Talk to me - Nursing in Tampa area

Speculating · Feb 19, 2004

Hello guys
I'm brand new over here. And I need some help. Well, not really a help, but maybe just some encouragement. Nursing is my dream. I love it and I know I'll be happy there. To get a degree, I quit from the well paying job, I applied to the 3 schools, finished my prereqs as good as I could (mostly A's)..and what's now?? Nothing really.. St. Petesrsburg College had me placed in their 2 years long waiting list..I have applied to HCC for this Fall, and my GPA for their prereqs is 3.62 - I don't know would I be admitted or not, from my experience I would say this school is rather odd, they lost my transcript two times already..I have applied to the USF too, but I'm not sure I'll get in, my GPA is 3.4 for them, which is nothing startling as well...
You know, I reach a point of total frustration. I sacrifice a lot to get into the school, since I have a family and everything, my previous job was not really great, but it was stable enough, and I don't even know now whether I will be accepted anywhere and what's awaiting for me in the future. I just feel totally lost. Probably some of you guys have gone through the same, if you will just talk to me to keep my spirit up, I would appreciate it.. it just seems so senseless to me..thanks..

Mystic, it does sound like you made a couple of bad moves. I wouldn't worry to much about the waiting lists. SPC was what 2 years? Many people like yourself apply to several colleges. Once someone gets excepted then if there like you a spot in three seperate colleges just opened up. Realistically the two year list is more like one. Your GPA's are fine don't worry about. Are all of your non nursing classes done from English to Microbiology? If there not then get them finished while you wait. You don't want to have to take one single extra class that you don't have to once you start the nursing program. Good Luck things will work out for you.

ZootRN · Feb 19, 2004

hi speculating

thanks for your response, i'm taking now my last non-nursing classes (nutrition, micro and chemistry). after that i'll have nothing else to do - completely. if i won't get in this year, it will be really frustrating to me. i have a beep job (sorry) that i really hate, and i would quit as soon as i will be accepted into the program. but sometimes it look like it will never happen.

mystic, it does sound like you made a couple of bad moves. i wouldn't worry to much about the waiting lists. spc was what 2 years? many people like yourself apply to several colleges. once someone gets excepted then if there like you a spot in three seperate colleges just opened up. realistically the two year list is more like one. your gpa's are fine don't worry about. are all of your non nursing classes done from english to microbiology? if there not then get them finished while you wait. you don't want to have to take one single extra class that you don't have to once you start the nursing program. good luck things will work out for you.

Speculating · Feb 19, 2004

hi speculating
thanks for your response, i'm taking now my last non-nursing classes (nutrition, micro and chemistry). after that i'll have nothing else to do - completely. if i won't get in this year, it will be really frustrating to me. i have a beep job (sorry) that i really hate, and i would quit as soon as i will be accepted into the program. but sometimes it look like it will never happen.

good for you by the looks of those prerequisites it looks like your shooting for you bsn. maybe you could take a few classes to help increase your marketability as a nurse while your waiting. i took my emt at spc, and i truly had the best time i've ever had while in school. especially in clinicals doing ride time on the ambulances was fabulous. there's nothing like doing 60mph down the street running red lights with the lights twirling and the sirens singing. it gives great insight into prehospital care. make sure your taking something it makes the wait 10x woose if your not taking any classes.

ZootRN · Feb 19, 2004

Good for you by the looks of those prerequisites it looks like your shooting for you BSN. Maybe you could take a few classes to help increase your marketability as a nurse while your waiting. I took my EMT at SPC, and I truly had the best time I've ever had while in school. Especially in clinicals doing ride time on the ambulances was fabulous. There's nothing like doing 60mph down the street running red lights with the lights twirling and the sirens singing. It gives great insight into prehospital care. Make sure your taking something it makes the wait 10x woose if your not taking any classes.

What school did you finally got in? SPC? I'm taking prereqs toward BSN or MSN - if I will be admitted by HCC this Fall, I'll go for Masters after that, since I have Bachelors already. My advisor told me I need just 4 more classes with clinicals to get MSN in Nursing, if I'll get AS degree first.

Geez, this is so frustrating.

