Skylarslaughter

Well from all the information I've gathered from comments and research, and actually visiting Keiser University and meeting with an adviser...I'm pretty sure my decision is going to be Keiser because its an accredited, established, and respected institution. My long term goal definitely involves furthering my education and being a travel nurse, which I assume would be best done by attending a nationally accredited school. The campus was beautiful and professional, and I felt like it was the place for me...It will be well worth the cost for me personally to attend this school. Rasmussen is a good College and many people graduate from there and get jobs in my local area, but it is too risky to be spending that much money.

I have finished the majority of my prerequisites and decided that the best option for me is to get into a private school to attain my RN license quickly. My choices are between two non-accredited private nursing programs (Southeastern College and Rasmusen College) that are less than 20 minutes away, and Keiser University in Tampa which is accredited by NCNAC and CCNE. Keiser would be an hour drive for me, but its accredited and I wonder if that will make it worth it? Is accreditation important enough of a factor for me to make that sort of commitment to commute an hour every day of the week for school? & I plan to work as a CNA while doing this also? Opinions, advice?

Hello! I'm incredibly interested in the medical field and I absolutely love science classes and math classes. Basically, I'm 18 and in a community college and so far I have 20 credits and a 4.0 gpa. I signed up for my classes in the fall and I'm in the process of finishing a CNA training program to get out and start working...I'm signed up for an 18 credit course load of: Anatomy & Physiology 1 with lab Biology 1 with lab Medical Terminology (online) Intro to Sociology (online) Algebra (online) Plus I'll be working as a CNA by the time fall comes around ( I'm almost completely sure my counselor has a job set up for me) The thing is, I am trying to complete the nursing prerequisites while still getting some pre-med done too so that I can keep my options open because I honestly think I could excel in either career or even go back to medical school after nursing since I have no plans of settling down in life or having kids. I am just wondering...since I have never worked before or taken a course load this heavy, what should I be expecting? What should I be prepared for?Any advice and tips? And first hand accounts? OR...is there anyone else trying to do pre-med and nursing out of indecision? THANKS!

I assumed that since you must take Anatomy and Physiology, Microbiology, and Chemestry that you wouldn't have to take Biology...I mean what's the point? But on the UCF website it says Biology 1 is required. Is this for all schools? If so, would taking Biology after I have finished up A&P 1 and 2 be fine?

I'm aware of that also, but I just really want to know where the most jobs are available. I know I love both nursing or teaching...but if say...I am a single young female very capable of relocating anywhere I need to and I have no other obligations...could I still be one of the many people unable to find a new graduate job? Are more people going for a nursing career right now rather than teaching? And is the economy picking up...is it getting better?

Considering the economy and the fact that I have been reading all over this site about new graduate nurses unable to find jobs. I was posting quite frequently on this site a few months ago, but I'm back on because I've had some serious doubts about the security of nursing with the economy and how everyone I know is trying to get into nursing school. I've started considering teaching which I know makes considerably less but I don't know many people that are even thinking of becoming a teacher. The point is, I need some advice from actual nurses out there in the working field right now to advice me of how it is right now with jobs and if nursing has a chance of being as lucrative as it use to be. Is the pay still high or is it dwindling? Please, all the advice would help. Thank you!

Yeah I've looked at most of them but I guess what I am trying to figure out is....if I my main desire is to work in pediatric intensive care...and my goal is to really help and care for the children....would I be able to be myself and be PA, and not always be too busy for the kids or would I be better off continuing the nursing route?

Is that really true? That's interesting, I'll look into that thanks! ...although I'm not quite sure I could handle the load of both schools at the same time lol.

I'm trying to get information on the difference in lifestyle of being a Physicians Assistant vs a Nurse Practitioner....I know that obviously PAs must work under the supervision of a doctor and Nurse Practitioners are advanced nurses but both require Masters degrees so what I am trying to figure out is the difference in curriculum. I know that medicine and science is the core of a a Physician school and that is what really interests me is science and medicine....but somehow I feel as a career I would be much better at working as a nurse...but I am not sure. What is the curriculum in NP school? Do they study medicine and gross anatomy? What is the core focus? I have tried researching but can't seem to find anything. I'm not really that interested in starting my own practice at all...I want to be a traveler and I know that both PAs and RNs can travel but I haven't heard of NPs traveling. It would be great to get some info. & Btw I don't need anyone telling me the NPs are better than PAs or vice versa! Both professions deserve all the respect they get!

