acornp37

Hello! I have just graduated with a BSN and will start my internship in July. I would like to be a NP... An adult-gerontological nurse practitioner, to be more specific. I don't want to purse the family np route, because that incorporates pediatrics and I would like to focus more on the adult population. I didn't graduate at the top of my class... I made one C while in the BSN program at my university... I would have to characterize myself as a B student, with few A's. Before enrolling in the BSN program, I was a science major. Unfortunately, I made few C's during that time and thus it has impacted my cumulative GPA. I know that many BSN-DNP programs require a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher... with some requiring a 3.4 or higher. When it comes to academics, I do set myself to high standards. I would like to go to a well-reputable university for grad school... But, I also know that may not be easy considering my cumulative GPA rounds to a 3.1 (actual is 3.0789). I worked really hard to boost my GPA. I have a learning disorder, which I don't blame my lack of academic success on... but just throwing that out there in case anyone else who is in a similar situation could give me advice on how to cope through grad school. I hope to gain experience with new internship/ job as a new future RN in July. I plan to work for about 2 years, if not less, and then start graduate school. I was wondering if any current BSN-DNP students or NPs that have already graduated from such a program wouldn't mind giving me advice on this matter. I'm worried that I will not get in with such a low GPA. I know that grades aren't the only thing that is considered and that your GRE scores and what you do as an RN is factored into it, as well... but I really want to get into a decently-ranked grad school. I plan on joining my hospital's committees and a research committee, too. Is there anything else I can do as an RN that would help with admittance into a BSN-DNP program. Thank you for taking the time to read this novel and for all the advice! :)

This is my first semester into the nursing program! I'm excited, but at the same time really nervous... but who wouldn't be? There's a lot of material to cover and I'm a little in over my head about the amount of reading that's assigned and how am I ever going to remember all the procedures/ skills for clinicals? But going back to the point of this thread (oh the irony!)... I've been diagnosed with ADD since I was 7 years old. I took Ritalin in elementary school and part of middle school. When high school rolled around, I stopped taking the medicine. I managed to be a part of my school's National Honor Society and also graduated top 10% of my class, but now that I am in college things changed after freshman year... boy was that a wake up call! My parents and I decided that I should get re-tested... and so my physician referred me to a neuropsychologist and did the whole 15 hour test and turned out that maybe meds. would help! It might just be the different learning environment or the fact that I had more "freedom" but eventually after changing my major I chose nursing. I have to take my tests in complete silence and now that most schools take their tests on a computer I won't be able to concentrate with all the tapping (maybe? I haven't taken a test in a room full of other people tapping away, but didn't want to risk it so I've been taking my tests in a quite room). I want to be an ACNP for various reasons. I like the more autonomy the NP position holds and in the future if I ever want to do research/ teach I can. I also like how it's not just conformed to a specific type of patients... it's more diverse. I'll have to work in an ICU or ER after getting my BSN and passing the NCLEX to be completely sure that I can handle those type of scenarios... but my question for you all is, is having ADD going to impact my job as a future NP? I'm not the kind of person to just do a task and then say "oh look there's a bird"... I think that when I'm focused I stay on track for the most part... not talking about studying because for that I have to be in a really quiet environment/ headphones/ and my medicine. It's more in the social context that that other side may appear more but not too often. I'm sure the "other side" could tell me that if you have to test in a quiet room how can you perform nursing duties when there's all sorts of noise going on? My answer to that is that that's a totally different scenario. The tests are part of a learning curriculum and for me to do well and succeed I have to be in quiet environment but when it comes to reality and working I think I can handle that. I think my ADD is more related to academia. Any suggestions, words from experience, advice, arguments, or opinions?