Gateway LPN Fast Track

AZMOMO2 · Mar 30, 2010

As far as I know there is a 1 semester wait.. but things change so it doesn't hurt to try. I was told it was impossible to get a placement, that they all went to their partner programs and the year I applied everyone I was in line with that had everything got in. Good luck... its a great program!

This HESI isn't as tough as you think. You'll do fine!

koalakoala · Apr 9, 2010

i did the cna program at scc and it was only about a month long program (jan. 5 - feb 11). i will take my certification test this month though. the cost on the scc website (http://www.scottsdalecc.edu/healthsci/nursing_assistant_class/index.html) says about $1,009.00, but i think it was less when i took it.

i just applied for the gateway lpn program (during the april turn-in period) and if you have taken the cna class within the past year, it is not necessary to have your certification. when i turned in my lpn application the advisor said that fall 10 was full (from previous applicants still waiting) and that there was a 50/50 chance i could get in spring 11. worst case, i will have to wait 2 semesters, which is way shorter than the rn program for maricopa colleges. considering you can transfer to block 3 of the rn program when you are done, i don't see why i would not go this rout. there may be a 1 semester wait to get into block 3, but that is still less of a wait than the regular rn program. there is also a risk of not scoring high enough on the hesi-pn. if you do not score at least 800, you will be put into block 2 of the rn program.

does anyone have any information about the curriculum? are students generally happy with the program?

thanks!

pinklady8888 · Apr 10, 2010

yea i just applied at the lpn program thru gateway the other day too and they said the same thing. my thing is now is just to look for a cna job..does anyone have any ideas who may hire a new cna?

and should i apply for the regular rn program as a backup plan?

koalakoala · Apr 10, 2010

yea i just applied at the lpn program thru gateway the other day too and they said the same thing. my thing is now is just to look for a cna job..does anyone have any ideas who may hire a new cna?
and should i apply for the regular rn program as a backup plan?

I am also looking for a CNA job and the only places that seem to hire CNA's without experience are LTC facilities. I applied for the RN program as a backup. I don't see the harm in it!

xxblessthemartyrxx · Apr 25, 2010

I just received my acceptance letter in the mail! I only had to wait one semester. I have some questions from previous students or current students in the program. What was the course like? I really need an A in the course but it seems impossible. How is the course? Is it organized? I am fortunate that I do not work, well kinda I am a stay at home mom so I do work lol. What are the uniforms like? The books? I am really excited I am doing the night program what is that like? ANY info would really help thanks!!

AZMOMO2 · Apr 25, 2010

Course is hard, sometimes it is organized sometimes it isn't. Things can change. An A is possible but an A is a 93 and above. The uniforms, pants are white and the top is hunter green, you have to get it at Apparel Pro. The books will come in a packaged box and you'll get a tote bag with your lab kit. First Block is pretty hard & strict and second block is a lot more laid back, but its pretty faced paced alot to learn but they are all awesome and they have the NCLEX scores to back it up. I finished in Dec am working as an LPN now and passed my NCLEX the first time. Hope you have been reviewing A&P, Medical Term and NCLEX questions while you've been waiting.

Good luck and congrats!:balloons::w00t:

xxblessthemartyrxx · Apr 25, 2010

I just finished A&P last semester, but I have the book to review on. I do need to refresh though! I haven't taken a medical terminology class since I went to school as an aid so I will def need to refresh on that! How much are the uniform? What was the course like? Did you have the night or day program? I got into the night program. Thank you so much for replying to my post! :yeah:

AZMOMO2 · Apr 25, 2010

I was in the day program. They have made alot of changes since my cohort. The shirts were like $20 and the pants are white you can buy them anywhere. I paid $6 for 1 pair and $12 for the other. There are scrub sales everywhere. You'll need all white shoes as well.

Its hard to really say what the course is like since they changed things but you are run crazy and tested hard right away. Attendance is STRICT! Block 1 is a bit of a culture shock to start off but once you get the hang of the style of questions on the tests it gets better. Lab days are long and it seems like there is just not enough time in the lab. Clinicals are long an in LTC in Block 1. Block 2 was med-surg, peds, and OB and includes IV certification now.

You'll be busy, you'll be stretched to the max and stressed out. But you'll be prepared to succeed!

The hardest part is the grading scale. A 76% is passing anything under is a fail. I finished Block 1 with .25 away from an A and Block 2 with .5 away from an A... they do not round.

xxblessthemartyrxx · Apr 25, 2010

That sucks, you would think that they want there students to get A's so they would round. Getting a B is good too though I will just have to really stay on top of studying. Any advice on studying? Are you going to apply to block 3 and 4? Thats what I want to do but I am not sure about the wait period to get in. Also about the testing into 3, I heard some students had to take block 2 again because there test scores were not high enough. I am still applying to the RN program also. If I do not score as high in blocks 1 & 2 I will just re-take them in the RN program. Did a lot of students fail the course? A 76 is really high for a fail rate. Its weird that the grading structure is so different than the regular grading at the college.

AZMOMO2 · Apr 26, 2010

Out of the day program we lost a total of 9 people from our 30. Almost everyone who had their pre-reqs completed for 3rd Block got in. Only a few had to retake the HESI to achieve the 800 or above to get into Block 3. The HESI was not hard. The repeaters of Block 2 for low test scores was probably because they failed Block 2. I have no idea how many the night program lost.

Yes the grading scale does take some getting used to. I think its how they keep those NCLEX scores so high.

You will not want to think that you can just retake Blocks 1 & 2 in the RN program. For one thing its alot of work to put in to just start over. Its not like taking an A&P class or something like that. As long as you study you'll do fine. Don't kill yourself over getting or not getting that A. Just do your best, learn what you need to know. There were a few people that had major culture shock because they were 4.0 students in pre-reqs and prior fields and had a heck of a time readjusting to the style of questions on the exams and the grading system.

There is not much difference between an A, B or C in nursing school.

I am going the LPN-BSN route because - 1 I need to work right now. Because I did not work throughout Nursing school. 2 because I have a job making GREAT money. 2. Easier schedule for me than back at the CC level.

miteacher, ADN, MSN · Apr 29, 2010

So does anyone know what is the next application date period

TinkRN8 · Apr 29, 2010

I just received my acceptance letter in the mail! I only had to wait one semester. I have some questions from previous students or current students in the program. What was the course like? I really need an A in the course but it seems impossible. How is the course? Is it organized? I am fortunate that I do not work, well kinda I am a stay at home mom so I do work lol. What are the uniforms like? The books? I am really excited I am doing the night program what is that like? ANY info would really help thanks!!

Congrats on getting accepted! It will be a wild ride! I am graduating in 2 weeks. It went by so fast! It seems like just yesterday I was sitting in orientation thinking to myself, "what the heck did I get myself into!?" I literally cried all the way home. Get an NCLEX review book and start working those questions NOW. Believe me it will help you get a leg up, especially for the quizzes, as they are NOTHING like you have ever had before. Also, brush up on med terminology (if you haven't had it before sign up for a class through rio 1-2 credits) and anatomy. You are expected to know these day 1, especially if you have K.P. as an instructor...LOL! Block I is so much more rigid than Block II. An A is achievable, but hard to get. They are talking about changing up the main text for next semester. PHarm and IV certification are included in the course. Although, I think I would have preferred a separate pharm class, as we didn't really get a whole lot of pharm in the course, especially peds & OB. Block II clinicals were WAY better than Block I. Took the HESI yesterday...so glad that is over! AGain, do NCLEX questions everyday and use them to study for quizzes and you will do well on HESI. Can't think of anything else right now. Good luck!