Barkley36

let's hear it for "old" nursing students! i'm 54 and will be starting an entry level msn program in june. i'm excited and ready to jump into advanced pathophysiology with both feet. hey, i know i'm the oldest student in my cohort of 20, but feel that i bring a lot to the table. i do have a background in health care as a medical techologist, but have also been a professional photographer and a naval officer. i've had to deal with parents with terminal cancer, bosses that drove me crazy and more than a few jokes from friends (?) who think i'm out of my mind. my goal is to get my masters degree by the time i'm 60 and spend the next several decades being both useful and challenged. what could be more exciting!

Hi, As a medical laboratory scientist (MT(ASCP) and now also a nursing student, I would say that the other posts are right. The test may have looked like 66T, but was probably GGT, which as you know is an enzyme level usually used to check liver function. Hope this helps.

Hi, As you can tell from the previous posts, every college is a bit different when it comes to what is required to do well in Microbiology. I think it would be a good idea to ask the professor who is teaching micro at your college about what kind of background in chemistry will help you do well and what emphasis he/she places on the biochemical basis of microbes and the body's reaction to them. You might also wish to ask some fellow students (who have completed microbiology at your school) about their perceptions of how much chemistry is required for the course. Learning a bit (or a lot for that matter) about both chemistry and microbiology can only help you in your pursuit of being a good nurse! Cheers and good luck!

Hi, As you can tell from these posts, there are a lot of bad chemistry (anatomy, math, etc.) teachers out there. Many good chemists (mathematicians, artists, etc.) stink at teaching. Teaching is not only knowing your subject, it's also about being able to explain your subject in terms that your students can understand. Sometimes that involves analogies, sometimes it involves hands-on demos - a good teacher should be able to see what techniques are working and which ones need to be modified. I have spent the past year as a peer tutor at my local college. I tutor fellow students in anatomy and physiology, chemistry and microbiology. I find myself undoing a lot of damage that our poor chemistry teaching staff has done. Chemistry is relevant to so many things - cooking, global warming and yes, nursing - but our staff has the ability to make it both confusing and boring at the same time. So, I see lots of smart and motivated students (mostly pre-nursing) really struggling in chemistry. So don't be discouraged. Yes, you need to know chemistry to be a good nurse, but there are many good ways to learn it. The web is full of great information and there are even virtual chem labs that you can play around with on your computer (and blow up the entire lab- what fun!) You are very young (hey, I could be your grandma) so don't allow either your chemistry teacher or school counselor to tell you to throw in the towel at this early stage of the game. I know it's trite to say it, but "hang in there". You're in charge of your future, just consider this a test of your determination. Cheers and good luck.

Hi, I vote for sleep. Waiting until the last minute and cramming has never worked for me. In fact I normally do not study much (or at all) for a big test the day before the exam. I know many folks who don't have that luxury, but it works for me. I find that doing something to reduce my test anxiety and stress (such as walking, meditating, rubbing my dog's tummy, etc.) is of more importance than trying to memorize those last final details regarding electrolyte balance. Cheers and good luck!

Hi, Those anatomy and physiology coloring books really helped me and many of my fellow pre-nursing students. I think you're also smart using flash cards. I kept them in my pocket or purse and reviewed them every time I had a few extra minutes. I also posted terms, pictures, charts, etc. on the wall next to my treadmill and sort of killed 2 birds with one stone - getting exercise and learning my physiology. I also recommend starting or joining a study group with one caviat - be careful that the members are really there to study and not gossip or goof around. (cell phones should be off or at least on vibrate, no texting during the study session, etc.) Be particular about who you study with and where you study. Check out your schools peer tutoring program - many schools have them and they are usually free to all registered students. Finally, find a method of dealing with your stress. Whatever works for you is fine - deep breathing, meditation, etc. You'll find that stress reduction is very important in nursing school and you will be ahead of the game. Cheers and good luck!

Hi, I found several books and CD's helpful - especially those produced by the Princeton Review people. Once I was prepped I made it a requirement for myself to take a practice GRE via CD or on the internet at least once a week. This made me very comfortable with the requirements of the exam - time allotments, not using the bathroom during the exam, not having access to a calculator, etc. I approached the GRE as just another hoop to jump through (it's really just a game) in order to be able to apply to the entry level masters programs I had in mind. I also found a "cheap" (well, cheap compared to many large prep companies) GRE prep course through a women's group at the University of Washington. I had to devote several Saturdays to attending classes, but found the teacher and his prep methods very inciteful. In addition, I think learning to control stress before and during the exam is important. Find out what works for you- deep breathing, meditation, ect. These skills will also help you later in nursing school. Also be aware when you take the GRE that you may be given special extra sections (in either math or verbal) that don't count. Unfortunatly, you won't be aware of it at the time. My first section after the required 2 writing sections was a "fake" math section. I could hardly answer any of the questions confidently and just about started to cry - I knew I had blown the exam! Then came a verbal section - I was rattled, but did ok. I was just about ready to leave when the computer told me that there was another math section to take. This time it was the math I had studied for and I did fine. My scores weren't fantastic, but were a bit higher than average. Incidently, I just got accepted to both entry level MSN schools that I applied to and will have to make a decision shortly about which one to attend. I should also mention that I am 54 years old and it has been 30 years since I took a math course (not counting a recent statistics course). If I can study for the GRE and do ok, so can you! Cheers and good luck!

