GaGeek

Ditto what they said! I have two kids; 4 and 2.5. And my husband works on the railroad and is out of town a lot and has no schedule to speak of, so I can't rely on him to be around. So, like the guy above me said, if I can do it, YOU can do it! Truth: managing daycare for the kids is my biggest stressor. When clinicals start at 6:30 am (and I live in the suburbs and have to account for driving time), I have to worry about what time I need to drop them off at daycare and if my husband isn't home to help, that would be 5:45 am. If you have family to help, that's awesome! This may not be an issue for you at all. But if not, I recommend calling around and interviewing daycares now. I had the best luck with in-home daycares; something I would never have considered if I hadn't found myself in this situation. If you find yourself in the same predicament, I recommend state certified in-home daycares. Then at least you have a little comfort knowing they are inspected periodically. The next hardest thing for me is having less time with my family. My kids are definitely needier now than they were before I started the program. I try amend that by including them in my study time. I got them their own leapfrog tablets and they can "study" with me. My 4 year old practices reading, or I set them up with crayons and paper and we all hang out. This only works for me because I really use those daycare hours to dedicate to class and studying. And like the others said; my house is trashed. There's books and paper everywhere, dog hair building up, dirty dishes sitting in the sink, laundry has reached a whole new level of "mountain"... The husband picks up a lot of slack and is really great about helping out (I don't cook at all when he's home! I don't clean either. Poor guy). You'll find your groove. You will have to make sacrifices and adjustments. If you aren't ready for that, now might not be the time. For me, I don't want anyone coming to see my house anytime soon and I do just about tear my hair out over daycare hours; but otherwise, I absolutely love class already, what I'm studying is fascinating, labs are hysterically fun, and I'm like a kid in a candy store during clinicals. If nursing is something you are really passionate about, the sacrifices won't seem nearly as bad :-)

I haven't actually started Nursing School yet, so I haven't had a "human" pharmacology course, but I did take Pharmacology in Vet Tech school. It was a lot of memorization. Here's what helped me: Knowing my Physiology and my chemistry. I started focusing on the categories of drugs we were working with. Why did that category exist? What systems does it work on? Why are these drugs included in it? What do they all have in common? Once I had a solid understanding of that, it was a little easier to focus on the differences between the drugs in that category. I can tell you that I never memorized every little detail I read. But knowing my physiology helped me figure out what I hadn't memorized a lot of the time, and that left time to memorize the unique and important properties of each drug. And like others have said, you just have to study harder and smarter. I would recommend a study group. Get together and quiz each other. Then teach each other when someone gets an answer wrong. Pharmacology is hard stuff. It's good that you're talking to your teacher about it. But honestly, she doesn't sound unreasonable to me. Lots of teachers have her style. It may seem unfair when your other teachers are a little easier on you, but she really is the one doing you the biggest favor. It's hard now, but when you're done with it all and working in the field, you'll appreciate how solid your knowledge is in this area.

I know a guy in veterinary school who passed out the first time he ever shadowed at a veterinary clinic and watched a surgery. Look at him now! I also know plenty of people who are afraid of needles or get queasy having their own blood drawn, but have no issue using them/drawing on other people. Your situation sounds a little worse than that, but I'm sure that if this is something you really want, you can find coping tools to get you through it. And I would bet that with a little experience, those things will get easier to handle with time.

You're definitely not crazy. I hope most of your classmates have enough common sense to recognize that she's gone off the deep end! I really cringe to think that she's molding the minds of future health care workers and scientists.

Wow. I would react the same way! Definitely send that link on to the Dean. It's disturbing to think that an educator is passing that information on AND using a website for reference that looks like something I put together in high school in the mid 90's. I mean... not the content, but the layout. lol. Although, here's a link to a Tuskeegee Study done on Syphilis .... she may have been referring to this. I don't know of anything similar happening with HIV or H1N1, though.

I have two... a 2yo and a 3yo. Right now I'm working part time and taking 10 hours. I start my nursing program in January! I am a little bit nervous about time management at home; it's already tough to find time to study, work, take care of the dogs, take care of the kids, the house, the hubby.... I'm a little bit overwhelmed right now and I know school is only going to get more involved! I'm hanging on to the fact that my schedule will actually be more regular after I start school. And that even though I feel overwhelmed right now, I'm doing well in school and my hubby is a wonderful support and picks up a lot of slack at home. I guess I have a lot more going for me than it currently feels like ;-) Anyway, cheers to all the moms and dads making sacrifices and being good examples for the next generation!

