angelynn

Where are you going to school? I know of several school in my area who required you to become a CNA before being accepted into the nursing program. Kennesaw State, and the University of West Georgia, along with several of the tech schools in the area require your CNA to start. My certification ended this month (and I have several friends who's ended last semester) but we did not have to renew it if we were not working as a CNA, because our skills level far exceeded that of a CNA. BUT if we were working as an CNA we had to get renewed.

Well it is that time of year again. Applications are in, and the waits begin. I want to share with you a little story that may make your wait a little easier. Two years ago I was in your shoes. My GPA was not high enough to get into the local community college where everyone had an 89 or higher on their TEAS and a 3.8 or higher GPA. They only took 40 students, and I knew I would not be one of them, as I only had a 3.57 GPA and I froze on my TEAS. So I decided that I would continue taking classes that were required for a BSN at the local university. I mean, heck what is one more year in school? So I buckled down and took history, chemistry, another English, and political science. As it came time to apply to the university I was a nervous wreck, you see I was 45 years old, I had decided to go back to school exactly 2 years before after not having stepped into a classroom for 25 years. Now here I was getting ready to apply to the university. So I got everything together, did my application and sent it in. Now I waited, and waited, and waited…then the day came when letters came out. I rushed to my mailbox with my hands shaking and pulled out the envelope with the university crest on it. I opened it up and my world fell apart, I had not been accepted. I had not been wait-listed, I was declined admission. I cried for two days, my husband and sister were in total disbelief and I was in shock. After about a week of feeling sorry for myself (and I deserved at least that long) I pulled myself together and decided to change majors. I decided that respiratory therapy was for me. So I jumped right back into school, as I had to shift gears and transfer to another school and I had to take physics. UGH!!! Well and here is where the story starts to get good. I had just started classes during the summer session when the school of nursing at the university called me on my way home from class. They had one opening in the cohort I had applied for, did I want it? Well I had to let them know in less than an hour, because they had to fill that spot and classes had actually started that day. WHAT WAS I GOING TO DO??? I drove to my husband's work, and explained what was going on and he encouraged me to take it. So I did and the very next day I was a nursing school student. I know that when we are in our pre-nursing classes the thoughts are all about, If I can just get in the program everything will be OK.” Well that is not always the case, as our cohort has gone from about 80 students to about 58. Nursing school is hard work, you have to change the way you think, not only about how you study but also how you answer questions on a test, and how you look at the world. I am now in my last semester of nursing school. Yes I am a SENIOR in my final semester of NURSING SCHOOL!!! I have cried, screamed, pouted, and laughed my way though (and yes there has been at times copious amounts of red wine involved). I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. I am ordering graduation invitations and my cap and gown. I am graduating Cum Laude but, I am also dreading my exit exam and the NCLEX. I am worried that after all my hard work I will not be able to get a job. I have said all of this to let you know that nursing school is a journey. There will be good parts, and bad parts, parts that make you cry (when your first patient dies, or your friend fails out), but make sure you live them all. Remember when you look back you will be so proud of yourself for making it though the HELL we call... nursing school.

Jsayers, Va is not a loan, it is a military benifit for vets, and their families.

Skippery, I just keep getting so much conflicting info from them. I am still taking my prereqs at CC so I am not just wasting time. Hubby refuses to let me take out loans until they are approved for the VA, because that will cover half my tuition. I infact just heard from my advisor today, who told me that there was still no news on the VA, but he will let me know when or if it comes through. Right now my plan is to continue taking classes, and transfer to the University of West Ga in the Spring. I will be apply for their program in January, and if I do not make the cut for their summer semester, I will start Chamberlian. I am sure by then if they are going to get their VA approval they should have it. Best of luck Angie

SKippery1, this is what they told me a couple of weeks ago when they called me to come and get my drug screen and background check. "They do not have VA funding. They do not know if this campus will get VA funding. They have applied, and have heard NOTHING back." I asked if I paid to get my drug screen, and back ground check would they still be good if I put off my entrance date until January? I was told" Are you going to start anyway if your funding hasn't gone through yet" I said "no" I was told to just stop everything were it is, and they would call me when and IF they get the VA funding." hope this helps

Well they have to get my funding approved, or I can't go, they said it can take months...I am planning to start in the fall, but it could be January before they are all set and that makes me sad...I want to get started!!!!

But you got by, that is all that matters!!!!! Yea us!

got some great A&P study info from a place called readyforthehesi.com I was so overwhelmed by the A&P section, I didn't know where to start, or what to study. This guide helped me put it into smaller pieces and I made a 93 on the A&P section. It also includes a small math and chemistry sample test. Which was very true to the real test.

How did you do, I made a 93, I was so excited!!!!

Do they count Chemistry in your score? I just started Chemistry I yesterday, and I tried to study it some, but it was like reading Greek to me. That is the only part of the test I am really worried about.

i am so upset, i have been going through the admissions process for weeks now and no one has mentioned that the atlanta campus has not received their va funding yet. it was not until yesterday, when i insisted that i speak to someone in finance that i was told that it could be 6 months or more before the funding goes through...i would not be upset if i had been told this at the beginning, i would have just planned on a jan start date, knowing it may be pushed back to spring. instead i have been getting everything ready for a sept start date, which really leaves me hanging. just venting, sorry.

try being 44! i am scared to death!!!! i live in an area where it is very difficultto get into nursing school. i have a 3.75 and it is not good enough. i haveworked so hard this past couple of years to get this far, just to see my dreamgetting farther and farther away. the schooli attend has a 2 year wait list, and i just can't wait that long. i now have toconsider changing schools, and i am looking at a private nursing collage withan accelerated bsn and since i have all my pre reqs i can finish in just 2years. just the thought of the work loadscares me, but i am starting to think this is my only choice. i don't have aproblem with setting aside the next two years of my life to fulfill my dream; ijust don't want my dream to become my nightmare...when you are an older student,you don't have the luxury of thinking well if i fail at this i will trysomething else. so i know exactly what you are feeling.

I didn't have any problem when I applied on line. Good luck to you also!

i am trying to get into chamberlain atlanta september. my gpa at this time is 3.56. i will have all of my first year classes completed except for chemistry, philosophy, transition to nursing, and health and wellness. i took the rest at my local community college. this is a lifelong dream for me. i am a bit nervous at how fast the classes will be paced, but iam so determined that i don’t think in the end it will be a problem. i don’thave a social life at all, as i have been taking 5 classes a semester already.my husband and teenage son understand mom is reaching for her dream and theyare proud of me. i take my hesi may 16th which gives me 1 week tostudy after my finals. wish me luck…