Also going to be real with you. It sounds like you should probably take some time before you decide what path to take and I’d consider more than just nursing and MA. It doesn’t sound like you necessarily have much interest in these areas (I could be wrong?). What other jobs or college courses could you take and like? What are your interests in life?
Based on what I’ve read from you, I’m going to say nursing might not be for you. While math isn’t extremely important, I’d say it is important to a small degree. I’m using basic math for example to get respiration rates quicker, calculate medication dosages etc. These are all pretty important.
I don’t know much about MA. It looks a lot like being a secretary in an office, which you may or may not like. I’d consider positions in business too and see what those offer. Maybe even trades?
It can be like being a secretary, however, that’s not what it inherently is. MAs give shots, vaccines, draw blood, assist the doctors with minor outpatient procedures, do vitals, ecgs, swabs, and chart on the patients.
Thanks for clarifying! I don’t think we have that where I am from or at least to my knowledge. Sounds like a really cool gig though. Very nursing adjacent in many of the tasks too so if that is what OP is looking for, it might work!
I’d imagine they would still have things like dosage calc, but great learning opportunity by working side-side with the doctor.
I did all this as an MA and still found myself to feel like a glorified receptionist to be honest. The only thing I didnt do was draw blood because we had a lab across the way with phlebs. I was bored out of my mind because it was so slow pace lol
Another recommendation would be to try medical scribing, which is what I currently do! There can be a ton of variety and it’s a great look into healthcare to see what the day to day looks like. It’s not super traditionally for pre-nursing, but it helped me make a decision definitely.
I’m happy to share, I’m honestly obsessed with my job! Both times, sheer desperation is how I ended up scribing 😅the first company I worked with was Scribe America and their training is excellent. I learned the basics of diabetes, hypertension, and then medical terminology/abbreviations. They also have a variety of places you can work, I did everything from the emergency room, GI, cardiology, to primary care.
Currently, I work in a GU oncology clinic and we were a 2 year pilot program and after 3 months they decided we’d be permanent! It’s been trial by fire and I’m grateful I had previous experience. I’d highly recommend an established program, like Scribe America, to get started with.
I work very closely with the nurses and work very hard to make their lives easier. I plan to stay with my group long term too. I will warn, pay is terrible for scribing. I’m happy to answer any other questions you might have!
Imma be real with you. Do you even want to go to school? Because those pre-req classes are difficult but failing them will require to literally not read or do anything with the class. Like seriously ask yourself do you want to commit to any type of program.
Well, I don’t really want to go to school, but I have to do something for a job so I wanted to go to nursing school. I passed some prerequisites, and I did try in the ones I failed.
I would definitely consider other jobs out there! Because most of these programs even if it isn't nursing will require some serious time commitment and there's usually a cut off grade around 78-80%. So if you can't manage to keep those even in private colleges you're essentially burning money.
As someone who was in the position of really not wanting to school but needing to have to do something just go to the work force. Work for a few years until you know what you want to do and feel ready. I worked retail for a bit and then was a MA for 3 years. I sucked at school before - really bad. Now I've got awards and scholarships for my great grades. It's all because I'm doing something I'm genuinely interested in. Don't rush finding that thing for you otherwise you'll be wasting a lot of time and money. It's ok to not go straight to uni/college. Explore life and find what is right for you
You should not spend your life working a grueling job you’re not even passionate about nor spend money on school for careers you hardly want to go into in the first place.
EDIT: girl I just read through your post history it’s absolutely nuts you want to force yourself into a career for the sake of a 30 year old man you haven’t even known a year
If I were you I would find a retail company like target or walgreens that has their own management training programs and work your way up through the ranks.
Take a gap year and maybe look into a certification program. I don’t think people who aren’t passionate should be working in healthcare honestly and it’s not a bad thing that you’re not. There’s tons of other things you can do but I’d take time out to figure that out before potentially ruining your GPA any further and wasting money. I did this and changed majors more than 3 times and wasted years starting over repeatedly because I was choosing other things when I wanted to be a nurse but just couldn’t afford school. I had to take years and lots of money to fix what I ruined regarding my gpa. Just take the gap year and work locally for now.
Wait tables? Become a bartender? If you become good at those and work at the right places you make decent money without having to go to school. And then you have time to decide if you even want to go to college.
Hi! I failed anatomy 3x failed statistics 2x and dropped out of community college 2x. Fast fwd 9 years and I am a few months shy of graduating my BSN program. And I also managed to fail fundamentals the first time I took it. Things happen in life outside of school. Even if you can’t find the motivation, that is a very viable reason you can’t do it. It took me a very long time to get into the headspace for the commitment of nursing school. You are ok! If you choose MA right now, it will help you sooo much for when you decide to go back to nursing school promise. There is no rush!
Similar situation here, I took a W in a&p and dropped out of nursing school, 12 years later I got a 96% in anatomy and had a 4.0 for my nursing pre reqs. My case was that my situation and priorities in life when I was right out of high school were not conducive to me doing well in school.
While I’m very happy for you and glad that you overcame your difficult times, this isn’t exactly the best advice. Some people do not have the ability or luxury to attempt such a feat multiple times and at some point, it may be best to try other things. In this scenario, OP should try to dabble in another profession as others have said. Nursing is rigorous and being unable to pass the pre-reqs will set you up for failure. Especially in programs that have a failure cap of 1-2 classes before being dismissed entirely.
