Kellcat

OK so here's the deal. I'm already accepted and enrolled in a 4 year BSN program. It's not pre-nursing or anything like that. However, as a freshman I'm not taking any NUR classes. I have all A's and B's in Anatomy and English, all those other classes, but I struggle A LOT in Survey of Chemistry. I've got a 72, a 60, and a 69 on the exams, mediocre grades on quizes and homework, and all 90 - 100s in lab. I need a 70 in order to pass the pre-req. Last time I checked I was at a 68, and that was before I got a 69 on the last exam. BUT-- that was when I was calculating my grade "the wrong way". I cannot figure out my current CLASS grade because the professor uses this strange "point" system that keeps changing because she keeps adding and taking away assignments that mess with the total "points". I've met with her several times just to try and figure this out and either she keeps changing her answer, or I just am too stupid to figure it out. I don't know. My chemistry final is TOMORROW at 12:30, and I've been studying for a really long time. For each of the last exams I've made these huge packet study guides that give me any and all info I know I'm going to need before the exam. I go to tutoring every week (though I skipped this week because I was insanely sick and I already feel like I should've gone but I slept right through my alarm to go and aaaggh) I've been studying and I KNOW I'm learning a lot, but I don't know if it will be enough for me to reach that 70! IF, I don't get the grade I need, I read in the handbook that I can repeat one nursing course one time. But this isn't even a traditional nursing course! It's just a pre-req. I have the impression that I can retake it even over the summer as an accelerated course if I need to, but I don't want to get my hopes up. Also, I don't really care about staying an extra semester or graduating late, apart from money. I know that sounds bad since I'm a nursing student so I HAVE to be oh so competitive and annoyingly perfect, but I'd rather repeat courses and graduate late than flunk out because I lose my sanity-- and my desire to be in this damn program!! Besides, I'm not looking to go into a traditional nursing pathway right off the bat (in fact, I may not even go into nursing right away) But-- that doesn't mean my enthusiasm for nursing is any less than anyone else's... Sorry for the rant. Anyone ever had to repeat a pre-req while already in a BSN program? Any thoughts are appreciated, I just feel like I can't see this as the end of the world if I don't pass this class. I'd REALLY like to pass because I feel like I'm so close and I've learned so much, though. Anyway, thanks.

The problem with getting evaluated for a learning disability is that I can't pay for anything like that, and there's no way I could tell my parents. There's a decent chance they would stop paying for me to go to school (it's complicated). I've never been told that I have a learning issue before, usually people just say that I'm lazy or I need to study more. I just find it a little odd that I've never had anyone say that to me my whole life, and then within the first three weeks of college I'm told I should look into it. Wouldn't something like a learning disability be apparent much sooner in my life? My issue with chemistry is that I took notes on the material and I feel like I know it, but without looking at my notes to be COMPLETELY sure, I'm unable to think. If I'm not 100% sure of the right answer, my whole mind goes blank and I can't answer. It seems to happen during tests and quizzes. I feel much better in the lab setting, and I tend to understand the material much better if it's not on a test. It's probably just me panicking during the tests, but I've never heard of any way to fix that. I will look into it though. I reeeally wish I didn't worry so much. Anyway, thank you for your response!

I'm a freshman at a really good nursing school. For the most part, I like it here. I'm in my fourth week of school and I haven't had any real exams yet. In my first week, I thought chemistry was going to be fun. It's a Survey of Chemistry, so it's all relevant to nursing and it's pretty interesting. However.... I had one quiz today, worth 25 points, and I didn't answer a single question. I saw the paper and I just froze-- like, unbelievably frozen. I've never felt anything like it, except for maybe a few times in my junior year of highschool. I didn't answer a single question on this quiz. Not one. The first question was something about the number of protons and neutrons of an element-- something FIVE YEAR OLDS can figure out, and I just stared at it like an IDIOT. The crappy part is that I sort of am an idiot. Now I know everyone's gonna be like "don't be negative like that, blah blah" but truthfully, I'm actually very idiotic. I ALWAYS struggled with school. Somehow my brain just can't retain basic information. I tell myself that I'm just lazy, but even when I study it doesn't seem to work. It's like no matter how hard I focus, the knowledge just won't stick. I talked to my chem professor after class, told her what happened, and she just stared at me and then said, word for word: "Have you ever been evaluated for a learning disability? You should stop by the academic support office." Now I'm starting to think that maybe I struggle so much because I have some sort of mental issue. The worst part is that even if I did have some issue that could be fixed by academic support, my parents wouldn't pay for it. Not gonna happen. I'm not sure how I even got into Nursing school. All I ever hear from the professors is how this class freshman class is overqualified, and that's why it's the largest freshman class ever, etc etc. One of the professors even said how everyone in the freshman class had extremely excellent Advance Placement and Honors experience. I have neither of those two things, because my school didn't have AP or Honors. You know what I have? ART. Now I know that sounds crazy, but I taught myself anatomy through art, and it worked. I love art, and I'm not ashamed. I wrote my application essay about it. On one hand, I'm thinking that someone in the nursing department read it and thought "wow, that's neat, she sounds like she's worth our time" and then on the other hand, I'm thinking that my acceptance must've been a mistake or something, because i don't fit in with the other girls and I don't seem to fit their profile of the perfect nursing student. On my first day, I tried connecting with some other girls in the nursing program. We were all talking about our backgrounds and what got us into nursing and I said "art" and everyone was all awkward. People kept saying things like "why aren't you just an art major then?" or "that's so cool, sorry you don't have any CNA experience though." It stinks because I don't even want to go into "normal" nursing-- my goal is to go into research, or something like that!! the only thing I've heard from professors and students since I got here is "not everyone is cut out for nursing". Yeah, no s--t! But saying that doesn't make better nursing students, it just makes people feel attacked! TL'DR: Yeah, I know this is long and I'm sorry. 1) my first chemistry quiz was a failure and I didn't answer any of the questions so I'll be getting a ZERO. My professor thinks I need serious help...? 2) I don't fit in. I don't feel like a nursing student. I just want to be ME, and I feel like this program is sucking my soul out. 2) I KNOW it's only going to get harder, and I KNOW nursing is not for everyone, but if we could just skip the "you're probably not cut out for it" speeches, that'd be great. I've definitely heard that enough over the past few years. I just want to graduate and look for an nice quiet research job. OR, HEY, maybe I won't even become a nurse! I just want to graduate with my BSN and say, "Yes. I did that." and then move on with my life. If nursing is what I do, then fine, but if it's not, that's cool too. Anyway, man this is so long and I'm sorry for ranting. Thank you for reading if you get down this far.

