How to upload photos in raw from a memory card onto my macbook pro?

I'm new to SLR cameras and new to macs. I didn't know I took a bunch of pictures in "raw" (.NEF files?) and now I can't upload them. It actually won't let me upload any pictures from my memory card. I tried saving them to a folder and it just says "photos are being imported to the photo library. Please wait for import to complete."

I have a 15" macbook pro and a Nikon D3100.

I've never uploaded pictures before and now it won't let me upload any of them. I've been waiting for these pictures to "import" for two hours now and nothing has changed.

All you have to do is take the memory card out of your camera and insert it into your Mac's card reader. The using Finder, copy all the images from your memory card to a new file folder on your Mac.Name it something that will remind you what the subject of the shoot was and the date

If you happen to have a Mac that Apple forgot to put a card reader in it for photographers, you will have to buy a $10 USB 2.0 card reader and use it

NOTE: it really does not matter if your files are RAW or JPEG and your camera a Nikon dSLR or Leica M9. The process is still the same

First, raw files are not image files until you process them through a raw editing software and make them into image files.So, you may have imported them and can't see them because your computer can't recognize them.

If they aren't uploading at all you can do a few things: Put the software that came with your camera onto your computer and use it to download the images.
Open photoshop or elements bridge program OR Lightroom and use it to import the images from your camera and then develop.