chuff

I work full time too and I am taking my classes online, so I am basically teaching myself! The best advice I can offer you is to look in your textbook for a resource section. It's usually in the front of the book, but sometimes in the back. There are probably a list of websites you can check out to get study tips, practice tests, chapter outlines, etc. for your book. I always print off the chapter outline, then quickly read through each chapter completely. After I'm done reading I will go back through the chapter and focus on the things I didn't quite understand the first time. I also make notes on my printed outline, answer questions at the end of each chapter, and take the online pre-tests at my textbook's website. I do know what you mean about what to study and what not. If I read a chapter that is 50 pages long, then my instructor gives a test with only 10 questions, I feel like I wasted too much time on that chapter. I just have to remind myself that there will me more questions on exams, and I will need to really know this stuff anyway when I get to nursing school, so I need to learn it now, even if my instructor doesn't test me on all of it.

I'm surprised that Nutrition and Pharmacology aren't required. They are required for every program I have ever looked into. I would take them anyway. I can't imagine the info from those 2 classes NOT coming up in nursing school or your future career. As far as medical terminology, I would only take it if I had to. So far, every class I have taken has included a terminology section in the textbook, either in the back of the book or included with each chapter, so it doesn't make sense (for me) to take a terminology class when the info is already provided.

I was a little fearful of being the oldest one in class, but there are MANY older people returning to school these days! I'm still taking my pre-reqs but a friend of mine who just started NS at the school I am applying to said that in her class of 32 ppl, there are 8-9 who are from 18-20something, the bulk of the class is in thier 30's, and there are about 5 students who are over 40 with the oldest being 55. I've decided not to care so much about my age when it comes to going back to school though. So I may not be hip and cool, and I may not wear the trendiest clothes or have the latest hairstyle, but who cares? We're not joining a social club, we're furthering our education and building a career! Actually, we "older" students are more mature and well-rounded because we have families, bills, jobs, etc. I think we have the upper hand if you ask me!

I got my CNA cert 10 years ago, and worked as a CNA for about 4 years, but the last 6 years I have worked away from the medical field and thus, my cert has expired. I have a full time job that brings in a pretty good salary and I can't quit because I have a family and financial obligations. My question is, should I renew my CNA and try to get a part-time job in addition to my full tim job, or do you think my prior experience will be enough to help me get into NS? I am already working on my pre-reqs and have a 4.0 GPA My only concern with this scenario is having time to study and keep my grades up if I have 2 jobs, school, and a family. Any advice? Oh, and I checked with my state and I can take the CNA test ONE TIME to get my cert re-instated, but if I fail I will have to go back through another CNA program to be eligible to take the test again (which I can't do at this time) so this is sort of a long shot anyway.

I am in the same situation and I agree with the other poster. You should take what is required for your first choice, then apply to that school, and if you don't get in you can take the other classes in time to apply for your second choice.

You can also go to youtube.com and search for educational videos on just about anything. I just typed in "epithelial tissue" and this was the first thing that popped up, but there was alot more. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OT_qilIntY I have used youtube to help me understand anything from nerve synapses to wathching the blood flow through the heart. It's very helpful to wach it live versus looking at pictures and still slides.

I am currently taking A&P II online (lecture and lab) as well as Psychology. Last semester I did A&P I (lecture & lab) and Eng. Comp I. So far I have enjoyed it and have had no problems. I have a 4.0 GPA and I have been out of school for 15 years. The lab part consists of a lab manual with photographs of specimens in wich we label, and we have access to interactive websites and tutorials to help us with that, along with our lecture textbook - which is all I have ever really used to help me and I have an A in the lab class. There is no mid-term or final exam in lab (at least at my school) only chapter tests. The chapter test are exact replicas of the questions at the end of each chapter in our lab manual. I am enrolled at Mississippi Delta Community College and the online classes they offer are in a "virtual community" along with about 20 other community colleges in MS. I can take any course within the virtual community - no matter which college is offering it - and I will get my college credits at MDCC, because that is where i am enrolled. Both Holmes and Hinds are members of this virtual community. Here's a link to the courses and schools that are in the MS virtual community college: http://sbcjcweb.sbcjc.cc.ms.us/MsvccVisitor/

I took an A&P II chapter test today on the endocrine system. This is the only test I will have in this class that only covered 1 chapter. All the rest cover 3 or more chapters. Well, I made an 80 on my test and that's the lowest grade I have made on any test I've taked since I started my pre-req's last year. I am so disappointed! I studied this one chapter all week and I really knew the material, but the questions were all critical thinking. I guess I expected the questions to be "list this" or "define that" and they weren't. I started to panic and then couldn't remember anything!! I want to cry right now! I still have 10 more chapter tests, plus my mid-term and final exams, so this one grade shouldn't be that big of a deal - but it is!

