Worked in healthcare before you got accepted?

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I was wondering how many of you have worked in

the healthcare field as a cna or volunteer before you

got accepted into a nursing program.

I am having trouble getting accepted and I have had

a 4.0 GPA for the last 3 semesters, as well

as overall GPA 3.7. I have already obtained my Bachelor's degree

in biology.

I thought perhaps if I g et certified as a CNA or obtain

a good volunteer job. (which I have a spot in a volunteer training

class at this local clinic in 1 week)

Should I contact the 2 schools that rejected me and ask to

speak to someone about it?

Specializes in LTC, home health, critical care, pulmonary nursing.

I've been a CNA for three years. It was a big factor in getting accepted into the program, since at my school, they give you more points for experience in allied health. And my GPA isn't terrible, but it's not fantastic. The last three years have been a wonderful experience.

No I did not work in heathcare prior to being accepted. I was accepted with a GPA 3.5 overall and 3.3 in courses they count. I don't think it would hurt to call the school and ask what they are looking for. Good Luck.

I also headed back to school in fall of '05 after completing my BS in Experimental Pyschology. I had a bit of trouble getting in to a nursing program at first - but I attributed it to time - I'm not sure how other schools are, but the ones around here (eastern PA) seem to pick the peole who apply early. My first rounds of applications were rejected, and when I called to ask why (politely of course) I was told that there were simply so many people to go through that they filled the slots up fast. I filled out applications again the next week. I'm now in my second year of nursing school. Don't give up! I encourage you to call and ask, and also to apply again right away for the next time - even if it's another year away. It might really benefit if you ask for another application while you're talking about why you weren't accepted now - it would show them that you're really serious (and they'll probably remember you more.)

- Sarah

PS. Healthcare experience couldn't hurt, as long as you're able to be financially stable while waiting for the next round of applications to be processed, right?

I was wondering how many of you have worked in

the healthcare field as a cna or volunteer before you

got accepted into a nursing program.

I am having trouble getting accepted and I have had

a 4.0 GPA for the last 3 semesters, as well

as overall GPA 3.7. I have already obtained my Bachelor's degree

in biology.

I thought perhaps if I g et certified as a CNA or obtain

a good volunteer job. (which I have a spot in a volunteer training

class at this local clinic in 1 week)

Should I contact the 2 schools that rejected me and ask to

speak to someone about it?

I suggest that you call your advisors at each of these schools. Tell them you weren't accepted and that you would like to know what you could do to up your chances for next time. They may look at your file and wonder why themselves. Things happen, they could have accidently looked over your file, or you could have left something out of your application, most colleges don't call you and let you know that you are missing anything, they just send you a letter saying you didn't get in. Call, but as I said, I would speak with my advisor who directed me with my nursing information, if you didn't have one of these advisors look on your website and see who the nursing advisors are and call and ask to speak with one of them. Good luck!

I was wondering how many of you have worked in

the healthcare field as a cna or volunteer before you

got accepted into a nursing program.

I am having trouble getting accepted and I have had

a 4.0 GPA for the last 3 semesters, as well

as overall GPA 3.7. I have already obtained my Bachelor's degree

in biology.

I thought perhaps if I g et certified as a CNA or obtain

a good volunteer job. (which I have a spot in a volunteer training

class at this local clinic in 1 week)

Should I contact the 2 schools that rejected me and ask to

speak to someone about it?

There is a lot we don't know about you and the schools you applied to. Did you apply to community colleges, 4 year state colleges or private universities? Did they require recommendations? If so, who wrote yours? (A prof? A family friend? etc) Were you part of a lottery system or in a system where they assigned points based on if you spoke another language, had worked in a health care environment, came from a disadvantaged background, or had got preference if you took the pre-reqs from that school? Was an essay required? If so, did you have others in the health care field (especially nurses) read it beforehand? Did they state they liked people who had volunteer experience? Do you have any health care volunteer experience? You don't have to be a CNA to be accepted. Are you a foreign student? (Sometimes, certain schools give preference to in state residents.)

I did a lot of volunteering in health care at 2 hospitals and at the Ronald McDonald House. I also needed recommendations, an essay and a high GPA. I looked at the school's mission, philosophy and found out how they "graded" the application. And yes, I did get accepted and will graduate in July. Good luck.

Is it possible that there is just an expected wait to get into nursing school? In my area, even if you have perfect grades and a shining resume, the wait is 1-2 sememsters (at least) to get accepted into nursing school. I agree though, that it would be useful to talk to them and ask what they are looking for in an applicant and where your percieved weak areas might be.

Specializes in ER.

Hi,

I have held a volunteer position in health care for almost 8 years. I don't think that my health care experience helped, but I do think volunteering did.

Good luck to you!

T:penguin:

I worked as a NA before nursing school, but it was for my own reasons. I wanted to get a taste of what nursing would be like, and this was my entry level experience. I watched the RN's, got to touch patients, and figured out that if I could like an NA's approach to the job, then Nursing was the right choice for me.

I think that dose of reality, combined with my grades and work ethic, got me MY spot in nursing school. It all came out in the interiew, I believe.

Mind you, this was 1976, and I applied to 3 nursing schools. I was turned down at my local JC, and was accepted to the other 2 (Diploma) schools I applied to. And the diploma schools was where I was interviewed.

so, don't feel bad if you were turned down because of a lottery situation. But if you WERE interviewed, by all means call and ask about ways to better your standing.

I have been a can for a year. It is not required by my program but is recommended. I had to be on a waiting list for a year and a half before being accepted. My sister is going to a university where it is required to have your cna license and you have to have a certain gpa ect. to get in. Crazy how everywhere it is different.

I have 5 years of athletic training experience (acute and chronic injury care) and about 2 years worth of physical therapy work (went along with the AT work) but am not sure how applicable it will be to apply for nursing programs - but I'm going to try to use it anyways!

I have a strong feeling that it will be a determining factor in whether or not I get accepted. It would be next Spring before I would be able to take the CNA class though. I have thought seriously about doing the volunteer job.

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