Tips for a pre-nursing student?

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Hello fellow nurses/pre nurses.

I've been reading couple threads and found it to be really helpful, especially the TEAS sticky thread. I have a couple more classes to take before applying to nursing programs (taking TEAS) and I was wondering if you have any tips for a pre-nursing student. It could be anything you've learned through out college or a studying skill you came across that worked wonders for you. Or even what one can do to make them stand out out of all other students. My backgrounds: currently taking physio at Pasadena CC. Took anatomy, chem, nutrition. Will be taking microbiology spring. Currently in the CCE program (internship), interested to be an RN, took EMT class and failed nationals exam once :( still need to take it.

Question: Do you take the TEAS test before applying or after you apply to schools? Is TEAS required for CC's and UC's and Calstates? thanks!

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I was just accepted into a BSN program and I did not have to take the TEAS. Only one school in the entire state of KS requires you to take it. So I dont know much about what that even is. But I just got accepted so I feel like a have a few tips to share...Some more obvious than others but here goes.

-GPA above 3.5 (mine was 3.43 so I'm LUCKY)

-volunteer in health department/clinic and in hospitals.

Volunteer especially in the hospital that your nursing school does clinicals at. Then at interviews or in your app. you can say "To get myself extra familiarized with the hospital I know your school's clinicals are done at, I became a volunteer there"

-list all work experience especially if it is related to the medical field

-BUT do somehow let them know that you do NOT plan on working during NS as you want to dedicate your 100% to it (even if you really do plan on working some)

-if you speak another language, tell them. Especially if its Spanish..even if its a little spanish...

-Do not let them think or know you have a husband/boyfriend or kids during application or interview process...you dont need to lie but legally they can't ask..but dont like mention it. They don't want to see potential distractions...it seems messed up but they will judge you on that stuff.

-Add an extra reference letter to your file if they let you. Even if it is not required.

-Don't annoy the admissions office but let them see your face. Go in and meet them. Call in every so often. Just let them know how interested you really are. But again, don't annoy them or overdue it.

-and if you ever get an interview message me. I have a great list of practice interview questions.

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Specializes in ICU / PCU / Telemetry / Oncology.

I took the TEAS 2 weeks ago and scored very well (I took Version V so I am referring only to that one). I can't recommend enough the TEAS manual, you need to get it and practice questions with the tests in the back. There are also practice tests available for sale on the ATI website but you only really need one of them. Get the TEAS manual from Amazon.com, it is much cheaper than the ATI website sells it for. Practice practice practice and only study the topics addressed in the questions you get wrong.

I highly recommend as well volunteering @ a hospital, it demonstrates your commitment to working in the health industry. Whatever you can do there to have some patient contact under your belt would be great.

Finally, go for the gold with your grades, where at all possible get all A's, especially in the sciences. Nursing school is more competitive than ever. The average in accelerated programs can often be over 3.5 GPA.

Good luck! :up:

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