Prospective nursing student: need experienced advice.

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First let me say: thanks for taking your valuable time to read and assist. Also, I apologize if there's stuff out there for prospective students in other threads, but I wanted to make my own thread/situation. I will also pretty much tell you the important stuff about me, no BS'ing the facts. I'm 29, 30 in a few months (oh god). I have a BA in Psychology from the University of South Florida. I'm currently in Denver, but am moving back to my hometown of Tampa in a few months. I've decided Nursing seems like a great career. I've always had a calling and a wonderful knowledge and retention of the body and its systems. It's a growing field, in demand, and I'm great with people and relating to people when they're in some of their worst hours (like some of my own family).

I graduated USF with a 2.95, or 3.0 as I like to round up (sue me). I messed around in school a lot and didn't take it as serious as I should have. I've grown up since I was a younger 20-something. My last year or so of college was nothing but 3.0+, so the lower grades are from when I was misguided and clueless in my earlier years. My only other major fault is I was arrested for DUI back in November of 2006, but got my charges reduced to misd. reckless driving (I understand from reading other threads that it's a case by case basis, and apparently some people have done some wicked stuff and still got licensed).

I'm trying to research as much as I can on my own out here, but I'm thinking of going the ASN route right now to just get my RN, then I can work in the environment, and find some way to continue ed once employed as a RN to go to BSN. I'm not down with the accelerated BSN, as I had a hard enough time with accelerated undergrad courses in the Summer. I know for a fact other than my gen ed requirements which will transfer, I do have some pre req's like A&P, Biology, etc to take before I could even think about nursing school. I didn't take these because my major was not yet Psych at the time, so most of my sciences were natural science (Astronomy, Geology, etc).

I have a few concerns though:

1.) not getting accepted into nursing school based on GPA

2.) on a waiting list

3.) Sallie Mae better allow me to bury myself further in debt (I would like to get tuition reimbursement down the road to bridge to bach and beyond however)

So is my GPA to enter a nursing program based solely on my undergrad, only on my pre req's, or both averaged? I would HATE to spend the money on pre req's only to be denied because I'm not a 6.4 GPA in a competitive environment. Also, I'm assuming I'll be taking pre req's for a good year or so before I even get into the program FT (theoretically), so is it possible I'll be on a waiting list after the req's? So it could be 4 or so years before I even complete a year or two program? I'm just confused with applying to the program, that kind of makes me leery. Especially in FL where there is a critical nursing shortage, yet there's a 20 year waiting list. You do the math.

Any help, advice, info, or questions are welcomed. I'm taking this very seriously. Nursing school will be my FT job so I can be the best, do well, and focus. I've grown up a ton in 10 years, and the medical field is calling to make a switch now before I'm married or have kids. Thank you all in advance, you all are regular joes too like me, so I respect your experiences and opinions.

-Derek

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Best advice I can give you is call a councilor at a school and ask them what the best course of action is. I'm like you. I was a crazy man in my early 20's, DUI, and F's in the few classes I has taken at junior college. When I decided to take things seriously and realized what I wanted to do I took the necessary steps to accomplish my goals. But first order of business, talk to an expert. Second order of business: make a plan with that expert. I've found it's not that hard or as complicated as you're making it here. Anything is possible if you want it bad enough. If you put in the good work people will give you opportunities. All they want is people that will be successful. Oh and you should go on a few hospital websites and see what the job requirements are for the job you want. It's all about research brother!! Good luck!!

J.D

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Specializes in hoping to be in pediatrics..somedaysoon..

im going to be brutally honest.

go to community college to vamp up your GPA and do whatever else you can no matter how long it takes you to get into a BSN program..

do not be like me, i went into community college ASN program, and i graduated last year, and do not have a job. YOU NEED a bsn to be marketable and even BSN grads are having a tough time.

i cannot express this enough i wish so badly i could go back in time, and just be in debt/loans like im going to soon hopefully once my fafsa results and take 3 more classes, and get into a BSN program like i should have instead, years ago.

trust me. and don't let anyone in your family tell you differently, money wise because they don't understand how things really are out there! magnet status is what every hospital wants, and you have to be a BSN to be considered as an applicant anymore.

i used to feel bad for LPNs getting pushed out? now its RNs. everyones sent packing to LTC facilities, but guess what - they're so overly saturated now.. that I CANT even get in! :( within 40 miles around my house, i have applied to 10!

BSN. OR BUST!!!

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Specializes in Interventional Radiology.
im going to be brutally honest.

go to community college to vamp up your GPA and do whatever else you can no matter how long it takes you to get into a BSN program..

do not be like me, i went into community college ASN program, and i graduated last year, and do not have a job. YOU NEED a bsn to be marketable and even BSN grads are having a tough time.

i cannot express this enough i wish so badly i could go back in time, and just be in debt/loans like im going to soon hopefully once my fafsa results and take 3 more classes, and get into a BSN program like i should have instead, years ago.

trust me. and don't let anyone in your family tell you differently, money wise because they don't understand how things really are out there! magnet status is what every hospital wants, and you have to be a BSN to be considered as an applicant anymore.

i used to feel bad for LPNs getting pushed out? now its RNs. everyones sent packing to LTC facilities, but guess what - they're so overly saturated now.. that I CANT even get in! :( within 40 miles around my house, i have applied to 10!

BSN. OR BUST!!!

I'm not sure I agree with you on this one Hello RN...I am an ASN- had three job offers prior to graduation and at this point could go to any hospital in this area. Idk where you are located- but here in Florida- nurses are still in high demand even for LTC's.

Yes, I agree that eventually, hospitals will require a BSN- but not yet. Just my :twocents:

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