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Also, on YouTube NurseMendoza is AWESOME.

Nancy Clue! She's actually a friend who started a blog for an entirely different reason. But, she's a little over a year away from graduation for her BSN. She's pretty awesome. Therealnancyclue.com

My fault. I totally didn't look at the link. Whoops. :)

I was just about to suggest the same. I have a 20 hr/week work study job that I love. I volunteer at the hospital on women's care as a part of my work study hours. So I'm still getting a little bit of experience in a medical setting even if I'm just cleaning cribs and folding baby blankets. :)

Ahh I'm so jealous! Anyway, for spring, I'll be taking: Micro Math And 3 intro nursing classes. My school is weird for the BSN program... they have 3 nursing classes that are part of the program that you have to get an override for and the semester after you take them, you apply to the program. I'm thinking about adding the intro psych class that I'll need at some point as an online class. If I don't do it in the spring I'll probably take it in the summer.

I would double check with the nurses. I don't see a problem with it though! I pass snacks/ice/coffee with the CNA's at the hospital I volunteer at.

If I'm understanding you right, you were wanting to do what's called a bridge program with a non-nursing degree. Bridge programs are for RN's with an associates degree who are going for their bachelors. You'd have to get your ASN first. :) Also, if it were me I would go straight for your bachelors. It's so much more preferred in the job market. A lot of places wont hire associate degree RNs and if they do, the RN has to complete a bridge program within a certain amount of time. If your school offers a bachelors and associates program, apply to both. My school does and that's what I'm doing just so I can hopefully get in somewhere without having to transfer schools.

I wouldn't bother depending on how competitive your school is. A B is a good grade! Just to be sure you should meet with a program director and take a look at their entrance criteria. My school has a rubric that tells you how they will base your competitiveness in getting admitted.

My mother in law has told me that throughout her nursing career, she's had to know the big things. For example, anything with the heart and circulation, organs and their major parts, etc. I believe her exact words were "No one is going to get mad at you if you don't know where the styloid process of the ulna is." Honestly it is all important though, so I kept my anatomy books and flip through them on occasion to keep everything fresh in my head.

I have taken out loans for my prerequisites. I don't have very much that I had to take out though. My school is a direct lender and I take out the stafford loans through them. After I had my son, I was eligible for grants. Loans are not bad if you're borrowing what you need. If it's going to get you through school, you have to do it. Just make sure you know all your terms and conditions for each loan.

Why do you have to have 18 credits for the next two semesters? If you can break that up with some electives or university requirements, I would. That sounds miserable to take on 20 credits!

I'd say it depends heavily on your school. I know where I'm at, withdrawing at this point in the semester looks pretty bad, and even costs money. Personally I'd finish the course. Just keep busting your tail in there and work towards an A. It's not completely impossible. Even with a B, you'll still have a great GPA, and you'll even be bumped up a smidge. Also, if it's a university or program prerequisite, you'll need it anyway!

I'm not in nursing courses yet, however, everyone tells me that time management and exams are theeee WORST.

Good. You are going to do amazing. Just hang in there.