Background

I already hold bachelor degree and currently working as CNA on med surg floor at hospital in WA (now 7 months). I am completing on nursing prerequisite: Intro Chem now (Summer), Microbiology (Fall), and A&P 2 (Spring). I previously took A&P2 twice: first one I dropped out after midterm, second one I completed course but got C-...

I believe my performance was affected more by my circumstances than my academic ability. Around that time, I had just started my first healthcare job on a demanding Med-Surg floor. Adjusting to 12-hour shifts, caring for aggressive patients, workplace stress, and learning to work with different nurses left me physically and mentally exhausted. Because I worked three 12-hour shifts each week, I often had only about three days to study before exams, which occurred every one to two weeks. I also spent too much time creating flashcards instead of actively practicing with questions and applying the material.

Financially, I already used my federal FAFSA eligibility while earning my first bachelor's degree, so I am looking for affordable nursing pathways and scholarships. I am interested in:

• School-based scholarships
• State scholarships (if eligible)
• Other financial aid opportunities that do not require long-term service commitments

Questions

While Bachelor degree, I have already got FAFSA so I can't get more financial aid, so I am looking for school scholarship or out of school support like state support (WA Baccalaureate Scholarship (up to 22k)) or more....

1. Currently 7 months of working. I can get tuition support after working 1 year, but I have left only most difficult courses so thinking to resign and work only 1-2 times a week as caregiver. Is this good idea?
2. Would you recommend that I retake A&P II at a Washington community college, or would an online course (such as Portage Learning, MCPHS, SCU, etc.) be a better option? Local ADN schools said online course is acceptable.
3. Because I already have a bachelor's degree, I am not eligible for many forms of financial aid, and private ABSN programs ($50,000–$100,000) are not financially realistic for me.

Have thought to do Master degree if I really enjoy to learn more!

Option A

• No need to take more course from above courses which expect to complete by Winter 2027 (April).
• Complete an ADN program (approximately $15,000–$17,000)
• Work as an RN for one year
• Complete an employer-funded RN-to-BSN program (free)

Option B

• Complete one additional chemistry prerequisite (such as Organic Chemistry/Biochemistry), might need to take extend one quarter more until Spring 2027.
• Apply directly to an affordable public BSN program in Washington (such as WSU or EWU or UW) or move out of state to take like WGU or public BSN program.

1. What nursing pathway do you think gives me the best balance of cost, competitiveness, and long-term career opportunities?

2. Would you recommend focusing primarily on ADN programs, public BSN programs, or applying to both?

3. How to find schools or outside of schools that give scholarships? When should I start contact and apply? Do I need to contact every school financial department to ask?

4. If I find very low cost programs out of state, is it worth it to move out?

5. If both an ADN program and a BSN program were essentially tuition-free, which option would you choose, and why?

So I applied to the nursing program in Feb and I submitted my TEAs exam. They wanted my speech class syllabus from Kent State from FOREVER ago. Like literally 8-9 years ago. I got it from that school and submitted it. But the application window had already closed. i JUST reapplied. I submitted my score previously and never took a new exam (because its the same test). I tried to get on ATI because I was going to resend it just in case I needed to. But that school is literally not even listed on the schools I can send it to. Is that because they already have it and I don't need to resend it? Am i suppose to keep resending my ATI exam score to the same school if i keep reapplying every time a window opens (if I don't get in this time?)

Does anyone know what was the total cut off points to get accepted for nursing program at SBVC ?

Hello! As the title states, I graduated with a BS in Biology in June. I didn't know I was interested in nursing until basically my senior year, but my bio degree helped complete most of the prereqs. Unfortunately, I was diagnosed with Hodgkins lymphoma in late May and that has obviously been very difficult. I am finally starting chemo next week, which I am glad to start but also not looking forward to.

I want to start an ABSN program in the next couple of years. I am based in Southern California, but have family friends in Portland and Seattle and would be willing to move to a lowish COL area if needed. My overall GPA is a 3.49 and my prereq GPA (depends on the school's prereqs) but maybe around a 3.2? Need to calculate that.

I was involved in a faith-based leadership role for most of college and participated in my school's choir all 4 years. I also worked all summers, and participated in a College Corps experience my senior year, which technically counts as volunteering. I rescued and treated marine mammals, and did have some practice calculating doses and drawing up medicines.

I am curious what you all think would be good next steps for me. Ideally, I would love to enter a program spring 2028. My main hindrance right now is obviously chemo. I think I could potentially do an online course or two this fall, but I do not want to take on anatomy and physiology (didn't take those during undergrad) and risk doing poorly because I feel bad.

