Cherry02

None of the schools near you have an accelerated BSN for people who already have a degree in another field? That is what I'm doing right now. It's only 4 semesters (including summer--so 16 months) and I will have a 2nd bachelor's degree in nursing when I'm done. I don't know much about the direct entry master's programs. I have seen some not-so-positive posts on here about them. As far as whether or not it is worth it to get your ADN, I think that depends a lot on your area and the demand for nurses with an ADN.

Honestly, I think they want to read about educational challenges that you have overcome and succeeded in, in the end. Not saying you should or shouldn't mention the organic chem class, but if you do, definitely include the challenges you overcame too.

If it was thrown out, then no.

I think you'd like it. Maybe you can shadow a nurse or something. That would definitely help you decide whether it is something you'd like or not.

I would go with the one that knows you the best and can speak most knowledgeably of your attributes. Doing well in A&P/science is important, but it isn't the only thing nursing schools look for. Good luck.

I took psych and sociology together (years ago--2004) and don't know why there would be an issue with it. However, it is really hard to give advice on what classes to take together or how many classes to take when difficulty and workload varies SO much from school to school or even from instructor to instructor. But my experience: psych and sociology were easy. I took a very basic stats course that was probably the easiest class I have ever taken...and later on, a more upper level stats course that ended up being a lot of work. Tons of homework. Had to devote a lot of my time to it. I loved it, but it was not super easy. Composition--may or may not be easy for you...but either way you can bet you will have to devote a good chunk of time to it because you will have a lot of writing to do (duh). A&P I is difficult. It is a lot of work. Not much more I can say that you probably haven't already read about it. Anyway, good luck!

I think it would be nice to just read over the material before you have the stress of having to memorize it all. I think that would probably make it more interesting. And of course it will help once you are in the class as well.

This is my first semester too...and my clinical instructor is definitely NOT abusive. So far, none of my instructors have been. They have high standards, but they are kind, understanding, and supportive. Qualities you would expect from good nurses. I think it is really inappropriate to yell at students. How is that constructive at all? I understand there may be circumstances where students need to be pulled aside and talked to...maybe even scolded...but yelled at, degraded, humiliated in front of peers and staff? I think that is terrible. I am sorry you are dealing with that. That is certainly not the norm in every nursing program! Still, this semester has been incredibly challenging and stressful for me...looking at my schedule for next semester, it appears it only gets harder. Sigh. Good luck to everyone!

Chemistry.

I would take psych with chem. Maybe not the accelerated one since you work 40 hrs a week, but I don't think those 2 classes together will be a problem.

I would definitely go with the ADN program, try to get a job ASAP, and start paying down that debt. With the debt you already have, I would not even entertain the idea of going to private school, unless some major scholarships were involved. Good luck with your decision!

Yes, BSW is Bachelor of Social Work. And times are tough for social workers too. You pretty much need at least an MSW now. Anyway, I would also go with plan B. However, why limit yourself to Loyola's ABSN program? I know it's a good school, but there are a lot of good schools with ABSN programs now, and many are not quite as strict with prereqs.

It means that you can't take it (unless you audit the class or something) because you already have a stats course. I would definitely get some clarification from the nursing advisor or whoever that it is okay to use business stats in its place.

I have also heard there is not much difference in pay. The advantage of having a BSN is that more job opportunities are available and there are more options for advancement.

Minor in Spanish.

Only been in nursing school for a month, but I agree about A&P. Your life will be easier if you know your A&P very well. Knowing microbio has been pretty helpful too, actually...especially for pharmacology.

So, you were never charged for any of those classes? Just curious. That is so strange!

I got a C in A&P 2...but I was lucky enough to be accepted into the nursing program a few weeks before I was done with the class. Before that, I had mostly A's and some B's...and that is all the admissions committee saw. So, I guess I am not really helpful, lol. Oh, but I did have tons of W's on my transcripts from years ago too. Didn't seem like they factored that in. I think you still have a good chance at finding a school that will accept you!

It depends so much on the school, instructor, and student. There was no chem prereq for me at all, although I took it years ago anyway...and based on that...I would say A&P 2, microbio, and chem would be VERY rough. I did A&P 2 and microbio in the spring...no other classes...and it was the most stressful semester I have ever had (I have been in school a pretty long time due to me changing my major a thousand times). Can't imagine adding another lab science to that. So, if you can, I would go for A&P 2, microbio, and nutrition. Nutrition was pretty easy in my experience.

It depends on the school. I would definitely check with the school before wasting time and money on a class you don't need to re-take. At my school, the only classes with an expiration date were lab sciences (A&Ps, microbio...) which couldn't be more than 5 years old...and then one computer class that couldn't be more than 10 years old. I looked into another school with a longer list of classes that expire (they also included stats and some sort of human growth/development class) but you had 7 years instead of 5. So I am guessing it varies quite a bit. Your general psych is probably still okay, though.

I agree, awesome thread! This was definitely super motivating! I have 2 kids, 3.5 and 7.5 years old...and starting an ABSN program next month. It is scary, but exciting at the same time. Having kids definitely helps with my motivation. Failure is not an option for me! Anyway, glad I found this thread. Wishing everyone the best of luck!

Looks fine to me. Good luck!

I took it last summer. It was also a prereq for my nursing program. I forget if it was 6 or 8 weeks long..? I took it online. It was pretty easy and interesting for the most part. I am guessing it varies from one school or class to the next, though...nutrition can get pretty in-depth.

Yeah, like someone else said, there are different ways of killing bacteria...not all antibiotics specifically/primarily/directly act on the cell wall. They just have to target traits specific to bacteria (cell wall, DNA, protein synthesis/ribosomes, etc.) so that host cells won't be damaged. Viruses take over host cells...so of course that is why viral infections are harder to treat. Anyway, I took microbio this past spring. I loved it! Didn't think it was much like A&P, though. It was definitely very interesting! Good luck everyone!

I had a harder time with A&P II. At least it seemed like I did. I did better on A&P II lecture exams, but worse on lab quizzes and practicals compared to A&P I. However, in A&P I we were offered a lot of extra credit...A&P II there was very little of it...so maybe that is why it seemed harder..? I think so much depends on the school and the instructor and how hard they want to make it..