Deer2013

Thanks guys! and congratulations Lexis! I'm sorry to hear that, FutureRN2142. Don't give up though!

I just looked it up. It changed it to Associate Degree Nurse.

Yep, it's faulkner. I didn't apply anywhere else. The letter is dated June 12th.

I got my acceptance letter today!!! í ½í¸

Hello All! I have finished my pre-requisites and my application for a nursing program has finally been sent in. I started pre-requisites May 2013 and finished in December 2014. Sometimes it is easy to get discouraged and second guess nursing as a career. Whether you're in nursing school or about to start, I think it's good to have a reward or goal set for yourself after graduation. My personal post-graduation goal is a trip to South America and a truck. :) As pre-nursing students and nursing students I think encouraging each other is crucial to getting through school. So, I have to ask. Nursing/pre-nursing students, what will be your post-graduation goal/reward? What drives you to keep going through school? I look forward to reading everyone's responses and I hope this post gives all students some encouragement today!

Hey Lexis, congratulations on getting a higher TEAS score! To answer your question about a preference between Bishop and Faulkner, I personally prefer Faulkner. The reason being Faulkner is only 20 minutes away from me whereas Bishop is about 1 hour away. I've recently spoken to a LPN graduate who started at Faulkner then transferred to Bishop and she LOVED Bishop. BUT I've also spoken to someone who is currently in Bishop's RN program and they HATE it. I guess it all depends on your own experience. It seems I have heard wonderful and terrible things about every nursing program in lower Alabama (which is quite discouraging). I've gotten to the point now where I am assuming every nursing program has their pros and cons, and at the end of the day I just have to choose the program that I think will be best for me.

I have the microbiology, both anatomy classes, and a statistics class. I got A's in all of them. Even though you haven't taken A&P II yet I would still apply. It wouldn't hurt and you'd hate to later find out that other people with your scores were accepted. So I say go for it! I know how you feel. After what feels like countless prerequisite classes I am READY to start taking actual nursing classes. Are you applying to other schools? Like Bishop or PSC?

Hi FSCCRN2017! I wish they would take into account those grades too! I wanted to apply for the Spring 2014 program but I wouldn't have finished my Micro class by the application deadline and I needed the extra points. I ended up having a total of 205 points for my application. I was hoping it would be higher but I only made a 69 on the TEAS V test. It says on the application that applicants won't here back until about 4-6 weeks after the application deadline (June 1st) but I've heard of some people finding out a few weeks sooner. Is A&P II the last class you need for the program?

Yep, I just sent it in this week

Have you sent in your applications, futureRN2142?

Just Faulkner. I thought about applying to Bishop but it's a good 1 hour and 15 minute drive for me which is a bit too far for me.

My overall science score was low. If I remember correctly, I think it was in the mid 50s. I'll be praying for you too! I hope we're both accepted. As long as my score doesn't get any lower I'll be happy lol. Hopefully it will improve at least a point or two. Are you applying anywhere else besides Faulkner?

Awesome! Have you taken the TEAS V yet? I took it in January and got a 69. I ended up coming down with strep the next day though so I'm hoping that I will do better when I take it March 13th.

Wow! Thank you guys so much for all of the advice! I really appreciate y'all sharing your personal stories. After reading what you've all written I do think I will pursue my ADN. It will be hard but it sounds like it will be worth it in the long run. Life does seem notorious for getting in the way at the worst times, doesn't it. :-) Again, I really appreciate all of the advice! Thank you! And good luck to those still pursuing nursing. I think it's awesome you're still following your dreams.

GucciBeaR143, I only have my pre-requisites for my ADN but I have considered just taking a few more classes so I can get my BSN first instead of doing a bridge program later. I'm wondering though if my husband would ever be stationed somewhere long enough to finish a BSN nursing program. In your experience, how long are you typically stationed somewhere? I would hate to be only a semester away from getting my BSN and then have to move.