Hey thank you for providing such great information! I think I'm starting to see how much work this is going to be, but I'm far to invested in this future to call it quits just because it sounds hard, lol. Most of my family has no idea that I'm interested in joining the Navy- except my father. He was enlisted and served on the USS Nimitz. He supports my desire to join, but things have changed so much since he was in the Navy that he doesn't know what the process of applying is like now. Again, thank you for giving me some insight on that. I think my first step is to prove myself through my grades. This is something I definitely struggle with, but getting into a four year university will likely help with that. I also really need to get out of my parents house. I am never able to get work done there, I have no car, and even though I am eighteen I am "not allowed" to leave whenever I want. Once I achieve my BSN I might move to an area that I can work in better and that would give me better access to the Navy. San Diego would be amazing, lol. I am extremely interested in preoperative nursing. I mean, at this point in my life I am interested in almost any kind of nursing, but if there's a need for it, ill definitely look into aligning myself on that career path. Thanks again for the wealth of information you've given me! Congratulations on your career success too!

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Hey thanks for your reply! I got the flyer too. So first things first: I have not started the 2 year RN program yet,just planning to apply. When I apply to the community college I will also be applying to a BSN program at a four year school. I'm not sure if I'll get into either one, as they are competitive, and every bubbly Princess Peach in the area where I live thinks she's qualified. My high school is an off-the-map hippie/liberal school that refuses to give their students GPAs. however, I'm taking college classes over the summer at the aforementioned community college and my GPA seems to rest in the 3.5 - 3.8 range. I did know of the Navy Nurse Candidate program, but I'm still figuring out how all this works, and I knew I wanted to serve on a ship- active military duty... I thought the navy nurse program was more for those who want to work on land while still being considered part of the navy.... I feel like this seems way of, as I used to think everyone in the Navy serves at sea... so if you or anyone wants to clarify this I would be super grateful. I also heard that the navy wasn't in need of personnel too, which was pretty disappointing. I'm kind of basing my entire career off of getting into the navy. I'd be the first woman in my family to even try entering a branch of the military. I know I won't really respect myself until I prove to myself I can get in. You mentioned your application process. I'm assuming (correct me if I'm wrong) you went to a four year university for your BSN, got certified for everything you could on the side, and received a lot of recommendations. How long did all this take to accumulate, if you don't mind me asking. Lastly- do you think there's a way an average student could get to this point? Where I live, people are sort of anti-military, so I have no real support in this endeavour. Any other thoughts you have would be appreciated.

Hi, I'm new. I realize the title is a little dumb sounding. And I dont know if this an okay topic, but here goes: My question has to do with how to enter the navy and work as a nurse. I recently began the application process of a two year Associates degree in nursing at my local community college. I am eighteen. If I attend this school, I will be doing Army ROTC because no schools in my area offer NROTC and I figure it's better than nothing. Basically my whole life I've known I want to join the navy. Originally I was going to enlist, but I have a passion for medicine, so I want to combine these two and work as a navy nurse (or any other type of medical profession in the navy. As long as I'm in the navy providing medical assistance, I will be happy.) However, I (very stupidly) thought I could join the navy with associates degree. I cannot. The associates degree appealed to me because I would be be a RN after two years and would be able to join the navy in two years instead of four. My other college option is to attend a state school for biology (health sciences concentration) for four years, then join. their nursing program is very competitive, so im not sure I'll get in, but that would also be an option. I've read a lot about the navy nurse corps,but it all seems very vague. Same thing for a lot of the info on the navy website. I talked to a recruiter as well, and he was very noncommittal... At this point , I just know that I need to end up as a navy nurse. I would be interested for serving for any amount of time, active duty. I don't want to go into reserves right now. If possible, I'd be interested in serving at sea. I would like to get there quickly, too... I don't want my priorities to change, I guess. I realize some of this isn't feasible... but id rather just put all my cards on the table and see what I can make happen. But it seems like every story I hear contradicts the next one. If anyone can clarify or give me any sort of advice, that would be great. Anything helps. Thanks. Also sorry about any spelling errors my keyboard is slowly dying.