stuck.

PrincessZ · May 8, 2015

....that's where I want to be as a nurse. I am aware that there are TONS of other places to work as a nurse. thanks though.

klone, MSN, RN · May 9, 2015

now im only averaging mostly Bs and Cs for my pre reqs.

If you're only getting Bs and Cs in pre-reqs, you need to consider whether you would PASS nursing school. Core nursing classes are much more difficult than prereq classes. Before trying to get into nursing school, you should maybe evaluate WHY you are doing so poorly in your prereqs and whether it's something that can be rectified.

TiffyRN, BSN, PhD · May 9, 2015

Why do so many people seem to think that a hospital is the only place to be a nurse?

A common issue, true. Thing is, the OP did express a desire to work in "neonatal". That's pretty much limited to only hospital work.

My advice to the OP I'd that our neonatal unit hasn't hired an ADN new grads in a couple of years. We have also never hired a graduate from one of the several private for-profit local programs.

I echo what others have said; try to resolve whatever is dragging your grades down. If you don't, you're not likely to be successful in nursing school. If you find a school that is more lenient with admission standards or in-program grading, then you will likely find the NCLEX a serious hurdle.

NurseSpeedy, ADN, LPN, RN · May 9, 2015

error

scaredsilly, BSN, RN · May 9, 2015

As one of the others stated, nursing school courses are HARD, the NCLEX is HARD! If you are not doing well in pre-reqs you need to figure out what the problem is and address it before pursuing nursing school. You are far better off fixing what is wrong before you start even if it means a delay for awhile, then getting into an expensive for profit school and either failing out or not being able to pass NCLEX after you graduate.

There is a reason for the gpa requirements at most schools and that reason is that if you cannot successfully pass pre-reqs with the gpa they want, you won't succeed in nursing school. Get tested, figure out what's wrong, then fix it and set yourself up for success.

IHeartPeds87 · May 9, 2015

You need to do your research and find nursing programs that don't care how many times you have repeated courses (they do exist. I just graduated from one but recently they changed their admissions requirements).

When I was researching, I, like you, had very poor grades...I don't know exactly what it was but less than a 2.5!. Thankfully my local, in-district ADN program did not look at how many times you repeated a class. They looked at a certain number of classes and took my gpa from those courses.

The thing is....my grades, for the program once I repeated them had to be excellent. I had a 3.880 and did NOT get in and then had to repeat a class or two, got a 3.97 gpa and did get in, and graduated last week :)

Your poor academic will limit your options, you may need to move. However, you are going to have to demonstrate that you can do well academically, and this does mean getting your grades up.

If you can find a program that doesn't care how many times you've repeated courses, take those courses over, do well and graduate......that's what I did.

Purple_roses · May 9, 2015

You need to do your research and find nursing programs that don't care how many times you have repeated courses (they do exist. I just graduated from one but recently they changed their admissions requirements).
When I was researching, I, like you, had very poor grades...I don't know exactly what it was but less than a 2.5!. Thankfully my local, in-district ADN program did not look at how many times you repeated a class. They looked at a certain number of classes and took my gpa from those courses.
The thing is....my grades, for the program once I repeated them had to be excellent. I had a 3.880 and did NOT get in and then had to repeat a class or two, got a 3.97 gpa and did get in, and graduated last week :)
Your poor academic will limit your options, you may need to move. However, you are going to have to demonstrate that you can do well academically, and this does mean getting your grades up.
If you can find a program that doesn't care how many times you've repeated courses, take those courses over, do well and graduate......that's what I did.

Excellent advise and congratulations on graduating!

OP, I would follow this route versus signing up at a for-profit school. It will take longer, but your wallet will thank you. Also, some for-profits are not nationally accredited, meaning that instead of hopping right onto the BSN bridge program, you may have to start your schooling from scratch, which means even more time and money.

Dranger · May 9, 2015

Why do so many people seem to think that a hospital is the only place to be a nurse?

Most RN jobs especially new grad jobs are in the hospital and that is where the desirable pay/specialties are.

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · May 9, 2015

Excellent advise and congratulations on graduating!
OP, I would follow this route versus signing up at a for-profit school. It will take longer, but your wallet will thank you. Also, some for-profits are not nationally accredited, meaning that instead of hopping right onto the BSN bridge program, you may have to start your schooling from scratch, which means even more time and money.

Agree.

I think my GPA was a 2.63 at CC; only because I had a D in the ADN program; I went to a Practical Nursing Program, graduated with a 2.65, and was able to get into a BSN program that looked at my grades required, then the entrance exam, and they took my years as a LPN into account as well. I graduated almost 3 years ago with a respectable 2.89 GPA, which did not hinder me in getting a job afterwards in my area-they took into account my previous experience and the more experience I continued to be sought out for jobs.

It is possible to be enter nursing school with a "low" GPA; but you may have to make up in entrance exam and may have to CLEP and take over some courses-find you what is required from the schools your are interested in.

Best wishes.

PrincessZ · May 10, 2015

Exactly. thank you.

PrincessZ · May 10, 2015

You guys actually made me feel a whole lot better lol. Thank you again I will continue to push myself and strive for the best I know i have it in me to be great at ANYTHING I do. I may possibly take over a couple of classes as well. Thanks for the well wishes.

dinah77, ADN · May 10, 2015

Probably not adding anything that hasn't been said, but here is my two cents:

1. Be brutally honest with yourself about why your grades are the way they are

Were you just not applying yourself?

Were you not able to comprehend the material?

2. As others have stated, Nursing core classes make the pre-reqs look like a joke. If you do not have the aptitude for the pre-reqs, reconsider nursing. I'm not trying to be mean, just trying to save you some time and heartache.