The only biology I had was in high school - 15 years ago. A&P I was not that difficult. I am now on A&P II and while it's more difficult (to me) it has nothing to do with my lack of biology experience. It's just a matter of lots of info over a short period of time.

PurposebyDesign, I am also studying the Endocine System right now in A&P II, and it's alot of info to absorb. I got an A in A&P I and i don't remember it being this hard. What I have found though, is if you got to youtube.com and search for "endocrine" or "pituitary" or "growth hormone" or anything related, there's alot of educational videos that are helpful. Some are only a few seconds long and some are over an hour, but if I am having trouble understanding something, I can usually find a video to help me visualize it.

NurseIn4, I know what you mean. I don't have any children, but my husband and I are in the process of adopting - which is alot of paperwork, meetings with social workers, and a ton of forms to fill out - on top of my classes - on top of my full time work. I am taking things slowly too. I have no choice. Sometimes I wonder if I have bitten off more than I can chew, but somehow I just keep going. I am taking my pre-req's at a community college too, but concider yourself lucky at what your paying. Mine is $85 per semester hour. Because I work full time, I can't take any more classes than I am already, but for just $200 more per semester, I could be full-time and add on 3-4 more classes. It's just not feasible for my life, though. It's expensive, especially going the route that I am - but luckily the 2 major hospitals in my area offer a tuition reimbursement program for nurses. If I sign a 2-year contract with either of them after graduation, they will pay me back what I spent on tuition. The one thing that worries me most, is that I have forgotten things that I thought I learned last semester. For instance, I am taking A&P II now, but I find myself flipping back to the beginning of the book to look up things that I had in A&P I. At this rate, I wonder, If I will have forgotten almost everything from A&P by the time I get to the nursing courses. A friend of mine who was accepted to nursing school and is taking Nursing I, told me the other day that no matter what I do - I need to make sure I know my A&P. She also told me that she didn't see how I was going to work and go to nursing school at the same time, that there's no way she would be able to do that. It really scared me. I know there are people who have dealt with much more than I am dealing with, and they were able to make it, so I just keep telling myself that nothing is stopping me from being one of those people. I just wish I would have done this 15 years ago, before life got too complicated!!

My degree requirements state that I can substitute Intro to Chemistry for Microbiology if I want. Those of you that have taken these courses - what would you do if you could choose? I took chemistry in high school - 15 years ago - and passed with B. There was a little chemistry at the beginning of A&P I and I passed that just fine. My only issue is, if I don't take chemistry - I am afraid will fail Microbiology miserably. On the other hand, If I can choose between the 2, I want to take the one that will benefit me the most in school and career. Any advice?

I'm 33 and in my second semester of pre-nursing. I have never been to college until know - went to work right after graduating high school with the intention of just taking a couple years off from school. Those couple years turned into 15! Anyway, I am still working full time and am taking my classes online. I will be applying for a Evening/Weekend ADN program at my local community college that will begin Jan 2010. So far I have taken A&P I (with lab) and English Comp I (passed both with A's) and currently I am taking A&P II (with lab) and Gen Psych. By the time I start nursing school, I should have all my academic courses completed by then, and will only have nursing courses to focus on. Because of this, I am hoping I will still be able to work full time while attending nursing school. Am I crazy for thinking I can work full-time and go to school?

Hi! I am new to the boards and I am also taking A&P II along with Psychology and I work full time. I feel like I could pass out at my desk right now! Last semester, I took A&P I and English Comp I and I passed them both with A's and don't remember being this worn out. I'm starting to get worried!! I am 33 with a full time job and this is my first time attending college in my life. Well, actually I am taking my classes online, but will go to an actual class once I start nursing school. I still plan to work full time and go to nursing school 3 nights a week and occasional Saturdays - that is, if I can handle it.