Nursing School 101 Series

                                                        

                  "It Costs How Much?!??!!!": The nursing school process exposed!

Hello All! As I move through the next phase of my life/career, I thought it would be a great stress reliever to write about my nursing school application process. Not only will it help me decompress, but I hope that you all will be able to gather valuable information you can use if you want to be a nurse, or you can share with someone who may be lost in their own process. So get your notepads out, class is in session!

                      

About $500. That is how much I spent on transcripts. This does not include the cost of gas driving to all these campuses and the hours poured into making sure every “i” was dotted and “t” crossed. There were 9 schools on my list. Out of the 9, I have applied to 4 programs. It would have been more, but I recently got a job and that hinders my availability to go to campuses and talk to nursing counselors. Applying for nursing school has been one the most stressful processes I have ever voluntarily put myself through. There were many moving parts and I thought I would share the major ones with you. Hopefully it will help someone out as they go through the process.

Part One: Let's get started!

Figuring out where to apply

There are a lot of schools to choose from, especially in California. There are diploma and degree programs to consider. Some are, most are, impacted if you are leaning toward community colleges. You could go the private route, i.e. West Coast University, Loma Linda or American Career College, among others. I went onto the Board of Registered Nursing website for the state of California and pulled up the NCLEX (national licensing exam for nurses) passing rates. From there, I chose how far I was willing to travel or move to go to school and picked the programs with the highest passing rates. I already had all of my core prerequisites done, so I was able to make my list with confidence. My advice: make sure you have your classes done. It takes away some of the anxiety.

I made a spreadsheet

Every school requires a certain number of transcripts to be sent to them. Sometimes you have to send them to two separate offices (like with Los Angeles Pierce College). Every school pretty much has the same requirements, but there is some variation. Schools like El Camino/Compton Educational Center require two extra classes. These courses fill up very, very fast. If you don’t already go to that school, your registration date may be so far out that you will have to attempt crashing to class. Some schools have chemistry as a requirement, or use it to make up for lack of units. I went on each website, printed out information on the schools I wanted to apply to and made a folder for easy access. I made a spreadsheet of how many transcripts each program wanted versus the schools I took the prerequisite at and put the mailing address on there as well.

I suggest you start with this. If you are just beginning the process, I think choosing the schools you want to apply to and preparing this spreadsheet is a great way to start your nursing school journey. Come back next week for the next installation of our series! Have a great weekend!

xoxo, 

Amanda

Websites that may help:

www.rn.ca.gov

www.brn.com

www.allnursingschools.com

www.atitesting.com

My Real Life ABG Moment...Smh

My Real Life ABG Moment….

That awkward moment he walks in with his wife…yeah, that part! Now before you start judging me,let me explain…

I’m out with my friends at a nice wine bar in Santa Monica (you       know, that one) a few Fridays back. Happy hour was almost over, so  I ordered both my drinks at the same time (probably the beginning of this awkward memory). I ordered one glass of pinot grigio and a glass of sangria. Now I am a ‘light weight’ by most people’s standards, but I also had not eaten much or drank a lot of water that day, so the stage is set for something spectacularly hilarious to happen at my expense. I was sitting next to the door, but couldn't see the people coming through the door. Once my friends got there, we moved to a more open table...me sitting directly facing the door (second key part to this truly, wonderfully awkward social mishap). As I finish my glass of wine, I am a tad…loopy one could say. As my friends and I chat about our college years and trot down memory lane, we begin to discuss ‘said’ person (the power of the tongue y’all- I must have spoken him into existence…my existence).

Now, let me tell you about ‘said’ man. This guy has truly made a life for himself. He has really become quite successful. And frankly, it’s just not fair! I liked him when he didn’t have nothing! When he was bumming it around campus and rocking braids; when camouflage was the new hot thing. Now someone else is experiencing the life I used to fantasize we would have- house, cars, trips, cash, happiness. He’s wearing designers I have never heard of or know how to pronounce. No one understood why I liked him so much. It’s not like he’s Idris Elba. Nevertheless, he makes my heart race and when friends would see him on campus, they would come up to me later and say, ‘I saw your boo!’. This year will be our ‘ten year anniversary’. 10 years ago this summer we met. Even though I felt this way and I could see he had feelings for me, we never dated…EVER! We have even discussed it ad nauseum. There were so many chances for us to at least see what could have been, but nothing. I know I am one to fall for a guy with potential, and ONLY potential. But with this one, I should have seen it and stuck with it, because it would have paid off in the long run. I can be honest and say I experience a little bit of hateration when I think about it. Secretly hoping I will be second wife material (I know, I know. I need professional help). But after I also that to pass, I really am happy for him…and her…I guess. (He’s still working on me).

So here I am, on my second drink (I should probably have slowed down or ate something by this point) and I see a woman who looks ALL TOO FAMILIAR walking into the establishment I am currently spilling my guts in. My eyes are fixated on the door. I can’t turn away. It can’t be her, because that would be just too weird. A woman walks in behind her (reinforcements just in case I get out of hand I am sure…she heard me talking about her man), then a man, then it happens…I see the outline of ears and glasses that make me automatically weak in the knees. OOOOOHHHHHH NOOOOOOO!!! SERIOUSLY?! FOR REAL?!!?! 

 

I start saying (too loud I might add) “Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God!”. I’m flustered, I’m shocked…I’m now staring at the table and fumbling for my phone so I have something to occupy these emotions I’m feeling. My friends are busting a gut at this point. I feel like I am going to cry (I am almost done with my second drink. I should have stopped while I was ahead). He actually comes over and says hello. I’m startled. I didn’t see him walking over toward us. I was in a fog. They sit in their VIP section and more people started to come. I guess they were having a party. Good for them! (Can you sense the sarcasm? I hope so).

We finish up our night, as I dodge going to the restroom as people from that party go. I’m not trying to have my first fight in a wine bar restroom. We start walking to our cars and he’s outside, talking to someone. No goodbyes are exchanged, no looks. I just leave. I go home and laugh at the awkwardness of the situation. You may ask why it’s so awkward. You ask very great questions. Ever know someone still has feelings for you? Wonder why your wedding invitation never came in the mail when you thought you were so close? Ever wonder why he still makes slick comments about the guys you date or talk to and tells me that he has tenure (you know, because of the whole 10 year thing? He’s cute like that…that sucka!)? 

Yeah…that part.

Oh, and this….the text I got the next morning: “Awkward moments in the theme for this weekend.”

              

              

*Shout out to Issa Rae! She has created a world with her show "The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl" I finally feel like accurately articulates my life's happenings! She has really made my life a more pleasurable, yet still awkward..thing! Haha :)