The competition....

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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This is probably going to come across as harsh and mean, but sometimes I look around either on here or at colleagues also working on their nursing pre-reqs, and I think "THIS is my competition?!?!"

Does this happen to anyone else? The thing that bugs me is likely, a lot of the "competition" will be accepted before me, because they were able to not work full time and attend classes. They may be book smart, but have no common sense....

I'm really not trying to be mean I'm just curious if anyone else experiences this or did once experience it and is now enrolled in a nursing program......

I've been a CNA for 5 years, 3 of them in a hospital setting, and I know this is what I want to do for a living. I feel like I have a better understanding than most of what nursing is really like, although I know it will be even more so when I'm actually employed as a Nurse. That being said, the school I go to won't consider my years as a CNA when I apply for the RN program. They base acceptance on nothing but GPA and high TEAS scores.... I hate it.

Here I am, with a willingness to learn and grow and darn near certain Nursing is what God put me here to do. I have worked along side awesome Docs and Nurses who want to teach me and sometimes even take extra time to show me skills because of the interest I show. And it counts for nothing. Ugh! It makes me so angry.....

Then there is the new high school grad who is able to stay home with Mom and Dad and focus of their studies resulting in a great GPA. They aren't really sure what they want to do in life, but maybe Mom is a RN, so they decide to apply for nursing.....and they get in.

And there's me, with the above experience but not the greatest GPA because my Husband and full time Job require so much from me that my studies have suffered, But I am absolutely sure of what I want to do and I am really good at what I currently do. There is no doubt in my mind I'll make a good nurse someday....

Anyways, Just a vent. I really think more than GPA should be considered for nursing school, and maybe some schools do take healthcare experience into consideration, I don't know. I just can't help but feel defeated when I think about it.....

By the your tone many people took it the wrong way. In all honesty I perceived it as you implied that you were more deserving than others because you have experience as a CNA. In addition, you said from what I recall that others probably do well because they rely on mommy and daddy. Don't be judgemental. Another thing like I said its great you are a CNA but also CNA scope of practice is not as RN scope of practice.

Specializes in Hospice.
I may have snorted while reading this. Certainly some young people are mourning the loss of their social lives, but not me. I am not even sure I ever had a social life to lose. :geek:

And now I feel sort of pathetic and lonely...

LOL don't feel bad, that just means you have less to mourn the loss of i;)n nursing school!

Specializes in CVICU.
I may have snorted while reading this. Certainly some young people are mourning the loss of their social lives, but not me. I am not even sure I ever had a social life to lose. :geek:

And now I feel sort of pathetic and lonely...

I don't really have a social life either. It's better this way. I'll worry about having an actual social life when I'm done with grad school, aka in like 6 years :p

For every student who is blaming their job or homelife for a lower GPA, there is a student triumphing over how they were able to maintain a stellar GPA while working or raising kids. I think the attitude of "I am more qualified than this person and I think it is unfair that they got in." is a bit undesirable.

Hear! Hear! I am proud of the fact that I worked full time, husband who worked full time, raising three teenagers AND took 15 credits of pre-reqs and maintained a 4.0 GPA. I am almost 40 years old, and I knew I had to work hard to earn my place. That being said, I know that worked for me, and everyone's situation is different.

It is not our place to judge if someone is more worthy than another student. If you are going to a school that only takes GPA into account when they admit students, you are going to get individuals who are there for the wrong reason (there are a couple in my class). How does the saying go... "Don't hate the player, hate the game".

I have no doubt of your passion, do you have the option of applying that takes more than GPA into account? Keep trying, don't give up on your dream, but focus on yourself not everyone else around you.

Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
I think anybody without kids has it easy. 3 young kids has to equal 42 full time jobs! If I was doing this straight out of highschool I wouldn't have nearly as much motivation as I have now. I stay home with all three babies while my husnand works a ton of overtime hours as am officer to pay for my schooling. I feel like anybody will a low GPA lacks commitment, whether it be a 19 year oldie a 40 year old.

You have no idea what that person without kids is dealing with. I'm going back for my BSN and I don't have kids, but I have a medical condition no one would want and that makes having kids look like a walk in the park.

Specializes in Transitional Nursing.

Ok thanks for the advice everyone. Mods please go ahead and close this thread. I should have worded my OP differently. I still think I'm just as deserving not more deserving thats all I was saying. I also think working in healtcare before getting into school should get you brownie points. Imo it shows initiative and its a really hard job which shows dedication. I see what some of you mean though....mostly.

All students should have a chance. Just because you are a CNA doesn't make you any better than another student trying to get into the program. Nurses scope of practice is different than a CNA. Everyone should have a fair chance.

Specializes in Hospice.

Don't worry about it, OP. Everyone is entitled to a rant now and then. You will never find that everyone agrees with you, no matter what you post on here! You could say the sky is blue and a hundred people will say no, it's pink. We all view things differently, that's life. Good luck to you. Don't give up on your dream, you will find a way to make it work.:yes:

Specializes in ICU, step down, dialysis.

Thread closed per OP's request.

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