Some Tips and Advice for a 2nd courser

tac · Aug 16, 2006

Im also planning to take up nursing by next year.....are there any schools in Cebu that offers a special program for second coursers who are not allied medical course grduates?. KG21121 , have you heared of any?

Try University of Visaya in Cebu City. They are accepting 2nd courser I just called couple weeks ago maybe I'm going there this coming November.

icky47 · Aug 17, 2006

Hello KG21121,
Thanks for the inputs. I guess my username speaks for the industry Im in right now and Im actually somwhere in Mandaue. Im 25 by the way, how about you, where do you work?....I see that you are really quitting your job and be a full time nursing student. I like the tought but what Im actually inteseted in doing is work and study at the same time, if possible. I have an officemate who's already taking her 1st sem in Cebu Doc said that it's really hard and she's already thinking of quitting her job. And this is what I wanted to do, work and study as long as I still can and quit my job when it's really needed. I mean, having an income of your own is a whole lot better than asking from your parents. Esp. that Ive been working for years now. TSK TSK TSK. On the other hand, if ever there's no way that I can work and study at the same time, the city that Im eyeing where Im gonna study is Davao. Its a pretty nice place and Ive heared that the schools are good, esp. in their special programs for second coursers.

good thing you thought of being a nurse while still young(25 is young, coz im 28). I think you can still work while studying, but the problem is, how will you be able to mange your time? It would work maybe during the first few months...after that you're gonna have to quit work, if not you wont finish the course ASAP. Unless maybe you are already a doctor, then you wont have much of a problem, but if you're a grad of a non med course then you should concentrate on it as much as you could so you can finish as fast as possible...there are a lot of uncertainties you know, with the current outflow of nurses from the country who knows what these lawmakers would want to do next to stop the shortage? So while you're at it, take advantage of the time, dont let time go against you. Don't get me wrong, it's nice to have a job and earn for yourself...but your time out of school should be your study time. You can't study while being on the job...studies have shown that multitasking affects a person memory...

I hope this will make you think twice...and good luck on your career shift...

btw, i work in MEPZ(Mactan) - ive been working in Cebu for 5 years now...and so far nothing better has come my way...maybe next year is a new beginning for me...(you got PM)

Hi KG21121... I'm currently taking my BSN here at Lucena City, Quezon Province... I'm 22 years old right now...

oh really! thats great...good luck! I wish you all the best!

im quite sure your mind wont even dare think "dirty" had you been in my school...

why not? what school are you from?

madz0212 · Aug 18, 2006

I am also an engineering graduate, planning to take nursing this October..

kagome · Aug 18, 2006

hi kg21121!

you know what silliman university is is an excellent choice!!! :bowingpur are u a sillimanian? i've been there since high school and way back college days. expensive but quality education. environment very conducive for learning.

they also have topnotchers and i know you are aware that su is one of the top schools in asia not just for its bsn programs. nursing - top3.

my high school classmates - 2nd coursers passed the dec board exams last year.a huge number of them! i'm also a 2nd courser - bsn. my first course was bba - mgt. but as much as i want to study there, i can't :sniff: because my family is here in tagum city - relocation.

but im originally from dumaguete, i even worked there! now i miss good ol' silliman & peacefull dumaguete!!!

good luck to you.

silliman my alma mater

silliman beside the sea

callcen2RN · Aug 18, 2006

I am also an engineering graduate, planning to take nursing this October..

Hi madz02121,

From what city are you and do you already have a school in mind?...

icky47 · Aug 19, 2006

ey kagome, nope, sorry i am not from SU, I graduated at a state unive in Negros Occ.

my mom who's also a nurse and is quite updated with nursing schools around the Philippines knows much about which schools are good...my 2 sisters went to St Paul's in Iloilo(but St. Pauls College(univ?) does not admit 2nd coursers...and she said to me if I was gonna take up nursing i should choose between SU and CPU(iloilo), so I chosed SU...I was suposed to start October, but they dont accept newcomers to SU in the middle of the SY.

