Published Sep 4, 2017
tarahlee
4 Posts
I am a 31 year old looking to start my prerequisite this week. I have a BFA from art school looking to change careers. All of the schools I have looked at so far have so many prerequisite and many different ones from one another. I am in Westchester NY and am looking at Pace and Concordia. They have the least prerequisite that I have found so far. A&P 1&2, Statistics, psyche, Microbiology, and chem.
Does anyone know of any other schools that has less prerequisite? I am willing to move anywhere.. A lower price tag wouldn't hurt either.
I spoke with someone from Pace and he was really discouraging, telling me how competitive it is and how unlikely it would be to get in.
Any help would be appreciated!
FutureNurseInfo
1,093 Posts
Since it is ABSN it will require the most of the prereqs. The only school/s I know require only a few prepres are usually private ones. For example, Columbia University requires like 4 or so courses, while NYU requires same or a bit more.
GeminiNurse29
130 Posts
With a BFA, you probably haven't had any science classes. A&P 1&2, micro, psych (sometimes more than intro), stats, and chem are the building blocks of a nursing education. Some ADN programs won't require stats or chem. Some ABSN programs will require you to have health care experience or be a CNA. I don't see how those programs could cut down prerequisites anymore.
shibaowner, MSN, RN, NP
3 Articles; 583 Posts
Your attitude is appalling. Yes, it is hard to get into a good nursing school, and it should be! People's lives will depend on you! There are certain prereqs that all nursing schools require and there are no shortcuts.
If you want easy and cheap, then nursing is not for you.
Thanks for the info! That's very true, I am just so eager to start this new chapter. I guess I would love some advice from anyone who knows of any other schools with similar prerequs. I am also looking at Tennessee Tech U's Whitson-Hester School of Nursing. I know that this is a competitive field I want to make sure I have some options when it comes time to apply to programs.
to shibaowner, MSN, NP - Compleatly unnessisary rudness. I thought this site was for people looing for positive feedback on questions.
paisling
136 Posts
This is a place for honest answers to your questions. You can't always have a sugar coated answer to your questions. Not liking a answer doesn't mean the answer is rude.
Nursing is hard work. Nursing school is hard work. You'll need to be willing to put in lots of effort into your pre-reqs if you want to succeed. There isn't a shortcut, but it will be worth it.
Especially with having a BFA it is important than you take the sciences that will give you a good foundation to work on.
Remember, just because a school has A&P as a pre-req but not biology 101 as a pre-req doesn't mean you don't have to take bio. The school where you complete your pre-reqs will probably require you take other classes prior to jumping straight into anatomy or physiology. It's for your own good!
Nurse SMS, MSN, RN
6,843 Posts
The "basics" for a STEM degree are pretty much the same until junior year, when you start getting into more specific classes. Even two year nursing degrees have a minimum number of classes that must be completed prior to admission. Some, both for BSN and ASN, are pre-reqs for the program. Some are classes required to graduate with the degree. You will want to finish as many co-requisites as well as pre-requisites prior to starting the nursing portion of your program as possible. This is because once you are heavily into the nursing classes, time to study for anything else is nill.
Best of luck as you begin this journey. There is no benefit to starting the nursing classes sooner, since you will have to complete ALL the classes before graduating no matter what. You give yourself an advantage if you take them sooner rather than later.
Hail2Pitt
16 Posts
I just committed to my ABSN program. I had to take one pre-req--that I didn't have completed from my first degree-- for my program. I was informed of Portage Online Learning. It's accredited through Geneva College, so your transcript will say Geneva College and list Portage as a division. (I called and asked because my program said they'd only accept it if Geneva was listed as the school). It's all nursing school pre-reqs. They're online, self-paced, and CHEAP! I paid like $580 something for my 3 credit class. (My university for my degree wants $780 for 1 credit). It's a great way to save money, and the courses are pretty easy. Some are a little more expensive because they have labs involved. Overall I totally recommend it though.
AnneO
I don't think she's having a wrong attitude. She's just eager to get into a school and start her program. No need to be rude.
Thanks for the info! That's very true, I am just so eager to start this new chapter. I guess I would love some advice from anyone who knows of any other schools with similar prerequs. I am also looking at Tennessee Tech U's Whitson-Hester School of Nursing. I know that this is a competitive field I want to make sure I have some options when it comes time to apply to programs. to shibaowner, MSN, NP - Compleatly unnessisary rudness. I thought this site was for people looing for positive feedback on questions.
I am merely telling you the truth. ABSN programs are difficult and intense. If you really want to be a nurse, then you should be passionate about science so that you can be a knowledgeable and competent RN. Reputable schools will require Anatomy, Physiology, Chemistry, Microbiology, Statistics, Psychology (1 or 2 semesters), perhaps Nutrition. Some of these courses have their own pre-req's. A&P have Biology prereq, Stat has Algebra prereq, Developmental Psych may require Psych 101 as prereq, etc. In order to get into a good program you need to get very high grades in these subjects, as admissions are highly competitive.
Nursing is struggling to maintain it's professional standing due to a plethora of subpar for-profit schools with minimal admission standards. The last thing we need as a profession are would-be nurses looking for "easy." Nursing school is not easy and nursing is not easy.
Being a nurse requires excellent organization and time management skills and your post demonstrates you have neither. You should be able to figure out that you need to do research on the internet and also by contacting nursing schools. Then, make a list of nursing schools of interest. You then create a chart or matrix of all the nursing schools in one vertical column. Across the top you create a horizontal header with all the nursing prereq's. Then fill in the chart with x's to indicate which schools require which prereq's. The ability to think and organize this way is essential to nursing.
It is up to you to do basic research on schools and costs. This information is readily available via the internet.
And this is not just a "feel good" site. Your questions came off as reflecting someone who is just lazy and looking for shortcuts.
ItsThatJenGirl, CNA
1,978 Posts
There really isn't a quick or easy way to become a nurse, and I'm glad there isn't. Most nurses on here spent years earning their degree and license, so I'm sure it's irritating to hear about people wanting "short cuts". The idea that being a nurse is quick or easy is off-putting to those that have earned their stripes. This is one of those "know your audience" type things.
I understand feeling eager, and wanting to jump in with both feet. It takes time and patience to get there, though.
You're going to need A&P I/II, Micro, Psych, Chemistry in just about every program. I'd start taking those classes at your local community college and go from there.
lolotambu
14 Posts
Hi Shibaowner, I personally like your articles and admire your journey into nursing. However, I think that the initial remark you made here was rude.
I agree with you that there needs to be a strong cognitive foundation for any student before entering any nursing program, but the person initiating the thread was merely asking for schoool with a lower demand for pre-reqs. That does not imply that she is lazy or that she wants a program that cheap and easy...
In fact, JH does not require many prereqs - certainly not more than many schools in NY. Neither does Georgetown or GW.
I rather think that these universities have found efficiencies in the way in which they deliver their classes or that based on experience, students have been successful through the course of the program without a large amount of prereqs.
I replied to your comment I was surprised to see such as strong pushback for an inquiry like this?
Yes, it's expected that someone will offend you while you are a nurse - everyone knows that.
But before anyone asks you to develop a thick skin, we should instead ask ourselves if being impolite or rude is not acceptable in other professions, why is it acceptable in nursing?
I'll keep reading your articles regardless, this is just food for thought.