hwhite7787

Hey! I really like your open thinking and I'd like to add a couple of things. I am currently working on some prep interview questions for my nursing school interview on Saturday and the biggest question I've been struggling with all day is WHY, oh why, do I really want to be a nurse? Honestly, when people say they want to help others, even though everyone says it, it doesn't mean that people are jumping on the bandwagon. Nursing is a helping profession and you can't be a good nurse if you hate helping people. However, I understand not wanting to say that as your reasoning. You want to be unique and express an idea that puts a new twist on this commonly asked question. Here are my thoughts: 1) I do have a fascination with the human body. After taking human anatomy and physiology (especially the second part), I was AMAZED at how complex our systems are, down to the microscopic level. Things that seem so small, such as a sodium-potassium pump or nerve synapses, are such a vital part of our bodies. It's a complex jigsaw puzzle that miraculously fits perfectly in millions of people all over the world. And even when one little piece doesn't work, our body can often times accommodate for that issue, sometimes more physically or mentally obvious than other issues. 2) I believe that nurses are trained to be more holistic in their practice. We are not trained to simply observe physical changes or problems. We will see a patient every day, we will talk to them, we will get to know them, and it is our responsibility to look out for our patients physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally. Oftentimes, doctors are required to see so many patients that really getting to know a patient is not an option. However, a nurse converses with the patient and can oftentimes detect issues that a doctor may not detect while being with the patient for 20 minutes. Example: A nurse spends time with a patient and the patient eventually opens up to the nurse and the nurse realizes that during this whole medical situation, the patient has also been contemplating suicide. Not something the doctor would know after a 20 minute evaluation. As a nurse, we have the opportunity to be a friend to someone in need, someone who may not have any family or friends to visit, someone who just needs to be cared for and loved. Any medical assistants or CNAs that I have seen in the field have never been that thorough. I'm not saying they would never do that, but I believe it's rare. I hope that helps a little bit at least!! ?

Wow, I don't know either. It seems weird that they would base it off of your GPA alone. Well, good luck to you!

I would like to agree with the above post. I haven't gotten into nursing school yet, but I did receive an interview invitation. My GPA is only a 3.7 and for a while, it made me nervous that it wasn't higher, but then I decided to focus on other things such as involvement in my community, my essay, etc. I believe that the nursing department selects people they think would be successful in their program. You could have all Bs in your nursing pre-reqs, but that doesn't mean that you're horrible in school, as some nursing students believe. They weigh everything and see who would be a perfect match. At UA, they give everything a certain number of points and then they decide based off of the high scorers. So your GPA could receive a 3, your essay could receive a 5 and your interview could receive a 4 and you still average out to be a 4 which is still really good. The thing with your nursing application is you need to shine in every aspect. The first time I applied, I wrote a horrible essay and my GPA was still fairly low (3.3), so my scores were low. I knew this before I even submitted the application, so over the next 6 months, before the next round of applications were due, I took my final 2 sciences and retook 1 science, and was able to add 3 As to my GPA, bringing it up to a 3.7. The nursing advisor met with me to discuss my first application and she explained the point system and how I needed to show them that nursing was something I take seriously. Thus, I took the second application very seriously. I wrote an amazing essay and had 2 people revise it. My GPA was better. Also, I added some volunteer work that wasn't there before. And, lo and behold, I got an interview! One more opportunity to shine to the nursing department! So, if your GPA is low, focus on writing an amazing essay and do loads of volunteer work. That stuff all looks good on the application! Hope some of that info helped!

As nearly everyone else has said, Gen Chem 1 and 2 was the most difficult for me. There were so many times when I cried just because I've never experienced so much frustration for a class. Also, I felt like there were so many things that were not applicable to nursing, so why would I need to know it? I definitely think that Chemistry is an unnecessary pre-req for the nursing program and love hearing when schools don't require it. My question: when will crystal lattice structures ever apply to nursing????

Hi Chris! I took AP 1 and 2 this past Spring/ Summer and I would recommend not reading the entire book, as that can become cumbersome, boring and uninteresting. I actually googled Human Anatomy study guides and found some good ones. Also, I bought the Anatomy/Physiology flashcards at Barnes & Noble and those were very helpful, especially when memorizing bones and muscles. Also, do not hesitate to use the internet when you don't understand a concept. During the metabolism and respiratory portions of AP2, I googled certain topics and found short videos explaining the concepts in a way I could understand. I used google for nearly every chapter we studied. There are a lot of valuable teaching tools online - utilize them! One last thing - the BEST thing I did was to join a study group. Obviously, this is dependent upon your learning style, but I am a combination of kinesthetic and auditory and a study group was the best thing for me. Find what your learning style is and stick to that, even if other people try to convince you to learn their way. Hope that helps! Good luck!

I personally would not take that many science classes at once. Often times, during your freshman year (and sometimes in your sophomore year), you have a lot going on socially and academically and that overload can take some getting used to. I went to school for 2 years and had such a hard time focusing on my studies while everyone else was at basketball games and campus events. Then I took off a year, worked and got a new perspective on things. When I got back to school, I took two science classes at one time and it was hard, but definitely doable (I got As in both classes). I don't think I would have been able to handle it during my first two years. Honestly, I don't see the need for the rush. If you were to take 3 science classes and fail even one of them, it would not be worth the damage to your GPA. Take the full 2 years just to ensure the best GPA possible. Good luck! Hannah

Hi, My name is Hannah and I recently received an interview invitation to the University of Arizona Nursing Department for admission into Spring 2011. I'm excited and all, but the outfit is making me nervous just because I've never interviewed for something this serious. Does anyone have any ideas as to what I should wear? Is a suit too formal? Should I wear pants or a skirt? Tell me any and all of your ideas! I would love to hear them. Thanks! Hannah

Major1: I can't believe they are doing that to you guys. That's absurd. Well, kudos for you for sticking with it and not going insane with nerves. I am now thankful that I have heard this quickly from UA. I've been super impatient and nervous the past three weeks, but you win the award for the longest wait. Hang in there! And keep us updated. We'd love to hear if you get in or not! :) --Hannah

Hi Everyone! I submitted my application to UA (Arizona) on September 1st and the latest news is that I got an interview invitation, which is a really good thing. The first time I applied, I did not get an interview invitation. The interview is on Sept 25 and my nervousness is slowly beginning to set in. This is my second opportunity to shine for the Nursing Department (the first being my application) and I really hope it goes well. I have no idea when I'll hear back from them, but I'm hoping it will be sometime around the beginning of October. How long can it really take?? :) My GPA is 3.75 (the average they accept is 3.6) and my personal statement was awesome this time around. I don't want to get my hopes up only to be taken away, but the thoughts are still there. I keep having dreams of getting into the program and buying my scrubs and stethoscope and working in the hospital. When I wake up, I often times have to remind myself it's not true. But someday it will be! So my fingers (and toes!) are crossed. Good luck to everyone!! --Hannah