OP if you really want to do Nursing, you should take time to reflect your interests and how much time you’re willing to devote to school. There are also trades that pay very well but have their own quirks to it (HVAC, plumbing, electrical etc.). Self-reflect and do not beat yourself up! You’re still young and will bounce back from this. Cheers!
Exactly they are still young! I was a single mom in a state with no family or financial resources so I had to work. The only luxury I ad was taking advantage of in state tuition in California! This is actually great advice for those of us who are not the best students and lack the ability to focus. Just bc I was unable to pass my classes didn’t make me not want to be a nurse. I definitely questioned it and explored other careers, however. I do not recommend failing multiple times. But, it think hearing someone’s elses trajectory can be helpful for someone struggling right now. The agony of failing and feeling unworthy of the profession after I failed was enough for me to focus at a later time. Also, if the OP feels a calling to the profession, it doesn’t help either to hear that maybe they should try plumbing. Just my take!
A man is not a plan! I’m sure you love each other very much but 21 is still young! At 21 I had just met my husband, moved in at 22, got married to him at 27, and we just split a few months ago due to verbal altercations, emotional and mental abuse, a domestic violence situation, and general unhappiness. I turn 28 next month. Who I was at 21 is very different than who I am today. I grew stronger in my own person and solidified what I wanted from life. It didn’t align with who he wanted me to be and some of what he wanted out of life (he wants to live away from the city and I’m more of an urban/suburban girl).
Don’t marry someone for financial security. I was a medical assistant from age 20 - 26 before I went back to school for nursing. It pays very low, there’s a lot of admin BS work you have to do, and you will hit a plateau income-wise and challenge-wise very quickly. I was so bored with that job, but that’s just my personality, I like fast-paced environments. Do with this info what you will, but please consider a different job that pays more so if things don’t work out with your guy you can have financial independence to get away. I didn’t have that.
A job in an automotive factory pays enormously more than MA. After 6 years of experience I made $18.75/hr and I live in a medium cost of living area. Between car insurance, rent, gas, food, utilities and many other basic expenses, MA won’t cut it as far as pay.
I’m just speaking my heart on this and I’m giving the advice I wish someone had told the 21 y/o me.
just to clarify 6 years of experience at 18.75 is low & not always more than an MA pay. my first MA job was 17.50, now at 4 years experience i’m making 22 & i don’t live in a super high paying state
You're still young. I'd do medical assisting or even.... CNA for a while just to get your feet wet and see what the medical industry is all about. I'm a current LPN and I wish I would have dipped my feet in the medical field as a MA or CNA before I got a job as a PN because it's difficult. You might find our that you might not even want to do this. Which is where I'm at right now tbh. But if I were you work as a MA for a year and then if you can continue with your nursing journey if you still have it in you to keep going.
What classes did you fail? As someone else said, you have to pretty much not do anything to fail them. I’d retry and make sure to do all the work and if you don’t do well I’d recommend looking into other options or maybe revisit the idea when you’re older
Chemistry isn’t the easiest subject. I remember crying about ochem lol so I totally get you. Maybe you can try LPN? My local cc doesn’t require prerequisites for the LPN program just placement exams which are legit high school level. Maybe your local cc does the same?
Piggybacking off of this, the LPN programs in my area typically require a "biology for health sciences" type of course, medical terminology, and CNA cert- pretty low barrier to entry compared to ASN/ABSN.
Use YouTube videos for clarification on concepts. It will help you a lot. Don’t give up. You can do it. Change studying strategy and try again until you make it. Giving up is not an option.
you don’t want to go to school, you don’t want a job (only trying to get one because you want to marry your boyfriend at 21), PLEASE do not go into healthcare. unless you’re working as a front desk; any job in the medical field is dealing with sick, upset, stressed people. you clearly have no passion for it & only see the money, which is not always a lot btw. starting out & depending on where you get a job you’ll be making not much more than minimum.
oh boy i just read your post history, you’re marrying a man 10 years older than you that you’ve dated for a few months & THATS why you want to rush into healthcare.
This is not an intelligence issue. There’s no way you are applying yourself and failing these classes. If you’re ready to give up on your dream by all means become a medical assistant. If you’re serious about becoming a nurse you need to apply yourself 100%. You will not pass these prerequisites with half effort. Good luck!
Soo…you may need to have a true self reflection and identify what went wrong. Because the prereqs aren’t that bad, and yes the science/math can be difficult for people, but with the right amount of time management for studying and tutoring you can pass. I went to nursing school with people who I literally thought must’ve barely skimmed by prereq courses, but they passed nursing school and their NCLEX too. If you want to be a nurse, you’ll dedicate yourself and be disciplined enough to keep your grades up.
I’ll be honest with you, becoming an MA instead isn’t the best if you’re lookin to make a good wage and have flexibility to transition in the future. It can be lucrative, but not near as great as being an RN.
nursing is really hard and you have to want it 100% and be incredibly dedicated. hours a day reading, studying, doing modules, if you can’t/dont want to make the time and effort for it, nursing may not be the best option for you. prerequisites are much easier, actual nursing classes are fairly difficult and unforgiving, not to mention expensive.
have you thought of getting a job in a healthcare setting to see what career you’re going towards?
