mama12

I have a non-related Bachelors degree, as do many (most) of my class. There were a couple younger kids, but they were the exception. A degree in another field will show that you are capable of completing college work, and also probably knock out most of your Gen Ed classes for your nursing degree. I agree with everyone saying that honesty is the best policy.

I became close to a girl who is ESL (it may actually be her 3rd language) and she had a very difficult time with our testing. We would study together and she would have the material down better than me. Then we would go in to test and I would score much higher than her. She is a very intelligent person, but the wording of nursing tests can be difficult for people who don't have an excellent comprehension of the English language. It makes something that is fairly difficult on its own (nursing school) that much more difficult. Read questions slowly to make sure you really understand what is being asked. Your school also may offer additional resources to help level the playing field, so definitely ask. :) Best of luck!

I am a planner nerd, too, except mine is just of the $12 variety. Couldn't live without it. I use different colored highlighters to color code everything written in it--my kids' schedule, my schedule, my school breaks, their school breaks (the breaks of course don't coincide), etc., etc.

Just started. I am 31.

Congrats! I, too, am a non-traditional student--2 kids, a goldendoodle, 2 cats. :) Welcome!

I spent my first year in college at 18 bombing out and being placed on academic probation. I did end up eventually getting into two nursing programs, but that was after earning a BA in my mid-20s with high-ish GPA and then going back again and earning high grades in the pre-reqs. I would say, though, that it took at least two semesters of all As for my academic record to look sound again. I tend to think that a big turnaround over a period of time will look admirable, but who knows. Keep in mind, though, that even if a program states a minimum GPA/requires a C+ in pre-reqs/whatever, you will still be competing with students who earned As. Retake the classes, but figure out what you need to do to get Bs or As. Is it organization? Study habits? Do you need a tutor? If you want to get into nursing school, work your butt off and make it happen. :)

I, too, was torn between nursing and social work. I was accepted to two nursing programs and a MSW for this fall and really struggled with what to choose. In the end, after lots of discussions and research, I realized there are just so many career opportunities in the nursing path that I couldn't see or find in social work. That said, go with your gut!

I start this week. Must admit--feeling terrified!

Are you referring to Katie Duke and others such as Nurse Eye Roll (can't remember her real name)? I know they often promote scrubs and products. I never paid attention to whether they disclosed it but I know bloggers in general are required to disclose when they are paid or receiving products for free.

I'm not sure why it would be different for an LPN program so I just wanted to give you some hope. I was accepted to one program, wait listed on the other for fall and just got called today off the wait list so it happens. :) This wait list is less than 20 long. Being #1 gives you great chances.

I have been following this thread because I have applied to both nursing schools and an MSW program for this fall. I have not heard back from the MSW yet, but I have been accepted to an RN program. The medical school nearby does have a program that allows RNs to go straight into their MSN to become psychiatric mental health NP or family practice NP and actually, I'm not sure one need ever even work as an RN in that process (this seems like a bad idea, but I digress) let alone have ICU experience. I do believe you can get tuition assistance if you work as an RN from many hospitals, and if I was the OP and determined to chase this dream, I think that's what I would do. I'm 31 years old. I have some student loans from earning my BA, but I only had to worry about taking loans 1 year, so I am luckier than many. I also have one full year left of paid tuition to put towards whatever I do. However, I have 11 and 9 year old children. The idea of taking on significant amounts of debt and finishing up when it's time to start shopping for colleges for them just seems really impractical. OP may be in a totally different situation if she doesn't have a family yet, or is younger, or a whole host of other factors. However, I do think we all just get used to the idea of being shackled to student loans forever, which maybe numbs us to just how cra**y it is to be in debt..any debt. Side note….amazingly, in the last 24 hours I have read on this site (not directed toward me), "don't become a nurse!" and "don't go into social work!" when I suspect the truth is somewhat more fluid than this. I have a sneaking suspicion that, whichever career path one takes, it is going to be what you make of it.

The wait list around here is basically what the poster above as their alternates. At the school I was wait listed at, it was less than 20 students long and you got called up if one of their first choice applicants declined. I was accepted at another school that needs me to move forward so my spot on the wait list will get passed up, as I'm sure others will also experience. Definitely be ready.

