Hello everyone. Today I am sending in my application for nursing school. :yeah:This particular school will accept people that haven't taken any prereqs (A&P 1 &2, Micro, Psych etc.) and from the way they describe the selection process (they say it's just numbers - full GPA and SAT scores) I stand a decent chance. I haven't taken these classes so my first semester schedule would be Nursing Fundamentals (8 credit hours), AP1 (4 hours) and Medical Terminology (1 hr) ... possibly college math (3 hrs) too, but I think I can get transfer credit for that. Is it suicide to try this? I mean, obviously it's not impossible since it's THEIR program, but is it crazy to actually do? Is that their attempt to weed out? Also, I have a toddler that I will have to care for evenings and weekends. So nursing students, what do you think? I am in a hurry b/c I HATE my current job and it's a contractor position so it could end in the blink of an eye. Also, more importantly, I am almost 33 and would like to expand my family. The sooner I finish NS, the sooner I can do this. If I put things off too long, it could be too late. My hubby is in his forties and the older he gets the more relucant he is to discuss a second (or third LOL) child. Please give me your feedback. Thanks!
Why is everyone so afraid of A&P? I haven't taken physiology, but I did take a 6 credit hour stand alone anatomy course with a partial human dissection lab with intense lab practicals and I didn't think it was all that diffcult... I barely studied and ended up with an 88%. Is it the physiology that makes the course so scary and hard?
Anatomy was pretty easy. Physiology was intense, but definitely do-able. I thought pathophysiology was cake once A&P was over. My patho class was online as well, and I never watched the lectures. Every week it was reading from the book, test, book, test. Easy. I've never heard of doing A&P and Fundamentals at the same time. If I didn't previously take A&P, holy cow I would be very lost in nursing school, just because A&P is the foundation of everything we do. Good luck to you, study hard, if you can set your mind to it you can do it!
I started from scratch in my program and am about to go into my 2nd semester. I took Fundamentals along with A&P I and I didn't think it was too difficult since it all tied in together. Everyone thinks it's suicide for me to take 18 credits (Nursing 120, A&P2, Comp II and Computers), work and juggle family responsibilites. I say "where there's a will, there's a way". All you need to do is make up a schedule and stick to it. It's also helpful if you have supportive family/friends.
At my school, the only pre-reqs you MUST have are algebra, biology, and chemistry. The program is set up to include A & P, micro, the ENGs, ets along with the nursing courses. So, in my area, tons of people do everything at once. I've had all the prereqs but many people just jump right in...
Thanks. I was starting to think I was crazy for considering it. I called the school and asked about it. They said that they have the whole gamut (sp?) from students straight from high school with not one college credit to people that only take the nursing courses. I do this to myself all the time. I doubt my abilities to keep up and to do well, then I do great. Hmmm.. maybe my parents weren't lying when they said I was smart.
I mailed my app today & the SAT score people cashed my check so I think those are on the way too. I want SOOOOOOO badly to get in!!! I looked up the selectivity rate for my potential school and I wish I hadn't done that!!! They said they expect 350 apps for 64 seats, but someone told me that they think a lot of those are unquailifed people. I wish I had just clung to that thought instead of doing the research (like I always do).
A lot probably are unqualified. My program takes 26 students a year. They usually have about 300 applicants but according to the college president, usually only around 80 of them are actually qualified.
A lot probably are unqualified. My program takes 26 students a year. They usually have about 300 applicants but according to the college president, usually only around 80 of them are actually qualified.
How do they get their applications through? The schools in my area won't even let you access the application to apply unless you meet all the prerequisites (courses, grades, and test scores).
At my school, there is no separate application for the nursing program. You apply to the college as a pre-nursing student and when you choose to, you take an entrance exam called the HOAE. When you take that exam, you are considered a current applicant. After the HOAE, the admissions office begins going through folders and throwing out those students who aren't ready, haven't turned in all pertinent info, etc.
Basically, taking the HOAE is your application. Anyone can take it at any time but if you're not ready for the program, then you've just wasted some of your own money....
A lot of schools have different requirments and give points for classes already taken. I applied last year for Fall 2009 and didn't get in. With my life experiance the Director of the department told me I would have no problem getting in. Oh well!!
In the spring, summer, and fall I finished all the coreqs so all I will have when I get in will be the Nursing classes. trust me, as a displaced Bread winner with a family of 5, I would have rather taken the coreqs as I went. Wasn't in the cards.
I have 2 schools in the area, Im applying to both and should have my choice of where I want to go next fall:yeah: .
It should be interesting how much of a difference it will make. I do know that some of my classes over the last couple of semesters darn near kicked my butt. :eek:I still did well, but I couldn't imagine taking them on top of everything else.
I'm happy to read that you are still sane. It's a pet peeve of mine that so many students believe that a high quality professional-level education is something you can squeeze into an already busy life -- and they expect someone else to pay for it!
Going to school full time should be the rough equivalent of a full time job. If you're a good student and the program is reasonable in its expectations, it should be doable (but perhaps really difficult with a child to take care of). If your family needs and a part time job are going to place a lot of demands on you, then I would suggest part time.
Good luck with whatever you decide.
Unfortunately for some people, going part time or quitting is simply not an option financially.
To the OP: Where there's a will, there's a way! I don't think I could do it, based on my studying and time management lol but I find that students who already have crazy, busy lives with kids and a family to raise do well in nursing because they're used to higher levels of stress on a daily basis. Good luck to you!!
You are the only person who knows "YOU" best. Do you think you can handle it? If yes, then do it.
I started the RN program without any of my gen. eds. Once my RN advisor found out that I didn't have any of my gen eds done? She actually told me straight to my face "*sigh* I haven't met anyone who did this and actually graduated on time. I'm not saying it's impossible, but *sigh*" I hated her for that. She was a huge negative nancy lol.
But guess what? In 2 years I got it done. However, I did do a summer of nothing but gen eds. after my first year. But it is definetely not impossible. I would try to take as much as you can handle in your first semester, because Fundamentals is going to be easier to handle instaed of down the road with your M/S's and stuff.
I actually enjoyed taking my gen eds during nursing because gen eds were sooo easy and it was almost a vacation from nursing school lol. "oh a worksheet instead of 13 pages of clinical paperwork? Don't mind if I do!" Haha.
Thanks. I'm definitely nervous about the prospect, but I am trusting God. If I get in in right away, I know He'll give me the strength to succeed. If not, I'll be terribly sad, but I'll start taking pre-reqs and try again. I just find it hard to believe that the school would develop a program that is impossible to complete. I'm not afraid of hard work and I am a very determined (and disciplined - when I need to be:bugeyes:) person. Ughhhhh... the wait is torture!
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Shanimal
184 Posts
Yes. Absolutely yes.