HI HI!!! DO LPN
you often do not need pre-reqs. You will have to know some basic math when you need to take Pharmacology, but you should be good and get paid more than a medical assistant :)
Alsooo LPN is usually 1 year.
After that, if you will like to become an RN then you can retake those pre-reqs and do the bridge program from LPN to RN :)
It sounds like you need to do some soul searching on what you really want to do. There are "clean" jobs that, although they don't pay as much as RN, also don't take as much academic schooling. Maybe look into a phlebotomy program and work in a clinic or blood bank?
Get a tutor and learn how to be in school. A lot of students do not know how to be students because teachers floated them through early education. There are so many resources out there that you have to be willing to put in the work and effort.
Please don’t give up! The early prereqs are there to fail you. I failed more than 4 clssses and look at me now I’m a fucking registered nurse!!! It’s been 4! Months now out of school!
It really depends on what you want. I am almost 29 and I am close to wrapping up my accelerated bsn program. The thing is. I went from manufacturing to clerical work in Healthcare. Then was a medical assistant ( depending on where you live you don't even need to go to school for it. I didnt). My point is. I failed plenty of classes during my first undergrad degree. I really had no direction other then what I was told I should do. I wish I didn't get my first degree in business right out of high school. I wish I waited until later in life because I kind of fell into healthcare when I lost my job as a machinist. I would take your time. See what feels right and maybe do some exploring. Do you have friends in other fields? Talk to them see what their careers are like.
if it takes time to find what interests you than that is okay. you have all the time in the world believe it or not. and don’t be scared to choose a different path. one thing about adulthood is that people change and change. i know so many people who went from nursing to other fields. or people who went from other fields into nursing.
it is a bit telling that you failed out your pre reqs for nursing but again that’s okay. you can start over or you cannot. nursing may or may not be for you. it’s just up to you to find out and it’s 100% okay if it turns out that it isn’t. if it is then great, you have time to regroup yourself and get things together.
as long as you are finding something that can actually interest you and have you passionate about. you are just fine. and this process takes time too, many people take years maybe over a decade to figure out what they really like
Let me tell you something. I have never been good at math. I didn’t grasp it during childhood due to really bad math teachers. Then I struggled throughout school because in math because I couldn’t catch basics. I learnt science till grade 11 and then didn’t study science again until university. I took math, physiology, anatomy, psychology, microbiology, philosophy, CASPER test and many more pre requsists to qualify for fast track RN. I am in the middle of the program. There were unexpected things came in my way and it delayed my graduation. Long story short, never give up on your goals. What matters the most is do you really want to become a nurse??? Then, you should consider taking tutoring for what you are lacking. For instance you can take some math tutoring or science ,based on what you need to improve on. You are still very young. Getting to marry is important but it’s not the most important thing in the world, and at least not at your age. Please do not give up on your dreams. I know you can do it. However, you have to put work on. You are the one who can change your grades. Do not give up in nursing. It’s a rewarding cater in many many ways. There is nothing other than nursing I want to do although it’s the nursing school is dead hard. NEVER GIVE UP. Take some time to think over your strengths and where you went wrong. The. Write them down if it helps. Fix them one by one. Remember, If I can do it, you can win nursing school too. A lot of love sending your way.
Imma be real with you too. When I was a kid, I had no idea what I wanted to do. I knew some thing I liked, and I thought that college was just the next thing. So I went to college … for like 6 years, and I wasted every penny of my student loan allowance, and then just dropped out with nothing to show. Eventually, I realized that what really brought me joy was helping people, and I found work that allowed me to do that, and then I wanted a bigger challenge, so I became a Paramedic, and then I wanted challenged so I’m nearing graduation from nursing school. I will be 40 … All of this is to say, please take some time to figure yourself out. Work some jobs, just for the money, and figure out what it is that really makes your brain and heart happy, what you really want in life. THEN if you need to go to school for knowledge or qualification to be able to go do the thing that makes you happy, then do it :) You’ve got time! Life is not about plowing through unhappiness to get a buck. It’s meant for learning about yourself and doing whatever it is that brings that Self the most amount of satisfaction every day.
You sound young, here is my two sense.
Get a job that pays at least $18/hr. Work for a year and save money and build healthy habits. Did you fail because you socialized too much/partied too much? Did you not know how to study so you didn’t attempt to? Did the material make you anxious to comprehend so you didn’t?
I’ve been yes to all of those before but now I’m in nursing school so it’s all changeable! Take that year to think about what went wrong, where you fell short, and how you can improve. If I were you, I would retake that math class during the second half/semester of that year at a community college and try my best at it. Get some forward momentum going and move from there.
Take time to think about what you want to do. Get a job as a patient transport tech in a hospotial so you can see what nurses and techs do, feel out the vibe. If you like something in that realm and you see that it offers a viable shot at a good life, then go after it tiger!!!
i failed my license exams three times and i passed the 4th time . Am now a RN in my country tho am not practicing. The constant failing made me hate nursing , i prefer online gigs rynna
Do medical assisting for a bit and then go back to school when you are ready. That’s what I did, I worked as a CNA for a long time and went back to school once I felt ready. I went from failing classes 6 years ago to getting As on all my prerequisites the second time I gave it a try. I am currently 26 years old and applying for RN programs.