First of all, that's really rough. I'm so sorry that you've had to go through that. Also, do you have more than one school you could look at attending? Is the nursing program at the same school your are at now? I ask because of my own experience with re-taking classes. My GPA wasn't phenomenal to begin with. It was like a 2.9 or something. I have three schools in my area that I was interested in attending, so I met with someone from all three schools to talk about my grades and my experience in the field (mine is animal related; some nurses are like "Oh yeah, you can follow me!" and others are completely offended at the idea that veterinary medicine is considered medicine at all). Anyway, I was just trying to get a feel for whether they thought I was competitive enough or not. All three people said they look at only the highest grades in the classes I took. One school did count my overall GPA, but also calculated my pre-requisites based on the highest grades I had achieved, in order to break down how competitive I was. The other school only counted pre-requisite GPA and counted mine based only off the highest grades. And I don't remember what the third did. In the meantime, I've brought my GPA way up. I"ve already been accepted with the lower GPA, and that was based on my experience, my interview, and my recommendations. A low GPA doesn't have to mean it's impossible. It sounds like you have everything else going for you, even more than I did :-) So I don't know if that helps or not, but it might be worth looking into. Don't roll over just because your current adviser told you to move on. Meet with a nursing school adviser! And it might mean spending the time and money to re-take some of those classes that you were disappointed in, again. But you sound like you're really dedicated to this and would be heartbroken if life turned out any other way. I say fight for it! Even it takes a little bit longer. :-) FWIW, I've taken 7. I said 7! Anatomy classes of one sort or another. 2 were electives as college credit in high school. 4 counted toward my first Bachelor's degree. And this last one I had to re-take because it's been 10 years since the first. It's a pain in my @$$, but I want this badly enough that I'm not letting that stop me! Also, my grades ranged from C's to A's. They only counted 1, and they chose one with an A.

I'm in Mo. Kc. I'll be going to William Jewell in January. I went to NWMSU for my first Bach, though!

Take a deep breath. You're doing well to put in so much effort. What's on your note cards? You don't have to answer that specifically. What helped me, especially for the skeletal system, was drawing. You don't have to be an artist. You're the only one who has to see what you've drawn. But the act of drawing a bone and making sure to include the notches and crevices and bumps and holes helps to memorize what you need to know. That takes time, too, though. Anyway, just make sure to take a few minutes to go over what note cards you have before you start making more. You don't have to have it all memorized at once, but taking in it a little at a time will help. Also, not everyone's classes are separate. It depends on the program. But I understand how frustrating that must be, to cover two seemingly unrelated topics between the classes.

Well, if you're reading physiology books for fun, I don't think you're going to have any issue at all with these classes. Also, if you are taking these classes at a community college, none of them will be over 100 level or 200 level courses; that means they're all introductory. I don't mean that they'll be a cakewalk, I just mean that you'll be covering the basics and won't get too in depth with any of them. Twishes already said exactly what I would have about the timing of the classes and purchasing extra materials. On top of that, ask the instructors if they primarily test from the books or from the lectures. Lots of instructors will use both, but you'd be surprised how many will tell you they only test over lecture material. Drawing pictures (even if you aren't an artist) and finding a study partner that you can "teach" are two study techniques that work well for me and might help you too. Good luck!

I drew it! You don't have to be an artist. But taking the time to draw the skull with the sutures and fissures and foramen really helped me to remember what I was looking at. Our library has full skeletons that we can check out for an hour at a time. Does your school have something like that? I also took photos of the skull from different angles so that when I didn't have one in my hands, I could still see the pictures to quiz myself.

Everybody tests differently. It's good that you know what works for you! Right now, I'm one of the first people out. That's with double checking, and I have the second highest grade in one class and the highest in the other. But it's all circumstantial. Historically, I finish in the middle, but towards the first half of the class. But how long I take depends on the style of test... is it essay or scantron or short answer? Essays take me a lot longer to write because I have to take the time to make sure I hit on every single point the instructor is looking for. And then I have to make sure my paragraphs are well written and my spelling is correct. I can fly through a scantron, though. But another thing is that I've taken the classes I'm currently taking, before. My pre-req's are too old, so I have to retake them now. Only, I've been using this information in my jobs for the last 10 years too. But the nursing school wants the classes. So here I am, flying through tests. It's not typical for me, it's just where I'm at right now ;-)

BSN - Bachelor of Science in Nursing :-) I don't think you need to be as worried about the pre-req's as you think you are. Most people find that with age and maturity, a lot of these classes come a little easier. I couldn't pinpoint exactly what it is, but even for me at 32, classes are going 10x better than they did 10 years ago, and I have so much more on plate now than I did then (a job, a 2 year old, a 3 year old...). Also, like other people suggested, you could start out slow with just a few classes and see how it goes. Because you never know until you try! One other suggestion I have... meet with someone from each school you are interested in; or if they have regularly scheduled information sessions, attend those. They might go over a lot of information you could find online, but you'll probably learn something you didn't know as well. And you have an opportunity to ask any questions that might sway which direction you choose to go in. Also, are you eligible for the GI Bill? Look into grants for single parents too. You might find that you can get enough financial help that you can attend school full time without having to move. Maybe not, but it's worth looking into!

