These pre-reqs for these nursing programs are driving me nuts. For most programs, I need the basics: Anatomy, Physiology, Stats, Chem, and Microbiology. Some of the programs also need Nutrition, or Intro to Psych. The Stats and the psych are fine (I got a BA in psych in '07), but I have NONE of the other pre-reqs.
Ok, so I figure I'll look at some local schools and register.
So my first bet is a nice university here, at which I WORK, so I would get tuition reimbursed (woot!) So I'm like, sweet, I'll sign up for a (free!) evening class. Anatomy, here I come!
OH WAIT. Anatomy has a prereq? Bio 106. Huh. Um. Ok, I guess I'll just... register for that then.
OH WAIT. Bio 106 has a pre-req? Bio 105. Huh. Um. Ok, I guess - ok wait, no, these pre-reqs are going to take me YEARS before I can even APPLY to nursing school. My pre-reqs for nursing school have pre-reqs, which have pre-reqs. GAH!
I'm pulling my hair out here! Has anyone else had this problem, starting from scratch? I talked to some of the nursing programs I'm interested in, and they DO offer some summer courses to help people with pre-reqs - but the thing is, most of these classes are quick, compressed online courses designed specifically for THAT program - as in, if I took them, and didn't get into that program, I couldn't use them for credit at another nursing program. Which would pretty much put me back to square one.
I'm also trying to broaden my search to other community colleges, etc, where I would, in fact, have to pay tuition, but it wouldn't be *as* much as a private institution.
I don't know guys. All of this seems so overwhelming. I mean, I do think I can do it, and I DO want to go to nursing school. It's just a lot of stuff that needs to be organized, and get done, and figured out.
I guess it's be good practice for the real deal, huh?
I think I just need someone to tell me to calm down, take one step at a time, etc....
I'm looking at some Accelerated BSN programs... where I can get my RN in less than 2 years. I was originally thinking about a direct entry master's program, but I think it would be more beneficial for me to get my RN, work a few years, and then once I've got my life in order, decide if I want to go back to school for something else.
I don't want to jump into a direct entry master's, especially because I've had absolutely no experience in nursing, at all (never been a CNA, never been a tech, never even babysat some sick kids - although I am going to start to volunteer at a local hospital to hopefully get a feel for the atmosphere a bit). I do think that it would be a good career for me, and that I'd get a lot out of it. I just don't want to throw all my eggs into one basket and commit myself to direct entry.
Mass General Hospital in Boston has a 14 month accelerated BSN prog that I'm really interested in... They usually have around 400 applicants for about 60 spots. So THAT makes me nervous. Anyway. Now I'm getting a bit off topic. -digresses-
If you can I would just begin at a University or Private institution. I go to Widener and in 4 years I have my BSN. I will be graduating in May 09 :-D. Granted I am now 36,000 in debt with student loans, but it was easier to get it all over and done with in 4 years than deal with 3 years of pre-reqs and 3 years of Nursing School.
One thing to also think about is that if you go for a second Bachelor's degree...you probably wont qualify for any financial aid. So it might work in your best interest to consider Master's programs.
My scenario is very similiar to Nursing Student 19. I started the prereqs straight out of highschool at a community college, and just started the program two years later... and I am now 20. I really put my all into it. From the very first day of classes, I knew I wanted to get into the community college program... one because it had a great reputation, and two because its literally 3 minutes from my house. I had two classes waived, I didnt have to take Chem or Intro to Psych because I took them in highschool and did well. But i never applied to any other school last January when I was finally was able to apply... Not only did the other schools need different prereqs, but.. My heart was definately set on this school! So i put all my eggs into one basket, and almost had a stroke while I waited for 6 monthes to get my acceptance letter.
I would recommend getting ALL of the classes out of the way that you possibly can. There are only 4 classes I need for my bachelors, one of which I am taking next semester...while a lot of other people are taking Micro or something that is needed for their ADN degree. All I need is nursing classes, and it feels good...
It does take a while to get into a program, particularly if you cant go to school fulltime or if you dont get accepted your first time around. I remember thinking that when I started after highschool... but the wait was worth it. In a week and a half I will be done with my first semester of the program, and I LOVE it... If you know that its what you want to do, you'll do it, even if you have to wait a while. It goes fast, I promise. Good luck!
Melmarie - that's awesome! Grats on getting into the NH program =) Funny - I live right in Kendall square (well, my boyfriend does, and I basically live there. My actual apartment is in Central Sq, but I'm pretty much never there ^^)
Are you going to be moving near UNH or commuting? I don't even know how far UNH is from Boston technically... is it far?
