely all different enviornments-icu and ccu very similar though of course. i would really really like to get some exposure with nicu. i think i'd really really enjoy it, but of course i'm not sure. that's what i'm hoping clinicals will help me decide.

when do you plan to take a&p 1/2? what program (evening or day) and at what campus (dale mabry or plant city) do you plan to apply for? what specialty do you plan to go into after graduation?

It seems that you are happy where you worked as a tech, also happy with where your clinicals were, that you are accepting a position at the same facility now in nicu-if you dont mind me asking which facility? I understand there are only a few hospitals in fl which have level III nicu..tampa general and all childrens being two I believe. I am asking only because it seems which hospital you work in and their culture and environment can make a HUGE difference, so I wanted someone opinon on a hospital they recommend and hold high regard to. You said this is a 2nd degree for you-what was your first degree in? How did youd decide to get into nursing rather than the field you worked in prior? Also you said you were working in peds and you had a shift in nicu as part of that clinical right? so not all clinicals include nicu? because that's one of the areas id really like to get into to see if it's my niche or not...so I just want to make sure I get a chance to get in there..just wanted to see how you managed to do that, or if it was something already part of the peds clinical?

I understand what you are saying about L&D being separate from NICU. The babies are delivered and then a team brings them over to the NICU. Do some hospitals have it set up in a way where the NICU nurses are there for the delivery of the baby (if it were a preemie, where they knew they'd be going to NICU) or is it always separate as far as you know?

did you go to usf or ut? i am going to apply at hcc for the associates program as it best suits my current situation. (i have to work fulltime during the day, and can only attend classes and clincals in the evenings and on the weekend) I already have a bachelors degree and so usf's 2nd bachelors accelerated program (in a perfect world) would be my goal and first choice of a route to nursing, but that program requires full time comittment for class, not to mention usf is a little more costly than hcc :wink2: so with my current situation it seems my only route would be an evening/weekend program-which ive only found hcc to offer that. i know spc also offers an evening program, but their "evening program" begins around 230 or so i think and goes untill 5ish...i need a program that's truly in the evening, like hcc, which is 5-8 and weekend clinicals. do you know of any other schools in the area that offer bsn programs that would be in the evening. i would like to get my bachelors later on, maybe even masters eventually, which i understand usf has many transition programs for rn's (with associates degrees and with bachelors in fields other than nursing) but first things first! with all this being said, do you think i'd have a hard time finding a job in the nicu out of school, with an associates degree rather than a bsn? this worries me also did you have a clinical in the ER or OR? what made you choose nicu rather than peds? sorry-just full of questions! but THANK YOU!!