A few more years and you'll realize that people like this are everywhere. How do YOU feel about YOU? Don't worry so much about someone who's so wrapped up in other peoples business that he behaves that way. And don't stoop to his level by allowing it to stress you out. Easier said than done, I know. His actions will speak for themselves and karma will get him eventually. Whether you call him out on it or stay on the quiet path, just stay true to yourself. Other posters have already mentioned that his behavior is rude and immature, but not bullying. I just wanted to drive the point home. Because the distinction is important.

It's so complicated! And I don't fully understand how it works. I'm sorry you're so close but not quite there. That's too bad.

I went to two as well. They also covered a lot of what I gathered from their website, but they touched on things that weren't online. Like how you could get noticed during the application process. What they like to look for in their applicants. How the "pre-requisites" were weighted. And by that I mean, how much emphasis they put on your classes vs your volunteer experience vs your interview vs your references. They talked about costs and financial aid. They talked about the types of clinical experiences at their particular schools and job prospects after you graduate. Most of the time was spent covering things I'd already memorized from the website. But I thought it was worth it to attend both of them because I did walk away with information I hadn't had before, and that helped me weigh my options on which school to make MY priority.

My husband has military experience, both active duty and now National Guard. I tried to convince him for years to use his GI Bill to go to school but he won't do it. So it's mine now ;-) I'm also hoping to get a small loan on top of that because I'm sure it won't cover everything. I'm still in the process of getting it together, so I don't know exactly what my benefits are yet. And yes, we have had to make some big sacrifices to make this work. But I know it will be sooo worth it in the end!

I wouldn't try that one again without starting that organic chem! But as you said, you have a few other choices. I'd work on those in the meantime :-)

I'm an RVT (registered veterinary technician) right now. And I'm working on changing fields to the human side. Here's my story. How I got to where I am now. I've worked at a veterinary clinic since I was 16. It was where I fell in love with medicine and science; not just animals. I decided early on I wanted to be a veterinarian. And then after high school and three years of college I finally realized that I wasn't ready for that kind of responsibility. I'd been vet-teching all along anyway, so after I graduated I went back to school, got my associates and took the test to become registered as a VT. I made it a full year. I felt like I was selling myself short. I had a bachelor's degree and a separate associates and I was making $10 an hour and working along side people straight out of high school (not unlike myself at one point). You can go on to specialize as a vet tech, but when you do that it can potentially limit where you work and what kind of animals you work with. There were a lot of factors to that option that didn't appeal to me, personally. Also, in the veterinary world, the rules aren't as strict as in the human world. There's very little that a registered technician can do that Jo Schmo right out of high school can't be trained on the job to do. Legally speaking. And even where there are laws about what I can do that Jo Schmo can't, many Veterinarians ignore them. Because of this overlap, pay rates are low. Ridiculously low. And when you go through school to do something with your life, it can feel disappointing to work alongside someone who hasn't, who may even be your superior. I ended up getting out of the veterinary world and going into research for several years. I loved it and was very passionate about what I was doing. I ultimately left because it was lacking the medicine and people factor. But the pay difference was huge. And I wasn't rolling in it. I'd make more as a nurse straight out of school (someone said 3x as much... that's what I've found too!). But it was enough take care of my family the way I thought they deserved. And now I'm even more aware of the "**** end of the stick" that vet techs get. It's too bad because it's really a lovely field. I'm vet teching again because the hours are better for me while I take my pre-reqs. And I still love the work. I'll be honest and tell you that right now (10 years after the above pay rate) I am making $14 an hour. I am married with two small children. We own our home and we each have our own cars. But I can't afford to put both of my kids in daycare on that income so my hours are limited to working around my husband's. I can buy a cheap piece of clothing for myself once every few months. I shop at consignment stores for my kids clothes, and often birthdays have to be for "needed" items instead of fun ones. We aren't struggling to pay our bills, but we definitely don't have money to play with either. And of course, some of that depends on what your significant other does for a living... Mine happens to work for the railroad. He makes decent money, although it's not as great as everyone thinks it is. I've never been materialistic or one who thought that money should be a factor in choosing a career. I thought about nursing school before I went to vet tech school. But I was 20 years old and living very ideologically. I could afford to take care of myself on that salary. And I didn't think about my future at all. Money still isn't terribly important to me, but at 32 years old I've realized that on this small salary, I can't offer my children the life I would like to offer them. I'm not trying to say "no don't do it!" I think if that's what's really in your heart, then you should give it serious consideration. But be aware that you'll be working alongside people who have never been to school, and be aware of the pay rate. And be aware of where your future may be headed when you make the decision. It may be that all of this sounds wonderful to you and is all you could ever ask for. If that's the case, go for it! I'd be happy to answer any more questions for you if you have any! Just message me :-)