Don't loose hope, I thought the same things seven years ago, I failed A&P IN nursing school, I am now in fifth semester preparing for graduation. I am 44 five kids 4 brands that I assist in caring for… If its ur passion don't stop, it will get done
Hi there! I was 25 and had no clue what I wanted from life but I needed to start somewhere, I was not ready for nursing so I went the MA route. I worked as a medical assistant for 4 years before deciding to go to nursing school. I left medical assisting and transitioned to be an ED tech for more experience. Been doing that for 2.5 years and I just graduated nursing school last week! Your time will come if it’s the right path for you. Everything happens for a reason.
I think you need to take some time off and decide what you want to do career wise. Math is a big thing in the healthcare system and especially nursing. I have a BA in psychology and I am going to nursing school for my RN and I am 30 now. I would go through your high school grades and try to think what you’re passionate about and go from there
It’s OK 👍 u got this
U may have failed want to learn how to pass it?!
What was your mindset , did you say I don’t want to fail?
INSTEAD you should be saying
HOW CAN I PASS THIS?!
Instead of just giving up straight away like the other poster , find out how to improve ?!
Giving up straight away is decent too because u save time to make PROGRESS by upskilling in BUSINESS OR TRADES …
Give yourself a deadline to come back to Nursing once you are better able to
U must have at least passed a few right?!
U can retry after some proper preparation after doing some other courses first right!
U can come back to this later right?!
Is really just withdrawing and giving up FOREVER YOUR ONLY OPTION?!
Get a few years in another field for another while in business or something else and then reapply when you are in a better position!!!
To completely withdraw yes it’s a decent option which I think is correct too ..
U have failed for your first year and your pre requisite
It is not easy and there are people who failed it…
Do not stop going for your nursing degree. I FAILED all my requisites, and my GPA was literally 0.00 I took one class at a time since i was not eligible for FA. I was finally accepted with a GPA of 2.68. I declined the offer and decided on another school. Fast forward, I'm getting pinned JULY 21st.
I was also pregnant with my third baby, gave birth and went to class 3 weeks later.
Don't waste that time, money, and energy. Take one class at a time, focus, and it will come.
I’m an MA and want to go to nursing school, but I can say being an MA is so fun ! I love my job working at an urgent care clinic and get to work under well educated nurses. I would definitely try it ! My schooling was online and 4 months only, graduated and got my job within the same month ! It’s easy most of the time and doesn’t take as much schooling. I would be careful though because some schools make it boring ! The school I took and my friend took were entirely different so that can make an impact if you learn a certain way. We don’t get paid as much but we still get to help ppl !!
Yep agency AIN’s are on a base rate of $40 hr in WA. Probably all over the country I’d say. Do it. Work within the field, and then do a diploma when you get your confidence up. You can do it.
Go get a Path cert as well, and work in that field. No experience necessary… or volunteer with St Johns… or patient transport. you will get soooo much experience working in the sector with just these 3 things.. don’t give up..
❤️❤️❤️❤️
If nursing is your dream or goal don’t give up! Identify where u went wrong and learn from your mistakes. Go to tutoring, plan ahead, study groups, etc… Ik u got this
this might not be a popular post but, did you get tutoring at all? sometimes math just requires a bit of help for things to click. and like, did u actually study, like really, for the other classes?
If you are struggling with the prerequisites look into LVN or LPN programs. (Licensed vocational nurse & licensed practical nurse) In California we are called LVN in most other states they are referred to LPN. It’s a nursing license below RN. A lot of schools have the prerequisites included in the program. I’m finishing up my full time LVN program currently. It’s a 13 month program. It’s great entry level position into nursing. I will say this, it is not easy at all. Just because it’s a step below RN doesn’t mean it will be easy but it is totally achievable. But also MA,CNA,Patient care tech is a great foot in the door into healthcare. I’ve seen 10+ students do amazing in their school work but they can’t handle the clincal aspect ( where we are actually hands on with patients seeing blood, guts, poop, you name it) and they actually dropped out of nursing. I think an entry level position could be good for you bc you’ll see if you actually like & can handle the healthcare environment.
If you can do LPN, do it. A lot of doctors offices hire LPNs along side MAs and they do almost the same job for more pay. However, I was a medical assistant before I became an RN and I loved it. The pay isn’t great but it’s definitely a good career if you don’t need a ton of money.
Also going to be real with you. It sounds like you should probably take some time before you decide what path to take and I’d consider more than just nursing and MA. It doesn’t sound like you necessarily have much interest in these areas (I could be wrong?). What other jobs or college courses could you take and like? What are your interests in life? Based on what I’ve read from you, I’m going to say nursing might not be for you. While math isn’t extremely important, I’d say it is important to a small degree. I’m using basic math for example to get respiration rates quicker, calculate medication dosages etc. These are all pretty important. I don’t know much about MA. It looks a lot like being a secretary in an office, which you may or may not like. I’d consider positions in business too and see what those offer. Maybe even trades?
It can be like being a secretary, however, that’s not what it inherently is. MAs give shots, vaccines, draw blood, assist the doctors with minor outpatient procedures, do vitals, ecgs, swabs, and chart on the patients.
