foxystar

My license number took what felt like FOREVER (exactly 6 weeks from the day I passed the NCLEX) to pop up here in Maryland on the MBON website but that was because somehow the board never got my background check results from the fingerprint place! I had to make a bunch of calls/emails to find out the holdup and get my results resent then the problem was finally resolved. Fortunately my job held my position until everything was done. My advice is to call/email the board to see if something is holding your license processing up and if so fix the problem. Good luck, hopefully your number pops up fast!

Maybe try a state hospital facility in your area that has a psych unit or maybe the local VA (veterans) hospital. Most state and possibly some federal facilities hire new grads. I passed NCLEX in September and will be starting my first RN position as a psych nurse at a state hospital here in Maryland in less than 2 weeks. The state pays less than other hospitals but the benefits and number of days off are pretty good. Good luck to you!

Thank you so much for the encouragement!!

Thank you!!

Thanks!!!

Thank you so much!!

Thanks so much

Go for it!!!!

For anyone who hasn't read my previous posts, I'm a career changer who was initially interested in trying an LPN program and then possibly bridging to an RN program. I already have a bachelor's degree (in History; earned 16 years ago) but coming from a non-science background, I took my Science pre-reqs VERY slowly, one at a time due to working both full & part time jobs. I finished my pre-reqs last spring and took the TEAS exam in October. Since my school has the EXACT SAME REQUIREMENTS for LPN & RN (and Id have to wait until next year to apply for the Fall 2017 LPN program) I gave it a shot and applied to the Spring 2017 RN program, AND I GOT IN! But now I'M STRESSED beyond belief because I didn't think I'd get in and now I don't know how I'm gonna handle what's ahead (work schedules/tuition/classes & fees/clinicals, etc.) All I can do is trust in God to make a way out of no way! Thanks for the encouragement & I hope this encourages any career changers out there to keep pushing on, even if its at a snail's pace! Somehow we will make it!!!

Hello! Its never too late to go back! I'm a career changer who returned to school in 2014 when I was 37; 14 years after earning a bachelors degree in History (my original degree has NOTHING to do with nursing whatsoever so I felt a bit nervous about the subject matter.) I applied at a community college in my area and initially planned to go for my LPN just to see if Id like nursing. Since I have my degree already I only needed to take the science prereqs (Biology, A&P I, A&P II, and Microbiology; my school doesn't require chemistry at this time for LPN OR RN -THANK GOODNESS!) Once I realized that both the LPN & RN programs need all the same pre-reqs I decided to go for the gusto since I have to take the same classes anyway and the RN will only take one more year. Well I just turned 40 last Sunday. I've been taking baby steps in my nursing journey due to working a full time job, so I could only take a class at a time since those were tough courses, plus I took a little break last Fall but I've finally finished all of my science pre-reqs this past spring semester and hope to take the TEAS test sometime this summer and this Fall I plan to apply for the RN program that will begin next spring. Its going to be tough but trust me, YOU CAN DO IT. My advice to you is if you need more courses than the just your sciences starting out, take an easy class with a tough class so you wont be overwhelmed with a bunch of hard sciences all at once; take advantage of your school's study labs; check youtube when studying for your A&P lab practical exams-they have some AWESOME anatomy videos that are easy to memorize; and exchange phone numbers with your classmates and study together. GOOD LUCK!

Kudos to you! I'm a career changer who is back in school after close to 15 years after earning a Bachelors degree in a non science field. Im 39, single, have 2 jobs and not the most 'scientific' person but Im trying my best and have been successful thus far. Im not in program yet; still in the pre-req stage. I'm no spring chicken anymore either, and have bills so Im taking it SLOWLY... one science Pre-req at a time, but i feel encouraged! My advice is to keep going and not let anything stop your goal; even if your family obligations slow you down to only taking one class at a time, take that class and give it your all. Just KEEP GOING! Make friends in your classes for support & study partners. If your family is supporting you, your classmates have your back and you have faith you'll make it! :)

