What order to take prereq's in

AZmom · Jul 17, 2006

I find it interesting that Chem is only recommended as a prerequisite to the Biology courses, and yet it's a required course for application into the nursing program.

2littlemonkeys · Jul 18, 2006

I am currently taking my prerequisites through rio salado and am enrolled in Bio 156...I met with an advisor and although I have taken highschool bio if it is not in the past couple years you are required to take bio or test out. I have found that the class seems to apply toward micro bio and A&P. The advisor seemed pretty adamant that if I took this course it would really help with the other courses. I do hate that the tests are basically your whole grade in the class. If you need an online study buddy let me know......I am looking for a fellow rio salado student........good luck!!!

AZmom · Jul 20, 2006

It must depend on the advisor. I just met with an advisor today and she approved me to bypass Bio156....and it's been 15 years since high school biology.

I was ecstatic to find out that there is no expiration on college credits taken. Not that it would have mattered for math; I'd have tested out. But English -- I had plenty of courses in critical writing, grammar, etc. Thank goodness they all transferred.

I'm really only down to the four biggie science courses. Still don't know what order to do them in. Seems everyone advises something different. I'm thinking it'd be wise to do A&Ps last so I can retain more of that knowledge. So the question is: Chem or Micro first? Hmmm........

cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN · Jul 21, 2006

Why not Chem and Micro at the same time? Neither one of them are too hard.

The workload of Nursing school is nothing like you've seen. So trust me, chem and micro are do-able. You need to get onto that waiting list ASAP!

AZmom · Jul 21, 2006

I've thought about that but am not ready to commit just yet. Four young kids -- almost 6, almost 4, almost 3, and 7 weeks. Am I crazy to even attempt this or what? :uhoh3:

I'm thinking that once I get a few weeks of the first course underway, if I feel I can handle an additional one I'll sign up for the next available session. Rio seems to space out the start dates on most courses every 2-4 weeks.

cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN · Jul 21, 2006

Aww! A 7 weeker, how cute. :nuke: Yes, that does make things harder! What about taking a class in the summer school to help spread them out?

boomerfriend · Jul 22, 2006

Just my 2 cents....

I thought Chemistry was really hard. It'll depend on you. My friend worked her butt off and got an A. Micro (BIO 205) was a fun class but no walk in the park. A&P are tough classes because of the memorization that it involves. They're not tough classes per se but they're a lot of work. Does that make sense?

I've never taken online classes through RIO so I cannot say what the classes would be like in that format. I took all my sciences at MCC and they were great. I'd take CHM 130, then BIO 205 in that order. The A&P's will go over the basics of Biology but you'll have to learn that stuff on your own since you're not taking BIO 181 beforehand (i.e. Electron Transport Chain, Krebs Cycle, ATP, etc). Consider taking one of the sciences over the summer but you'll have to get someone to watch the kids for 5 weeks because that's all you'll do for that 5 weeks.

The trouble is, you want to remember a lot of the stuff you learn in these classes. I'm referring back to A&P a lot in Patho and in the nursing classes. It's not just classes you want to get past. You want to retain some of it too. Keep that in mind.

mattsmom64 · Jul 23, 2006

I have to second what Boomer said. You have to really know your basics in A&P once you start the Nursing Program. The Nursing classes are very fast paced and there is no time for review. The instructors present the information and expect that you have an understanding of the systems. For example, when talking about cardiac, they won't review the path of blood flow in class. You are expected to already know that.

Also, once you start clinicals you will find chemistry and Micro to be very helpful. I'm working as an extern this summer and more than half the patients being admitted are coming in with MRSA or C Diff....Trust me, you will want to have a good understanding of how those little organisms work!

Curious1alwys, BSN, RN · Jul 23, 2006

Dropping in to say take A&P at Rio. It is a little overwhelming at first, but overall I think it was easier than having to sit through a class lecture and lab. Plus, you don't disect anything. You do a "virtual" lab that only outlines the HUMAN body. Which makes sense since we are not trying to be veterinarians.

Also, they are changing the requirements for NS. Don't think you have to take Chem anymore to get in at Maricopa CC's. ???????

Calzonan RN · Jul 23, 2006

I definitely thought A&P I, through Rio, was way easier than A&P II, so if I were you I'd take Micro at the same time I took A&P I. Unless you want to take four semesters to get your pre-req's out of the way. Then take A&P II by itself, unless you feel able to handle more. A&P II was pretty hard, just because of the amount of work required online. If chemistry is still required you could always take it during the summer, but it's usually M-Th, for 6 or 8 weeks, can't remember. I took it from 6-10 PM, which was nice 'cause my dh could watch my kids. What about your HCC classes, are those still required? YOu really need a good understanding of those as well.

Good luck, it really is worth it once you get in.

Keli

NS Block II

maryruth · Jul 24, 2006

My hats off to you if you plan on duing 12credits and stay at home with all your kids. When I started off with RIO I started with nine credits and I had a four month and a two year old. I stayed home the entire time with them and it was very difficult to study/babysit/houseclean etc. I started off with the easier classes and I made it but I hardly remeber my four month old daughter during those times because I was so busy. Then I went to the more difficult classes 13credits and I did alot worse. I recommend trying to get some kind of a babysitter if you plan on doing full time with RIO. BIO201 with RIo is almost like taking two full classes...the amount of the work they give you equals just about that. BIO205 is not to bad at all and its labs are easy. I think if you did just bio201 and bio205 together you'd just fine but no more than that to start off with. I'd make the first semester be your trial and error if you can handle those credits then do a little more the next semester. You'll be taking on alot more than you know and if your in the thick of it, it will be to late to turn around ya know. If you decided to go ahead and do a full 12 credits I recomend having a babysitter a few hours a week, if anything to save your sanity.

This last semester was the last time I go to RIO. I am now getting into the harder classes (bio202, chem, mat122). After how much I struggled with bio201 at rio and the amount of work they gave us, I think I would be better off with a regular college.

Btw, yes chem is still preqs, but hcc(130) is not a preqs. Hcc145 is now in the "required" classes and so is psy101. They changed that after I took hcc145 and psy101....of course...*sigh* but at least when I am in the program I don't have those classes to worry about.

AZmom · Jul 25, 2006

My hats off to you if you plan on duing 12credits and stay at home with all your kids.

Oh gosh no! I've only got 12 prereqs to go but NO WAY am I taking them all at once. After much though, I've decided one course at a time so I can really devote to each and know the stuff inside and out.

I've all the time in the world. :lol2: Not really, but I don't want to start clinicals for another four semesters yet. I need to have at least three kids in school (which'll be the case) because I can't much afford more than one in daycare.

I signed up for Chem as my first course. Get the most dreaded out of the way first. I decided if I have extra time, I'll just work ahead and finish the course early. Then sign up for the next course. And if I can't work ahead, oh well. Worst case -- I'll finish up sometime next Fall; best case --I'll finish up by the end of summer. I'll just take courses as I can, no hurry, and if I'm waitlisted a semester or two (or three? ) that's just the way it'll have to be.

Once I hit the waitlist, I can take two courses: Psych 101 (3 credits) and the HCC course (1 credit). That should relieve a little bit of boredom.