kuccellini

I am currently taking prerequisites for nursing school. I am glad I found this thread. I am VERY much a Type A personality, a "planner", and have been trained to come up with a plan A, B, and C. I had worked in medical education and pharmaceutical meeting planning and LOVED it, but unfortunately it is not a secure industry, as I found out in this economy. I am becoming VERY intimidated and paranoid though, because I feel like EVERYONE who has been laid off is entering the nursing field, and programs are so competitive. My plan A is getting into an accelerated 2nd degree BSN, as I already have a BSJ. Plan B is....I don't know! I don't know if I should apply to the local community college's ADN program, become an OTA, a PTA, an MA....I want to be in the medical field, but I can't afford to live off an hourly income....and I want to pursue a master's at some point... I also feel like I'm racing the clock. I want to be done with school and established in a career before starting a family. I'm 30, and I already feel like by the time I'm done with school, even an accelerated program, I'll be "too old" to start a family.

S.P.- I just came across this thread and I'm so glad I did. I too had a kidney transplant, in 1989-I just celebrated by 20th anniversary of transplantation this year! I decided to change careers (I'm 29) for the same reason (among others)-to give back to the medical profession that helped me. I am interested in nephrology or transplantation recovery. I am going to tell my nephrologist tomorrow about my plans; mostly to get her "blessing", as my family is unsure whether my decision to become a nurse is a sound one. Thank you for this information and the responses from RNs in the field. Hoping to join your ranks in 2011! Best, Kim

Hello all, I am a future (hopefully) nursing student, currently living in Connecticut. My family lives in northern Virginia, and, after being laid off 3 times in one year, I have made the decision to change careers to nursing. I am 29 years old, married, no kids. My husband and I will be living with my parents for the duration of whichever nursing program I get into. I am posting here because I am applying to the accelerated programs at Shenandoah, GMU, and Marymount. I do have a BS in Journalism. I wasn't considering NOVA until reading these posts. I'm hoping to get into GMU, but does anyone have reliable information on how competitive and how respected each of these programs are currently? I won't be applying until next Fall, after completing many prerequisites. I definitely will not be working while going to school, and if you are wondering if you can work while doing an accelerated program, it states on the website of every school I have researched that working is highly discouraged. I imagine the amount of instruction time, studying, and clinical schedule would severly limit any available working hours. It is unlikely I will be working in northern Virginia. My husband and I will be relocating to southern Maryland or Virginia Beach, whre he can get a job (with the government.) So I want to be sure that if I am lucky enough to get in everywhere I apply, I'll attend a school that has a strong regional reputation. Thanks for any advice!

The test covers math: percentages, proportion, word problems, geometry, mean, median, fractions, coverting to metric...Reading comprehension: main idea, tone, details, inferences, subject matter, Grammar and Spelling, and science: basics of chemistry, physics, earth science, general science, anatomy. I have the study guide. I did the reading comprehension self test and got a 90% without studying. I was a journalism major in college, so I don't think the english/grammar section will be hard. Math will be my downfall. I have heard that the study guide was helpful to those who though the actual test was very similar, or not helpful at all. I also bought the Kaplan Nursing School Entrance Exam book, 3rd edition, for extra practice. Now I just have to get motivated to study!

I am applying to UVA, Shenandoah, Marymount and George Mason. Marymount and Shenandoah require TEAS. Blah.

Sorry to beat a dead horse, but I'm taking the TEAS THIS Friday, the 13th...I know. Although I'm not superstitious, I'm hoping not to get jinxed. I have JUST started studying, and am only taking the TEAS as my undergrad GPA was just under 3.0 (Journalism major, too much partying.) The nursing schools I am applying to (accelerated BSN programs in Virginia) required TEAS to be taken if that was the case. I am not too concerned about English and Reading Comprehension, but seriously, I have not taken math or science (with the exception of A&P I this semester) for over 10 years. I have 96 hours. Should I only focus on math and science? Thanks!