fyrace

Why provisional. If you don't need your CCRN, don't get it. You can read baby miller if you have nothing else to do, but most stuff will be taught. Other books may be too difficult until you actually learn the concepts behind them. Best you can do until school is to enjoy your freedom. Just sayin....

You can find them online. I know the university of new england offers some, I think University of North Carolina offers some, but they are expensive. Have to google around to find, or research a bit more in this forum and I know people have posted them. I just can't think of all of them.

Had organic I, II, and biochem.

MTRN, Not sure if you can read PMs but just sent you one with my email.

Sounds great! I know a couple of us so far. PM me. Are you in the headstart program? There are a couple of us in the headstart and just met some at the FANA mtg this weekend. Getting close to really getting started.

Basic stuff. Good GRE, good experience, good grades, hone your interview skills. Get advanced chem under your belt, shadow several times. If you have time, some recommend getting graduate level courses and get good grades as that shows you can do harder classes, however you cannot transfer these grad courses. Barry's program is a science based program, not a nursing based program, so if you can work your way through organic I/II and biochem, you will have a better shot. Do better than a 1000 on your GRE. Get some good LORs, CRNA/MDA a must...etc. You can prob look around more and find other suggestions, but those are some of the basics.

I'm in Barry with similar stats, less experience and no CCRN, however have other perks that helped. You should be fine at least for an interview.

If you are just trying to refresh, then online may be okay, but organic and biochem is tough. Is it online where you have a teacher lecturing, or is it online where you read and figure it out yourself. I took organic I and II and biochem at a large university and could have never done it online. Now I am taking the head start organic/biochem for Barry CRNA and it is online, but you can interact with the teacher and there are live lectures, so its not too bad. Plus I have exposure. If you are able to take the class in person, this is a core class and you don't want the W or bad grade, then have to retake in person anyways. I would show up, learn the info, and play it safe.

I'm not so sure you should hold up applying to retake this class, especially at a community college level. If you were to retake them to show you are motivated, I would retake upper division or grad level. As well, one C- for an applicant with a decent overall GPA, good GRE scores, and good experience is not going to destroy your chances. Be prepared to answer for it, but one blemish will not shut you down. People have gotten in with significantly less than one C- in a core class. If you have time to retake, and are not ready to apply, I would surely retake a higher level class and be successful there. Don't retake the community college stuff and think that will carry you. Otherwise, if you are together everywhere else, apply.

I think the average nurse with one year experience won't get into school anyways, so it is essentially a moot point. Competition is fierce and you have to have something that stands out above the other hundreds of candidates. I did it, but I had extracurriculars that mattered for my school. But if all you have is nursing, the more experience you get, the better off you will be and you will have better chance of getting into school. Remember, it is a "whole picture" thing and you're best to contact your target school and ask what makes a great candidate. I have many friends in school right now and it is rough. Good luck.

What I mean is that there is so much work in this program when you start full time, you will be busting your butt and have no time. A very hard program and I was told taking the headstart helps.

Retake your GRE. Some schools don't even touch you with less than 1000. Some weigh other factors besides GRE, but it still is a standard you must overcome.

You are looking at only the partial picture. I got in with one year ICU experience, but had Org I, II, Biochem, good GPA/GRE and 15 years as a medic. Its doable, but you have to have other supporting things to help. One program director said to get in with 1 year experience it had to be stellar experience with stellar grades. If you were bagging groceries before your one year of nursing, had average other stats, and average interview skill, you are most likely going to be sitting around awhile getting used to the ICU.

I was told by the end of your first year you will be running your own room. Means you run the surgery, just as if you were employed, you are on the schedule, you get vacation...etc. You move fast and a buddy who is in his first year says you get your a** handed to you so be ready. I also got the syllabus for the headstart chem and the orientation dates. PM me if anyone is interested.

I know one of the pre-reqs is the ability to take some self initiative and be able to use a search funtion.