Thank you for the response, Lulu Belle. I think my gut is telling me to get my ADN too but the idea of being away from my spouse is saddening. I probably will get my ADN though. It's only two more semesters than the LPN program. Do you happen to know any nurses that worked in the hospitals on bases? Or do you know if those hospitals only let people in the military work there? Thanks so much for responding! It's always nice to get a response from someone who can relate to you. :)

My husband is planning on joining the Marines the beginning of 2016. I am set to start a nursing program in August of this year (2015). I would think I'd be about halfway through the program when my husband finishes all of his training and get stationed somewhere. The school has an ADN and LPN program. I was planning on doing the ADN but I've recently considered doing the LPN instead that way I can graduate sooner and move with my husband wherever he is stationed. I do realize it's very possible for him to be stationed somewhere that I cannot join him but I'm just considering all options right now. So my question is, for those who have a spouse in the military, would you recommend doing the LPN program so I can move with my spouse if the opportunity arises? Or would you stick with the ADN program even though it means being away from my spouse for 9-12 months? I worry that if I don't get my ADN now then it will be difficult to obtain it later BUT I also want to be with my husband as much as possible especially since we're so young (18 & 23) and newly married (married months ago). Also, please keep in mind I do not come from a military family so I have no idea how long training typically takes, how long someone is typically stationed, etc. I'm totally guesstimating when it comes to when my husband would start/finish basic training.

Awesome. Thanks for the information!

Thanks for replying, Mrs Future RN! I feel better now about being accepted. All I'm really nervous about now is the TEAS test. Congratulations about being accepted into Bishop! I looked into their program but I live in Summerdale so Faulkner would be closer. If you don't mind me asking, have you graduated from the program yet? And if so, have you had trouble finding a job with an AS instead of a BSN? Thanks so much!

Hello everyone! I'm applying for the Fall 2015 program at Faulkner state community college in Bay Minette. Right now I have 101 points for my a&p I and II, microbiology, and prerequisite classes. I'm hoping to make at least an 80 on the TEAS which will give me 120 points for a total of 221 points. I've heard a competitive score is around 180. If there's anyone who made it into the Spring/Fall 2014 programs, could you please tell me what your total score was? Thanks so much! I think I can get in with 221 points but I just want to get an idea of what a competitive score is.

Thanks for the responses, guys. I’m thinking the M.D. route isn’t for me. I would like it but I wouldn’t want to neglect patients for my family obligations or neglect family for patient obligations. I’ll probably go the NP or PA route, the learning won’t be as in-depth as medical school but I don’t mind. I would be fine working under a physician’s supervision and learning from him/her.

Thank you for your responses. I have considered becoming a NP. I would actually be quite happy with becoming one, but I have heard that the education is just more nursing theory which isn't something I would think could help me. But this could be biased considering I heard that from PAs/MDs. I've always had good experiences with Nurse Practitioners so I probably just have a silly fear that if I become a NP I won't feel competent enough to treat and diagnose patients. But again, this is an irrational fear. Only I can choose to limit how much I learn whether I am a Doctor, Physician's Assistant, or Nurse Practitioner. I know there is never a perfect time to have children and I don't plan on having any soon, but when it happens I want to have a career that will allow me to focus on my family. Thanks for everyone's responses so far! I will continue learning about different career options. I'm currently leaning towards NP instead of PA due to the cost of school, but we'll see what happens. Thanks again!

Hello everyone, I know this is a debate that has gone back and forth a lot between people but I would like some help on the subject. I am a married, 17 year old female who wants to work in the healthcare field. When I was about 14 my first thought was to go into nursing because I liked the idea of hands on care and I knew I could further my career later on. I graduated at 16 and have since been in college about 1 1/2 years working on my pre-reqs for nursing. I still like nursing, but lately the idea of going into medicine has entered my mind. I'm young, I have a supportive family and spouse, and I think I would enjoy medicine. But here's the dilemma, I don't want to be thirty and start having kids. And when I do have kids, I would prefer to stay home with them for the first year or two of their lives. I love taking care of people and learning about the human body but I also have other passions. For example, traveling. Going on mission trips is my absolute favorite thing to do and I would love to combine it with taking care of people. I'm afraid that if I go into nursing I'll wish I had gone into medicine and afraid that if I go into medicine I'll feel that all of my 20s were spent in school. I just don't know what would be better for the lifestyle I want and I definitely don't want to regret my career choices later on. So for those who are in medicine or nursing, do you feel that you have the time to travel and be with family? Do you regret your career choice? Thank you so much!