I'm in the same position (different research experience... transgenic mice and mouse embryonic stem cell core facility work here). But I was wondering the same thing and I'm glad you asked! I hope more people offer input here.

I'm not in nursing school yet, but I am working and taking pre-requisites. I also have 2 toddlers and 2 dogs and 2 cats and a foster dog. And I'm married. LOL. I've just had to learn to be flexible about my work outs and get them while I can. I might run at 9pm on Monday and 8am on Wednesday and on my lunch break on Friday. Although my running schedule is never the same from week to week. I try to at least go every other day. I also find 20-30 minute yoga videos on youtube that I can do daily at whatever time of day suits my current schedule. If that means 10pm, so be it! And I try to get in off-road bike rides in between runs. That has been my biggest sacrifice in this busy schedule. And of course, always packing a lunch and being careful what I eat. Actually, this part is my down fall. I love to eat. And it's so much easier to eat crap when I'm busy! You'll find a pattern (or lack of) that works for you. Just remember to keep it fun. It's your YOU time!

I am 32 with a 3 yo, a 2 yo, and a 33 yo. Making a career change from Veterinary Technician to human nursing. I've also had a few years experience in research. I'm interested to see what nursing in research is like. For now, I've been accepted to a BSN program starting in January 2014 and I'm finishing up re-taking pre-requisites. I'm glad I found this! Your stories are very inspirational and I'm glad to know there are so many people seeking nursing as a second (or third) career!

Good luck to you too! And to everyone else!

If you were a CNA already, does that not count as experience? I know it's not current, but it makes me ask why the experience is important to them. For instance, do they just want to know that you have enough experience to KNOW that you can handle this and it is really what you want to do, or is it because they won't have to teach you as much if you already know some of what you are doing? I would call the program you are looking into and ask them. Then you might not even have to worry about it!

Love to hear the stories! I actually have never heard anyone say they wanted to get into it for the money, lol. And I'm surprised by that. Nursing is something I've thought about and looked into several times. I am passionate about medicine and science. I got my first BS in my school's pre-vet program. But then decided my junior year that I didn't want to go to veterinary school after all. I wasn't sure what to do after that. I knew I loved medicine and science. I thought about Nursing, but I was so shy I didn't think I could handle intimidating patients. I wound up getting my vet tech license. As soon as I had it, I realized I was kind of selling myself short. It wasn't that I didn't enjoy the work... I'd been doing it off and on anyway all through high school and college. It was just that I wasn't using my degree and there weren't many options for my future. I was nearly topped out and I was fresh out of Vet Tech school. So I got a job in research. I worked with mice and mouse cells for a few years. I got bored and started looking into nursing school again, this time after a reproductive health issue that took 5 years or more to figure out, and a specialist to fix. I had been to several doctors, most of who brushed me off as "crazy" and one nurse practitioner who actually cared and gave me a "bandaid" for a little while. Then I had trouble getting pregnant and another doctor or two tried to tell me it was completely unrelated. The same nurse practitioner, for a second time around, saved my butt and sent me to a specialist. So, in the meantime, I've had this incredibly frustrating experience and I'm more passionate than ever about medicine and decide that I definitely want to go into nursing. I am empathetic and usually patient and always caring. What I needed during this experience was someone like myself! I have so much to offer and I've grown up and I'm not as shy as I used to be, and I've learned to deal with "difficult" patients, clients, and coworkers. And then I got pregnant. Right after my specialist told me it was BAD and it was going to take some major treatments (IVF) for me to get pregnant. And in the same week I found out I was pregnant, I also got a pretty big promotion at work. So I backed out of the programs I had applied to. Here I am, 4.5 years later and I am finishing what I started! So, there are a few reasons I want to go into nursing. With a BSN, the money will be better than an RVT gets, but it won't be a whole lot more than I was making in research (just a little bit). So, that does help... but it's not the deciding factor!