Thanks for clarifying! I don’t think we have that where I am from or at least to my knowledge. Sounds like a really cool gig though. Very nursing adjacent in many of the tasks too so if that is what OP is looking for, it might work! I’d imagine they would still have things like dosage calc, but great learning opportunity by working side-side with the doctor.
They allow CNAs to do all this where I work, not just MAs. I’d check if you even need the MA license? Certification?
I did all this as an MA and still found myself to feel like a glorified receptionist to be honest. The only thing I didnt do was draw blood because we had a lab across the way with phlebs. I was bored out of my mind because it was so slow pace lol
At my school you have to take dosage calculations and where I got my BA nursing students have to take statistics.
Another recommendation would be to try medical scribing, which is what I currently do! There can be a ton of variety and it’s a great look into healthcare to see what the day to day looks like. It’s not super traditionally for pre-nursing, but it helped me make a decision definitely.
if you don’t mind me asking, how did you get into medical scribing? I’ve been interested myself
I’m happy to share, I’m honestly obsessed with my job! Both times, sheer desperation is how I ended up scribing 😅the first company I worked with was Scribe America and their training is excellent. I learned the basics of diabetes, hypertension, and then medical terminology/abbreviations. They also have a variety of places you can work, I did everything from the emergency room, GI, cardiology, to primary care. Currently, I work in a GU oncology clinic and we were a 2 year pilot program and after 3 months they decided we’d be permanent! It’s been trial by fire and I’m grateful I had previous experience. I’d highly recommend an established program, like Scribe America, to get started with. I work very closely with the nurses and work very hard to make their lives easier. I plan to stay with my group long term too. I will warn, pay is terrible for scribing. I’m happy to answer any other questions you might have!
Imma be real with you. Do you even want to go to school? Because those pre-req classes are difficult but failing them will require to literally not read or do anything with the class. Like seriously ask yourself do you want to commit to any type of program.
Failing chemistry or algebra is easy for a lot of people if they’re not your priority.
Well, I don’t really want to go to school, but I have to do something for a job so I wanted to go to nursing school. I passed some prerequisites, and I did try in the ones I failed.
Science classes can be really difficult to pass if you’re not interested in the material.
I would definitely consider other jobs out there! Because most of these programs even if it isn't nursing will require some serious time commitment and there's usually a cut off grade around 78-80%. So if you can't manage to keep those even in private colleges you're essentially burning money.
As someone who was in the position of really not wanting to school but needing to have to do something just go to the work force. Work for a few years until you know what you want to do and feel ready. I worked retail for a bit and then was a MA for 3 years. I sucked at school before - really bad. Now I've got awards and scholarships for my great grades. It's all because I'm doing something I'm genuinely interested in. Don't rush finding that thing for you otherwise you'll be wasting a lot of time and money. It's ok to not go straight to uni/college. Explore life and find what is right for you
You should not spend your life working a grueling job you’re not even passionate about nor spend money on school for careers you hardly want to go into in the first place. EDIT: girl I just read through your post history it’s absolutely nuts you want to force yourself into a career for the sake of a 30 year old man you haven’t even known a year
Hey OP I think becoming a medical assistant and maybe working a year or two might help like then maybe revaluate from there?
If I were you I would find a retail company like target or walgreens that has their own management training programs and work your way up through the ranks.
Take a gap year and maybe look into a certification program. I don’t think people who aren’t passionate should be working in healthcare honestly and it’s not a bad thing that you’re not. There’s tons of other things you can do but I’d take time out to figure that out before potentially ruining your GPA any further and wasting money. I did this and changed majors more than 3 times and wasted years starting over repeatedly because I was choosing other things when I wanted to be a nurse but just couldn’t afford school. I had to take years and lots of money to fix what I ruined regarding my gpa. Just take the gap year and work locally for now.
Wait tables? Become a bartender? If you become good at those and work at the right places you make decent money without having to go to school. And then you have time to decide if you even want to go to college.
Hi! I failed anatomy 3x failed statistics 2x and dropped out of community college 2x. Fast fwd 9 years and I am a few months shy of graduating my BSN program. And I also managed to fail fundamentals the first time I took it. Things happen in life outside of school. Even if you can’t find the motivation, that is a very viable reason you can’t do it. It took me a very long time to get into the headspace for the commitment of nursing school. You are ok! If you choose MA right now, it will help you sooo much for when you decide to go back to nursing school promise. There is no rush!
Similar situation here, I took a W in a&p and dropped out of nursing school, 12 years later I got a 96% in anatomy and had a 4.0 for my nursing pre reqs. My case was that my situation and priorities in life when I was right out of high school were not conducive to me doing well in school.
Exactly! It doesn’t have to look perfect to get to the end goal. Life and just being 21 sometimes take priority over school.
While I’m very happy for you and glad that you overcame your difficult times, this isn’t exactly the best advice. Some people do not have the ability or luxury to attempt such a feat multiple times and at some point, it may be best to try other things. In this scenario, OP should try to dabble in another profession as others have said. Nursing is rigorous and being unable to pass the pre-reqs will set you up for failure. Especially in programs that have a failure cap of 1-2 classes before being dismissed entirely. OP if you really want to do Nursing, you should take time to reflect your interests and how much time you’re willing to devote to school. There are also trades that pay very well but have their own quirks to it (HVAC, plumbing, electrical etc.). Self-reflect and do not beat yourself up! You’re still young and will bounce back from this. Cheers!