Wow...I feel you totally. Just like me. Except I'm not even a nurse yet, I'm working on my pre-requsities for nursing school and it's been a year since I left high school....a year and a half actually and I rarely ever talk to all my high school friends, I pretty much became so distant within the last year and a half and depressed....I started getting socially awkward from my growing insecurity and now I am trying to fix it. I'm 17 and I live with my mom and sister and brother and they are pretty much my support system but I feel like an outsider, like a freak with no friends. I go to my college classes and it's mostly older adults and some people a littl bit older than me...but I feel insecure and socially awkward, I use to have so much confidence and now I feel like I'm not good enough. I feel like I backslided so much in the past year and a half and I'm not sure how to get my self esteem back or even get friends for that matter. I'm lonely.

I've decided after months of stressing out over a decision that I am going to do this ADN nursing school no matter what. Because my dream is to work in the hospital and medical and help people. So now I am trying to be positive as much as I can, in spite of this recession and with the enourmous amount of new graduate nurses. This is my plan. I have only one year of required prerequisites, I'll apply to the RN program. If I get accepted right away, then I'll do it while taking some other science courses I may need in the future and do BSN bridging right after . If I don't get accepted...oh well, I'll just continue getting my A.A. and transfer to a University. Here's the part I'm worried about....what if...like many other nurses right now, I can't get a job upon graduation and all that time spent goes wasted? Therefor I need to prepare. I need as many tips and advice as possible for getting a secured nursing job. My family is poor as dirt and already depressed as it is...I'd would be horrible if I went through nursing school to pursue my dream and never got it. =/

I just started summer classes at my community college, I'm taking prerequisites for the nursing program. Right now it's Prealgebra and Science of Human Nutrition. I want to make it my goal to get a 4.0 gpa in my prerequisite classes. I know it's not impossible, especially if I really devote myself and since I don't work and I'm 17 with pretty much no obligations then I feel I owe it to myself to make a 4.0 gpa. But I have a few questions....how exactly is a GPA calculated...like if you get an A in that class...percentage 90-100 then it's a 4.0 and then that's all your classes averaged out? How is it calculated? And what are somne tips and advice you would give me for studying for these classes?

It's been a while since I replied on here...I think...lol but anyway thanks guys for all your comments and for taking time out to give me advice. I tend to get very stressed out when I start trying to figure my whole life out...which I try to do alot, it's a problem of mine. And then it takes someone to say "slow down!" until I finally realize I'm freaking out over my whole life and I should be focusing on the present. I'm going to start working on that....I get stressed out and frustrated when I read countless threads of nurses that can't find jobs and the economy and all that but I guess none of that will change so I just have to work harder and do what I like no matter what. I'm taking a couple prereqs right now in summer classes and I just need to focus and getting them done. I find my Science of Nutrition class so interesting! But I've decided that I'm going to get my CNA before anything, and that will be my deciding factor on what I want to do. I also figure that if I go to medical school ever....if will be when I'm far more mature and mentally capable of handling the stress that comes with that intense training. I mean if I can't get through nursing school, then I will not ever make it to medical. Plus, as much as a bookworm and research nerd as I am....I'm not nenitely sure I could handle devoting so much of my time to being a doctor so early in my youth. Life takes time, I'm starting to learn that the more I converse with mature adults and realize how much I'm really not aware of. I DO need to chillax and just focus on my GPA right now. And I love this website and so far about 98% of the nurses on here are helpful and intelligent and make me want to be a nurse (: But we'll see how it goes, I still got a year of prereqs before I can apply to the ADN program and two years if I want to go the BSN route first. Thanks again for all your advice.

