Dharma21

Catch up on saving for a new house with a backyard for my son! Once we have a backyard (we live in a condo now), I will get him the puppy and playscape he's been asking for. Saving to take a two week vacation to the Gulf Coast of Florida, complete with several days at Disney World for me, my son and my mom (who's been watching my son while I work and go to school). Likely, there will be an indulgent day spent at the spa for a little R&R for me and my mom. Very much looking forward to that day!

Hello everyone! Well, I will be 43 next week and I am currently in Pharmacology and will begin clinical courses for an ADN in September. Hopefully, 18 months after that, I will be getting ready to take the NCLEX so that I can officially say I am an RN! I started my prerequisites, along with a handful of classes to put toward a BSN, in May of 2009 and here I am! Even though it seems like so long ago, the time really has flown by and I can hardly believe I am actually finally beginning the clinical classes! I weathered the automotive industry in Michigan relatively unscathed (I still have my job and my condo), but aside from the constant worrying over the years about losing my job, I also needed something more challenging and rewarding. I needed something that “felt” more secure, and more flexible, and that afforded the possibility of greater responsibility and greater income (I’ve been an administrative assistant for 16 years). I am also a single parent by choice to a very energetic 4 year old boy and have somehow managed to spend time with him, continue working my full time office job while going to school and maintaining a 4.0 (much to my surprise because my first go around in college 20+ years ago was not that stellar). I had decided that I had always said I wanted to be a doctor when I was young, but came to realize that (aside from feeling seriously to old to attempt pursuing that path now) I likely really wanted to be a nurse all these years. I was actually a candy striper in high school, pink and white striped jumper and all, and enjoyed it a great deal! Seriously, other than that, I have no previous medical experience, but I am so excited to be pursuing a career in nursing! Right now, I am thinking that Labor and Delivery or Emergency (YIKES) might be the right place for me. Full of action, thinking on your feet, busy and just the kind of chaos that makes me crazy, but somehow calm (is that weird?). Then again, I have never done any of this, so who knows what I will find most interesting! I know that I will at least get a BSN. I’m hoping that my ADN will get me a job that will pay at least in part for the BSN, because money is what stopped me from going straight for the BSN. That first go around at a University 20+ years ago got me to 20 credits short of a bachelor’s degree, something I always regretted not finishing. Never finishing that first degree ironically paid off, because coupled with my modest income and single parent status, it has provided me the opportunity for grants and scholarships which will pay for my ADN in full. I am entertaining the idea of pursuing an MSN, but one thing at a time ;-) I do struggle a bit in classes with the younger crowd in class. Mostly the drama. I don’t want to come across as aloof with my classmates, but I seriously am all business! I don’t have a great deal of time for study groups or fretting over an exam or assignment or antics with BF’s or BFF’s or wild parties or issues at rinky dink part-time jobs … my life is a balance of school, work, son … for now ;-) I am nervous about my fall schedule, the 18 months of clinicals thereafter and how it will affect the job I’ve had for 16 years … which pays the bills and provides medical insurance for me and my son. I am nervous about finding a job as a bedside nurse, in a major hospital, at 45 years old, with virtually no experience. I am nervous about “only” having an ADN because ultimately I will need a good job to get the BSN for greater opportunities and achievement. I am nervous to transition from working with mostly men to working mostly with women. I am nervous to go from a schedule of Monday thru Friday from 8 to 5, to hours and days all over the map. I am nervous about the possibility of doing absolutely anything that could injure a patient, but I am also SUPER conscientious about my actions and am looking forward to doing something that will help and comfort others. This journey back to school has been stressful, but I honestly cannot say it has been difficult. The classes just seem very second nature and common sense to me, so I really feel this is a good fit. I must admit, that although I have somewhat altruistic intentions, I also have selfish intentions. I cannot wait to be finished with the ADN and hopefully (fingers crossed) a higher paying job because my son will be about 6 when I begin practicing. I cannot wait to 1) take him to Disney World, 2) dump my condo and get a house with a backyard, and 3) get him the puppy he’s been asking for! All have to wait until I finish school, but they are going to be very nice rewards for my son and me. Well, that’s me in a nutshell! Nice to “meet” (kinda) all of you and good luck to everyone!

I too would recommend AP I & II, especially since often BIO 236 (the combined course) does not transfer to other schools. As for the TEAS, strategically, I would sign up to take it just as I was finishing/finished BIO 237 so that you can get on that list as soon as possible. Like I said, the test dates fill up quickly. I believe I signed up and paid for my test in April and I couldn't take it until November which was fine for me because I was finishing up BIO 236 and Chem in December so I could apply to the program as soon as grade were posted (btw, you need to schedule an appointment with the adviser for the day the grades are posted to do this). The TEAS. Well I didn't take the prep course, but I did have the study guide. Everything is timed and I finished all sections, with the exception of the math portion, with time to spare. The math section just tripped me up because I obsessively recheck my answers, so I am pokey. Mostly I know that if I breeze thru any math, I make silly mistakes. I did manage to finish with an score well above the minimum in one attempt with minimal studying. Just take a deep breath and relax before the test. I'm not all that keen on taking tests, especially timed tests, but ultimately to get your license you are going to have to take a big timed test. Best to work up your nerve with practice now ;o)

