Kenrb27

Thanks, everyone for the encouargement. The drop date has come and gone and I'm still here. Hopefully, it was a wise descion. I have studied so much I don't know if I finally "get it" or if I just have the problems memorized.

See, I loved anatomy and physiology. Specifically physiology, I liked learning how and why things work and how the the different systems affect each other. I know I will make a good nurse and am prepared for some crying and hard times but it is discouraging that even as a pre-nursing student there is already a high level of cattiness. No kids yet, just engaged to the most wonderful supportive man on the planet.

I am currently in a Chemistry class, and it is the last thing I need to apply to a nursing program. I think my chances of getting in are pretty good but I am struggling with the Chem class. While math is not one of my strong points, I am willing to do the work and put in the extra time to learn the material. I would rather know why I am doing something than just get by and be able to regurgitate it on a test. The thing that scares me most however, is that my Chem professor took some drug problems off of our school's nursing quizzes and I don't know how to do them. (mostly dilution/concentration stuff) He never really taught us how to do these type of problems so I've been visiting the tutor and while he is helping me get the right answer I still don't "understand". (I'm sure if he taught them I'd be doing somewhat better, but we are running behind and so he's rushing through things) All this combined with the fact that I am now questioning my decision to become a nurse is really freaking me out. My original reasons for becoming a nurse were that I really like interacting with patients, and there is a lot of different avenues for me to find something I truly love or at least, can stand. (I'm thinking pediatrics,psych, or public health) I took a CNA course and found that I didn't mind patient care and LOVED the patient education side of things. While I was disappointed that even as a CNA I didn't have more time to hold the hands of residents, rub backs and listen to their stories at least that bubble has been popped now and I know I will be much more busy as a nurse. Should I instead go into an LVN course since it is shorter and I can see if the field is for me? Should I change my major to counseling or social work? I am by no means a quitter but I will be dealing with lives and I take this all very seriously.

Melement, does your school give points for health care experience? What will you do if you are done with your pre-reqs but don't get in the first time you apply?

I am leaning more and more towards LVN so I can get my life started but I will apply to the local RN programs to see if I get in. I really would rather not work as a cna. It's just not my thing. I work at an office but I'm a cosmetologist so I would do that before I did anything else. Melement my school's LVN/RN bridge is MUCH easier to get into than the RN program.

I would join the Navy as soon as I was done with my BSN. At this rate that will be sometime around when I'm 31 or so. (I'm 25 now) My fiance is former navy and a navy contractor currently so we're used to being apart. I've allways wanted to join but was discuraged by my parents after 9/11. I love the fact that it will also provide me the opportunity to "return the favor" to him. And let him chill and go to school with out worrying about bills.

Ok so we've all heard the delima before, LVN or RN. Heres my story. I am 25 and my ultimate goal is to become a Nurse in the Navy so I know I need my BSN for that. Just looking for a little advice. I'm finishing up my pre-reqs for nursing as well as the Health Science Degree. I have an "A" in English "B" in Anatomy "A" in Physiology and I am currently in Micro and it's looking like an "A" as well. I just took a CNA course so I'm am a CNA but don't plan to work as one. However I feel like I have my life on hold waiting to get into a RN program. I want to have babies and get married!:redbeathe I currently work in an office about 15hrs a week and they are super cool about my school schedule. My fiance supports us financialy and while he is very supportive and knows our goal of becomeing a nurse will take some time, I know he is nervous as the main breadwinner. I would be kinda screwed if we broke up as most nursing programs don't want you to work full time. I will be applying to programs at the end of this year and they would start in next FAll 2011. That just seems so far away when I could jump in a LVN program that starts in October of Jan and be done in a year. I am not one of those people who wouldn't go back and get the RN, I know myself pretty well. Just tired of all the competion and drama of pre-nursing! Plus I'm ready to start making some money and get some experience LVN here in Cali start off pretty good in the state prisions. Plus what happens if you invest all that time in nursing school and fail at the end? (or get sick or whatever) Then you got nothing but wasted time.