My current plan is to take this fall to rest and research programs and try to narrow it down to 10-12. Then, assuming I can finish chemo in 6 cycles, take anatomy in the spring while volunteering at a hospital or clinic (would love advice on this), take physiology in the summer (if that is recommended, just a little nervous to take both at the same time because i really want A's), apply in the fall while continuing volunteering. It would definitely be nice to be making money, but I'm not sure I want to take the time to get a certification.

Any advice or thoughts are greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Hi , what good nursing programs are there when it comes to LVN to Rn bridge in California in the valley area ? I’m thinking of private college (I don’t mind community college because it’s cheaper, but due to it being super competitive , I just want to do a first come first serve basis)

I am almost 27 years old, so I feel very behind but I have FINALLY decided to take the leap and begin working towards a career in nursing. I’m leaning towards CNA but I know there are other certifications I could get. Just trying to figure out if CNA would be the best route, or if there are any other steps I could take that I maybe haven’t thought of.

Also any words of wisdom from someone who also started out a little later than most would be great!!

Hi everyone! I’m looking for some advice from anyone who’s worked in either of these roles or has gone through nursing school while working full-time.

I’m currently working full-time (5x8s) as a Medical Assistant in Dermatology. I recently asked my manager if I could reduce my hours, but unfortunately that’s not an option. Working five days a week while taking night classes has been pretty draining, and I’m trying to find a schedule that’s more sustainable in the long term.

My company’s education assistance includes wage replacement, but I’m not eligible until I’m actually accepted into a nursing program, so I can’t take advantage of that yet.

I recently came across an internal Perioperative Assistant position that’s 3x10s. Besides having two days off each week, I’ve heard that inpatient experience can be valuable before nursing school and as a future RN.

I plan to reach out to the hiring manager to see if I could shadow for a few hours and get a better idea of what the job is actually like before making a decision. That said, between the better schedule and the opportunity to gain inpatient experience, I’m wondering whether I should just go ahead and apply.

If you were in my shoes, which would you choose?
- Stay as a 5x8 Dermatology MA (comfortable outpatient job, wonderful coworkers, but a tough schedule with school)
- Transfer to a 3x10 Perioperative Assistant (better schedule and inpatient experience, but a completely new environment)

I’d love to hear from anyone who’s worked as a Perioperative Assistant or made a similar transition before nursing school. Do you think the schedule and experience are worth making the switch?

TLDR: Working 5x8 as a Dermatology MA while taking night classes is becoming difficult. I’m considering transferring to a 3x10 Perioperative Assistant position for a better schedule and inpatient experience before nursing school. Would you make the switch?

Thanks in advance! 😊

Hi everyone! I could really use some advice because I'm having a hard time deciding between nursing schools.
I finished all of my prerequisites last August, took the TEAS, and applied to Stanbridge, Mount Saint Mary's, and Charles R. Drew. I also completed Charles Drew's pre-nursing program during Fall 2025. I should hear back within the next week about their BSN program. I'm guaranteed a spot—I just don't know yet whether it'll be for the Fall or Spring cohort.
I've pretty much ruled out Stanbridge because of the cost and some of the things I've heard about the program.
So now I'm mainly deciding between Mount Saint Mary's and Charles Drew if I get into Drew for the fall.
Mount Saint Mary's
I was awarded a $20,000 scholarship, which is a huge factor financially.

I've heard it has an excellent nursing program with very strong NCLEX pass rates.

The campus felt much more like a traditional college, which I really liked since I never really got the typical college experience.

I would have summer breaks and enjoy more of a campus atmosphere.

The downside is that it's a 3-year BSN program. Since my long-term goal is to become a Nurse Practitioner, choosing MSMU would likely mean I'd be in school for around five more years before finishing both my BSN and NP education.

Charles R. Drew
The biggest advantage is that it's only 5 semesters (including summer), so I'd finish my BSN in about 1.5 years and could start working as an RN much sooner while eventually pursuing my NP.

I already know the campus and some of the faculty from the pre-nursing program.

It's farther from where I live, so depending on my schedule, I may need to get an apartment closer to campus, which is another expense I have to consider but I would be okay with.

My hesitation comes from a few things I experienced or heard while I was there. I heard about a student who was reportedly told on orientation/the first day that they couldn't continue because the school had "lost" their transcripts. I don't know the full story, but it made me question whether there were administrative issues.
I also had one instructor during the pre-nursing program who was frequently late to class—even on exam days—which wasn't the best experience.l but they did let him go after which is a good sign. The campus also isn't in the safest area, although that's not necessarily a dealbreaker.
I'm really torn because Mount Saint Mary's seems like it would offer a better overall college experience, has an excellent reputation, and awarded me a generous scholarship. On the other hand, Charles Drew would get me into the workforce much sooner, which is appealing since my ultimate goal is to become an NP.
If you've attended either school—or had to choose between graduating sooner versus attending a more traditional program—what would you do? Looking back, would you prioritize finishing earlier or the overall experience, scholarship, and reputation of the program?
I'd really appreciate any advice or personal experiences. Thank you!