Speculating · Feb 19, 2004

What school did you finally got in? SPC? I'm taking prereqs toward BSN or MSN - if I will be admitted by HCC this Fall, I'll go for Masters after that, since I have Bachelors already. My advisor told me I need just 4 more classes with clinicals to get MSN in Nursing, if I'll get AS degree first.
Geez, this is so frustrating.

I graduated from the SPC of Nursing in 2001. It was pretty tough, but I was more than prepared by them when I sat for my boards! I actually started my quest at HCC. You seem to pretty well have it together. I'm impressed with what you've accomplished so far. Your at a pretty impressive juncture in your life to be frustrated. Enjoy the minute or two to catch your breath because soon enough you going to be whinning that you've got so much to get done and no time to do it.

nrcnurse · Feb 23, 2004

Chances are, you're guaranteed a slot @ HCC with your GPA. I'd heard that you HAD to have a 4.0 to get in, but I met with an advisor (re the LPN to RN transition program) who urged me to apply to the basic RN program instead. (I've been accepted to a LPN program for August, thinking that the my B in A&P lecture, and my B in Freshman English in 1973 would keep me from being accepted in the ASN program.) The advisor called the Dean of Nursing, who said a 3.0 was acceptable. That was news to me! So, I applied and we'll see what happens. I'll be in nursing school somewhere in the fall....

Apply to the University of Tampa also, if you're really nervous. They have a brand new BSN program, but it sounds like the ASN is what you need.

ZootRN · Feb 23, 2004

Thanks, Nancy!

I hope, they'll take me. I'm so tired of neverending waiting. No wonder, there is a nursing shortage, if people basically cannot get in to the program! I wish you luck also, from what my advisor have told me I know that people with 3.0 GPA were admitted last semester. I don't know should I applied to University of Tampa so far.. I basically cannot afford to pay 20K per year. I have a pretty big loan already.

Do you know when they plan to send out letters of admission?

nrcnurse · Feb 23, 2004

The letters probably go out in April or May, since there's another admissions deadline in June.

If colleges were better funded there would be more seats in the nursing programs. (You have to admit, the price of a ASN @ community college is pretty cheap.) And, if teachers were better paid, there would be more of them. Also, only 50% of those admitted to the program actually finish (I think that's pretty surprising), so school administrators probably figure that classes sizes are okay.

sjoe · Feb 24, 2004

It usually boils down to this:

The less you are willing to pay and the shorter the distance you are willing to travel/relocate for your nursing education, the longer you will have to wait to be admitted.

The more you are willing to pay (i.e. private colleges) and the farther you are willing to move/travel, the shorter the waiting time.

Supply and demand.

culverabbie · Mar 18, 2004

Hello guys
I'm brand new over here. And I need some help. Well, not really a help, but maybe just some encouragement. Nursing is my dream. I love it and I know I'll be happy there. To get a degree, I quit from the well paying job, I applied to the 3 schools, finished my prereqs as good as I could (mostly A's)..and what's now?? Nothing really.. St. Petesrsburg College had me placed in their 2 years long waiting list..I have applied to HCC for this Fall, and my GPA for their prereqs is 3.62 - I don't know would I be admitted or not, from my experience I would say this school is rather odd, they lost my transcript two times already..I have applied to the USF too, but I'm not sure I'll get in, my GPA is 3.4 for them, which is nothing startling as well...
You know, I reach a point of total frustration. I sacrifice a lot to get into the school, since I have a family and everything, my previous job was not really great, but it was stable enough, and I don't even know now whether I will be accepted anywhere and what's awaiting for me in the future. I just feel totally lost. Probably some of you guys have gone through the same, if you will just talk to me to keep my spirit up, I would appreciate it.. it just seems so senseless to me..thanks..

hey just wanted to say that it looks like i'll be in the same position as you! my husband just got his orders to go to clearwater/st. petersburg (he's a helicopter pilot with the US Coast Guard). I need to apply to community college (for my AS in nursing) and am thinking about SPC...looks like i'll have to get on that waiting list! we're only stationed here for 4 years so I hope that I can complete the course in that amount of time ... ah well.