liquidblue

I start on Monday. I'm just taking A&P and then an algebra class. I started working on my degree awhile back, then dropped, now trying to get in again. I tried to pick an A&P professor that had good (and numerous) reviews. Have had an experience or two with some truly awful professors, and I believe that the professor can definitely make or break the class. Good luck to all!

It's the same way around here, everything is closed/waitlisted. I've read good reviews about the Netter's flash cards, but there are others out there. I think someone mentioned Barron's (http://www.amazon.com/Barrons-Anatomy-Flash-Cards-Albertine/dp/0764178326.)

Yeah, I am going to get mine from Amazon. It says there is also an access provided for some online site that you can access all of the flashcards on if you don't have them with with you. Here is the link I went to: http://www.amazon.com/Netters-Anatomy-Flash-Cards-STUDENT/dp/1416039740 For future reference... Very early on, I would suggest calling up the department head (of whatever department your class is under) and inquiring about the instructor schedule. I know that at my school, the instructor names are often not posted until a week or two before class begins (even though the department head has the info...) It is just awful. I have learned the hard way to NOT just randomly register and "hope" to get a good instructor. So, now I inquire, after getting recommendations from people who have gone before me, if a particular instructor that I am interested in will be teaching the class that I need. I firmly believe that having a great instructor, for a class that is challenging like A&P, can make all the difference.

I'm with you! I am dreading it, lol, but have to get it over with. I am getting ready to order the Netter's Anatomy Flashcards. I actually am re-taking this class (withdrew last time due to some circumstances that came up...)

Yeah, I've kind of been where you are. I got SO close, and then a bunch of things happened, and I really lost my motivation. I am finally getting back on track. It has been HARD, but you can do it! Keep your eyes on the end result - graduating, and being able to move on to your career. =) Good luck!!

The hardest part for me was the bones. I would have been fine if I had thought to start memorizing ahead of time! My recommendation is start studying the bones (and muscles, if you have lots of spare time) ahead of time. Make flash cards, write out the words, whatever it is that helps the information stick in your head.

Yes, I wear my seatbelt. I usually automatically reach for it after entering the car. =)

I don't know how soon your exam is, but if you have time, TALK to your instructor. A good instructor will be willing to meet with you and provide study information to prepare for a final exam. My instructors used to pass out the old tests, and we would all study from those. Some of my instructors would even run through the exam, and let us know the "important" things that we should absolutely look over. I've had some instructors who would put material on the exam which we did not discuss in class. It's very unfortunate, but there is not a whole lot you can do in that case. Prepare the best you can. Break down all of the material you need to study, and take a section of it each day. Review the material on a regular basis, until you are familiar with it. Make index cards with small pieces of information on them and carry them with you everywhere!! Good luck.

I would say it is definitely possible to take the non-science prerequisites online. I took the majority of my english, psychology, and history classes online via a community college. The sciences (chemistry, anatomy & physiology, and microbiology), at my local community college, are NOT fully offered online. The closest thing available is a sort of hybrid class. The lectures, tests, and notes are online, but you must travel to school approximately once a week for a lab session. Without the lab session, you cannot get full credit for the course. Like everyone else is saying, check with the nursing program that you wish to enter first. They will be able to best advise you as to their specific requirements.

Have you taken any of the science prerequisites for the nursing program? If you already have, and scored lower than you like, I would encourage you to re-take some those. If not, I would say just plan on doing very well when you do take the sciences (biology, anatomy and physiology, microbiology, and chemistry.) Personally, I would not repeat classes such as english, history, or psychology. Does the program you want to enter focus solely on GPA, or is there a "points" system in place?

Sand_Dollar did a pretty good job of listing what is covered in each class. I will say that general biology was A LOT easier for me compared to anatomy and physiology. I think it was the combination of all the new material, plus the many terms, that made A&P more challenging for me. If you have the time, or need some extra credits, I encourage you to take general biology. It certainly will not hurt to take it, and you may use/refer back to some of what you learn when it comes time to take A&P.

The nursing program that I hope to get operates on a "points" system for admission. We get more points for higher grades, and less points for lower grades. If your program operates the same way, and you can get additional points for bringing up those C grades, then I would definitely consider re-taking the algebra and chemistry. If not, then you will need to decide if you simply want to re-take those courses as a refresher, or just try to get high grades on the rest of the prerequisites. Also, like someone else mentioned, check and see how long the chemistry you took is good for. My school has a limit of 5 years on the sciences...

The only reason we would have any labs drawn at the pre-employment screening is if the immunization records are not present or complete. There is a choice of either taking the required immunizations, or having titers checked. However, my records were all intact, so I did not need any blood work. I cannot think of a good reason why an employer would need to be performing routine labs (cholesterol, BMP, CBC) with all pre-employment screenings.

Wow, I'm surprised you had to fill out such a lengthy history form. I think mine was maybe two pages. Our pre-employment health screening was basically a meeting with the employee health nurse to determine that we were fit to do the job for which we were hired. They checked my immunization records, vital signs, did a urine drug screen, and reviewed my health history form. It was pretty simple, really. All of my info and immunization records were as they should be, so I did not even have to get poked!

Yeah, in working as a phlebotomist I did get stuck by a dirty needle, once. The patient (out of the blue) decided to start moving her arm, and I just happened to be using my index finger to palpate/figure out where to redirect the needle. So, of course the needle came out of her arm and went into my index finger. :) Everything has turned out fine so far, though.