I got an adjusted individual score of 78ish (advanced) on TEAS V. I severely underestimated it and didn't prepare much. If I could go back and do it again, I would definitely get the ATI book for studying. One school required a minimum of 60 to apply, the other 75. I have a BA with a cumulative GPA of 3.52 and then I took chem and bio at the community college and had a 3.57--this was the GPA both schools cared about, not because it was the pre-requisites but because it was my most recent cumulative GPA. They also factored in how many times you repeated classes or took the TEAS, which is part of why I decided not to retake just yet. In the end I was wait listed at one and accepted at the other.

I have a BA in Sociology and am about to start an RN program (ASN). I must admit, part of me was a bit disappointed to be going back to community college after a bachelor's. It did make me wonder for a while if all of the work I put into my BA was a waste. I don't feel that way anymore. I really believe that in the end I will be glad for having taken a non-traditional path, no matter where these next few years takes me. There is also an RN to MSN program nearby for those that have a bachelor's degree in another field, which may be something I am interested in down the road.

I am hoping to take A&P 1 this summer as it is "strongly recommended" that we take it the summer before we begin nursing classes.

Thank you. That makes perfect sense to me.

Thank you for the great input all. Anything that helps me get a fuller picture is much appreciated! Several of you have supported my thought that since the shifts I want are typically "undesirable", it isn't ridiculous to hope for something that works for us. Is this common? I have a husband who can have a little wiggle room, but we don't live near family nor do we have a great system around us that could support me working like that, unfortunately. I am doing this as a second income for our family, so maybe I need to consider part time? Is that a possibility fresh out of school?

Hi everyone. I have gotten into a nursing program beginning this fall. I'm feeling very excited to get started. However, now that it is a reality, I am starting to really think about the logistics of the 3 days a week/12 hour shifts and wondering just how family-friendly a nursing career is. When you start out, are you able to have a set schedule? Would it be hard to find a job with the 7pm-7am shifts on Fri/Sat/Sun every week? (My husband works long days but only Mon-Thursday.) Or are shifts always rotating and changing week by week? Is there a good amount of flexibility, or am I dreaming? I know there are probably many different scenarios, but is it unreasonable to think it's a possibility to make something like the above schedule work? I know there will be times when life doesn't fall perfectly into place, but I am hoping for something that works most of the time. Please let me know if I am being unrealistic. :) ETA: I'm sorry if this is in the wrong forum. I thought it was a question best to ask experienced nurses but now I'm wondering if I shouldn't have posted here without actually being a nurse...?

Good luck everyone still waiting! Both of my programs were unusually quick (2 weeks for one, 3-4 for the other!) but even that felt like forever.

I just finished up applying to two nursing schools. I have a BA, but went back to community college after the fact to do chem and bio. When I applied, all either school cared about was my most recent cumulative GPA...actually they said my BA meant nothing, pretty much. Both GPAs were between 3.5 and 3.6, so it wasn't a benefit or a hindrance in my case. I asked the adviser at one program whether she thought I was competitive and she said that even though it says "minimum GPA of 2.7", she had never seen anyone get in below a 3.2-3.3. I think it is probably one of the most important things they go by--the two I applied to, anyways. I was accepted to one program (the one I mention talking to the adviser), waitlisted at the other (my first choice and longshot.) Best of luck!

I took it today. There were a few physics questions but they were fairly basic.

Hi all. I took my TEAS today which is one of the last things I needed to get done. It wasn't great, but I didn't study much, so... (kicking myself.) I did scrape into the "Advanced" level but I was about as low a score as you can get while still being there (78). I am currently feeling worried. I'm applying to two nursing programs--as well as an MSW/MA program--and I keep wondering what I will do if I don't get in. I have a "meandering" educational history--I dropped out of college the first time around because I was pregnant at 19. A few years later I went back and did earn a BA in Sociology. Last year I went back (again) to take bio and chem and apply to nursing programs, which is what I wanted to do even in high school. Here I am now-- 30, kids in middle school and elementary, and terrified--all the while feeling like I am back where I started once upon a time (well, with the addition of some wrinkles). There were so many high school girls taking the TEAS test today. It made me feel old...and it made me wonder if I was too old to be starting over again. The pre-reqs are basic (successful completion of h.s. or college english,chem, bio, and algebra) and you only have to have a 60 on the TEAS to apply, but I have heard it still ends up very competitive. Also, it has been so long since some of my pre-reqs were done. The sciences I did go back and re-take last year, but the other two were high school or AP credit for college. Is anyone else in the "worried wait" over the next couple of months with me?