Thanks for the input kagome!

w_padre, LPN, LVN · Sep 13, 2007

Hi! I am 28 years old, goiing 29 next year(obviously), I am an engineering graduate and I plan to take up BSN as a second course, the reason I'm going for this is probably the same as yours...I'm planning to take up BSN in Silliman University(hopefully)...I have work now in Cebu...its good but I dont think it will take me where I want to go...
Do you have any tips and advices to give me...by the way I will start probably next year...I wnated it to be October but SU does not admit second coursers on the middle of the school year...
Some questions:
1. Do you have any idea how long it usually takes for a second courser to finsh BSN?
TY

it took me 3 1/2 years. Im now an -PhRN.

lenjoy03, RN · Sep 13, 2007

Hello "mga ate and kuya" Can't blame you on your new chosen career... God bless to you all... I hope that you'll serve our country first before going out. Remember its not always about money, please include SERVICE too!

bonsai_25 · Sep 13, 2007

1. Be ready to be called kuya.

2. Study your lessons well, sometimes they expect a lot from 2nd courses.

3. You get to hang out with 18 to 50 yr old's which is fun.

4. A lot of people will ask you, why did u decide to become a nurse - like everyday for 3 years haha. In short, interrogation of your motives as a nurse, which I don't think its anyone's business. As long as you are good in what you do and you love it, don't mind them.

5. I guess stop working if you can, and concentrate on your studies. Hard to juggle work and studies at the same time. But if you can do it.. why not.

6. Professors undecided on how to treat you, as a student or as an engineer. LOL

7. Dream good and someday you will be there. Don't listen to the negative comments of what you can and cannot do.

Mine took 3 years. Goodluck, enjoy nursing.. its fun! Its a challenge worth taking.

RNHawaii34 · Sep 17, 2007

hahaha! i like what bonsai 25's advise..i want to add more though.

*never ever accept the idea that because you're a second courser, means your older and slower.....i find second coursers more interesting than the younger ones, because they are responsible, they can relate and adapt to stressful situation, and easy to get along with.

*don't be surprise if you are given responsibility to be the head of the group...it is always expected, but you can always say no ( just try anyways).

* be prepared to have enough cellular phone loads, because your younger classmates will be texting you all the time for help with homeworks and ncp.

*always be prepared, study hard, and expect that your classmates will run to you during clinical duty for help..just in case you don't have the answer, don't feel bad, just tell them "sorry, i don't know, here is my textbook, read it, maybe the answer is there", :lol2:

*there maybe, or will be, a time when...a patient might perceive that you are the doctor, so don't forget to introduce your self to them all the time.

*coming to a nursing class with bunch of young people might make you feel uncomfortable, you can be friendly, but always be firm, some people will take advantage of you because your older, they might rely on you for everything ( yeah, it does happen), so you can tell them " i maybe older, but i am a student too, so why don't we help each other?:)

thats all i can say for now, welcome to nursing. don't worry, it will be over soon, just study hard and don't forget you have a life too.:welcome:

w_padre, LPN, LVN · Sep 28, 2007

Hi! I am 28 years old, goiing 29 next year(obviously), I am an engineering graduate and I plan to take up BSN as a second course, the reason I'm going for this is probably the same as yours...I'm planning to take up BSN in Silliman University(hopefully)...I have work now in Cebu...its good but I dont think it will take me where I want to go...
Do you have any tips and advices to give me...by the way I will start probably next year...I wnated it to be October but SU does not admit second coursers on the middle of the school year...
Some questions:
1. Do you have any idea how long it usually takes for a second courser to finsh BSN?
TY

there's is a memorandum (i dont know what you call it) from CHED which second coursers can use for him to graduate in just a few years, meaning you can advance subjects without thinking of prerequisites or something. I'm a second courser also and just passed NLE. I just knew this after the long wait of 3 1/2 years in BSN, wherein second coursers can actually benefit from that memorandum. I think you can take it for about 2 1/2 years depending on your load. Unluckily, I knew this late already so it took me that long to have by BSN. But mind you, some states requires at least 3 years BSN schooling before you can pass their eligibility process. So it's up to you if you want it fast and have problems in the end or do it the lenghty way. Goodluck

angel_prias · Oct 1, 2007

In our school, it takes 3 years to get a BSN degree for second coursers. I know a couple of schools that'll take you less than 3 years. I was tempted at first to enroll in either of those 2 but I was thinking more on the quality of education that I'll be getting instead of how long it'll take me to finish. It's true, time is always of the essence. But I don't wanna end up "murdering" my patients (exaggerated but I hope you get my point) if I get hasty.

I agree that learning does depend on the student him-/herself. But we can't deny the fact that the kind of education one gets plays an important role just the same -- and that is primarily provided by the school one chooses to enrol in.