crazyemtchic

Congratulations! What an amazing story of sheer determination!

I am pre-nursing. I will be applying in a couple of months. I have microbiology, chemistry, A&P I and II and Statistics left to go. I have a 4.0 average so far, but it's getting harder to keep. Next semester I am taking A&P I, chem and a math class (the one prior to statistics). I know...taking the 2 sciences in one semester is going to be brutal...already accepted that. I have been an EMT for almost 6 years, so I have a little bit of a background. I am also a certified EMS instructor, so it even goes a little it further. My question is how hard is A&P exactly? I get so many mixed answers. Some say it's just killer, but others say with my background that I won't have a problem at all. I drive 2 hours one way to school every day, so 4 hours of driving a day total, and I work two part time jobs, as well as doing the EMT thing when I can and have 5 kids. Yeah, I know...but I make it work somehow! I know that micro is going to be challenging for me, because I actually hate science. I am not as worried (I hope) about chemistry, but just from what everyone says, I am a little frightened about A&P. Can anyone who has taken it give me an idea how hard it is? Especially anyone who had a medical background prior to taking it? I am amazing at memorization, which a lot of people say it's all about. So, if it's really about that, then maybe I don't have to be worried so much. Thanks in advance for all the help!

I don't think that a lot of places would really need heavy "experience" on doing janitorial work. It's not that hard to do, or train. Look it up and see what you can find. Good luck!

I got one of the planners that they give out at school. I write down all my assignments into every day and use highlighters as well to color coordinate all of my classes. The book I got has little "stickers" that says "Assignment due, test, etc that I put on the larger calendar portion. It works well for me.

My advisor had me set to take all my A&P classes in the course of a whole year. When I realized that I would have to wait an additional year to get into nursing school, I changed things. I know it's going to be more challenging, but I have talked to friends that have done it and said that it is doable. I am taking Bio, a math class (pre-cursor to stats), and public speaking (one of the pre-reqs that is required) this semester. Next semester I have chemistry, A&P I and another math class, and then the last semester I have A&P II, Stats and Micro chem. I know it's going to be a rough year, but I can do it. I am sure you can too!!!

I would be very concerned also, if the school is telling you that you don't need any pre reqs to get into the nursing program. I needed Psychology 100 and 200, Nutrition 100, English Comp 100, Statistics 200, Biology, A&P I and II, Chemistry, Microbiology, and Public speaking to get into the nursing program. I would, as someone else mentioned be sure to check and make sure it's an accredited college as well.

Not sure if this will help you or not, but I own my own janitorial company and have a contract with the federal government to clean their buildings. I work usually an hour and a half to two hours a night, four days a week and actually bring home more than my husband who is a full time cop. I know doing this isn't probably an option for most people, but there are janitorial jobs out there cleaning businesses that pay pretty good and the hours are later in the evenings. I do mine later in the evenings, as I set my own schedule. I also do PRN work at the prison that pays about $17.00 an hour. It works really good, as most people who want the time off want it off during the holidays and times that I am out of school on breaks. I am also considering working at the hospital doing PRN work with my CNA license, because our local hospital is really short on CNAs and they have been asking me to come work for them. I also work as an EMT in my spare (ha ha) free time to pick up some extra money.

I am currently an EMT and have been for 5 years. I am doing my pre reqs right now and will be starting the nursing program next fall. I also currently work in the prison as a certified medical specialist dealing with prisoners; giving out medications, drawing blood, etc. I have been asked by a lot of the nurses at the hospital to come work for them PRN as a CNA because they are desperate for help. One of my questions is this: My ultimate goal with my nursing is to work on a helicopter (Life Flight, etc). I know most of our local crew and they have told me ways to go about this and how much experience is needed as an RN before you can get on with them. If I were to start working at the hospital as a CNA, and then transfer in as an LPN, will that help me in the long run with trying to achieve something like this? I have read that a lot of grads are having problems finding jobs. Even though I wouldn't have experience as an RN when I graduate, if I had all the experience that I have (7 years as an EMT by then, 3 years as a CNA in the ER and a CMS in the prison for a few years, would that put me in a position to be more qualified to step into something like that? I currently live in Idaho and am wanting to move to Arizona and transition all of this, but am reading in a lot of posts that people have a hard time finding jobs like this in Arizona. Any help that anyone can give me is greatly appreciated.