carrot_thief

I know exactly how you feel, I could have written this exact same post. I just graduated from high school and I start the biology and chemistry prerequisites for the nursing program on Monday. I got my Chemistry book the other day and I am already so confused. I've always gotten really good grades, but I never took chemistry or complicated math in high school, so I'm definitely going to be studying hard. I'm just worried that I'll fail, even though it's something I know I was meant to do.

I am taking Chem 104, basic chemistry in the fall too. I start September 26th. Everyone has told me it's a hard class....I hope I can keep up.

:balloons: :) I'm so happy...I just got a letter from the Community College informing me of my acceptance to the CNA program for summer term. I have been waiting to hear from them for months, and they only accept ten people. I got more nervous when I heard they accept nursing students over non-nursing students, and I'm just a high school senior. They gave me so much trouble with every step because of my age (16), making me talk to a million different people, giving them extra letters of recommendation that no one else has to submit, etc. And I feel really great that I got in. I know it's not a nursing program, but it's the first step and I'm so excited!!!!

If you have cold sores, Abreva definitely works. But if what you're describing is canker sores, inside your mouth, then try changing your toothpaste and eating less acidic foods. I get them about once every two weeks and they are a pain. I've heard that using toothpaste without the ingredient sodium lauryl sulfate makes them stop, but I haven't been able to find any. Even Tom's of Maine has it...

First off, I admit I'm not a nurse. I am starting pre nursing classes in the next few months. However, the above post by subee just seems totally rude and unnecessary. "Princess alert"? Why would this woman be a "princess" for wanting to research all aspects of nursing before throwing down thousands of dollars for the required education? None of us know her. She very well could have kids, or other reasons for needing to work day shift. Many nurses on here admit they like the day shift, so why should she be criticized and told nursing isn't right for her if she is just asking about opportunities for working the shift that appeals to her? To akissbytheseine....I hope you go on to nursing school if, after some research and experience, that's what you feel is right. Don't listen to all the naysayers...if you think you can be an awesome nurse even though you *gasp* want to work the day shift after graduation..go do it!!!!

[there isn't really written homework, its more like read 200 pages on heart disorders and take a test. pathophysiology is basically studying the body and different disease processes. like you do a section on different liver diseases, the causes, the treatments, nursing interventions specifically for liver diseases, preventing liver disease, complications of it, ect, ect. and then the next week you will do, say the neurological system for example. anyways, hope this helps.] Thanks for the info. That actually does sound really interesting to me, and something I would probably enjoy studying! I probably won't be saying that once I'm reading the 200 pages, but who knows.:chuckle I always thought pathophysiology was things like...DNA, ADP, how the different molecules go though your body when you're breathing or something like that. I have no idea why.

I am planning on starting pre-reqs for the nursing program this summer, but I would like to know more in depth information about the pathophysiology part. If the courses are supposedly heavy in that subject...what exactly IS it? Can someone give me a description and an example of what some pathophysiology homework looks like?? Thanks. I'm also really worried about the biology aspect, but I hope I will do well.

Triage_RN34, just curious...what Outdoor School did you work for? I'm a senior in high school and I go to Camp Namanu as a student leader every spring and fall.

Thanks for all the help, I really appreciate it. I will definitely check out the Red Cross, and some more nursing homes. I'm going to start some prerequisites this summer as well. I'm kind of confused now though...if you can't become a CNA or even take the class until you are 18, like Heather said, how would the one nursing home I talked to be able to train and employ me now??

Hi...today I went to the community college's advising center to ask about the CNA program. I've had my heart set on doing this for quite a while, and I'm graduating this year. The problem is, I skipped a grade so I'll just be turning 17 in March, and they refuse to let me apply until I'm 18. They said it was the law. I really don't want to wait an entire year to get started on this. I want to enter the nursing program and be an RN as soon as I can. So I called some nursing homes near me and one of them gives a free class, but I have to agree to work for them for six months before I can be certified. I'm not sure if I want to do that at all. However, I find it very strange the college claims there are CNA age laws, yet I can still be employed by a nursing home as young as age 16. I wouldn't have to deal with this at all, but in order to apply to the nursing program at the college, you must be a certifed CNA, and since it's on the point system, the longer you've been working as a CNA the more possibility you have of getting in to the program. Will someone please help me? Do you think there is any way I could convince the college to let me in? thanks and sorry for the long post.

Thanks for all of your advice, I've decided that nursing seems like the best choice and I'm going to get a head start on prerequisites during my senior year starting in a few months...I'm excited:)

Also, I have another nursing related question. Eventually, if I want to work with newborns, but not necessarily "high risk" newborns, what area would that be? Maternity, neonatal? I feel sort of clueless.

Wow, you guys are great. I've never gotten so much wonderful advice and great responses from a message board before, thank you.

thanks for the advice, it gave me more options to explore. It's also interesting because I am in the Portland, OR area and now I'm going to research the job availability for graphic designers after what you said.

I am 16 and going into my senior year of high school, and I want to go to community college to start school for either graphic design or nursing. Ideally, I would be able to take a few courses in each to see which I am more interested in, but there are too many prerequisites for nursing to do that, and I don't have the money for both. I've always been really pulled towards art and design and I have a talent for it, but nursing is something I would really love to do because of the nature of it, helping other people. It probably sounds cliche, but I am most interested in neonatal nursing. Also, graphic design means long hours working alone on computers while nursing would have much more social interaction. I've always had good grades, 4.0 gpa, but I have real trouble in math and chemistry. If I study hard enough I can slide by, but would this be enough in nursing school? I know I have a year to think about it and make a decision, but any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much in advance.