Well, if you really want to be a nurse, and the spring semester starts in a few weeks, I would sign up for A&P1 and then pick a date to take the TEAS and sign up for it. Begin studying for the TEAS. A work hard at A&P1 as all that crammed into 7 weeks is going to be a full time job. Then, by July or August, you should be able to apply to SCCC nursing. I am certain you will still have classes to take (for example A&P II) while you wait. Also, after you secured a spot at SCCC, while you wait you could apply to a competitive program and see how you fare. If you get into the competitive program, you are set. If you don't you can take the remaining prerequisites at SCCC and some extra classes for a BSN (if that's what you are ultimately looking for) and the wait won't honestly be that long. As for what to do while you wait ... just keep doing whatever you've been doing. I still have my full-time office job and intend to keep it until I absolutely cannot. I am a single parent who also has a disabled dependent parent to care for, so not working is not an option for me. As my current job pays very well for an administrative assistant and provides all of our health insurance, I am not going to just give it up because things get hard. I still have a mortgage and utilities and car payments to make. If you are hung up about working in a medically related field while going to school, then pursue that in the meantime. I am certain that if I can do it, and maintain a 4.0 GPA, virtually anyone could do it. I'm a smart, hard working girl, but there is absolutely nothing special about what I am doing beyond just getting the job done. The first step really is signing up for the silly class and taking the TEAS. If its what you want to do, then do it. There is no magical answer that's gonna make you an instant RN.

I am starting an ADN program in September 2012 and I was worried about not having had a medical terminology course (mine doesn't require it either) especially since I have no previous medically related experience. The very first class we had to take for the Nursing Program, is Nursing Informatics and a big component of that class is medical terminology. We did not go over every single term in class, but it was also made clear that we would be responsible for learning that terminology and abbreviations as we would need them for the duration of the program as well as our future careers. Honestly, its a great deal of memorization to make it second nature. In the end, I did not take the additional terminology course. I also understand that the terminology class had a great deal of content pertaining to insurance and coding for medical billing which nurses really do not need. I believe the information I have from my Informatics class will be fantastic. I just keep my flashcards out and run through the very large stack once a week to keep the information fresh. Maybe you should find out if your school has the same type of class before investing in a full blown class which might also contain a great deal of content that you are not really going to need. I do wish I would have had the foresight to have taken the semester long First Aid and Personal Safety course at my leisure as I have to get my BLS certification anyway and that's just a one day class. I'm not really sweating it as I was a life guard in younger years. Its likely just me being me, but I think I would have felt better completing the semester long First Aid class instead of just a one day BLS course.

The TEAS is a standardized test. You sign up (the dates fill up quickly), pay and take the test. There is a study guide (several actually) you can buy and Schoolcraft (as well as other schools) offer a TEAS test review class. Honestly, I had been out of school for 20 years and was into my 3rd part time semester when I took the test. I hadn't studied for it at all (not that I am recommending that route because I think you only get two attempts) and passed with flying colors. If you are seriously interested in pursuing nursing, you should make an appointment and speak with an academic adviser. Have your list of questions ready and go from there.

I don't really understand why everyone is hung up on the wait list at a community college? I started at Schoolcraft in May of 2009 and by the end of the semester in December 2009 had completed JUST the requirements necessary to get myself on the wait list (each college is different, but its generally Bio, A&P and Chem and the TEAS or equivalent). Once that was accomplished, WHILE I WAS WAITING, I took the additional general education requirements for the program (Psych, Algebra, Computer Course, Comp, etc) and a few additional classes to put toward my BSN (Micro, Org Chem). I am now starting in the Fall of 2012 (I had been bumped up from the Fall of 2013), so am about to start Pharmacology in May and will begin Fundamentals in the Fall. This means I only have nursing classes to complete in the next 18 months. There is a "wait" virtually everywhere because even if you apply to a competitive BSN program, you will likely not jump right in. You will have to take 12 to 16 credit hours at that university before you can apply to their nursing program and there is no guarantee you will get into the program. Then you have to wait to start, perhaps up to another year longer (if they only start the nursing classes in the fall). Additionally, my entire stint at the CC has been covered by grants and scholarships, so no out of pocket costs. I was pondering jumping ship for a University until I realized that I would need $60K to finish the way I wanted. I would have to find the cash and it would take me 8 months longer to get a BSN. Although I want a BSN, I stuck it out at the CC and hopefully when employed as an RN with an ADN, I will carry on with the BSN and possibly MSN perhaps with some sort of tuition reimbursement. If you keep "thinking about it" and don't stick to a program, you'll still be 31 in 5 years ... right? I will be 44 when I finish my ADN and hope to have my masters by 48. I am not the least bit stressed about the age bit because I am currently running circles around my younger classmates! I think that when considering a CC for an ADN, instead of worrying about the wait list and how long it "seems", you need to focus on a strategic way of first getting on that list and then finishing up additional requirements so you will be ready when your name gets called to start the program. Sometimes counselors are lax in pointing out that you should wait to take English and Psychology and such until after you actually do what you have to do to get on that list! Has it been worth the wait? I think so. I am still getting older, but at least I am closer to being an RN. My only options would have been a university (I was easily accepted to several) and hope that after a semester or two of classes that I would get accepted into their nursing program or pay for a private for profit school (but I have a very strong anti-opinion of those no matter what career you are pursuing). BTW, you can do what you have to do to get yourself on the list at a CC, then take a couple general ed classes at a university during the wait and apply to their program. If you get accepted, GREAT, if not, you still have the back up at the CC (that was my plan, but the cost of the university scared me away).

