RT to RN student @ Excelsior anyone else? Or advice?

[Hyperbaric4u]

Hello, I have been an RT for 21 years and am finally going back to get my RN. This has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember. Since my pre-regs are so old, I am having to do them over again, and A&P are kicking my butt hahahaha amazing right? I am finding it so so so hard to study!!! I don't really remember how to study and retain the information. It's tough going back to school outside of a class room, working full time, and doing the class work alone with no other students is so hard. I really could use some advice on study tips, on ways to retain the A&P info........or ANY advice at all from anyone that may be going through what I am.Thank you all very much.JL

[justin.j]

I'm not sure how you learn, but for me I knew I couldn't just memorize that the bones of the wrist are: Scaphoid, Lunate, Triquetrum, Pisiform, Trapezium, Trapezoid, Capitate, Hamate....ugh. Buuut, I could remember: Some Lovers Try Positions That They Can't Handle, and that was enough to jog my memory so I could come up with the real names.

I suppose what I'm saying is mnemonics saved me in anatomy! If you think they will help you with memorizing as well, there are a lot of great threads on this site where people have shared their mnemonics. Just use the search bar. Or you can try to come up with some of your own. Whatever might help you remember. :)

Hope that helps!

[RRTtoRN2013]

I'm a 5.5 year RRT that is considering to pursue the RN program through Excelsior but I'm curious as to why do you have to retake your A&P courses. It was my understanding that as long as you enroll with Excelsior College bye October 1, 2012 you DO NOT have to retake A&P courses that are older than 5 years... Correct me if I am wrong.

[FLboundBSN]

Obvi, his/her sciences are older than 5-7 years...

[RRTtoRN2013]

My A&P courses are older than 5-7 years as well and I do not have to retake them either..... Older than 5 years is older than 5 years regardless how you look at it! No matter if it was taken 7 or 10 years ago- 5 years is 5 years still.

[simchamom]

I have been an RRT for 26 years. I hold a BS in Health Services Administration. When I decided to go to Nursing School, I did a lot of research. I looked at Excelsior, but it is not recognized in all states. Also I know someone who went through the program and got to the last test. She failed it 3 times and lost everything. That made me nervous. I was accepted into a local community college through my work program. I challenged my A&P, Micro, and Math. They were all 25 years old. The time limit was waived. I graduated 12/2011, passed my NCLEX 1st time 1/2012 and did the most awesome RN-BSN bridge at Texas Tech University (6 months). I graduated 12/2012 Summa Cum Laude. I am also ACLS, PALS, TNCC, NRP, and Stable certified. The problem I am facing is finding a GN position. I don't know if my background is intimidating, or a salary issue. I have been looking since 9/2011. I do know the market in the area where I live is saturated with GNs and most hospitals want a BSN. Good luck to all RRTs doing the transition.