Hello again everyone! For anyone who hasn't read my previous posts, I'm a career changer interested in trying an LPN program and then possibly bridging to an RN/BSN. I already have a bachelor's degree (in History; earned 15 years ago) but coming from a non-science background, I'm taking it VERY slowly, one Science Pre-Req at a time! This past semester I took A& P 2 and it was VERY tough. So tough I got a C. I admit that I was going through A LOT at home & at my full time job this past semester (and working an easy but time consuming pt time job as well) but I initially felt very discouraged about that low of a grade because I got an A in BIO 101 and a B when I took A&P I last Fall semester. I asked my cousin who is already a nurse if I should take A&P 2 over... and she told me "HECK NO! Its true that Nursing program recruiters want as many A's & B's as possible in your pre reqs but a C is an acceptable Pass... Besides, what if you take it over and get another C! Precious time (& even more precious money) will be wasted, so take that C and run with it girl!" I have since tried to cheer myself up and accept that although I didnt get the grade I wanted, I gave it my best shot despite my home & work circumstances, and still PASSED a very tough course. I plan on taking Microbiology in the Fall (and plan to FOCUS!!!) so I'll keep everyone posted. Thanks for the encouragements & I hope this encourages any career changers out there with FT jobs to keep going despite any difficulties outside of school, even if its at a snail's pace! For every class we complete were one step closer to our goal! I'll be submitting my application for the LPN program next Spring! If its full or if I don't get in for any other reason, I'll just keep pushing toward the RN... one class at a time! :)

GREAT JOB!! KEEP IT UP!

Congrats!!

Samuel Chen's youtube.com videos on the skeleton parts helped me A LOT with practical exams! Good luck!

Well it is a VERY tough course but you CAN DO IT! I was DEATHLY afraid of taking this class after having to withdraw from it in college years ago but I gave it a shot and was proud to pass it finally with a B. It is an overwhelming amount of information that is crammed into a very short period of time so my advice is to only read for an hour or so (no longer than 2 hours) each day you study. Don't try to kill yourself because it is IMPOSSIBLE to learn all of it that quickly. Just pace yourself at one assignment/quiz/test at a time. EVERYTHING isn't going to be on your tests either. I didn't try to cram because I felt like it was impossible to memorize EVERYTHING so I'd read over what I kind of already understood and focused more on terms that were foreign to me. I learned a lot for lab exams by watching Samuel Chen's anatomy videos on youtube believe it or not, made flashcards for myself and printed a lot of good supplemental study info from online. I also made certain to do EVERY SINGLE ASSIGNMENT my professor asked for on his syllabus so I knew that although I didn't always get a great grade on some assignments, and one or two items were submitted late, I at least knew I'd gotten points for everything. Make friends with your classmates for support and to get info from for whenever you happen to miss a lecture or lab. Also raise your hand and guess sometimes even when you aren't sure of an answer. Your professor will get to know your name and know that you're trying. Surprisingly the bones were the easiest for me to learn and memorize; the muscles & nervous system were the most challenging but I got through it and YOU WILL TOO. GOOD LUCK!

Well it is a VERY tough course but you CAN DO IT! I was DEATHLY afraid of taking this class after having to withdraw from it in college years ago but I gave it a shot and was proud to pass it finally with a B. It is an overwhelming amount of information that is crammed into a very short period of time so my advice is to only read for an hour or so (no longer than 2 hours) each day you study. Don't try to kill yourself because it is IMPOSSIBLE to learn all of it that quickly. Just pace yourself at one assignment/quiz/test at a time. EVERYTHING isn't going to be on your tests either. I didn't try to cram because I felt like it was impossible to memorize EVERYTHING so I'd read over what I kind of already understood and focused more on terms that were foreign to me. I learned a lot for lab exams by watching Samuel Chen's anatomy videos on youtube believe it or not, made flashcards for myself and printed a lot of good supplemental study info from online. I also made certain to do EVERY SINGLE ASSIGNMENT my professor asked for on his syllabus so I knew that although I didn't always get a great grade on some assignments, and one or two items were submitted late, I at least knew I'd gotten points for everything. Make friends with your classmates for support and to get info from for whenever you happen to miss a lecture or lab. Also raise your hand and guess sometimes even when you aren't sure of an answer. Your professor will get to know your name and know that you're trying. Surprisingly the bones were the easiest for me to learn and memorize; the muscles & nervous system were the most challenging but I got through it and YOU WILL TOO. GOOD LUCK!