Hi gstahl2012! I just noticed this today and I just sent you a creepy stalker friend request as well. I should however warn you that apparently I do not have enough posts to send and receive private messages on this thing as I have mostly been lurking out there! Seriously, I am interested in everyone's advice and input, but I am a little bashful, even online! I don't know if this will work, because I can certainly understand privacy and this might get blocked, but my alter-ego dharma can be reached at yahoo. She's dharma_sweet21. Don't sweat NURS 102. Its fairly straightforward and I got the impression it was more to introduce you to the program and get you comfortable with terminology and abbreviations. I have absolutely no medical background (beyond two years as a candy striper WAY back in the mid 80's as a very green 16 year old) and it was an very easy 4.0. The professor is super friendly and helpful. She also teaches several other classes in the program, like Pharm and Fundamentals, so you will see her again. I'll be taking Pharmacology in May also, the Wednesday evening class, as I am still clinging to my 9 to 5 job for as long as I can! Let me know which Pharm class you sign up for this spring!

Take the first half of AP and schedule your TEAS date immediately (the test dates fill up quickly). I started back to school in May of 2009, applied to Schoolcraft's ADN program in December of 2009 and got my letter a week later welcoming me to the Fall Class for 2013. Last year, I received a letter indicating that I had been bumped up to the fall of 2012, so I start in September! In the meantime, I have been taking classes at my leisure that will count toward an eventual BSN/MSN bridge program I am shooting for after I get my license. I too have a full time 9-5 job (completely unrelated to anything in the healthcare field) and am a single parent to a preschooler, so I had to base my school choices accordingly. This fall and the 18 months to follow are going to be rough, but I felt that Schoolcraft has a long standing, well respected program, its affordable, and the wait list was not so much an issue as I finished all my prerequisites and some BSN classes (Micro, BioChem, additional Psych) while I waited. I'm about to start Nursing 102 (Infomatics) in a week and will be taking Pharmacology starting in May. It seemed like a long time to wait in the beginning, but time flew by! I will be taking Fundamentals of Nursing in September all on its own, without the stress of any additional classes! Congrats and good luck with your decision!

I began taking prerequisites in May of 2009 at Schoolcraft. I submitted my paperwork the day grades posted in December of 2009 and got a letter a week later welcoming me to the fall class of 2013. I received a letter earlier this year indicating that I have been bumped to the Fall of 2012 which I confirmed with my adviser, so I start next year (well Infomatics and Pharmacology this spring). I think a two year bump is not impossible, but unlikely given how many people are currently trying to get into the program. I do know that although its noncompetitive, if you turned in your paperwork the day grades were posted (as many people do) they do rank you in order of GPA for that day only. So if you have a high GPA and got in on that day, you would be at the top of the list for a bump. Hope this info helps. Good luck!

Hey gstahl4 ... we will be in the same Chemistry class in the fall. I also have AP 237 all day on Friday and I am registered to take the TEAS in November. I took BIO 101 in the spring and Algebra this summer. I got the scoop on the numbers already enrolled in the ADN program about a month ago from a memeber of the adminstration. The Fall class of 2010 is full and there were already 74 in the class of 2011. I will be applying to the ADN program in December, but I am also gonna apply to some BSN programs (WSU, EMU, Madonna -no wait I hear- and UofM) and see what happens. I am still employed fulltime (well reduced to 32 hours) in a unrelated field. I really don't want to wait until the Fall of 2012 to start the nursing program as I will only have 4 more pre-requisites to take for the ADN program while waiting, but I will have 4 or 5 additional classes (all BIO and CHEM) to take as prerequisites for a BSN. We shall see. Best of luck and I'll see you in Chem on August 26th!

Hi SREED1966 ... Wow, we seem to be on the same path. I am starting BIO 101 in two weeks, Algebra in the Summer and in the Fall AP 237 and Chemistry. Hoping to take the TEAS in November. Its my "Return to Learn" after an 18 year hiatus from college. I still have to juggle my fulltime job for as long as I have it (automotive), while completing pre-requisites. Good luck to you and I'll see you there!