Taking 13 credits for a Summer semester in order to make January admissions!?

LexiG · Feb 11, 2011

I don't think you can challenge the CNA because it is state certified and requires work with actual patients, kind of like clinical in nursing school. As far as if you can handle that much schoolwork it depends on your own personal ability. I would be worried not that I would fail my classes but that I was just cramming in all the info and wouldn't retain it for the long haul. Best of luck!

mangopeach · Feb 11, 2011

You know yourself best so only you can answer whether or not you can handle 13 credits in a short summer semester. What I would do? I would wait and not take on 13 credits in the summer. I know its frustrating to have to wait that long but you should always remember that nursing schools are super competitive. You are competing with other students for a spot, so its not just about finishing those pre-reqs, you want the highest grade possible so you can compete. I would rather set myself up for success and take it slow rather than rush to try to finish and end up with mediocre grades that might make me less competitive.

Good luck!

Student4_life · Feb 11, 2011

Totally doable. I took A&P I/II over the summer and had tons of free time (seriously only put in 5 hours a day 4 days a week including class).

The only real hinderance would be if your school doesn't offer all the classes you need in the summer (another hinderance would be if you need college Chem, if you are taking that in the summer it would be difficult to do anything else as it's a work intensive course).

As long as you don't plan on taking Chem, you can definitely do 13 in a summer. Best bet is to take 1 class each session on campus and 1 online (I am assuming you need some 4 credit classes).

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Feb 11, 2011

I would take the credits via self-paced independent study and then transfer them into your school. I would start now so that you'll have time to get them done.

Independent Study in Idaho offers classes online at about $100 per semester hour, which is very reasonable for distance-based education. The classes are also accredited and you'll receive a university transcript upon successful completion. Louisiana State also offers cheap independent study classes.

http://www.uiweb.uidaho.edu/isi/courses.htm

http://www.is.lsu.edu/

Skylarslaughter · Feb 12, 2011

I would take the credits via self-paced independent study and then transfer them into your school. I would start now so that you'll have time to get them done.
Independent Study in Idaho offers classes online at about $100 per semester hour, which is very reasonable for distance-based education. The classes are also accredited and you'll receive a university transcript upon successful completion. Louisiana State also offers cheap independent study classes.
http://www.uiweb.uidaho.edu/isi/courses.htm
http://www.is.lsu.edu/

That's really interesting, I'm checking that out right now. But is it possible that independent study courses won't be transferrable?

Skylarslaughter · Feb 12, 2011

Totally doable. I took A&P I/II over the summer and had tons of free time (seriously only put in 5 hours a day 4 days a week including class).
The only real hinderance would be if your school doesn't offer all the classes you need in the summer (another hinderance would be if you need college Chem, if you are taking that in the summer it would be difficult to do anything else as it's a work intensive course).
As long as you don't plan on taking Chem, you can definitely do 13 in a summer. Best bet is to take 1 class each session on campus and 1 online (I am assuming you need some 4 credit classes).

My only pre reqs are A&P I+ lab, Nutrition, Psychology, and Computer Applications. Not too bad at all, but I think my major concern is whether they will be available or not and then if I do cram I might not even make January admissions. I wonder if I'm just better off taking the LPN and all my pre reqs through the year and then immediatly doing the bridge program. :grn:

lillymom · Feb 12, 2011

I don't know about your school but mine offers a lot of proficiency exams for this same reason. They give you the final exam and if you pass you don't have to take it.

You can challenge CNA in NC but you need to check with your school to see if it is allowed and you BON to see if they allow you to challenge. My school requires that the course has to be taken by an accredited program.

I think that it is possible to do these courses in one semester since most of them are not all that hard. Good Luck!

kbucksn · Feb 12, 2011

For the most part you cannot challenge the test, in califrnia you used to be able to ONLY if you have been working as a CNA for 5 yrs consistently that is verifiable. as far as the 13 credits in summer, that is suicide, especially if they are math or sciences. our nursing advisor says do not trade speed for grades, it just not worth it, if u dont do well you cannot change that. even if u retake a class that grade will always be on your records. i know its tempting to fly through it all to get to your goal but some things are worth the wait. i just went to a seminar last night and basically 13 credits in summer is like taking 26 credits in a normal semester, good luck whatver u decide :)

karla

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Feb 12, 2011

That's really interesting, I'm checking that out right now. But is it possible that independent study courses won't be transferrable?

I do not see why independent study courses wouldn't transfer. They're regionally accredited university courses. Regional accreditation typically results in a seamless transfer of college credits.

FLhusker · Feb 12, 2011

You can challenge the CNA test in Florida.

That schedule doesn't look too difficult. I found nutrition and Psych easy and if you know much about computers, the computer class shouldn't be that difficult. Perhaps you could take either Nutrition or Psych on-line to lighten your classroom load a bit. Also, if you have a summer A and summer B, then break up the load a bit. Try to take A&P summer C (all summer) if you can since it is a lot to learn!

2011NursingStudent · Feb 12, 2011

Well I am very frustrated
I want to get into Nursing school as soon as I possible can. I would not be able to make August admissioms because of the deadlines.
However, January admissions is possible for me ONLY if I can complete all my pre reqs [13 credits] in the Summer...since you have apply and have all the requirements by Septemeber and that's at the beginning of Fall semester. And I DO NOT want to wait that long! So do you think I could pull off taking 13 credits for the summer? Is it possible? I would study super hard and I have great studying skills and TONS of free time. Plus I don't work [i'm not too proud of that but I can't find work].
Another minor question I have: I know I can't work as a CNA till I am 18. However, can I challenge the test? Are there any good recources for studying for the CNA?
Thanks!

No, no no no no...no...do not try it!! (Assuming your summer sessions are about 1/2 the length of the typical session). The nursing prereqs are very, very intensive, its difficult to get a good gread in Anatomy, Micro, etc in a regular semester. If you take on too much and get less than steller grades, you will have a really hard time fixing that and getting into the program.