Thanks so much! Class starts next Monday.

Hello again everyone! I'm back with more encouragement for all you career changers still in the "Nursing Pre-req" stage... After many, many late night study sessions, bonding & venting with classmates and shedding a tear or two... I got a B in my A&P I class this past Fall semester! It was VERY tough but with God's help and support from my study group I made it! Next up A&P II this Spring & submitting my application for the LPN program starting next Fall! If I don't get in, Ill keep pushing toward the RN... one class at a time!

Congrats! I did well on both of those as well but now Im petrified about the muscles...

Hello! For all those career changers just starting out on the Nursing path, be encouraged! If I can do it ANYONE CAN! I just turned 38, and after 14 years of being out of school, and deciding to pursue Nursing with a non Nursing/Science background (I have a Bachelors degree in History & employment background in the Baltimore City & County school systems & mental health fields at a local non profit agency), I got an A in my Bio 101 class this past Spring semester! It was tough BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE! I found a study partner in my class and met with her every other week to study for tests and exchange notes! Next up A&P I in the Fall. I'm taking baby steps (one pre-req at a time) toward my goal of getting my LPN and bridging to RN-BSN, but I am hopeful and encouraged!

Finally & officially started my nursing journey yesterday. I registered & paid for my Biology 101 class (pre req for A&P I) at BCCC (Baltimore City Comm Coll.) I'm nervous & scared yet hopeful & confident, and excited yet apprehensive-all at the same time! Talk about an emotional roller coaster! I'm only taking this one class this semester and it only meets once a week... but hey, Ive been out of college for 14 years so I guess I'm entitled to feel a little crazy... Lol! Class starts in 2 wks. Wish me luck!

Your positive attitude & inspiring words are very much appreciated. I'm a secretary at a state mental hospital and am VERY interested in getting my LPN within the next year and a half and possibly applying for a LPN to RN bridge program in the future. Giving advice is one thing but I have gotten A LOT of negative feedback from several people when I say I want my LPN first because I already have a bachelor's degree in another field (I majored in History because I wanted to teach when I was younger but I'm not using my degree, nor getting paid for having it.) I know that LPNs aren't as in demand at hospitals nowadays as they once were but fortunately I won't have that problem and will be able to start as an LPN I at the hospital where I work now as soon as I complete the LPN program so I'm not worried about getting a job when I (finally) finish. I work with LPNs & RNs and some are positive about no matter what I decide but some are like "Are you crazy? You have a bachelors! Don't waste your time with that LPN, go straight for your RN!" But what they don't understand is, I've been out of school for 13 years and I have to pace myself slowly with all of that science and the time I'm gonna have to dedicate to studying. I didn't have the best of grades in math or science in HS nor college so I KNOW myself and don't want to get overwhelmed. I also want to get into the Nursing field as quickly as possible and EVERY traditional RN program I've researched in my area has LONG waiting lists and are VERY HIGHLY competitive. I'm willing to try however but I'm also being realistic since I have to work full time while in school. I'm gonna have to take baby steps (like only 1 or 2 classes at a time) so that I can pass each one with a good grade. I know everyone means well but I am not gonna let the negative voices discourage my plan. Thanks for the encouragement either way about the pre-reqs because I admit Ive been feeling a little afraid of those types of science classes after being out of school for so long, but since I was recently accepted at a community college in my area I'm gonna give it a shot in the spring. Keep up the great work & keep inspiring others!

Hello! I'll be starting in January also! I'll be taking Biology at a community college here in Baltimore (one of the pre-reqs I need for the LPN program.) I plan to bridge to RN in a few years but for now I'm taking baby steps since Ive been out of school for 13 years! I already have my bachelor's in History (I'm a career-changer who wanted to teach years ago) so I already have the English, Psych & Sociology I need for the LPN program I want to get into but now I need to take Biology, A&P I & A&P II. Wishing you all luck (& me too!) :)