Steps in becoming a nurse

TXRN2B13 · May 15, 2010

hello! i am too just starting out. this spring was my first semester of prereqs that are required by my adn program. do you already have college credits? i was starting from scratch after 20 years of being out of hs. i can tell you most everything you want to know about how my school does things, but each school seems to be very different in their requirements and admissions.

sj

allnurses Guide · May 18, 2010

I would advise you to talk to an advisor at the school you wish to attend. However, to my knowledge there aren't really any completely online nursing programs - you have to do clinicals etc. Most nursing school programs are full time day programs. It can be a challenge for a single parent but far from impossible. There are a ton of single parents at my college doing the nursing program. Hopefully you have family who can help you out.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · May 18, 2010

There are several different pathways to a career in nursing. Perhaps one or more of these ways will work for you.

1. Attend a vocational nursing program at a trade school or community college. Completion of one of these 12 to 18 month programs will make you eligible for licensure as an LVN (licensed vocational nurse). You can then attend a bridge program to become an RN (registered nurse). This is how I entered nursing.

2. Attend an associate degree program with a major in nursing at a community college or trade school. This route usually takes 3+ years to complete due to prerequisite classes, test score requirements, possible lottery-style admissions, reapplying, and/or waiting lists. Completion of this 2-year degree will make you eligible for licensure as an RN (registered nurse).

3. Attend a baccalaureate degree program with a major in nursing at a university. This route usually takes 4+ years to complete due to prerequisite classes, test score requirements, possible lottery-style admissions, reapplying, and/or waiting lists. Completion of this 4-year BSN (bachelor of science in nursing) degree will make you eligible for licensure as an RN (registered nurse).

4. Attend a direct-entry master's degree program with a major in nursing. These programs are usually reserved for people who already have degrees in fields of study unrelated to nursing. Completion of this DEMSN (direct entry master of science in nursing) degree will make you eligible for licensure as an RN (registered nurse).

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · May 19, 2010

I also forgot to mention the 3-year diploma in nursing as an option, although many of these types of programs are dwindling away. There are still 2 or 3 diploma programs left in your home state of Texas. Completion of a 3-year diploma in nursing will make you eligible for licensure as an RN.

Guest 360983 · May 19, 2010

You'll want to talk to the local nursing schools for more info since they are all different. No, you can't do RN classes online, but you can do most pre-reqs online. HCC has hybrid sciences where you only have to go in for lab.

Community Colleges: San Jac, HCC, Lonestar, College of the Mainland

Bachelors Programs: UT Houston, Texas Women's, Prairie View, UTMB (Galveston with some clinicals in medical center), I think Houston Baptist has a very small program

There are no diploma programs in Houston.

unjustlysweet · May 22, 2010

No I dont have any college credits, I went to a vocational school and they close down on us right after graduation. I did visit HCC here in Houston and the counsler told me I needed to take a Compass test (a placement test?) to begin anything else and that scared me. I feel I need to brush up on my math. If I dont pass what would this mean for me. :uhoh3:

Junebugfairy · May 22, 2010

the compass is a placement test, it is not pass or fail.

depending on your score, they will place you in the classes that are appropriate for your skill level. you will need to take pre requisites for nursing school, which are classes that you must take before you are even allowed to apply for the nursing programs. many, if not almost all, schools require pre req's to be taken before you can even apply.

you will need college algebra, english classes, a&p 1&2, microbiology, chemistry, etc...

it is a journey, but well worth it.

JROregon, ASN, BSN, RN · May 22, 2010

A placement test just gives you a starting point. I took algebra and higher math in high school and in my earlier college days so I didn't want to take it again. I found an algebra workbook that helped me to test out of math. I have a friend who did not take a lot of math in hs and went on to become a young mom. She began college about 3 years ago and had to take 3 or 4 math classes to get through the intermediate algebra she needed as a pre-req for nursing school. She toughed it out and is finishing her first year of nursing school.

I would say that on-line classes are for the most motivated and self-starting students. I took only one on-line writing class and just procrastinated. I like to be in a classroom and get some of the cues from the instructor that I am on the right path or completely screwing up. I get a lot out of other students asking questions. I am a straight A student and would really have a tough time with a completely on-line class schedule.

aussiemom · May 23, 2010

If you have a previous bachelor's, you can also consider an accelerated BSN, where you can be finished in approximately one year! :-) This can also be stretched out to meet your needs, depending on your school.

TXRN2B13 · May 23, 2010

it has been 20 years since i graduated from high school. :eek: i too, was a young mom, but i have always had an urge to go to college. what held me back was knowing i would have to take an entrance test to assess my education level. for some reason this terrified me. i was not a great student in high school; in fact i struggled quite a bit to keep up with my honor society friends. :uhoh3: i suppose knowing how much i struggled then kept me from even trying, until now!

in january i took the thea (entrance exam at my community college). five hours were allotted to taking all sections of this test (math, reading, and writing). i could have used seven hours. it was not a computerized test; therefore, i was able to skip around when i felt tired or bored. i left the math for last because i felt like if i needed to take a developmental class then math would be it! i pass the reading and writing which placed me into college level classes and missed the math by 4 points. :mad: i suppose i could have retested and probably placed out of the developmental math class (intermediate algebra), but i decided to complete the course thinking i would benefit from the refresher.

i am happy to say that this spring was my first semester of prerequisites (intermediate algebra, english 1301, development psychology, and microcomputer) and i made a 4.0. :yeah: i will be taking a&p1 all summer and finish up this fall with a&p2, human growth, and art/theater appreciation (requirements).

what got me into the front door of the community college was that i found another mom (mom to a friend of my son) around my same age, that was in the same boat as me and we decided to conquer this together. if she happened to quit today, i would still continue on because i have proven to myself that i can do it! :twocents:

sj:redbeathe

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · May 27, 2010

If I dont pass what would this mean for me.

If you do not perform well on the Compass, this means that you might be placed in remedial classes (also called developmental classes). I performed poorly on the math portion several years ago and had to be placed in remedial math classes that consume time and do not count for any college credit since they are not considered college-level courses.