NACovey

If you don't mind me asking, where did you work in South Georgia, and where do you work now?

Awesome, thank you! And congratulations on the job :)

Stacey30, do you remember what you said for the first critical thinking question? I think I have my answer but I guess I'm not really sure what they want to hear or what not :-) Any help from anyone else would be appreciated to the first question: What is critical thinking and give an example of a time you used critical thinking in relation to patient care? I know what critical thinking is, just more directed towards the example. Thanks!

I think my average was a 77. I got into the BSN. Just depends how good everyone else does of your chance getting in.. if they go off a point system.

I just got accepted to a BSN program. I don't know definite times for classes, as we do not find out our schedule until Nursing orientation 3 days before the semester starts (kinda weird). But I emailed the assistant director and we will be doing classes/clinicals 5 days a week. :-)

We had to have our apps and testing complete by February 15th. I found out May 13th that I got accepted! Good luck!

Wow it sounds like you've had quite a ride. In my opinion, I say go for it. I don't have the background like you do (no children, no degree yet) but it sounds like, for right now, that nursing school would be the best option. And by the sounds of you getting too stressed out about a bachelors program, then def go for the ADN. You can always bridge over at a later date if you want. And while you are in the program you can still be looking for a job as a chaplain if you would have the time to do that with the kiddo. I say go for it. It wouldn't take long and you would have more job options. Can only go up from there!

I had high school chemistry (10th grade). If you take chem, and start the basics, then take the TEAS test while you are in chem, I think you will be fine. I never took chem in college for nursing school and the TEAS test was still confusing on the chem part to me.. but I still passed. Get the study guide and really STUDY and KNOW what you are weakest in. But it is possible to pass.

Check if your school has a grade forgiveness type of thing for classes you get a D in. If not, I was told when I asked about retaking classes, that you have to go to a different school that accepts the transfer credit and then retake it there. Either that or wait a certain amount of time. Communicate with your advisors at school and they will help you. If they don't, be firm and make them :-)

I just replied to a post exactly like this.. and I will repeat myself. Don't let what you hear about all the horrid paperwork and awful doctors and cranky families scare you away from what you want to do. If you were passionate about becoming a nurse, you would find ways to handle it.. and that is what school is for. And you didn't like your hospital experience? I am so sorry that it was uncomfortable for you, but that would make ME want to be that change and make it more comfortable for the guests that are visiting or may be spending their last breaths in that facility. Try out all different areas of nursing (there are SO many) and see what fits you best! If you truly want to be a nurse, you will fall in love with a certain job and you will know it. And yeah, you aren't going to get to get to that position right when you graduate. You have to build a good resume then you can do anything you set your mind to :)

I'm from Florida and there was an Adult Education center that had CNA classes. And definitely through a community college or better yet a technical school. I was a CNA for 4 years and finally got to quit to focus on nursing school. I LOVED it don't get me wrong, but I want all my focus on school. I would say I feel better knowing certain things I do about healthcare settings going in to nursing school. As for approaching employers.. at least where I have been... every place is dying for nurses AND CNA's. The place where I just quit from was always hiring. And be open to all positions like if they only have PRN shifts.. you can always change to full time or part time later when there is a position open. Have fun!

Science classes matter most, in the end. If you are neck and neck with another student about to be accepted, they will look at science grades for the final answer. I got maybe 2 C's in my gen. ed classes and the rest A's and B's in sciences and math and whatnot. Definitely strive for an A. If you stress out when it comes to tests, tell your teacher. maybe there is something different that you can do to ease the anxiety when testing.

I find it so funny that once you get accepted, all you want to do is stuff for nursing and stuff to start school. I got accepted for Fall too and it starts in mid-August... therefore I have over 2 months. I want to start NOW but I need to realize that while in NS I won't get much free time. Luckily, all my prereqs are done so I can sit back and enjoy my summer. If you don't have any responsibilities like class or work, just enjoy every little moment you can get with friends/family/significant other. And yes make those deadlines, too :-P

Does this mean... what do you think about keeping a dying patient alive as long as possible? That is kind of what it means to me.