I don't plan on looking for a job. The CNA's where I'm from make 8.88 in LTC and I make more than that at my desk job. THere is no way I'm willing to do all the hard work that a CNA does for that amount of money. I'm taking the class because it is a pre-req for an LVN program I'm applying to and/or for experience points for the RN program. I wouldn't mind working as a CNA and getting some medical experience but I just can't do it for pennies. The only way I would work as a CNA is possibly with a registry.

I didn't study at all and I got an overall score of 80. Keep in mind I am currently taking algerbra 2 at at community college so that helped. But still I actually almost timed out on the math and suggest taking the advice of other posters and doing what you know and skipping what you don't know. That way you can go back and spend more time or just guess on the ones you don't know. You probably want to glance at metric conversions. English and reading portions were pretty easy but these are my stronger subjects. I'd also take a look at correct comma placement especaily before or after the word "and". The science isen't really anything I feel you can study for, it's kind of random. I had some stuff about rocks and clouds on there and very few anatomy of phys questions. It took me about 2 1/2 hrs but there were people who finished before me and plenty of people still taking the test when I left. I'm glad its over!

Dosen't matter what you wear, if your not used to all that standing and walking your feet are going to hurt. I went through two pairs of shoes before I realised it was the nature of the work not the shoes that had my feet and back sore! I setteled on white adidas superstars.

Hey Guys My first day of CNA class is today and I'm excited as I am really ready for my winter break to be over. I was checking out the website of one of our clinical sites (LTC facility) and now I'm kinda freaking out and nervous because I realize this isen't going to be as easy or a nice as I thought. I've been doing my pre-reqs for nursing but this is my first "medical" class. Like many of you I am taking the CNA class b/c it is a pre-req for my LPN program as well as for points if a I am to get in my Community College's RN program. With the time gaps between applying to the RN program and it actually starting I'm better of just doing the one year LVN at the vocational school and then jumping into and LVN-RN bridge.

You guys are crazy taking that many credits at once. But I guess I'm taking around that number as well because I'm taking a CNA course on top of my 12 units of pre-reqs. I'm always excited at the begining of the semester but at the end I'm very ready for a break. Your right, winter break has been too long.

I feel you trident. I also live in Cali and am in my 2nd semester of pre-reqs for nursing. It's really discuraging when they tell you a a "b" isen't good enough. There are people with straight "A"s who are on waiting lists. I'm really considering finishing up this semester and doing an LVN program.

Thanks, for the advice. If I had it my way RN is the route I would choose no questions asked. I just don't know if I'll have the grades or the patience (Waiting lists) to get into any of the local RN programs. By the time I make my decision (or have it made for me, by not getting in. It just sucks to have to retake a class b/c you got a "B") I'll have all my Pre-reqs for the RN program out of the way. I'll have a degree in health science I suppose. I'm guessing I could do LPN and then do the LPN/RN bridge in another less impacted state being as that my pre-reqs would be done. Hard not to jump in the LPN boat when you hear what they are making out at the nearby prisons.

Hello everyone! my first post here. Feedback would be appreciated. I'm 25 years old, no kids, stable relationship. I work part-time (2days a week) and go to school full time. I have a great financial aid package. (I don't pay anything for school and get a little back w/ pell grants) This is my 2nd semester and I am taking anatomy. At the moment I have a very high "C" that is very possible to bring up to a "B". My problem is that I'm stressed out all the time about grades. The pressure to get straight "A"s in my pre-reqs is overwhelming! I have all "A"s in my other classes (SOC 1, algerbra1, Psych1, English1a, Spanish1) But it's really sort of stressing me out. I am made to think that a "B" isen't good enough. It certainly isen't competitve to get into any of the local nursing programs. We are military however and I know a lot of other state's nursing programes aren't as impacted/hard to get into. (I'm from FL) My ultimate goal was to get my BSN and join the Navy as an officer. (I would very much like to give my B/F the wonderful oportunity he has given me to focus on school.) However I've been very tempted to enter into a local LVN program just so I don't have to deal with the stress and I can get to work already. What does every one think? Any suggestions?