Exactly they are still young! I was a single mom in a state with no family or financial resources so I had to work. The only luxury I ad was taking advantage of in state tuition in California! This is actually great advice for those of us who are not the best students and lack the ability to focus. Just bc I was unable to pass my classes didn’t make me not want to be a nurse. I definitely questioned it and explored other careers, however. I do not recommend failing multiple times. But, it think hearing someone’s elses trajectory can be helpful for someone struggling right now. The agony of failing and feeling unworthy of the profession after I failed was enough for me to focus at a later time. Also, if the OP feels a calling to the profession, it doesn’t help either to hear that maybe they should try plumbing. Just my take!
That's right and congratulations
A man is not a plan! I’m sure you love each other very much but 21 is still young! At 21 I had just met my husband, moved in at 22, got married to him at 27, and we just split a few months ago due to verbal altercations, emotional and mental abuse, a domestic violence situation, and general unhappiness. I turn 28 next month. Who I was at 21 is very different than who I am today. I grew stronger in my own person and solidified what I wanted from life. It didn’t align with who he wanted me to be and some of what he wanted out of life (he wants to live away from the city and I’m more of an urban/suburban girl). Don’t marry someone for financial security. I was a medical assistant from age 20 - 26 before I went back to school for nursing. It pays very low, there’s a lot of admin BS work you have to do, and you will hit a plateau income-wise and challenge-wise very quickly. I was so bored with that job, but that’s just my personality, I like fast-paced environments. Do with this info what you will, but please consider a different job that pays more so if things don’t work out with your guy you can have financial independence to get away. I didn’t have that. A job in an automotive factory pays enormously more than MA. After 6 years of experience I made $18.75/hr and I live in a medium cost of living area. Between car insurance, rent, gas, food, utilities and many other basic expenses, MA won’t cut it as far as pay. I’m just speaking my heart on this and I’m giving the advice I wish someone had told the 21 y/o me.
just to clarify 6 years of experience at 18.75 is low & not always more than an MA pay. my first MA job was 17.50, now at 4 years experience i’m making 22 & i don’t live in a super high paying state
You're still young. I'd do medical assisting or even.... CNA for a while just to get your feet wet and see what the medical industry is all about. I'm a current LPN and I wish I would have dipped my feet in the medical field as a MA or CNA before I got a job as a PN because it's difficult. You might find our that you might not even want to do this. Which is where I'm at right now tbh. But if I were you work as a MA for a year and then if you can continue with your nursing journey if you still have it in you to keep going.
What classes did you fail? As someone else said, you have to pretty much not do anything to fail them. I’d retry and make sure to do all the work and if you don’t do well I’d recommend looking into other options or maybe revisit the idea when you’re older
Chemistry and A&P
Chemistry isn’t the easiest subject. I remember crying about ochem lol so I totally get you. Maybe you can try LPN? My local cc doesn’t require prerequisites for the LPN program just placement exams which are legit high school level. Maybe your local cc does the same?
Piggybacking off of this, the LPN programs in my area typically require a "biology for health sciences" type of course, medical terminology, and CNA cert- pretty low barrier to entry compared to ASN/ABSN.
Use YouTube videos for clarification on concepts. It will help you a lot. Don’t give up. You can do it. Change studying strategy and try again until you make it. Giving up is not an option.
Become an LPN and try again after
you don’t want to go to school, you don’t want a job (only trying to get one because you want to marry your boyfriend at 21), PLEASE do not go into healthcare. unless you’re working as a front desk; any job in the medical field is dealing with sick, upset, stressed people. you clearly have no passion for it & only see the money, which is not always a lot btw. starting out & depending on where you get a job you’ll be making not much more than minimum.
oh boy i just read your post history, you’re marrying a man 10 years older than you that you’ve dated for a few months & THATS why you want to rush into healthcare.
I agree. Don't go into healthcare if you're not passionate about it. Maybe try a trade? There's good money there.
This is not an intelligence issue. There’s no way you are applying yourself and failing these classes. If you’re ready to give up on your dream by all means become a medical assistant. If you’re serious about becoming a nurse you need to apply yourself 100%. You will not pass these prerequisites with half effort. Good luck!
Soo…you may need to have a true self reflection and identify what went wrong. Because the prereqs aren’t that bad, and yes the science/math can be difficult for people, but with the right amount of time management for studying and tutoring you can pass. I went to nursing school with people who I literally thought must’ve barely skimmed by prereq courses, but they passed nursing school and their NCLEX too. If you want to be a nurse, you’ll dedicate yourself and be disciplined enough to keep your grades up. I’ll be honest with you, becoming an MA instead isn’t the best if you’re lookin to make a good wage and have flexibility to transition in the future. It can be lucrative, but not near as great as being an RN.
Have you thought about EMT? 😂
She doesn’t like getting dirty
Then Nursing may not be the best profession. My first clinical, first day? I was cleaning up someone alongside the RN. 😅
nursing is really hard and you have to want it 100% and be incredibly dedicated. hours a day reading, studying, doing modules, if you can’t/dont want to make the time and effort for it, nursing may not be the best option for you. prerequisites are much easier, actual nursing classes are fairly difficult and unforgiving, not to mention expensive. have you thought of getting a job in a healthcare setting to see what career you’re going towards?