Hi again, I forgot to mention that as far as number of applications at PLU for the ELMSN program, I know that last year they received 121 and accepted about 30%. I haven't heard about this year's numbers.

Hi, I got my acceptance letter from PLU around the end of January. I really wasn't expecting to hear until at least Feb/March, so it was a big, but very pleasant, surprise. I have sent in my acceptance letter, but also recently got a positive letter from Seattle University. I am about 90% sure of attending PLU. My pros and cons for attending each school are listed on another thread titled "Applied to OHSU and Seattle University ...". I'd love to hear from others regarding attending either school. I know that SU received around 200 applications, interviewed about 95 and accepted (I think) about 60. :yelclap:

hi, i now have 2 weeks to decide between seattle university and pacific lutheran university's entry level msn programs. here are my pros and cons for attending each institution: pros: seattle university: beautiful campus close to downtown seattle and most of the major medical centers in seattle; great state of the art nursing lab; well known; nursing school has a very fine reputation; on the quarter system; students pass the nclex on their initial try; jesuit tradition and sense of mission to serve the less fortunate members of society. pacific lutheran university: pretty tree-filled campus; lots of friendly people on campus; apartments in the tacoma/puyallup area are cheaper to rent; nursing school has very fine reputation; msn classes are held in the evening and on friday so students are encouraged to work during their last 2 years; beginning students are not locked from the get-go into a certain program or track such as np or cns - one can decide on one's track after completing the initial rn classes; students pass the nclex on their initial try; lutheran tradition and mission of serving others; the admissions and nursing school staff were very approachable when i had questions prior to application. cons: seattle university: renting an apartment is much more expensive; students are locked into a track such as np or program development from the beginning of their studies and cannot change; the admissions and nursing school staff weren't very approachable when i had questions prior to application (while i would have preferred to make an appointment and talk on campus, i was discouraged from doing so - their preference was for handling everything by phone or email) . pacific lutheran university: located in tacoma therefore further away from the arts and entertainment venues in seattle; program takes 3 years (rather than 2 to complete); on the semester system. :typing wow, it was great for me to sit down at the keyboard and do this. it's a good chance to hone those decision making and critical thinking skiills that all good nurses need. i'm sure others can add to these lists of pros and cons. (these are strictly based on my personal experiences with both schools this past year) hey, it great to have such choices!

Hi, Just checked my mailbox and found an acceptance letter from Seattle University. Now I have to decide whether to choose SU or PLU. It's wonderful to have a choice between 2 fine MSN programs! Good Luck to all!

Hi, I felt my interview at SU went very well. The interviewers were quite cordial and I never felt like I was in the hot seat. I was asked to recall a time when I encountered a "person in need" (such as someone who was homeless, poor, underprivileged etc.), what I did and how I felt about it. I do volunteer work at a free clinic for adults who have no health insurance, so I related several incidences of patients I have met working there. I was asked about a time when I was leader and things went well or badly and how I handled it. I talked about organizing and leading a study group for microbiology students at my college. I recall also being asked how I handle people who are angry or upset. I said that I try to listen as much as possible, try to narrow down what they are angry about and then try to remedy the situation. I also feel it is calming and helpful to the angry person if I give then my name and how I and be contacted in case future action needs to be taken. That makes them feel as if they are dealing with a "real person" who cares about them, not just "some lady" in a white coat. Hope this was helpful. Good Luck!

I interviewed yesterday at SU for the CNL track in the APNI program. I was told that about 200 people applied for all ANPI tracks and they were extending interviews to about 95 out of those 200. Interviews should be completed by the end of Feb. and decisions will be sent out in early March. Good luck all!

For those of you who are waiting to hear from Seattle University's APNI program, I had my interview today and gleaned a little bit of information regarding what is going on. They received about 200 applications for admission this year. From those 200 about 95 were selected for interviews. Interviews should be completed next week and a final decision regarding acceptees will be made in the first part of March. My interview went well, so I am a happy camper.

I applied to 2 entry level MSN programs in Nov/Dec 2008 (both have a Summer 2009 start). I received a letter yesterday from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, WA telling me that I had been accepted. Hurray! I am still awaiting word from Seattle University regarding an interview. I read today that the coordinator of the APNI program at SU had recently died of cancer. Her death may have had an impact on the review of applications and consequent interviews. Does anyone else have information on SU's APNI program?