I cannot shadow people. That's impossible for me at this moment. All I can do is go to college right now. And I am anxious about my future. Very much.

Hello, I am 17 and entering community college in 2 weeks. I've already signed up and registered for all my classes in order to get into the ADN program. I'm going to work torwards a Bachelors in Nursing. That's the major I want, and after all my research and experience I know that I would just love nursing. However I also have a driving passion for biological science and the human body which I know that is what is covered in medical school in great depth. I have really good memorization when it comes to reading and sciences. One of my greatest interests is neuroscience and the nervous system. I would love to one day do research into this field and have a profession in it. Which is why I'm thinking about whether, when choosing graduate school...should I go for MD or PHd in Nursing....I'd love patient interaction and all that but I also want to go into something more science and 'scholarly' related and learn more about that....I haven't heard much about nursing specialties in Neuroscience but do they exist? And what are the subjects covered in Nursing Graduate schools? Anything like Human Anatomy and Physiology? I know we have to take the basic classes A&P but I mean...is that covered in depth in Practitioner school too? I know that I would love either profession, and I also know that I can do whatever I set my mind to. So it's not a matter of how hard which ever one is, it's more a matter of the subjects and science differences in each profession.

Yeah, means not being babied by "mommy" anymore...doesn't I am going to leave her to lose her house and live on the streets.... I have a 4.0 gpa in the 15 credits of college I have right now, I'm 5'7 at 145 lbs. I'm a healthy weight, I have no criminal record. I think I'm pretty much set.

I want my mom to live with me so I can take care of HER, not the other way around. I want to work and make a living but I'm not ditching my mom, and I don't care if others see me as taking care of my mom is weak.

What is the difference when you go in as an officer and when you go in as enlisted?

Ohh I'm sorry I wouldn't want to inconvience anyone by looking odd...?...?

I have narrowed down my potential military interest to Army and Air Force. My plan is the get my bachelors in Nursing. I have enrolled in my loacl community college starting pre-nursing this summer, sadly it has no ROTC. I have a few questions. 1. What are the pros and cons of Army vs. Air Force. Listing as much information as you can would help greatly and I'd truly appreciate it (: 2. Say I enlisted now: Would I be able to become a nurse while serving? (This question may sound ignorant.) 3. One of the big reasons I am interested in joiing the military is to get discipline, training, and great fitness. Considering my nursing career and my desire for physical disciple, which branch would you recommend? 4. In which ways would I still lead a normal life when in the military (besides when on deployment) and is it possible that if I live off base my mom could live with me? 5. If I join the reserve, and stay in one place pursiung ky own civilian career but still training and all that jazz, does that mean I could pursue a higher degree in college and have it payed for? And last but most certainly not least: Did you enjoy your time in the military? Did you love it? Would you recommend for me to take this chance? And what was your time like in the military?

Do you know much about doing Army ROTC through college and Nursing school?

I'm totally not going to just jump into this lol it's going to take a lot of time and consideration, I mean I have a while to go. If I join it's not going to be for the money or benefits but fore the experience and training and to serve my country. It's a big commitment. One thing I am wondering is, whether I could join the military as soon as I am 18 to pursue nursing or if I should wait until I have my bachelors to do it...

Wait, reserve doesn't require any large commitments or contracts?

I love hearing everyones advice and stories! And it's nice to hear positive news that there are actually still nurses getting jobs after graduation. Some of the posts on here scare the wits out of me! Lol. My mom has been wanting to be a nurse for ages, now I think it's the perfect time for her to finally follow through with it. She just needs me to encourage her and remind her to follow her dreams! Right now I'm thinking that we are going to do most all our prerequisites together, of course there's a chance I might have to take math before I start A&P so that won't be until fall. Which my mom will be able to tutor me on math because I am horrible at it lol. I'm really excited! I got some letters in today from my communtiy college reminding me to schedule my advising and orientation and of course my mom will be coming with me. I cannot wait!

She's thinking of challenging the CNA exam, since she can't take a training course. Are there any other hospital positions besides CNA that she could get? And congrats on your job!