I met with an advisor this morning to go over the plan of action for taking my pre- reqs. I am not a happy camper this morning. It's been 18 years since I was in school and my math scores were not that great when I took the College Entrance Exam. I have to take algebra pep course before I can take Intermediate algebra which is one of the pre- req.
After reviewing all of my co-req & pre -req and the nursing program itself I am looking at 5 years before I can be a Nurse.
I am a 42 single mother that works full time. This is really discouraging that it will take me that long. I feel stuck and my life is on hold. I was hoping 3 years the most. I desperatly need a life and salary change! I don't know if I should move forward or not. I am currently an Admin Assistant and not really trained to do anything else. I am feeling very very frustrated and hopeless
Anyway if I do decide to move forward not sure what I should do with these math classes. I have 2 options before I can take the Intermediate Algebra (pre-req)
A. I can take "fundamentals in Algrebra" then "Basic Algebra with Lab"
I can not take them in the same semester.
B. Or I can take Integrated Basic Algebra and Arithmetic
This is a combination of the 2 classes in option A.
Advisor is suggesting I take option A if I am not that strong in Math. I always had difficulty with percentages and fractions but I am a fast learner. I loved Algebra when I was in school, but it's so long ago I forgot the formulas but it will come back once I get started.
I prefer to take option B, less time and money plus I don't have time to waste but I don't want to get in over my head and can't pass the class. Does anyone have any experience with these classes.
I remember the first day I sat down with my advisor. She basically mad eit sound impossible... especially since I was sitting there with my 2 month old daughter in my arms. She told me about the competitive nature of the program and how they get about 250 applicants and can only take about 25. We talked about how prerequisites alone would take 2 years (!) and how working full time, having 2 kids, only taking night classes, and figuring out finances would be obstacles I would have to overcome. Especially since I would be "competeing" (for acceptance to the program) with people HALF my age! Who still had the benefit of living at home and having parents that could help them pay for school and living expenses. Needless to say, I left that day feeling completely discouraged, and thought there's no way in hell I can do this. But after a day or 2, I started to get mad... almost. I thought to myself- Screw all the obstacles! I'm doing this! This is my dream!
I'm a 34-year-old mother of two. So starting a second career, from scratch, was not decision I made lightly. In fact, it was (and still is) quite terrifying at times! However, I was determined and dedicated, and here I am two years later (that's how long it took for my pre-requisites) with a 4.0 GPA and I am ready! I applied in Jan 08, and got my acceptance letter in Feb. I start in about a week.
When you know what you want, and you know in your heart it was meant for you, you have to go after it with everything you have. :redpinkhe
This may have already been mentioned but I didn't read all the posts. 5 years is a very long time but you don't have to wait that long to be a nurse.
Is there an ASN program in your area? 2 year associates degree will still allow you to practice as an RN.
At any rate.....you've waited this long. Don't stop now. Ive learned that when things look impossible...that's the time your big break is right around the corner. Keep pushing on if it's something you really want and you will have it.
I know exactly what you mean. When I was in the 5th grade I did NOT understand long division at all. My teacher told me it was ok because I was a girl, and girls didn't really need math.
I would come home, and my dad would scream and yell at me for not getting it. I remember him calling me dumb, and stupid for not understanding the math he was trying to show me.
I ended up developing a math phobia. I go into the situation KNOWING I can't do it. I do great on all tests, but freak on math tests. It's almost like I can't breath, and even if I studied forever and know the answers everything on the paper looks like it was written in greek.
It has gotten better as an adult I became aware, and have worked through it. When I have a test I breath deep, and try not to get tense or uptight about it.
If you have never had algebra, then you need the pre-algebra.
Use the time during that year to take other pre-reqs for the nursing program (maybe psychology, english, etc) at the same time, that way when you start the nursing program, you'll be taking less.
I agree with everyones post! lol, it will help you in the long run. Dont look at the big picture. Just take it day by day. I know, I know! Its easier said than done... but OMG it will be soo rewarding in the end. Plus, time goes by so fast. Try to see if you can start taking a class this summer. You will knock one now!
I am in the same boat. I'm at the very beginning of the process. I was always terrible at math in highschool and I took my college math course several times before I passed. Now I'll probably need to take a refresher in order to be prepared for other pre-reqs. I am probably looking at 4-5 years also. But like someone else mentioned, that time is going to come one way or the other. Five years from now do you want to be a nurse or an admin assistant? It is scary starting something new, especially when you have children dependent on you and you have bills to pay. I'm not sure how I'm going to do it either because I think once I get to the clinicals I won't be able to work much, but I'll have to take out cost-of-living loans or something. Eventually it will all pay off. You just have to stick to your guns and keep plugging away.
