Question for ADN's

mst31 · Jul 3, 2006

I just graduated with my ADN in May of this year. It took me 4 years to do. Two years of prereqs and working full-time, then 2 years of the nursing program. Also worked full time while in nursing school. I graduated with a 3.15, passed boards with 75 questions, and now working full time in critical care. Just don't let people tell you that you can't work and do a nursing program. It all depends on your particular situation. It can be done. I am proof.

RNursingStudent · Jul 3, 2006

Our ADN prg runs from Fall of this year to Spring of 2008, so it is a little short than two years by a couple months, and that is with pre-reqs included (16 Credit Hours, 17 credit hours, 11 CH, 12 CH, and 12CH, each semester in that oder). You can do your pre-reqs before hand or you don't have to. I got accepted with having none complete. I did however sign up for the API and MATT this summer so I will have that out of the way. It can be done, but they do advise no more than 6hrs a week of outside employment. Good luck to ya!

LovesGreyhounds · Jul 3, 2006

I'm in the same boat - Need to work full-time during my pre-reqs to get our house paid off so I CAN do the actual nursing program. Does anyone know if there are time limits to the pre-reqs? Will any expire within a certain amount of time? That will be my only concern. Well, that & getting older by the minute & trying to beat the clock.

KellieNurse06 · Jul 3, 2006

You guys need to stop focusing on the A's & B's......I know it's great to get A's & B's but when all is said & done no one asks to see your grades.....all that matters is that you passed your boards & have the competance to practice safe nursing care..........I know some pretty fantastic nurses who were C students...and there was a girl who was 4.0 staright A's all through every course nursing & sciences...and couldn't make a bed if her life depended on it, and lacked alot of common sense stuff...so it doesn't matter if a nurse had stariaght A's or just all C's through school......some are just not good testers......but will blow doors off others in actual nursing care.....anyway don't worry..just do the best you can do &you'll be fine! Enjoy it ! And trust me....every nurse I have spoken to at clinicals says nursing school and the real working world of a nurse are totally different......just do your best in school & it'll be over before you know it! And btw......I started back in 1999 getting pre req's done...I have only taken 2-3 classes per semester so in total it has taken me 7 years to get done....I am done in December.........so who care is it takes 20 years....all that matters is you did it & when it's done you should be very proud of yourself! You'll do fine....:balloons:

twinmommy+2, ADN, BSN, MSN · Jul 3, 2006

It took me 3 1/2 years. I started in the summer time and took only one class that summer plus I had to do some remedial math, so both those things set me back a little. The rest of it was full time

hospitalstaph · Jul 3, 2006

You guys need to stop focusing on the A's & B's......I know it's great to get A's & B's but when all is said & done no one asks to see your grades.....all that matters is that you passed your boards & have the competance to practice safe nursing care..........I know some pretty fantastic nurses who were C students...and there was a girl who was 4.0 staright A's all through every course nursing & sciences...and couldn't make a bed if her life depended on it, and lacked alot of common sense stuff...so it doesn't matter if a nurse had stariaght A's or just all C's through school......some are just not good testers......but will blow doors off others in actual nursing care.....anyway don't worry..just do the best you can do &you'll be fine! Enjoy it ! And trust me....every nurse I have spoken to at clinicals says nursing school and the real working world of a nurse are totally different......just do your best in school & it'll be over before you know it! And btw......I started back in 1999 getting pre req's done...I have only taken 2-3 classes per semester so in total it has taken me 7 years to get done....I am done in December.........so who care is it takes 20 years....all that matters is you did it & when it's done you should be very proud of yourself! You'll do fine....:balloons:

Graduate programs do look at your grades and most require a 3.0 for admission. Most nurses may not want to go to grad school, but what if you decide later that you do and you don't have the GPA to get in?

T

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jul 3, 2006

Graduate programs do look at your grades and most require a 3.0 for admission. Most nurses may not want to go to grad school, but what if you decide later that you do and you don't have the GPA to get in?

60 percent of all RNs are either ADNs or diploma nurses.

Why? It is because the field of nursing often does not reward higher education with more money and respect. This might be off the original subject, but it is also just my humble opinion.

3KittiesRN · Jul 3, 2006

Hi! I just got into a nursing program for the Fall of 2006. It seems to me that it took a long time for me to finish prereq's. I graduated high school early and started college right away. I took one science course per semester with some G.E. and some semesters only took G.E., altogether it took me 3 1/2 years to finish all my prereq's!!! If you have time I would start slowly to ensure you get the good grades to get into nursing school. It will definitely be worth it!

So for me it will have taken me 5 1/2 years to obtain my 2 year ADN degree!!

hospitalstaph · Jul 3, 2006

60 percent of all RNs are either ADNs or diploma nurses.
Why? It is because the field of nursing often does not reward higher education with more money and respect. This might be off the original subject, but it is also just my humble opinion.

I understand that *most* nurses are ADN or diploma but if an ADN or diploma nurse wants to persue a graduate degree, grades do matter. And let's face it, sometimes you find yourself wanting something that you originally thought you did not. I would hate to go through an ADN with the idea that I just needed to pass and then later on deciding to persue a master's and my previous "barely passing" grades holding me back. Sometimes the knees or back tell ya it's time to move on:)

T

JessiekRN · Jul 3, 2006

Hi Ladyflower. After graduating with my BA, I decided to go back for my nursing degree, and I pretty much had to start from the beginning, because although I had taken my compositions and core requirements like that, I had taken no sciences whatsoever. Because I had to work while in school the second time around, I ended up going to night classes and taking my prereqs slowly- it's taken me two years to finish nine classes. The advantages to going so slowly? It gave me the time to focus on each class, and do well, rather than overwhelming myself with 15 credits of anatomy, chemistry, etc. all at once. It made me realize that nursing was what I really, really wanted to do, no matter what it took to get there, or how long. It allowed me to meet and make real friends with ppl, along the way, who have the same goals as me. I'm starting my program, finally, this fall. My advice to you is, above all else, have patience- everything you are doing now is taking you one step closer to where you want to be. Keep your goals in mind. In a few years from now, hopefully, you will be a nurse, and the extra year or however long it took to get there will not matter at all. Good luck!!

LADYFLOWER · Jul 4, 2006

60 percent of all RNs are either ADNs or diploma nurses.
Why? It is because the field of nursing often does not reward higher education with more money and respect. This might be off the original subject, but it is also just my humble opinion.

Hi, commuter! I'm glad you dropped in...and You already know I appreciate all your comments/advice! I will PM you later about another question I have for ya!

LADYFLOWER · Jul 4, 2006

Hi Ladyflower. After graduating with my BA, I decided to go back for my nursing degree, and I pretty much had to start from the beginning, because although I had taken my compositions and core requirements like that, I had taken no sciences whatsoever. Because I had to work while in school the second time around, I ended up going to night classes and taking my prereqs slowly- it's taken me two years to finish nine classes. The advantages to going so slowly? It gave me the time to focus on each class, and do well, rather than overwhelming myself with 15 credits of anatomy, chemistry, etc. all at once. It made me realize that nursing was what I really, really wanted to do, no matter what it took to get there, or how long. It allowed me to meet and make real friends with ppl, along the way, who have the same goals as me. I'm starting my program, finally, this fall. My advice to you is, above all else, have patience- everything you are doing now is taking you one step closer to where you want to be. Keep your goals in mind. In a few years from now, hopefully, you will be a nurse, and the extra year or however long it took to get there will not matter at all. Good luck!!

Hi there, Jessiek! Thanks for the encouragment!