ZooCrew10

I'm very interested in learning how those of you doing an online only FNP program are managing while working. I've recently made a switch from a floor position to ICU, and while I want to start school, I need to make sure I'm feeling solid in my career move. I see the RODP has a part time option, which would be preferable. A brick and mortar school would be nice, but I work midnights, and the thought of attending classes in the day time have me rethinking school altogether. I'm currently taking classes at the hospital now until the spring (telemetry/12 lead, ALS, PALS, etc), and the switch between working nights and classes on days is killing my 40 something old butt.

In the Knoxville area, new grads begin at $18-20 base. Not sure how it goes up from there. I'm finishing my first year, so I'll find out soon I suppose!

I'm a newer nurse, received my BSN last May, have been working since June, 2014. I'm an older new nurse, 43, mom of 5 still at home (went back to school at 37, with 8 kids at home, took 5 years to reach my goal). I am a bedside RN, and know I will not be able to do this another 20 years. Not only is it physically demanding, the constant state of adrenaline while on shift is exhausting. I want to get my FNP, but have to work full time, and it's my husband's turn to get his Bachelor's degree. My question is, would it be easier to obtain my MSN (online), then obtain my FNP through a certificate program? The cert would have to be at a brick and mortar, but at that point would require fewer credits depending on education portfolio. I really want to do this, but have to be realistic in my expectations and commitments.

if you're worried about your grades in the sciences, don't overload your schedule and focus on those classes. Most programs want A's in the science classes and rank higher if you do. I hate getting B's, but had to suck it up and take one over the fall and one over the summer (paired with two hard sciences I got A's in). My priority was the science class. Another thing, don't change your answers on a test unless you are SURE it is the right one. Often your first choice is the right one.

do you have a lot of kids as well, Camwill? Or am I misreading that? Just curious if you're another large family mom like myself.

originally I was going for my ASN, but decided (and realized) that I only had a few extra classes to go to go for the BSN. I am taking care of those four this semester and over the summer. I have applied for ASN too mostly as a back up plan, since I'm done with those prereqs, but am shooting for BSN programs. Honestly, I would not go for LPN. I know of a lot of LPN's that graduated, then immediately returned to school for RN. In our area, LPN's are being phased out in lieu of RN's. Most LPN's work in home care or elder care. If that's what you want to do, go for it, but for myself, I want to deliver babies at some point and in order to do that I need at LEAST an RN to start the certification process for midwifery. It all depends on what your long term goals are.

I think you have to have a real desire to do all the work to become a nurse. Sure, a good pay will be great. We could use the money, but honestly I began schooling because one day I want to be able to help people. One day I want to be the one catching babies as a CNM or even NP. I want to be able to help brighten the days of sick individuals, be that light in their life for just a little while. Yeah, it's going to be grueling, and yeah I'll get puked on, pooped on, peed on....but I've already had all that happen and didn't make a dime. That woman sounds bitter, or that, she doesn't want to come head to head with a younger RN who may take her job away. Don't let another person's negative experiences dissuade you from your dream.

my semester begins January 12, I'm taking a lighter load so I can pass my science! I have Intro to Chemistry and Survey of World religions, which I am taking with my husband and a study buddy from my anatomy classes.

it wasn't a requirement for my school here in East TN, but it was strongly suggested. As an older student without much time to waste on classes I don't need to take, I chose not to take it. I took one of the hardest instructors that offered classes, as I had heard she was very fair and thorough. I passed both I and II with A's. Granted, I tanked the first exam with flying colors (on chemistry, a very weak subject for me), but I didn't pull anything less than an A for all the remainder regular exams. I pulled an 88 on the final, which was over the entire semester's work. If you feel you need the biology class, take it. If you feel you can do it without it, then go for it. Only you know what you can handle. But let me squelch a myth going around about APII being easier, it wasn't. You needed to remember all that you learned from API and apply it, along with all the info you learned in APII. and as a side note, Micro was a blast! I loved that class.

I returned to school at 37, I'm now 40 (just got a general ASD) and hoping to enter a nursing program in the fall, 2012 - my goal is BSN, but if I don't muster through chem this spring, I will hopefully be in an ASN program. My comfort level was around 9-11 credit hours each semester, with 7 credits with some science courses, as I wanted to give those my all. Granted, I have had a larger than average family with 8 kids at home while going to school, but even with one of the kids leaving the nest, we still have 7 - four of whom have been 9 years old and under. Needless to say my home life is chaotic at best. Pace yourself, give yourself plenty of study time, and make the best grades possible. Don't settle for B's. Those folks who are getting into the nursing programs have near perfect grades, and you will need to as well. When you get to your sciences, make sure to pair your classes so that you can put almost all of your energy and focus on getting A's in those classes. Most schools look closely at your science grades. FIND A STUDY BUDDY! this was a great help to myself, and our crew. We were a group of 6, sometimes 7, at least 32 and older - myself being the oldest. Use the phone, Facebook, messenger, text, whatever it takes to stay in touch and bounce ideas off one another. It will really help get you through. One person may be able to explain an idea to you better than you can understand it alone, and you may be able to help someone else out. You'd be amazed at what you can learn from other students. Breathe. If you stress yourself out, you won't make it through. Eat right, take your vitamins and study study study!

I just took the Kaplan - I made the mistake of flying through it. I am not good with timed tests and always freak that I will run out....then I wind up taking considerably less time. I can't really find anything that states what an acceptable score is. I got a 75% overall, with some of the individual scores not being all that hot (in the 60's), I would assume because I'm an older student and a lot has changed since I took some of these courses (writing/grammar) - courses that I used to make very high grades in. Can anyone clue me in on what is a good composite score for this test?

it was hard, but not completely horrible. Math was relatively easy - fractions, basic algebra, etc. If you're an older student like myself - 40 - brush up on current grammar, punctuation, etc, because you will need it. I have typically been stronger in my reading/writing but because so much has changed over the past 20 years, it's now my weaker area. Science is a little more tricky, you will definitely need to do a refresher in AP I and II.