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Discussion

Where to begin?

Hi, I'm a junior in high school with a 3.7 non-weighted GPA, and I'm very interested in becoming an ER nurse (or emergency nurse), and I'm beginning my research now. I was wondering what the best colleges to pursue this specialty are? I live in California, but I'd be willing to go out of state if I can get reasonably substantial financial aid. What would my major be? Should I start at a two year like PCC and transfer, or should I immediately go to a four-year university? Or, do I start by becoming an RN? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

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    Well you can become an RN by going to either a 2 year school such as a community college program or you can go to a 4 year BSN program. Both schools graduate students that are eligible to sit for their NCLEX-RN. Seeing how you live in CA where RN jobs are very competitive I highly recommend you look into a BSN program

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    • Author

    Thank you so much. I'll look into that. Also, what would i major in specifically?

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    Thank you so much. I'll look into that. Also what would i major in specifically?[/quote']

    Your major would be nursing, and you would obtain a Bachelor's of science in nursing

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    • Experts
    Thank you so much. I'll look into that. Also, what would i major in specifically?
    Welcome to AN! The largest online nursing community!

    Nursing in the US is a generalist education. You learn it all and specialize later. YOur focus would be on applying to nursing programs.

    There are 3 paths of nursing education to enable you to sit for NCELX. (your state board exam after your graduate to license you as a RN so you may work)

    1) Diploma: This takes three years. These are hospital based/sponsored programs. This was the route of education YEARS ago. These schools are far and few between these days are are fading. Many facilities will not hire this graduate in this economy as they are going towards the BSN prepared grad.

    2) associate degree: This is typically a three year process as well. These are usually a technical school or community college. This will allow you to sit for the NCLEX. It is becoming increasingly difficult for these grads to get employment as there is a huge movement across the country for BSN entry. They ahve been trying this for years and are able to be selective on new hires as the market is right now saturated. California has an almost 47% unemployment rate of new grads.

    3) BSN: This is typically a 4+ year college/university based program.. If you plan on any advancement in your career of plan to further your education to an advanced practice degree or management. This is now required.

    Nursing programs are VERY competitive. Keep your GPA high. Get goes SAT scores....a minimum of 100o on critical reading and math Take them again if necessary. Take honors course they count more. Take science courses. Physics, advanced algebra, statistics, calculus, biology, chemistry, anatomy and physiology. AP is better. Be active in school in your community. Volunteer this summer at a hospital join HOSA if your school has it. Mission | HOSA

    You find your speciaity after school. Emergency medicine is hard to get into right out of school you usually have ot work on a monitored unit or an ICU

    My daughter just went through this...she did get accepted to 3 BSN programs (I am really proud of her she has worked hard)

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    To add to Esme's excellent advice, consider joining your local rescue/first aid squad and obtaining your EMT certification. This will give you patient care experience as well as allow you to get to know local ER staff.

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    • Author

    I'm planning on getting a BSN. Can I start at a community college and transfer to a four year to get the bachelors? Also, are statistics, physics, and calculus necessary to get into the community college or could I take those classes there? This year I'm taking ap bio and ap Lang and comp. I took honors chem and honors algebra 11 last year, and now I'm in precalc. I also volunteer at a hospital. I'm planning on taking sports med and anatomy next year.

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    I'm planning on getting a BSN. Can I start at a community college and transfer to a four year to get the bachelors? Also are statistics, physics, and calculus necessary to get into the community college or could I take those classes there? This year I'm taking ap bio and ap Lang and comp. I took honors chem and honors algebra 11 last year, and now I'm in precalc. I also volunteer at a hospital. I'm planning on taking sports med and anatomy next year.[/quote']

    You should talk to each college about what they look for in their candidates right out of high school. I had calculus in high school but it is generally not required

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    Yes, many BSN programs will take transfers of credits from a CC. You will need to check with each program to determine what classes transfer.

    No, stats, physics, calculus are probably not necessary to get into CC. In fact in most cases, HS level courses do not transfer as credits to the CC. However, sometimes the opposite does work. Our local HS and University have an agreement, and HS students can take certain courses at the university level and get both college and HS credits. You might want to check into that and see if you can take college courses that give you both HS and college credits.

    It sounds like you are doing all the right things. I would just suggest you identify a couple of BSN programs, and work backwards, what classes from those programs can you take at the CC level? That way you don't end up taking courses at the CC that do not count towards your degree.

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    • Author

    Thank you! My school does have an agreement with Pasadena city college, I believe, so I will definitely do some more research about it

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    • Author

    I'm going to try to bring this back; i just took the sat (and received a 2150) and did some more research.

    However, I still have questions. One, actually. Is there a feed or topic specifically for high school students on this site because I can't find one, and I'd love to get more general information. I posted this in the emergency nursing topic because that's where I plan to end up, although it's not set in stone

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