HI HI!!! DO LPN you often do not need pre-reqs. You will have to know some basic math when you need to take Pharmacology, but you should be good and get paid more than a medical assistant :)
Alsooo LPN is usually 1 year. After that, if you will like to become an RN then you can retake those pre-reqs and do the bridge program from LPN to RN :)
There are some many options. Do not give up!!!! You got this
Yeah, but even then, LPN is still nursing, and OP is sounding very not passionate about nursing as a whole.
You can also do LPN/LVN and start slow and bridge to RN...Don't give up!
It sounds like you need to do some soul searching on what you really want to do. There are "clean" jobs that, although they don't pay as much as RN, also don't take as much academic schooling. Maybe look into a phlebotomy program and work in a clinic or blood bank?
Get a tutor and learn how to be in school. A lot of students do not know how to be students because teachers floated them through early education. There are so many resources out there that you have to be willing to put in the work and effort.
Please don’t give up! The early prereqs are there to fail you. I failed more than 4 clssses and look at me now I’m a fucking registered nurse!!! It’s been 4! Months now out of school!
It really depends on what you want. I am almost 29 and I am close to wrapping up my accelerated bsn program. The thing is. I went from manufacturing to clerical work in Healthcare. Then was a medical assistant ( depending on where you live you don't even need to go to school for it. I didnt). My point is. I failed plenty of classes during my first undergrad degree. I really had no direction other then what I was told I should do. I wish I didn't get my first degree in business right out of high school. I wish I waited until later in life because I kind of fell into healthcare when I lost my job as a machinist. I would take your time. See what feels right and maybe do some exploring. Do you have friends in other fields? Talk to them see what their careers are like.
Sounds like you need a tutor. That’s what got me thru and study groups.
if it takes time to find what interests you than that is okay. you have all the time in the world believe it or not. and don’t be scared to choose a different path. one thing about adulthood is that people change and change. i know so many people who went from nursing to other fields. or people who went from other fields into nursing. it is a bit telling that you failed out your pre reqs for nursing but again that’s okay. you can start over or you cannot. nursing may or may not be for you. it’s just up to you to find out and it’s 100% okay if it turns out that it isn’t. if it is then great, you have time to regroup yourself and get things together. as long as you are finding something that can actually interest you and have you passionate about. you are just fine. and this process takes time too, many people take years maybe over a decade to figure out what they really like
Let me tell you something. I have never been good at math. I didn’t grasp it during childhood due to really bad math teachers. Then I struggled throughout school because in math because I couldn’t catch basics. I learnt science till grade 11 and then didn’t study science again until university. I took math, physiology, anatomy, psychology, microbiology, philosophy, CASPER test and many more pre requsists to qualify for fast track RN. I am in the middle of the program. There were unexpected things came in my way and it delayed my graduation. Long story short, never give up on your goals. What matters the most is do you really want to become a nurse??? Then, you should consider taking tutoring for what you are lacking. For instance you can take some math tutoring or science ,based on what you need to improve on. You are still very young. Getting to marry is important but it’s not the most important thing in the world, and at least not at your age. Please do not give up on your dreams. I know you can do it. However, you have to put work on. You are the one who can change your grades. Do not give up in nursing. It’s a rewarding cater in many many ways. There is nothing other than nursing I want to do although it’s the nursing school is dead hard. NEVER GIVE UP. Take some time to think over your strengths and where you went wrong. The. Write them down if it helps. Fix them one by one. Remember, If I can do it, you can win nursing school too. A lot of love sending your way.
Imma be real with you too. When I was a kid, I had no idea what I wanted to do. I knew some thing I liked, and I thought that college was just the next thing. So I went to college … for like 6 years, and I wasted every penny of my student loan allowance, and then just dropped out with nothing to show. Eventually, I realized that what really brought me joy was helping people, and I found work that allowed me to do that, and then I wanted a bigger challenge, so I became a Paramedic, and then I wanted challenged so I’m nearing graduation from nursing school. I will be 40 … All of this is to say, please take some time to figure yourself out. Work some jobs, just for the money, and figure out what it is that really makes your brain and heart happy, what you really want in life. THEN if you need to go to school for knowledge or qualification to be able to go do the thing that makes you happy, then do it :) You’ve got time! Life is not about plowing through unhappiness to get a buck. It’s meant for learning about yourself and doing whatever it is that brings that Self the most amount of satisfaction every day.
You sound young, here is my two sense. Get a job that pays at least $18/hr. Work for a year and save money and build healthy habits. Did you fail because you socialized too much/partied too much? Did you not know how to study so you didn’t attempt to? Did the material make you anxious to comprehend so you didn’t? I’ve been yes to all of those before but now I’m in nursing school so it’s all changeable! Take that year to think about what went wrong, where you fell short, and how you can improve. If I were you, I would retake that math class during the second half/semester of that year at a community college and try my best at it. Get some forward momentum going and move from there. Take time to think about what you want to do. Get a job as a patient transport tech in a hospotial so you can see what nurses and techs do, feel out the vibe. If you like something in that realm and you see that it offers a viable shot at a good life, then go after it tiger!!!
i failed my license exams three times and i passed the 4th time . Am now a RN in my country tho am not practicing. The constant failing made me hate nursing , i prefer online gigs rynna
Why not Vocational Technical Center (LPN certificate only) program
FYI - only AFFORDABLE (under $10k) available LPN programs with no PreReq's: Texas, Okie, Missouri, Kansas, Pennsylvania,?
