CHESCCRP

Yes, my BSN was harder than my BS in public health. The public health degree took longer because I went part time, but there was no way to complete my pre-licensure BSN part time. The papers were not more difficult, but the time management was trickier due to balancing clinicals, work, and my family's needs. I think there was also more pressure since nursing dealt with life and death on an individual level, versus the population-level of public health.

I find the medilexicon abbreviations site ( Medical Abbreviations and Pharmaceutical Abbreviations Dictionary ) to be very helpful. While there is almost too much information, contextual clues (and asking nurses) help me figure out the correct abbreviations. This ambiguity reminds me that not everyone will understand my abbreviations, and I tend not to use them if there is a good chance that another person may misinterpret my intent.

I had similar stats when I applied to the Tucson program, and I got in on my first try. I'm now in my fourth semester. Good luck to you!

OP, I sent you a PM with information on how to find the publications you seek. Amazon is your friend!

OP, I sent you a PM. Our school uses Potter & Perry, and there is an "Interactive review" website where you can practice NCLEX-style questions from the material in the book. I love this tool because it gives rationales as you answer practice questions. There is no login required for this service.

I have never heard of a separate dosage calculations course. Mine was integrated into Nursing Pharmacology, and you couldn't take that at my school unless you were in the nursing program.

Truckinusa, do you remember your possible answers? The reason I ask is because I used to work in research, and the nurses would typically call the research office to speak to one of the research coordinators or the principal investigator about the study drug. While the hospital pharmacists would have a copy of the investigator's brochure, they might not always know where to find the information quickly.

We began with 20 in our cohort, now down to 18. We all have lecture together, with each half of us going into one of two lab/clinical groups. A lot of us already have bachelor's degrees, so our prerequisite class size varied a lot.

It looks like you have already answered this for yourself. Go with OR!

Congratulations, and I hope your journey is enlightening and filled with optimism. Good luck with school!

I am sorry you got stuck with such a lousy professor. You can complain to administration all you want after the class is over, but it looks like you're stuck with her for now. Don't waste your limited study time complaining about the professor, because things probably won't change this semester. Use that time to absorb as much material as possible. Try going to this professor's office hours to see if she might be willing to help you after you specifically ask for her help. Set up a study group with your other students, and try your best to teach each other the material. If there is another professor, ask that one for help. I know it's not the answer you want to hear, but that's the way it is. Nursing school isn't just about being taught, it's about learning how to learn, and in some cases, how to teach yourself something. Please don't take this as me being mean; I have a professor who is like that this semester. Heck, we would be lucky if she lectured to us, but it is an online class, and she doesn't. Study groups are how we are teaching ourselves these things, and how we are coping with this class. I'm also a first semester student, so I'm just dealing with it as it comes and plotting my revenge via my course evaluation. Best of luck to you, keep your chin up, and ask for help from your classmates. Maybe even somebody in one of the upper classes might be able to help you.

Are you referring to Arizona State University? I agree with hiddencatRN, take some science courses at a community college to raise your GPA and make you a more viable candidate. CC courses are not as expensive as university courses, and are good to raise your GPA because they are typically 4 and 5 unit courses. If you have already taken these courses before, you should have a good basis for making As the second time around. You didn't state your prerequisite GPA, so retaking those prereq courses would be a good place to start if you are looking to retake courses. You may want to volunteer in healthcare, get your fingerprint card, and other non-academic things that should help your application profile. Have you considered a traditional BSN program? The pace may be better suited for you to have any kind of a life with your husband. I applied to, and was rejected from, an accelerated master's entry to the practice of nursing program, but was accepted my first time applying to a traditional BSN program. I'm very grateful for my rejection, because I feel that I am absorbing the material so much more than I would have had I been accepted to and enrolled in the MEPN program.

Contact other schools' bookstores. The University of Arizona has textbook bundles (e-only) that you can buy. I don't know if you need to be a current student, but I don't go there.

Have you looked at research nursing? Though you don't get to use as many of the hands-on skills that you would in an acute care facility, there is research done in both hospital and office settings. I was in research for a long time, and my hours were 7-4 or 8-5, which us quite family friendly.

Don't let your senioritis get you down. Good luck with your last year!