NursingLink

Hi chabela,

Let's see. High school diploma is good for starts. There are several ways to get into nursing, but the paths depend on whether or not you want to be an RN, LPN or CNA. Can you let me know which one?

Annie/teamRN

If you want to be an RN - you should research 4 year and 2 year programs and see which one would be better for you. Check your local community colleges to see if they offer 2 year programs to become an RN.

TeamRN, thank you so much for your response it was so informative! I want to be an RN but I failed the RN-NCLEX the first time :( Hopefully I'll be able to pass it this time cause I have been studying a lot more. The guidebooks really help.

Hi, i am 18 yeas old and i dont have a high school diploma and i wanna be a nurse and i want some one to give me an advice of what should i do and some one to help me.

I want so badly to become a lpn\ma but, I am a mother of 4. i have to work. i am trying to find a career school in my area NJ, that i can go to. this is really hard. I have alot of experience with different things in this field. Its just really scary for me. I have been out of school since 1993. and to go back now, wow! but i don't and can't be bothered with taking classes that don't have anything to do with my job. a 4year college would be 8 years for me cause i won't be able to go full time. I will not put my kids off for anything! I just really would like to find a school to become a lpn or ma in a 1 to 2 years. any advise for me

There is no easy way. Since your degree isn't a BS, you're going to have to take all the science pre-reqs.

I am 39 years old, have a BS in Accounting. I have been at my current position (Controller) for eight years. I have two small children. I am interested finding out what it takes to become a nurse and if there are online schooling options for some of the courses. I am looking into a possible career change. I do not feel like I am getting anywhere in my current position. I already have debt from my previous schooling so I would definatly be interested in scholarships, etc. I am not sure if changing careers is a smart move because of my age.

Any advise would be helpful. I do not want to be just a nurses assistant, it just isn't the position for me. I need a position that would pay well as I have small children, mortgage, etc so I do not want to waste my time following the wrong path. I am very much interested in trauma/ER environments. Any helpful advise would be appreciated.

Thanks!
Jil

Ginny! Thanks for your comments. My grnadmother went into nursing when she was 38! She retired from that field many years ago but states that it was the greatest decision in her life and she loved it! I just get scared because trying to make a career change as a single mother is difficult. I am not feeling fulfilled in my current position and feel that I could make a bigger difference in peoples lives as a nurse. The medical field facinates me! I watch so much Trauma Life in the ER that my kids laugh at me!

Nursing education is very competitive now a days. Nursing schools turn away students constantly because not enough Nursing teachers want to work in the pubic sector. My college accepted 150 out of 1100 applicants.
What does this mean? It means YOU have to be competitive. If you're a male or a minority or both that helps (you get points on applications). You need to have a highschool diploma or depending on the school, a GED. You need to have 1 year of high school biology and chemistry. You also have to pass a math and english proficiency exam. This is just for your pre-requisites. From ages 18-22 you should have SAT scores (I don't know the minimum range because they have changed) that are considered competitive.If your over 22 then for some reason colleges don't care or look at scores. Years ago, it was much easier to get into nursing school (even 2 years ago!) but things are different. Not enough programs for the applicants because there aren't enough teachers. You have to pass your proficiencies. I don't know what the quality of Ecuador educational system is but if you pass the proficiency your shot is good. In your application letter you should also talk about the languages your fluent in (I assume Spanish and english) that will make you more competitive. If you don't get in, don't despair. Go to college for a science degree (easier to get into) and taken Anatomy and Physiology, Chemistry 1+2, Pathophysiology, and your core classes and make sure your GPA is a above a 3.2...you will be much more competitive. Good luck.

Since you lisve in Jacksonville, FL, you have a couple of good options for nursing schools there (I used to live in FL and still have family there):  you could start at the local community college and talk to some counselors there, or apply to Jacksonville University which has a 4-year program---either way you'll have to get some basic prerequsites done for the first 1-2 years, assuming you'll be part-time for the 2-year program and definitely 2 years for the 4 year program.  Other FL state schools are also an option, check with a college counselor or Google it!!!  Good luck on your search and whatever happens, don't get discouraged and give up---it took me until age 22 to go to a 2 year program (with 2 years of college behind me) and 29 1/2 years as an ADN RN to complete a BSN!!  Now, I'll be completing my MSN in Dec., '08....if I can do it, YOU CAN do it!!