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what advice would you give your self as nurse now, when you were a student? that would have helped you do better in nursing school? also for lpns and rns (preferably lpns in canada), what were the most difficult courses you took in nursing school? what is the most difficult task to do now as a nurse? do you use everything you learned? did you forget most of it by grad? i hear for most careers, most of the information they learned in school is not used later. but i'm sure this is different for nursing. i was also wondering if anyone could tell me what are good text books to read prior to getting into nursing school. i wont start till next year and i would like to take this time to take physio, med term, and anatomy. i would also like to get a basic understanding of the more difficult courses so i don't go in completely clueless and overwhelmed. sorry for all the questions, you don't have to answer them all lol. thanks in advance :)

Sorry if that didn't make sense... What advice would you give your self, If you could speak to the nursing student you were in the past? If it would have helped you do better in nursing school.

I'll be working as a spt at the hospital this year and was thinking about taking physio, anatomy, and med term for now, while I'm working part-time, before I apply for the LPN program. I herd they are hiring more LPNs right now and then later I can take my RN. I was wondering what are the most difficult courses for the LPN(preferably) and RN programs? I want to get a basic understanding of the most difficult ones now while I have time. To avoid entering the program and being completely clueless. Is their any text books you would recommend reading? How hard is the math in nursing? What advice would you give your self, If you could speak to the nursing student you were in the past? That would help you do better in nursing school.

Thanks for the info, I like to find out more in depth about work in Canada. Can RN's go back to schoo for nurse practitioners? How long does it take? Also do you know if a hospital you may work for, will help you with your tuition if your program is related to health care?

Does anyone know if the hospital will fund my education for nursing? Since ill be working there as a sterile processor for the next year. IV decided to take a few courses while I'm working full time like medical terminology. Anatomy and physi.. And then enroll in the full nursing program. It would be great if the hospital I'm working for would pay for my education. ; )

wow...that was very descriptive, sounds crazy! Its insane and it is true no one would understand what its like to be a nurse or nursing student unless they are one. I had no idea it was so intense. Nurses always look so calm in the hospitals. But apparently are mean to one another. I didn't know some schools were so heavy on the workload compared to others. And I HATE presentations! Omg when I get in front I still turn red and forget my words! Omg I better try and get over that fear. And group work omg... I really hate relying on others for my grades. But if thats what it will take ... *sigh*. I think I'll go ahead with taking some courses first and then enrolling into the PN program. In Canada the PN program is pretty good from what I hear. They are allowed to work in hospitals and have their own patients but an RN is in charge and does the IVS ect...from what I've been reading. So I think I'll do that first and then finnish for RN later. I just can't imagine going into the 4 yr program right now and full-time. Theirs just too much on my hands right now. Im really glad the program is split between books and hands on. I would hate doing full-time classes. Right now I go to school mon-fri 8am and work right after till 9:30. So maybe thats good practice for not having a life and being up and about more then 18 hours a day. So I'm assuming its impossible to hold a job as a nursing student? I wonder how mom students do it!

Oh okay great what a relief! Reading over the PN description for the U.S was very discouraging at times. On youtube this RN nurse mentioned PN's getting paid $7 to start in some states!, and having to do all the 'dirty work' for RN's. So I'm really glad Canada's PN's are more valued. I'll probably further my education in the future with Athabasca Uni. I'm going to contact Bow Valley and see what courses I can take without enrolling(for this year). I want to work this year before I enroll into nursing fully and I'm pretty sure Bow Valley is the only school that offers the PN program in AB. Thanks again for all your help, I'm feeling good about this .

Thank you for your replies :) I'm getting a better understanding of the nursing program. I'll have a year before I apply, is it possible to take the anatomy, medical terminology or physio/bio? courses without enrolling in nursing at bow valley? Just take it part-time while im working this following year? So when I start the nursing program I can finnish sooner? By the way I'm so glad to hear that PN's have better oppertunities in AB. I've been reading posts of PNs in other provinces and countries that have really bad experiences (wages, workload, advancing) and end up finnishing their RN.

