Trying to become a nurse as a second career

[rayray221]

Hello,

My girlfriend recently decided to change careers and is trying to become a Registered Nurse. She has been looking into schools and nursing programs within New York City but is having a very difficult time. She currently has a 4 year degree in liberal arts with an overall GPA of 2.6. Most of the schools she is applying to (State and City schools) require a higher GPA in order to get into their nursing programs. She has worked professional for the last 15 years but her life experience does not seem to hold any weight in applying. Can anyone help? What other options may she have? Are there any vocational schools that she could apply to?

She is a different person and student then she was when she was first in college and it is a shame that she is having this much difficulty pursuing another career because of her grades from 15 years ago.

Any help or direction is greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Ray

[cougarnurse]

Maybe if she made an appointment to speak with one of the counsellors or spoke with someone in the Nursing School Department?

[rayray221]

Thanks for the response. She has spoken to a few people and the problem is they only take so many students per semester and their only means of deciding who to take is based on the students GPA. The general recommendation is to take classes that would satisfy the prerequisites so she can make her case to the Nursing department that she is no longer the same student as the one for years ago with the hopes that their take her. This helps but she was trying to avoid as much school as possible because finacially the sooner the better.

If anyone has anymore information it is greatly appreciated. Thanks again cougarnurse.

Ray

[cougarnurse]

I know what you mean though, especially about finances. But, if the school says take a few classes to make her case....so be it. Keep us posted on things, eh?

[OldSquidNewNurse]

Thanks for the response. She has spoken to a few people and the problem is they only take so many students per semester and their only means of deciding who to take is based on the students GPA. The general recommendation is to take classes that would satisfy the prerequisites so she can make her case to the Nursing department that she is no longer the same student as the one for years ago with the hopes that their take her. This helps but she was trying to avoid as much school as possible because finacially the sooner the better.

If anyone has anymore information it is greatly appreciated. Thanks again cougarnurse.

Ray

I don't see how taking the prereq couses before being admitted to a program would hurt finacially, but then again things are pretty black and white in Michigan. She should be able to take her A&P, Bio, and other courses at a community college for example then transfer to a four year. Some community colleges offer full RN programs, which are just as good (some better, some worst) and four year programs.

Good Luck!

[orionseal]

No such thing as a short-cut when it comes to Nursing, some will say, "just do this." but we all know (on the floor) who is cutting corners. these things are easy to track. Infection controle and such they WILL find you.

My point is, if she is serious the only way to prove it to the school is to accomidate the request to take some of the corerequesit classes to prove yourself.

I myself can say as a Former educator (Anatomy/Phis) our scientific knowledge doubles every 7 years so if she has been out of school 15 years that computes to her knowledge baseline is les than 1/4 that of a new grad. Add to that a lower than desirable GPA you can cut that in half to a base of about 1/8 that of currently enroled students.

Guess what they made me do. Go on guess.

Give up? = They made ME take anatomy and phis over because it had been 8 years for me and I taught it for 5 of those years"?".

It did do me one good turn, it got me into the swing of school life again. allowing me to test the waters and get comfortable with the intensity of the modern school scene. I wasn't overwhelmed by the intensity of the Nursing program. It was harder than most graduate programs out, but I now hold peoples lives in my hands every day at work.

Would you accept a LIFESAVER with a substandard education?

Don't answer that. Just think about it.

I am now a nurse who loves his job and wouldnt trade it for the world.

[SoldierNurse]

No such thing as a short-cut when it comes to Nursing, some will say, "just do this." but we all know (on the floor) who is cutting corners. these things are easy to track. Infection controle and such they WILL find you.

My point is, if she is serious the only way to prove it to the school is to accomidate the request to take some of the corerequesit classes to prove yourself.

I myself can say as a Former educator (Anatomy/Phis) our scientific knowledge doubles every 7 years so if she has been out of school 15 years that computes to her knowledge baseline is les than 1/4 that of a new grad. Add to that a lower than desirable GPA you can cut that in half to a base of about 1/8 that of currently enroled students.

Guess what they made me do. Go on guess.

Give up? = They made ME take anatomy and phis over because it had been 8 years for me and I taught it for 5 of those years"?".

It did do me one good turn, it got me into the swing of school life again. allowing me to test the waters and get comfortable with the intensity of the modern school scene. I wasn't overwhelmed by the intensity of the Nursing program. It was harder than most graduate programs out, but I now hold peoples lives in my hands every day at work.

Would you accept a LIFESAVER with a substandard education?

Don't answer that. Just think about it.

I am now a nurse who loves his job and wouldnt trade it for the world.

To add...it is my understanding that when using prior college credits for entrance into a program that some consider science credits older than five years to be expired. Thus, have to be retaken.

Thus, Ray I agree with others that your GF will most likely retake most of her courses with the opportunity to increase GPA.

Good luck!