What to do while waiting to get into program

pagandeva2000, LPN · Jun 29, 2008

If there are classes of interest that are not included in the major (and can afford to take them), I would consider taking those, because learning never hurts and is never wasted. Otherwise, I'd work, to keep my mind off of waiting anxiously for the news.

Once, I was in a similar situation, I took everything except for a math dosage class while waiting to begin nursing courses, so, I took other classes-microbiology (not required for the LPN program), a class in HIV in my area and a philosophy class. For me, taking micro was the best thing I could have done, because believe it or not, it was really more of an introduction to the importance of universal precautions, and I already knew about most of the diseases mentioned in micro, but were not really discussed in our LPN program, and also about antibiotics, the sterilization process and other things that just made sense and tied in. The same for the HIV course; I comprehended a great deal that still follows me. I'm glad that I used that semester to take classes at my leisure-I didn't really have to worry about obtaining a high grade, got some learning that followed me and I still wound up with 3 As and a B+.

whodatnurse · Jun 29, 2008

Ideas if you're interested in taking courses:

I know at my school the one class you can take that doesn't require that you already be admitted to the nursing program is Pharmacology. Could you get started on that one?

Also, although not a requirement what about something like a Spanish for Health Care Professionals? They don't usually require any prior background in Spanish and given America's demographics, I think it would come in rather handy just about anywhere you live.

pagandeva2000, LPN · Jun 29, 2008

Ideas if you're interested in taking courses:
I know at my school the one class you can take that doesn't require that you already be admitted to the nursing program is Pharmacology. Could you get started on that one?
Also, although not a requirement what about something like a Spanish for Health Care Professionals? They don't usually require any prior background in Spanish and given America's demographics, I think it would come in rather handy just about anywhere you live.

Those are excellent suggestions. I would have taken a pharmacology class just for the heck of it, even if I didn't (God forgive) get accepted into the nursing program. Courses like that can place you ahead of the game! Pharm can be a witch when incorporated with the rest of the headaches of a nursing program.

Another consideration can be a nutrition class.

LoveMyBugs, BSN, CNA, RN · Jun 29, 2008

Are you applying to more than one school? I thought that I had all the pre-reqs and cor-reqs done and when I didn't get accepted into a program last year, I worked in an ER as a tech full-time. I then got accepted into a program this year and found 3 correqs class that I didn't take for that school. If all classes are taken, like others have said take a foriegn language class. I know that going from working in LTC to the ED I felt like I was in school again because the ED it is a tech position so the hospital had a lot of classes that I had to take through them; splints, ekg, CNA II. They were going to have me train in the lab for phlebotomy, but because I got into a program this year they decided not to spend the money training me for that, when I should learn those skills in school.

Harparia · Jun 29, 2008

I agree with the other poster's who suggested a Medical Spanish course. I took one last semester, and feel competent to speak enough to get my basic point across.

The Online Pharm class is a good idea too.

Another suggestion is to work on any pre-requs for your BSN, if you are planning to go that route. I don't start my program until October, so I did Organic Chemistry, Speech, and Statistics, which are all requirements for the BSN program.

Reno1978, BSN, RN · Jun 29, 2008

Be mindful of your enrollment status if you have any student loans. If you are not enrolled, your student loans will pop over into repayment after your grace period.

misslo · Jun 29, 2008

I knew that I would have alot of time between taking my pre-reqs and starting the program so I took a CNA course. I am so glad I did. I am learning alot from the nurses I work with AND the residents I work with that will help me during the nursing program. Also, I found out that many nurses were CNA's prior to becoming a nurse. I am so glad that I made that decision!

MissLo

pagandeva2000, LPN · Jun 29, 2008

Are you applying to more than one school? I thought that I had all the pre-reqs and cor-reqs done and when I didn't get accepted into a program last year, I worked in an ER as a tech full-time. I then got accepted into a program this year and found 3 correqs class that I didn't take for that school. If all classes are taken, like others have said take a foriegn language class. I know that going from working in LTC to the ED I felt like I was in school again because the ED it is a tech position so the hospital had a lot of classes that I had to take through them; splints, ekg, CNA II. They were going to have me train in the lab for phlebotomy, but because I got into a program this year they decided not to spend the money training me for that, when I should learn those skills in school.

If possible, I would still take a phlebotomy class if your job decided not to train you there. Most nursing programs (at least at my neck of the world) do not cover phlebotomy at all. It may vaguely be mentioned, or they may show venipuncture once when showing how to hang IVs or blood products. You really need experience to find veins, and the more you get the better off you are. My hospital used to have IV techs come to start the lines, but they were either laid off or converted to CNAs/PCAs. And, you NEED that skill in order to start a line to administer IV medications.

2bnurseforce1 · Jun 29, 2008

Thank you so much for all your advice. I am so nervous. I thought about taking a CNA class or maybe even taking a Nurse Care Partner class at my hospital that I work at. I just didn't know if it would be a waist of time or if it would be something that I would enjoy doing. I also didn't know if I went to work as a CNA or a Care partner if i would take a pay cut from what i do now in administrative work. But I will defitnley do the spanish classes and look into pharmacology and see if I can take it without being in the actual program.

MisMatch, LPN · Jun 29, 2008

I agree with the other suggestions posted. Another one I have is to work as many hours as possible and save money so you don't have to work as much once you start the program. This helped me a lot. The clinicals are very demanding, and the less hours you work while going through them, the better off you'll be.

shrimpchips, LPN · Jun 29, 2008

first of all, look at your school's admission policy. if you're on the waiting list (and i hope not - i hope you get in!!!!), does your school require you to still be enrolled as a student in order to be accepted for admission? if not, you can take some time off and work like other users have suggested.

if you do (and my school is like this) and if you can afford it, try taking up some electives. here are some electives that i have taken at my school/electives that my school recommends so maybe you can find a class that is similar at your school:

* medical terminology

* basic pharmacology

* study of disease processes (sort of like a pathophysiology class, but nothing like the nursing pathophys that i have to take in like a year)

* biomedical ethics

* death & dying

* a&p - i don't know if this is a pre-req for you (it wasn't for me) but i know that pretty much all nursing programs require you to have this under your belt so you can start working on that

* drug use & abuse

* child development

* nutrition classes

hth and good luck!!! :heartbeat