Soldier wanting to be a Nurse

RunBabyRN · Dec 7, 2014

Welcome to AN! Navy corpsman vet here. :)

I did some of my general ed at my duty station as well, and transferred to a university here in CA. In fact, some of the CSUs (so far I know Sonoma, East Bay and Long Beach, but there may be others) offer a veteran's preference. What that is will vary, but I know that CSULB and SSU will let you in as long as you meet the minimum requirements. See if your program in KS offers a vet's preference as well.

Did you invest in your GI Bill? When you are looking at going to school after the Army, get in touch with the vet's office at the school you plan to attend so you can get everything in order.

WindSwept · Dec 7, 2014

Hello Run! Thanks for your fast reply. :)

Was it hard to get into a University? I plan to go to UMKC, and using my Post 9/11 to get paid to go to school.

I know some of the courses that University requires are not offered in my Community College. I am so lost as to what I should do... :/

RunBabyRN · Dec 7, 2014

Hello Run! Thanks for your fast reply. :)
Was it hard to get into a University? I plan to go to UMKC, and using my Post 9/11 to get paid to go to school.
I know some of the courses that University requires are not offered in my Community College. I am so lost as to what I should do... :/

Most community colleges will offer everything you need in order to apply for a program. Also, you may be able to get an advantage for enrolling in those courses as a vet.

I had to be able to meet the minimum requirements for my program. My biggest challenge was that I'd been careless about my GPA in my younger days, and I had some repeats that I had to overcome. Thankfully my program is okay about repeats and offered the vet's preference. I would have had a very hard time getting in anywhere that didn't offer that. Ironically I earned As in all but one class (because of one exam I bombed when very ill) during nursing school.

Which classes are you having difficulty fulfilling?

Keen Observer · Dec 7, 2014

The length of time you'll spend in Community College is dependent, among other things, upon what English and Math classes you start out in. The lower the level you start out in (e.g. remedial, non transferable courses), the longer you will likely spend in a CC. You want to finish those classes ASAP because most nursing programs won't even let you apply until you've completed those classes and your other pre-reqs (although some programs vary in regard to pre-reqs and timelines, so you'll have to research each individual program you're interested in). A good rule of thumb is to start working toward completing your science, math, and english/speech courses (these classes can be counted toward your GE), before finishing your GE.

That said, don't sacrifice your grades in order to transfer into a nursing program quicker. If giving yourself a quality chance at earning all A's in your classes means taking an extra semester or two, do it. Don't overload yourself with too many courses at once; a 12 unit semester with one science course is challenging enough, especially if you're balancing school with work as well.

WindSwept · Dec 7, 2014

It's just crazy seeing some of these Pre-Reqs that I need to have before I even start there.

I hate not being able to get them done here in California, I want to have them done before I move to Missouri.

Tomorrow I will call and ask them to let me talk to someone that deals with Veterans. :)

I am trying to find some sort of brochure from that college that gives me information about the nursing program, but no luck.

WindSwept · Dec 7, 2014

Yes, thank you. Starting January I will be taking 12 units, on top of being an NCO that runs a big part of my company for my commander, they always need me...during work and after. I know I can do it though. I just wish I was able to take most of those courses online, a lot of them require me to be in a class setting which I can't do, since I am also a single mom.

Keen Observer · Dec 7, 2014

It's just crazy seeing some of these Pre-Reqs that I need to have before I even start there.
I hate not being able to get them done here in California, I want to have them done before I move to Missouri.
Tomorrow I will call and ask them to let me talk to someone that deals with Veterans. :)
I am trying to find some sort of brochure from that college that gives me information about the nursing program, but no luck.

Have you tried looking at their website?

In the meantime, don't limit yourself. Start looking at other schools if for no other reason than to gauge how competitive schools are.

You're doing the right things by researching now, as opposed to close to the time you intend to transfer, what's expected of you. That, and a good work/study ethic, are the first steps to becoming an RN.

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · Dec 8, 2014

You will generally do a year of prereqs, then the program itself is 2 years. So while you are getting a 2 year associates degree it generally takes about 3 to complete. But even BSN programs have 2 years of prereqs, and 2 years in the program so it all comes out in the wash. You will be a RN just there are different degrees of a RN. I'm going for my ASN now, then going to get my BSN. But my ASN will have taken me 3 years to complete.

Polar_lime · Dec 8, 2014

The first thing I would do is look at the pre-reqs of UMKC's nursing program, so you know what kind of classes you need. Because it's in a different state, some classes may not transfer, so I suggest calling them (if you can) and telling them which community college you are currently attending so you can figure out which classes qualify.

As for the general ed stuff, have you thought about taking CLEP or DANTES exams to fulfull those? THey are free to military members (but $100 for retakes). That way you can just get them out of the way and focus on the classes you have attend (like science with lab courses). My husband is an Air Force NCO and CLEPing classes have saved him so much time and energy!

I agree with the other posters that you should also have a backup school in mind in case UMKC is very difficult to get into. I'm stationed in CA as well and the BSN programs here are ridiculously competitive. I already have my AA degree, but it took me 2 years to get the prereqs in order to transfer to a CSU's BSN program.

chare · Dec 8, 2014

First, thank you for your service.

Here is the link to UKMC's Baccalaureate Nursing Education Pre-Licensure Track listing all courses. You might be able to use this to find classes similar enough that you can substitute them.

I can't agree with ahimsa_L enough. Visit you base education office and CLEP and/or DANTES everything you can, regardless of whether you think you can use it or not. You would be surprised at what will substitute.

When I retired in the mid-90s, my service record was evaluated and I received minimal credit, mostly got me out of having to take any PE classes. Again, someone in your base education office should know how to do this.

Regarding taking 12 hours next semester, if it were me, I would reconsider. Please don't take this as an insult. You sound very motivated and I don't doubt you could do this. But at what cost?

First, you are an active duty Soldier. With, by your own admission, a position requiring much of your time, to include time after regular duty hours. Add 12 hours of class onto this. Most sources will suggest a minimum of three hour per week for every hour of coursework for which you are enrolled in. And lastly, don't forget you most important job, mom.

I can appreciate that you want to finish school as quickly as possible. However, if you overextend yourself here, and do poorly in the classes you take, this could severely impact your chances of admission.

Best of luck in whichever route you choose.

BirkieGirl · Dec 10, 2014

First off, thank you for your service to our country. that said, i have TWO pieces of very relevant advice:

1. PLEASE look into the BSN program that you are interested in NOW, even before you start taking pre-reqs. the reason???? you need to check with that college/university and make SURE that classes transfer in as EQUIVALENT classes. (not JUST that they transfer in, but they MUST be equivalent). for example, taking English 110 at a community college may transfer in to MANY universities as English 100 or 101. So, you end up having to repeat the classes at the university to have them count!

2. PLEASE check into what your chosen university's policy is about how many of THEIR credits you must have to apply to their BSN program- many universities require you to complete 35-45 credits in classes AT THEIR SCHOOL to allow you to apply to the program. it's a way for universities to prevent students from taking pre-reqs for lower cost at a community college and then just transfer to the university and start the program. i have both options in my area, and they are SERIOUS about this...