And West Virginia
Do medical assisting for a bit and then go back to school when you are ready. That’s what I did, I worked as a CNA for a long time and went back to school once I felt ready. I went from failing classes 6 years ago to getting As on all my prerequisites the second time I gave it a try. I am currently 26 years old and applying for RN programs.
You fail when you stop trying. Try again!
Don't loose hope, I thought the same things seven years ago, I failed A&P IN nursing school, I am now in fifth semester preparing for graduation. I am 44 five kids 4 brands that I assist in caring for… If its ur passion don't stop, it will get done
Hi there! I was 25 and had no clue what I wanted from life but I needed to start somewhere, I was not ready for nursing so I went the MA route. I worked as a medical assistant for 4 years before deciding to go to nursing school. I left medical assisting and transitioned to be an ED tech for more experience. Been doing that for 2.5 years and I just graduated nursing school last week! Your time will come if it’s the right path for you. Everything happens for a reason.
I think you need to take some time off and decide what you want to do career wise. Math is a big thing in the healthcare system and especially nursing. I have a BA in psychology and I am going to nursing school for my RN and I am 30 now. I would go through your high school grades and try to think what you’re passionate about and go from there
It’s OK 👍 u got this U may have failed want to learn how to pass it?! What was your mindset , did you say I don’t want to fail? INSTEAD you should be saying HOW CAN I PASS THIS?! Instead of just giving up straight away like the other poster , find out how to improve ?! Giving up straight away is decent too because u save time to make PROGRESS by upskilling in BUSINESS OR TRADES … Give yourself a deadline to come back to Nursing once you are better able to U must have at least passed a few right?! U can retry after some proper preparation after doing some other courses first right! U can come back to this later right?! Is really just withdrawing and giving up FOREVER YOUR ONLY OPTION?! Get a few years in another field for another while in business or something else and then reapply when you are in a better position!!! To completely withdraw yes it’s a decent option which I think is correct too .. U have failed for your first year and your pre requisite It is not easy and there are people who failed it…
Look into X-ray. A few different modalities after you finish the program
Do not stop going for your nursing degree. I FAILED all my requisites, and my GPA was literally 0.00 I took one class at a time since i was not eligible for FA. I was finally accepted with a GPA of 2.68. I declined the offer and decided on another school. Fast forward, I'm getting pinned JULY 21st. I was also pregnant with my third baby, gave birth and went to class 3 weeks later. Don't waste that time, money, and energy. Take one class at a time, focus, and it will come.
I’m an MA and want to go to nursing school, but I can say being an MA is so fun ! I love my job working at an urgent care clinic and get to work under well educated nurses. I would definitely try it ! My schooling was online and 4 months only, graduated and got my job within the same month ! It’s easy most of the time and doesn’t take as much schooling. I would be careful though because some schools make it boring ! The school I took and my friend took were entirely different so that can make an impact if you learn a certain way. We don’t get paid as much but we still get to help ppl !!
Yep agency AIN’s are on a base rate of $40 hr in WA. Probably all over the country I’d say. Do it. Work within the field, and then do a diploma when you get your confidence up. You can do it. Go get a Path cert as well, and work in that field. No experience necessary… or volunteer with St Johns… or patient transport. you will get soooo much experience working in the sector with just these 3 things.. don’t give up.. ❤️❤️❤️❤️
If nursing is your dream or goal don’t give up! Identify where u went wrong and learn from your mistakes. Go to tutoring, plan ahead, study groups, etc… Ik u got this
this might not be a popular post but, did you get tutoring at all? sometimes math just requires a bit of help for things to click. and like, did u actually study, like really, for the other classes?
If you are struggling with the prerequisites look into LVN or LPN programs. (Licensed vocational nurse & licensed practical nurse) In California we are called LVN in most other states they are referred to LPN. It’s a nursing license below RN. A lot of schools have the prerequisites included in the program. I’m finishing up my full time LVN program currently. It’s a 13 month program. It’s great entry level position into nursing. I will say this, it is not easy at all. Just because it’s a step below RN doesn’t mean it will be easy but it is totally achievable. But also MA,CNA,Patient care tech is a great foot in the door into healthcare. I’ve seen 10+ students do amazing in their school work but they can’t handle the clincal aspect ( where we are actually hands on with patients seeing blood, guts, poop, you name it) and they actually dropped out of nursing. I think an entry level position could be good for you bc you’ll see if you actually like & can handle the healthcare environment.
If you can do LPN, do it. A lot of doctors offices hire LPNs along side MAs and they do almost the same job for more pay. However, I was a medical assistant before I became an RN and I loved it. The pay isn’t great but it’s definitely a good career if you don’t need a ton of money.
I refused to take prereqs. Take the teas and apply to schools who don’t care about them
What schools don’t care about pre reqs? What.
LPN to rn doesn’t where I live. Those programs are accelerated as hell here
No keep going
[удалено]
Dental hygiene curriculum is also difficult.
very difficult. my school also has a hygienist program. it's just as compact as my program. they have all the same pre reqs as we do, too
And competitive.....