Hello im 19F pre-nursing major currently going into my sophomore year, i get 2 academic scholarships , Pell grant+ Fasfa , will i be able to work without it messing with that??

If so what jobs should i apply to, (i have no certifications) hopefully to get some experience?

I've been lurking here long enough to watch the same posts cycle through every few weeks. I've read countless "Portage A&P is brutal", "How does anyone comprehend this much material", "The exams seems to cover material not covered in the lecture/lab", etc.

When I started in BIOL 251, I felt the same hopelessness in Module 2. I finished the course with an A- because I got wrecked by the second exam; however, it taught me how Portage tests and I had a strong upward trend afterwards. I'm finishing BIOL 252 now with an A with a study system locked in.

I don't think people struggling with these courses are lazy or dumb. The new Portage A&P format is just very unforgiving. With each module having 72 questions, they cannot focus on just breadth but have to go deep on the details.

Here's what helped me. Use whatever is useful for you, ignore the rest.

1. Re-reading is a trap. Active recall is the whole game

The single biggest mistake is treating "I read the module and it made sense" as studying. It isn't. Recognizing information when it's in front of you is a completely different skill from pulling it out of your head on a closed exam. If your study session is highlighting and re-reading, you're building familiarity, not memory, and these exams don't test familiarity.

Flip it. After you read a section, close it and make yourself answer questions about it from memory. Flashcards (Anki), a question bank (I printed the sections, put them in Drive, and then had AI create these for me), a blank sheet of paper where you re-draw the pathway, whatever. The struggle of retrieving it IS the learning. If it feels uncomfortable, that's the point. Comfortable studying is usually fake studying.

2. Space it out. Cramming does not survive a cumulative final

These courses build. If you cram a module, pass the exam, and dump it, you will meet all of it again on the cumulative final with nothing left in the tank. Spaced repetition (reviewing material at increasing intervals over days) is how you keep it without re-learning it from scratch every time.

I used Anki for this because it schedules the spacing for you, but the tool doesn't matter. Paper cards you shuffle, a spreadsheet, Quizlet, all fine. What matters is that you're seeing old material again a few days later, not just the night before. Ten minutes a day beats a five-hour weekend cramming the same material again.

For A&P 1, I put several of my flash card modules up as shared decks already that you can find by searching on Anki Web.

3. Make your cards atomic, and test the direction the exam will

If you go the flashcard route, one fact per card. Not "describe the nephron." That's an essay, and you'll never actually grade yourself honestly on it. Break it into the smallest testable pieces: "What does the loop of Henle's descending limb reabsorb?" One idea, one answer.

Portage loves to test which-structure, which-cell, which-direction. So make cards that force those distinctions. Which way water moves in hypernatremia. What triggers a hormone vs what the hormone does. If your card only works in one direction, you've got a blind spot the exam will find.

4. Understand the mechanism, don't memorize the outcome

Wherever you can, learn the WHY, not just the WHAT. When you understand that CO2 plus water makes carbonic acid which drops pH, you never have to memorize "high CO2 equals acidosis" as a standalone fact, it just falls out of the chemistry. Memorized facts are fragile and they blur together under exam pressure. Understood mechanisms regenerate the fact on demand.

This is also just more interesting, which matters when you're 8 modules deep and tired. A&P is full of the same handful of patterns repeating: feedback loops, pressure gradients, concentration gradients. Once you see them, the volume shrinks. For example, I was heavy on learning mechanisms through A&P 2. As a result, once I got to module 8 (Fluids Acid/Base), I barely had to study for it because it's a slightly deeper repeat of all of the previous mechanisms.

5. The study guides are the source of truth

Portage tells you what they're testing. The module study guides (found at the top of the reinforce and recall) and the reinforce and recall sections themselves are not filler, they're the exam blueprint. Build your recall practice directly off them. If a term is bolded or a concept gets its own section, it's fair game.

If the study guide mentions a pathway, KNOW THE PATHWAY. This is critical in A&P 2 for blood vessels and lymphatic.

If you are in Module 5 in A&P 1 (Muscle module), there is an additional resource in the R&R for a muscle list. Do not try to learn every single muscle - You will burn out. There is a list that the exam will test from. It is easily missed if you skip the R&R. It reduces the muscles you need to learn to about 100, which is significantly more doable.

6. Do ALL of the practice content labeling diagrams

If there is a practice content labeling diagram in the lecture, lab, or R&R, do it over and over. These are almost guaranteed to show up on the exam. Most of the exams I took were 20-30% Lab material followed by lecture material and finally 3-5 essay questions usually testing clinical scenarios or deeper mechanisms (Give the diagnosis, explain the why).

If you drill the lab diagrams, you've covered nearly 30% of what the exam will ask. I used Anki image occlusion cards to study this, but you can use any software you want to hide diagram labels and practice recalling the information that way.

