Questions/Concerns from a hopeful soon to be student.

Hi everyone,

I'm new to the site! I registered for fall this Saturday and I'm very seriously considering nursing. I was a student 12 years ago after high school and I wasn't focused, had no idea what to do and I certainly wasn't ready for more school. Currently, I work in IT (networking/unix) and I'm looking to start a path for a new career. I've been seriously considering nursing for two years. I still have a couple of semesters of basics to get through before I need to get into any of the blocks needed for the degree...

Let me get to the point, sorry for rambling. I am starting at North Harris in Spring, TX in the fall. I was reading up on the nursing program... what is a nursing pre-entrance test? Can I get any study guides on this? Have any of you found a certain study guide to be very successful? How difficult was the back ground check? I was on deferred adjudication when I was 18 (being dumb and rebellious), does this hurt your chances by quite a bit? I wasn't really worried until I read that they did this check. I haven't had as much as a traffic ticket since then. Could it could be possible that I get in the schooling program, but when I've graduated, they not let me taking the state licensing exams? Maybe I'm being a bit too paranoid, but I'd like to cover all my bases.

Are any of you students who work full time? How is that working out for you? Were any of you full time workers who came to a point where you had to quit or work less hours?

I'm sure I will think of more questions to ask later! Thanks everyone for your time. I appreciate it.

B-

[Boink]

Oops, sorry... I should of posted this in the 'Pre-nursing student forum'. Can someone please move it? Thanks.

[jschut, BSN, RN]

Hiya Boink!

1) a NET test isn't hard. I don't think there are study guides for it. It's just general questions to see where you are and if you are at the basic level needed for nursing, such as math, english, science and judement...so on and so forth.

2) Background check was easy too. Just sign the paper, and you are on your way! Although what happened when you were 18 will come up, they will probably simply ask for an explanation, and when you give it to them (don't lie!) it should be ok, I would imagine.

3) When I was in LPN school, I worked weekend shift as a CNA, now I am in RN school, I work weekends as an LPN...couldn't do full time. Alot of studying. In my program now, our advisors say to not go over 20 hours a week...some people can, and do well..I cannot.

Good Luck to you Boink! And welcome to the forum! I havent been here in awhile myself (hard semester) ...it's good to be back!

[Boink]

Hi Julielpn! Thanks for the welcome. The one thing on my side is I have alot of idle time at work. I can also accomidate school by moving to mid day or night shifts. For now, I am just taking a couple of basics in the fall and if I do well, I will take one more class in Spring and a summer course. I only work 8 hours a day, which is a plus, as long as I don't get promoted anyway...

[Katydidit34]

Ok, where to start? LOL!! I am 35 and was just accepted into the ADN program at Tarrant County College in Fort Worth. The school will determine what entrance exam they like to use and a test such as the NET covers only math and reading, a test like the TEAS or the HESI covers math, reading, and science. Usually there is a study guide written specifically for that exam. In Texas, if you have a blip on your record, even if it was adjudicated, you have to file what's called a Declaratory Order. This is an extra step that costs you time and money and will give you an enormous headache, but you have to do it to take the NCLEX. Usually there is no problem getting the clearance, it's just a really lengthy process, so if you decide to go into nursing, do it early. Best of luck to you as you make your decision. Please feel free to ask anything!!

Katy

[Boink]

Thanks Katy! Wow! I was going to talk to a counselor at the school today and ask about this, I'm sure glad you mentioned it. I've already found the form. It says it can take up to two years for review. WOW. Well, it's been a very long time since then, I hope they don't deny me. The only downside is the fee is $189... I am paying for tuition out of my pocket! We'll see how that works out. My husband said that if I decided to go back to school, he would pay for my books for a few semesters, so that should help a ton. He told me this a couple of years ago as I worked to help him go to school full time.

This website is such a great asset to people like me.

[dettwiller5]

Hi- There is a study guide for the NET. I borrowed it from a friend and it covers Basic math, basic algebra, and reading comprehension. It doesnt look too difficult. I'm taking the test at 4:00 today. Look up Educational Resources Inc. in your search engine. That is where my friend purchased the study guide.

Kim

[Boink]

Are the NET and the THEA the same thing?

[Tweege]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to the site! I registered for fall this Saturday and I'm very seriously considering nursing. I was a student 12 years ago after high school and I wasn't focused, had no idea what to do and I certainly wasn't ready for more school. Currently, I work in IT (networking/unix) and I'm looking to start a path for a new career. I've been seriously considering nursing for two years. I still have a couple of semesters of basics to get through before I need to get into any of the blocks needed for the degree...

Let me get to the point, sorry for rambling. I am starting at North Harris in Spring, TX in the fall. I was reading up on the nursing program... what is a nursing pre-entrance test? Can I get any study guides on this? Have any of you found a certain study guide to be very successful? How difficult was the back ground check? I was on deferred adjudication when I was 18 (being dumb and rebellious), does this hurt your chances by quite a bit? I wasn't really worried until I read that they did this check. I haven't had as much as a traffic ticket since then. Could it could be possible that I get in the schooling program, but when I've graduated, they not let me taking the state licensing exams? Maybe I'm being a bit too paranoid, but I'd like to cover all my bases.

Are any of you students who work full time? How is that working out for you? Were any of you full time workers who came to a point where you had to quit or work less hours?

I'm sure I will think of more questions to ask later! Thanks everyone for your time. I appreciate it.

B-

We had a study guide for our pre-entrance exam. HOAE, it was helpful. I'm not sure if all schools give the same type of exam. I live in NC, and this is what we took. Try typing in hoae-test.com, this should take you to the site.Good Luck