subject: 7 Things You Must Do Before Applying For Nursing School [print this page] 7 Things You Must Do Before Applying For Nursing School
Nursing school is demanding and challenging, and once you start, you must be prepared to concentrate on it fully so you will succeed. A nursing degree is unlike many other college degrees out there. It is very competitive and at first signs of weakness, you could say goodbye to it. For instance, failing to maintain the required GPA or failing a class, can lead you to getting kicked out of nursing school altogether. That's also tantamount to saying goodbye to the tuition you've paid.
Here is a list of things that you should take care of BEFORE you apply to nursing school:
1.) Brush up on your math skills. What has math got to do with nursing, you may ask. Remember that once you become a nurse you will be administering medicines to patients and these may require your powers of calculation. So it's more than just passing your math subjects while in school; it's actually a matter of life and death.
2.) Complete all the prerequisite subjects needed to get into nursing school. Or at the very least, you should be completing them by the time you hand in your application. And make sure that your grades are good, because competition to get into nursing school is fierce these days. You will most likely need college level algebra, English, nutrition, Anatomy & Physiology I and II, microbiology, psychology, and some version of human growth and development to get into an Associate's Degree nursing program. You can take many of those classes online or at a local community college. Check with the schools that you are interested in applying to, to find out what prerequisites they require.
3.) Contact your State Board of Nursing. You need this to get a list of the accredited schools in your area and make sure that the schools you are interested in are included in that list.
4.) If you're with children, make sure that you have childcare plans lined up. Make sure that you have backup plans in case childcare falls through one day or your child is sick. Are there daycare centers nearby who can take in your child even if he or she is nursing a cold? Some centers do have this service. Contact friends and family beforehand, and have a standing agreement for "exchange babysitting" with them. Keep in mind that when you have to do your clinicals, they will frequently be at odd times, on nights or on weekends.
5.) Make sure that you've got reliable transportation to school. Know the bus routes and times, or make sure that your car is running and insured. Look into carpooling with other nursing students; anything that saves time and money will be helpful.
6.) Organize your finances. Draw up a financial plan that covers the entire time that you will be in nursing school, with a list of all your anticipated expenses. Assume that there will be some emergencies during that time. Car repairs, home repairs...try to budget some emergency money in there.
7.) Make sure that your credit is good. This is so that when you apply for financial aid you will get it, and get the best possible rate. Do this by paying your bills on time, not applying for a lot of credit cards, and checking your credit rating to ensure that it accurately reflects your credit history.
