Starting From Scratch

emily34812 · May 25, 2016

My top things would be to 1) Save up money while you can and 2) Stay organized. Get a planner and plan out when you're going to study, when you have work, when exams for your pre-reqs are etc. etc. I would also recommend maybe getting your CNA license. It gives you experience in the field and you can also potentially work during nursing school with it. I work anywhere from 3-10 shifts a month in nursing school per diem, so I can schedule what works for me. It'll also give you a leg up against those applying for nursing school with you.

oldsockventriloquist · May 25, 2016

I agree with the poster above me. I would also recommend not posting personal information (location and school, for example) or having an identifiable avatar picture, since that has been used against people in the admissions and employment processes. Anyway, apart from CNA, staying organized, and saving money stated above, I would really look at the tasks that lay in front of you. If you need to work while in school, I would evaluate if you can handle a full-time course schedule, or maybe consider working and being a part-time student. Once you determined what works best for you, you need to figure out your college GPA (including classes from when you were 17) and if it meets the minimum requirements. It is important that you do well in your classes, especially your prerequisites. If you need help, see if your school has a counselor or tutoring center, try to see if study groups work for you, and remember to use professor office hours. While you take your classes, try getting to know your professors (maybe through office hours), so you can get those letter of recommendations, and when you ask your professor for a letter of recommendation, please come prepared with a resume and outlines that address the requirements of the letter of recommendation. For example, if the letter must talk about your ability to be a team player (teamwork), have the outline talk about how you worked with other students to complete assignments (obviously, try to say more than that).

If the school requires community service hours, try to volunteer for a church, local food bank, etc., for a few hours over couple times a month. Don't go overboard with this, you need to focus on doing well in school and work. Start a couple months before, so you can meet the 50 or 100 hour requirement. You will also want to really focus on the admissions test (HESI, TEAS...). Make sure you have taken you prerequisites, so you have a good science foundation. Then, buy the official and a few unofficial books and practice exams. Make sure you are scoring well on the practice exams before you take the real thing. Finally, for your personal statement, most schools ask why you want to be a nurse. It is very difficult to answer this question, if you have never worked or volunteered in a medical facility (nursing home, hospital...) with nurses or shadowed a nurse. Therefore, it would be extremely wise to have one or both those experiences (shadowing and volunteering or healthcare work), Make sure your essay answers the prompt and has the correct grammar, spelling, and flow. Also, you should answer everything you need to and turn in everything in your application from the personal information page to the acceptance paper that you will need to mail back or submit online. Finally, I'd highly recommend applying to more than one school. As much as we would all love to be admitted to our dream school, that does not always happen. This does not mean you shouldn't apply, this just means you should be prepared for everything. And please submit your FAFSA at fafsa.ed.gov. Good luck!

csnow7 · May 26, 2016

Hi.

1. You will be surprised how much help with a particular problem, subject etc. you will find on YouTube.

2. The pre nursing classes: Ask around about the professors. Look online see who is filling up first, the semester before you apply for that class, there's a reason they fill up first. THEYRE THE GOOD ONES.

3. Team up with another student in every class (possible that is), the days you miss, the one thing you don't "Get", etc. Buddy system

4. De-clutter, your life. Dump the annoying friend. Get rid of the cat. Put people in their place tell them what your doing, let them know you can't debate politics, Facebook, or console them about their relationship.

5. Remember the "Why" your doing this: Make changes to make this happen.

6. Get a Day Planner. You will need this. Write in it, what paper is due this day, kids recital this day, turn this report in this day.

7. Record the lectures: WITH A SEPERATE DEVICE, OTHER THAN YOUR PHONE. Get a tablet. You can re-listen to the lectures as your studying. Doesn't have to be visual, just the audio. Its a lifesaver.

8. Look at the nurses when you take yours kids or yourself to the doctor, imagine it being you. If they can why can't you????? Talk to them they will give you advice.

9. Dot get down: If you do. Take a day. Refocus. Play with kids. Lay in bed watch movies all day. Run at a beautiful state park. Whatever is YOU.

10. Don't believe half what you hear, about "I made this", "I have a BLA BLA BLA GPA", half of em didn't and don't". BELIEVE IN yourself. If they can, you can. And you will.