Hey Sarah thanks for takin time to reply. Sounds intense. I wish you the best! And your so lucky you found a 3 year rn program. We have a 2 year rn program here but I believe you have to have a previous degree to apply. I was just wondering what a typical semester is like? Is it like group work, essays, class presentations or is it all just lectures, exams and clinicals ? Cause it sounds like you zoom right through it. I also herd for nursing you have to pass each class with a least a C? But overall it sounds like an intense gross adventure lol! Its nice to know its hands on and not just classroom. Good luck on your exam!

i've been thinking about taking nursing for a few months now, its funny because people have always told me i should be one because of my kind caring nature. but i've always been interested more in art and computers. anyway after being put on a waiting list for a competitive art program and a bad economy i decided to take a quick health related program called sterile processing. its a quick program and pays pretty well to start for only being 6 months in school. just before entering the program i decided to further in health care if i didn't mind working in the hospital. i figured health care was more secure (this was before the hiring freeze in ab, which is clearing up now:)). now i find myself surprisingly fascinated by everything related to heath/sciences. i really enjoy it and find my self reading posts on here and googling more info on nurses and doctors all the time, also my program is very limited and i find myself wanting to learn more and more on care and the human body. for the past 4 months i've been strongly considering taking nursing late next year. i've herd its very rewarding and challenging. but is it for me? i've also herd about nurses being very rude and putting up with soo much. like just yesterday i herd a story about a nurse that got knocked out my a patient. i also have a friend that is half way through her nursing program but hates blood?? i mean are half the people that go into nursing really fit for it? what is the average number of students that actually pass? and actually enjoy working in the field after school? can someone please tell me the negatives and postives on nursing and the journey to become one? i herd its very difficult... and even though i would like to take the rn program i would much rather be done fast and take the practical nurse program instead. what are the disadvantages their? has anyone done the pratical nurse program at bow valley? is it good? sorry about my long post! i just really wanted to get this out their and get my questions answered... hopefully. one more thing... would it be strange to buy some of the nursing books while i'm working as a sterile processer for 1 year, just to read on my spare time. to get a basic understanding of it so i don't struggle too much in school(i herd its really tough). i was also wondering why the rn program is 4 and the pn is 2 when they do almost the same work?

i've been thinking about taking nursing for a few months now, its funny because people have always told me i should be one because of my kind caring nature. but i've always been interested more in art and computers. anyway after being put on a waiting list for a competitive art program and a bad economy i decided to take a quick health related program called sterile processing. its a quick program and pays pretty well to start for only being 6 months in school. just before entering the program i decided to further in health care if i didn't mind working in the hospital. i figured health care was more secure (this was before the hiring freeze in ab, which is clearing up now:)). now i find myself surprisingly fascinated by everything related to heath/sciences. i really enjoy it and find my self reading posts on here and googling more info on nurses and doctors all the time, also my program is very limited and i find myself wanting to learn more and more on care and the human body. for the past 4 months i've been strongly considering taking nursing late next year. i've herd its very rewarding and challenging. but is it for me? i've also herd about nurses being very rude and putting up with soo much. like just yesterday i herd a story about a nurse that got knocked out my a patient. i also have a friend that is half way through her nursing program but hates blood?? i mean are half the people that go into nursing really fit for it? what is the average number of students that actually pass? and actually enjoy working in the field after school? can someone please tell me the negatives and postives on nursing and the journey to become one? i herd its very difficult... and even though i would like to take the rn program i would much rather be done fast and take the practical nurse program instead. what are the disadvantages their? has anyone done the pratical nurse program at bow valley? is it good? sorry about my long post! i just really wanted to get this out their and get my questions answered... hopefully. one more thing... would it be strange to buy some of the nursing books while i'm working as a sterile processer for 1 year, just to read on my spare time. to get a basic understanding of it so i don't struggle too much in school(i herd its really tough). i was also wondering why the rn program is 4 and the pn is 2 when they do almost the same work?