WorkingMama2011

I use note cards for definitions and hormones and functions of things. I make one with the name and one with function and make a matching game of it. Childish I know but it helps. Also, I relate everything to life events. My boyfriend HATES it! We were hanging out with some friends and we were talking about some health thing and I was like Hey you know why that is.. and continued to tell them. Nerdy right? Then I make concept maps with all the main ideas from lecture, powerpoints, and my notes. I use different colors because it helps me remember. Then I make my own and use my professors study guides, answer them on loose leaf paper, then put it all on notecards. Repitition is key for me. As I make the notecards I find myself knowing the answers before writing them down. Then I draw diagrams and put them with my study guides showing different cycles, processes, pathways, etc. Anything that seems unclear to me I go to the book and the internet for to clarify. And Ialways go through all of my notes the morning before as a refresher, even if it means getting up at 4 AM to get two more hours of study time in before work, taking the kids to daycare, and class. I am a HORRIBLE test taker. I get so nervous and worked up that I feel like I forgot everything. So I take a few deep breaths, close my eyes, and remind myself to slow down and concentrate.

Your best bet is to retake the classes, and get focused! I too am trying to bring my GPA up. My school currently switched to semesters so I have to retake a few classes because semesters screwed me over. Just take an hour or two every night and go through all of your notes, make note cards, study guides, and study maps. These classes are important in your nursing program, therefore you shouldn't just memorize the information, take it and apply it to everyday life. I know I sound nerdy but nursing is extremely competitive, as you know, and there is no excuse not to study. I should know from experience. I used to blame it on having no time between work and my kids and my boyfriend. But now I just buckle down, tell my boyfriend I'll be up when I'm up for bed, and involve my kids in my studies. We make games out of it. I have found that getting up early and studying has made a big difference for me. I am on year 3 of pre reqs now, and I'll be done this fall with a 3.8 GPA I'm hoping (started with a 2.2 after transferring to current school). So it is possible! Don't give up!

The LPN program I was looking at is partners with the school I go to. After financial aid and another program called WIA I would only have to take out 4000 in loans. It would let me take one class in the place of two and it may help me get in sooner (its a fast track for LPN). The spot is an estimate. I just didn't know if working as an LPN would look good on my resume when I went to apply for a job as an RN. Also, I would make more money while I was in school, if I could find a job (which is another concern). I was going to see if the job I have now hires LPN's or just RN's. Thanks for the opinions! It really helps getting advice from people in the field.

Okay so I have been trying to get pre reqs done for my RN for the last 3 years now. I had a daughter in the middle of it so it kinda put a hold on things. I have been an STNA (CNA) for 3 years now. Currently I am working full time at a home health agency that is paying me decent money and I make my own hours, I have a 4 year old and a 1 1/2 year old, and I live with my boyfriend who doesn't do any housework so that is all me. I switched from a 4 year school to a 2 year school after I had my youngest daughter because it was cheaper and had a better RN program. At the end of this year (end of fall semester) I will have all of my pre requisties finished for my RN, but here is the catch. There is a two year wait to get into the program. At first I thought no big deal because I will be eligable for the waitlist at the end of summer. I figured starting Spring of 2014 I could take my pre reqs for my BSN. Then I realized I have a whole year of NOTHING to do. So my question for you is should I take that year and get my LPN so that I can get some nursing experience under my belt and on my resume. I thought about getting into another nursing program but this one is the best around here, and it is so cheap that my grant covers all of my expenses. Any advice?