It does seem like a long time but then I realized that when I get done with school, the combination of all the years I have put into all my classes will be nearly the same. This is my second year of part-time pre-reqs because that's all the more time I could afford to take off from school at the moment. Prior to this my other pre-reqs totaled about a year worth and I have two years left! And that's JUST my ADN!
Did you RECENTLY take a college entrance exam? I was able to test out of my math classes by taking a math placement exam. I got online and looked at sample questions and worked on them for two weeks before I took the exam, had some help from friends figuring a few things out, and managed to pass and test out of required math. Is this sort of thing an option for you?
Try not to get discouraged. Many of us have had trials and tribulations to get through as well. The best you can do is work with the options you have. Like others said, it may be possible for you to test out of certain classes, take some of the easier classes in tandem to get them out of the way fast if that's an option.
I SUCK at math and wish I had taken a math course and have considered taking something just to brush up but it's kind of too late now.
I wish you the best of luck and really hope that you can come up with a solution that will work for you in the least amount of time possible.
I met with an advisor this morning to go over the plan of action for taking my pre- reqs. I am not a happy camper this morning. It's been 18 years since I was in school and my math scores were not that great when I took the College Entrance Exam. I have to take algebra pep course before I can take Intermediate algebra which is one of the pre- req.
After reviewing all of my co-req & pre -req and the nursing program itself I am looking at 5 years before I can be a Nurse.
I am a 42 single mother that works full time. This is really discouraging that it will take me that long. I feel stuck and my life is on hold. I was hoping 3 years the most. I desperatly need a life and salary change! I don't know if I should move forward or not. I am currently an Admin Assistant and not really trained to do anything else. I am feeling very very frustrated and hopeless
Anyway if I do decide to move forward not sure what I should do with these math classes. I have 2 options before I can take the Intermediate Algebra (pre-req)
A. I can take "fundamentals in Algrebra" then "Basic Algebra with Lab"
I can not take them in the same semester.
B. Or I can take Integrated Basic Algebra and Arithmetic
This is a combination of the 2 classes in option A.
Advisor is suggesting I take option A if I am not that strong in Math. I always had difficulty with percentages and fractions but I am a fast learner. I loved Algebra when I was in school, but it's so long ago I forgot the formulas but it will come back once I get started.
I prefer to take option B, less time and money plus I don't have time to waste but I don't want to get in over my head and can't pass the class. Does anyone have any experience with these classes.
Sorry for the long post.
Last January, I returnedto school after nearly 30years. I had passed both Intro to Algebra and Intermediate Algebra with A's. It was suggested by an advisor that I go immediately into some math related to health care. However, I chose to repeat both Algebra classes. I obtained a turtor from a community adult learning program for Intro. and a tutor from our learning center for Intemediate. I also purchased teaching cd's(used) from E-bay.These cd's were great I could watch and listen to the instructor and pause & replay as well as take practice tests. I passed Intro with an A. I earned a B in Intermediate(a 10 week summer course) A ten week course is not for everyone. I weish you well with whatever choice you make.
The Best thing is to ask yourself is nursing somthing you really want to do if so, then you should take all classes need just remember everyone has to start somewhere.I also would take classes all year around until pre-classes a&p part 1&2, ,math, etc are all done it might be less then 5 years just take look at all of your options. The best part of anything is getting started :typing
RezqNinja
26 Posts
I say hang in there!! :wink2:
I remember the first day I sat down with my advisor. She basically mad eit sound impossible... especially since I was sitting there with my 2 month old daughter in my arms.
She told me about the competitive nature of the program and how they get about 250 applicants and can only take about 25. We talked about how prerequisites alone would take 2 years (!) and how working full time, having 2 kids, only taking night classes, and figuring out finances would be obstacles I would have to overcome. Especially since I would be "competeing" (for acceptance to the program) with people HALF my age! Who still had the benefit of living at home and having parents that could help them pay for school and living expenses. Needless to say, I left that day feeling completely discouraged, and thought there's no way in hell I can do this. But after a day or 2, I started to get mad... almost. I thought to myself- Screw all the obstacles! I'm doing this! This is my dream!
I'm a 34-year-old mother of two. So starting a second career, from scratch, was not decision I made lightly. In fact, it was (and still is) quite terrifying at times! However, I was determined and dedicated, and here I am two years later (that's how long it took for my pre-requisites) with a 4.0 GPA and I am ready! I applied in Jan 08, and got my acceptance letter in Feb. I start in about a week.
When you know what you want, and you know in your heart it was meant for you, you have to go after it with everything you have. :redpinkhe
Best of luck to you!