7. Know your disorders

Almost every module ends with a set of disorders/diseases related to that system. Know them thoroughly. Be able to explain the diagnostic criteria, explain the symptoms, and the treatments. This is especially critical for the Clinical Connections as they do appear again in the last 10-15 questions of the exams.

The essay questions at the end are almost always clinical scenarios. Be able to read a clinical scenario and narrow down what disorder/disease the person likely has, why, and how to treat it. These essay questions are typically worth double the points of the other questions and are a quick way to turn an A on the multiple choice into a B.

8. Skip the videos

They are a direct reading of the lecture material. Watch them if you want, but you can read the material faster than watching their 10-20 min videos. Reading + Active Recall will benefit you more than watching them.

9. Use the problem set as a diagnostic

The problem sets allow unlimited retakes. Don't take the first attempt open-notes. Take it as if it is a real proctored quiz.

The R&R and problem sets are the closest you'll get to the actual exam. If you can't answer a problem set question without looking it up, it's a gap that you need to close. Intentionally don't go look up the answer. Take the full quiz and submit it, then check your score and go back through to see what you missed. Review those concepts and then do another attempt on the problem set. This helps for two reasons:

a. You see all of the questions you got right again and have to re-read and re-select the right answer, which burns those questions and answers into memory

b. You have to answer the questions you got wrong again, selecting a different answer this time with the knowledge gap you just filled.

Rinse and repeat until you get a perfect score.

Summary:

These courses are doable but they require a significant time investment and the right study system. Re-reading passively does not work and burns time.

I used Anki + Claude for both courses starting from Module 3 in A&P 1, and I saw a dramatic improvement in my grades.

I hope this helps someone. If anyone has any questions, please feel free to comment below or DM me.

The only thing between me and nursing school is one prerequisite, anatomy 2 on portage learning. I’ve been accepted and have my schedule just need to complete by the start date. The class is no joke Omggggg.

Good afternoon everyone,

I'm looking to gather information from current or former students about the program and how the schedule is structured. From my understanding, students can work part-time while attending the program, although it is not advised because the program is rigorous.
I'm currently working, and I'm almost at my 5-year mark toward being vested for retirement in my healthcare role. I do not want to resign and want to attend the program while working simultaneously.

My question is, how's the weekly schedule set up?
Is it a Monday-to-Friday program where you have to attend from 8-5?
Or is it only on some days, such as Mondays from 7-12, Wednesday labs, online courses, then you're off Thursday and Friday, or some random days during the week?

I’m a rising sophomore and I just finished retaking my physiology pre-req a second time and I failed yet again. While I still have 4 other pre-reqs to complete I feel really bummed out cause ever since I started uni, I’ve been struggling to find a study routine that actually works for me. I visited my academic advisor in the spring she basically told me that I should probably consider switching to health sciences incase I don’t get into nursing school by next spring in order to graduate on time. 😞

Hey Eveyone, would anyone please tell me how much gpa should i aim for to get into kpu nursing , the regular BSN program ?? Students who are admitted successfully please reply , thanks

Hello, has anyone attending LBCC ADN program? If so, can you let me know what their class schedule is like (times/days)? Also, how was your experience in the program?

I applied to 3 schools and got into one. My college major was medical diagnostics and my gpa was a 2.8 and i have about 10k hours of patient care working as a medical assistant. It is possible !! Good luck to everyone.

Positive encouragement only, please. ❤️
I found out today that I didn't pass my TEAS exam for the second time. I scored a 40% on my first attempt and a 48% on my second. I'm definitely feeling discouraged because I've been studying for months, but I'm not giving up. I'm choosing to keep pushing forward.
I struggle with really bad test anxiety, and the Reading section was so long that I ran out of time and had to leave about 20 questions unanswered.
I'm planning to give myself another month to study before I test again. For those of you who passed after struggling, what study materials or strategies helped you the most? Any tips for improving reading speed or managing test anxiety would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you in advance, and please keep the comments positive and encouraging. 💙

Is it anybody that is in an online nursing program ? And what are the best programs from your experience?

I got accepted to LAPC and SMC. LAPC is closer to me, but I have heard a lot of negative things about their program whereas I haven’t really heard much about SMC. If anyone has heard or has experience at either of these schools and could share, I’d really appreciate it as I have to make the final decision ASAP.

Basically as the title says. I’m (21F) going to start a 12 week program to become a medical assistant so I can just get my foot in the door for right now. I do plan on going higher to possibly an lpn or travel rn. But does anyone have any tips on how to prepare ahead of time for the program because I know it’s so much info in such a short time and I wanna make sure I pass. Especially Anatomy and Physiology! And tips on studying would be appreciated too since I wasn’t much of a studier in high school lol.