But yes - I'm looking at MGH, Simmons, and Umass Boston. All of them have Accelerated BSN degrees, and are all close by. And thanks for the potential suggestions about Bunker Hill! I'm *trying* to take some of my classes at BU, like I said before, because I get tuition reimbursement there- but so far, it hasn't really been working out, due to a number of things (the pre-reqs of pre-reqs, classes being full, classes not offered at the right times, etc). So I'm starting to wonder if I should just bite the bullet and take some at Bunker Hill, or Bay State, something like that.
Feel free to send me a private message if you want, seeing as how talking about Boston and UNH is slightly off topic here.
er, can you even send private messages? I'm kind of new to the site, and haven't looked into that yet.
I managed to not take some of those pre-reqs to pre-reqs. I have a previous degree (English, so like yours it took care of some of my pre-reqs), but hadn't really taken any science classes for it. I had done well in biology in high school, and figured I could wing it.
It worked out perfectly. The system the school uses didn't prevent me from registering for A&P, even though I had no biology on my transcript. I was able to make A's in both A&Ps, working off of 10-year-old biology knowledge. If you're comfortable just diving right into A&P, and if your registration doesn't prevent, I would say don't even bother talking to an advisor, just go for it. A caveat: I would make abolutely sure that your program doesn't require the bio as a pre-req as well as the A&P. Mine does not, so it's never been an issue. GL!
Anyways, would BU reimburse you for any class or do they have to be taken on campus? Because if they offer reimbursement for any class you take, then I am thinking community colleges for your pre-reqs is the way to go. Very accommodating schedule. Plus BHCC from Kendall sq is just a quick T ride. :wink2:
But if BU is anything like MIT [i currently work in one of the labs there...til mid Jan at least] they would only reimburse if the class was considered work related, which could be a whole other ball game depending on what you do now. It did for me because they were Bio classes...but I would look into the specifics of how tuition reimbursement works over at BU.
i as well graduated from college with only one of the pre reqs complete--nutrition. I was able to take the remaining 5 (A&P 1 and 2, micro, stats, and chem) in just under year, and work full time as well! The key was a mixture of on-line and traditional classes. Also, i experienced some roadblocks with the prereqs for prereqs, however i was able to get around this by taking all the classes at differant schools, because some schools do not require the prereqs. I took A&P 1 at northeastern's school of continuing education. It was WAY more expensive then my other classes at community colleges( like $1200 yikes) but didn't need a prereq. In fact they didn't really ask for anything except my money...then, i was able to take A&P2 elsewhere(A&P 1 was prereq). Lots of places accept A&P as a prereq for micro (not all, which is where it gets tricky) then i took a beginners chem that had no prereq. I actually took chem online, i applied to the absn program at MGH and they accept this class (b/c they don't require labs) and i also took stats online. This allowed me to take one on-line and one traditional class at the same time and still work full time.
So, overall its a very tricky road, a year ago i never thought i was going to make it and i've shed a lot of tears along the way (one professor berated me in front of a room full of people, telling me taking shortcuts was not the way and that i would be a bad nurse because of it...)But in the end its so worth it! Its not over yet, as i don't know if i've gotten into school yet, but at least now I know that I can do it and will eventually reach my goal of becoming an RN!!
I decided I should call the biology department, just to see if maaaybe for some strange, odd, wonderful reason, I could get out of taking the pre-req for Anatomy. The guy who answers the phone is really nice, I tell him my sob story, he listens, "is there ANY possible way, at all, that I might be able to skip the initial bio class and jump right into Anatomy, any way at all?" And he's like:
"Oh, that's fine. You don't have to take the pre-req, it's just more a suggestion. You have a BA you said? Pfft, you're smart, you'll be fine."
I was like....
(except less scared-looking and more happy-looking ^^).
So after work today I'm going to skip down to the bookstore and buy my text book (squee!) and get ready for class to start in a month!
Anyway, I'm REALLY happy.
Also, a teensy bit scared, because, wow, this is actually happening. I'm actually going to start this whole journey. But it's a good kind of scared. I think. It's good. :chuckle
averna
21 Posts
I'm looking at some Accelerated BSN programs... where I can get my RN in less than 2 years. I was originally thinking about a direct entry master's program, but I think it would be more beneficial for me to get my RN, work a few years, and then once I've got my life in order, decide if I want to go back to school for something else.
I don't want to jump into a direct entry master's, especially because I've had absolutely no experience in nursing, at all (never been a CNA, never been a tech, never even babysat some sick kids - although I am going to start to volunteer at a local hospital to hopefully get a feel for the atmosphere a bit). I do think that it would be a good career for me, and that I'd get a lot out of it. I just don't want to throw all my eggs into one basket and commit myself to direct entry.
Mass General Hospital in Boston has a 14 month accelerated BSN prog that I'm really interested in... They usually have around 400 applicants for about 60 spots. So THAT makes me nervous. Anyway. Now I'm getting a bit off topic. -digresses-