Yeah and when I said about being "older" I meant like over 50 older. A woman I used to work with was going back to school for her RN and she was 52. And she would make a GREAT nurse. I sit and pout on how everyone I graduated high school with have their degrees.. and then I sit back and look at all I have... A wonderful marriage that I would have passed up for the ADN program. I am glad I skipped out on that opportunity to enjoy the first 2 years of my marriage and now I am shooting for the BSN, even better! I am so happy with where I am at. Everything will come naturally for you and I hope that you succeed!

I think it just came to me. And that is one thing I don't get. Why let someone else influence and/or determine what you want to do? Sure you can listen to all the crap they talk about their jobs and how they get the short end of the stick from CNAs to Doctors, but who cares? If its what you love to do then DO it. And maybe those people that are complaining so much don't really love it.. or may not have found their place in the nursing world. I am looking forward to it ALL. To finding my place and my exact expertise in the field. I think of everyday towards that goal as an adventure :) And to me that makes it so much more exciting.

I don't see a problem with it either. Yeah, someone may have wanted it more that was one spot away from getting it, but hey I guess they should have tried harder? I believe if anyone needs a "fall back" career, nursing is the way to go. She seems bright being that she wants to go that far so two thumbs up to her. Having a nursing background might even help her be a better doctor.

Only one person can use it because if you take the practice test, you cant retake it. You can only do it once. I bought the study manual along with two practice tests. I think it definitely prepared me better than not doing anything at all. I scored in the 70's all three times though. But it was enough cause I got in :-P

I just got accepted to the BSN program at CCGA. You don't need the regents exam to get in or to graduate at least if you are a transfer student with qualifying SAT and ACT scores (that is me). Last post was in April but is anyone else attending? Or have attended at CCGA and have ANY info at all? I am excited :)

I know how you feel. I am 21 and notice all my friends graduating with Bachelors degrees. And I am sitting here with 2 years left. But, I like to think about all the *older* (saying this in the nicest way possible) people that are going to school with me for the same thing. I say go for the BSN then definitely. Ours is on a point system too. I did well in science and fairly well in others. All A's and B's. You think waiting now sucks.. wait until you apply for the program and gotta wait for that letter. Its the longest wait EVER.:)

I've been a CNA for the past 4 years and just got accepted to the BSN program. That acceptance letter was like a ticket to actually quit my job. Being a CNA is not easy. The physical aspect, and in some facilities the mental aspect. DONT overdo it! I think school is more important than getting a job to help you with school. In school you will get the experience. I know that being in a healthcare setting will help your learning experience, but it might not be worth the long sleepless nights that result from doing both.

I despised the way some nurses did their work at the nursing home I just recently used to work at. So, I am glad to see that I will have an open mind starting nursing school. I am going there to learn. Those teachers know a lot more than I do, so there is no way I would question their teachings. I think the main advantage I will have as a CNA is the way I connect with patients. I know how to talk to them. I'm not scared of them. I feel like the first time interacting with patients can kind of intimidate people.

I had the same predicament. I applied to the ADN program at one school and didn't get accepted. I had all my pre reqs done and everything. I got declined twice from that school and got fed up so I switched schools. I saw they had a BSN program that was new to the school and just took a semester more of pre reqs (the BSN required a few more pre reqs than ADN) and applied and got in! Our BSN program is two years... same as a normal ADN program I THINK. I think it is worth it to get the BSN no matter if you get it now or after the ADN. The higher the degree, the more money you will make bottom line. I would apply for the ADN program and if you get accepted then definitely take that opportunity. It depends which program is more in demand at your school. Maybe talk to the nursing department and ask questions about how many people usually apply for each. If you dont get in the ADN, then definitely go for BSN. Just DON't give up if you get declined a few times. Your time will come!

I got the rough outline of the next two years for the BSN program I am about to start in the fall. It says we only go Fall, Spring, Fall, Spring... which is hard to believe. Totally thought there would have been a Summer thrown in there. But hey, I'm not complaining.:)

I agree. If you don't have to work that much, then don't. Do they have a PRN position open there or somewhere else in the hospital? Even if it's not where you want to work, you still have that connection within the system. And you can transfer. I say if you don't have to work AT ALL, then don't. But I understand this could help your chances later.. and well, some people have to work period.