Banner Nurse Fellows Program

GilbertDaddy · Dec 21, 2007

If you can, take it before BIO201! On the BIO201 midterm there was a question I wasn't sure about... I just applied what I learned in Medical Terminology and I guessed the right answer. :)
Unless you registered for the hybrid CHM class, everything will be online. You do get a huge lab kit and you perform real life labs at home, however you never meet with an instructor unless it is a hybrid class. You're right about the BIO classes, everything is online. For BIO201 that means assignments from the lab manual (no actual labs), for BIO156 there are some real labs, they're all really cool! :)

Hmm, it's all so interesting, I swear I'm so excited for all of this. Being a computer programmer and working in IT for so long, it now feels like I'm learning a new language. Like I'm learning how to program the body =P I do bodybuilding so it's an extension of that interest as well. Except now I get college credit lol :)

I think I'm going to sign up for the class. I wrote a study guide program a while back that is PERFECT for "match the term with it's definition" questions and I think that this will fit the bill.

Since BIO and CHM are both "high school" equivalent courses (I took BIO but my transcripts had a 5yr expiration date :angryfire), I can't imagine a 1 credit "definitions" course will be too difficult.

Thanks :)

Knorremeisje · Dec 21, 2007

About the 5 year expiration... Try graduating from HS only 2 years ago, but since that was in Europe (and I don't like to say it but the educational level was really high considering I took Latin, Psychology, Sociology, and a bunch of sciences) I could not get credited for the class. Even after spending $140 on an evaluation of my high school diploma and grade cards. All they could do was state that I did graduate from high school. Apparently it is impossible to determine that I passed biology and chemistry with a C or higher. :) Very, very frustrating as well.

On the other hand, it was good to get started with those classes. Especially since I'm learning everything in a different language as well now. lol :)

GilbertDaddy · Dec 21, 2007

About the 5 year expiration... Try graduating from HS only 2 years ago, but since that was in Europe (and I don't like to say it but the educational level was really high considering I took Latin, Psychology, Sociology, and a bunch of sciences) I could not get credited for the class. Even after spending $140 on an evaluation of my high school diploma and grade cards. All they could do was state that I did graduate from high school. Apparently it is impossible to determine that I passed biology and chemistry with a C or higher. :) Very, very frustrating as well.
On the other hand, it was good to get started with those classes. Especially since I'm learning everything in a different language as well now. lol :)

Ah yes, I read your story.. and I guess I can share your plight Although I can imagine you deserve a bit more justified frustration :)

In my case it's probably best to take it again, although while Chemistry confused me back then (I still remember the "mole" being the reason I dropped it), I was pretty confident about Biology.

Oh well. But if I have to re-take anything else that prevents me from getting started, people are gonna get hurt :angryfire lol

Knorremeisje · Dec 21, 2007

Haha! All these classes fly by so fast... you'll be applying to NS in no-time! I find all classes so much easier now, I can see certain structures much faster than I could in HS. I'm also a LOT more motivated, which does help a lot as well You sound like a smart guy, so all these silly pre-req's should be a piece of cake for you. I really hope it all works out. Be sure to keep us updated! :)

GilbertDaddy · Dec 21, 2007

Haha! All these classes fly by so fast... you'll be applying to NS in no-time! I find all classes so much easier now, I can see certain structures much faster than I could in HS. I'm also a LOT more motivated, which does help a lot as well You sound like a smart guy, so all these silly pre-req's should be a piece of cake for you. I really hope it all works out. Be sure to keep us updated! :)

I feel the same - I wouldn't have felt nearly this confident a few years ago! I suppose we should let this topic get back off tangent =) Good luck as well!

SN12 · Dec 22, 2007

Has anyone of you heard regarding the passing rate of the Banner Program in Gateway? I would like to get in to their Block III. Please advise, tnx!

MsBruiser · Dec 22, 2007

Has anyone of you heard regarding the passing rate of the Banner Program in Gateway? I would like to get in to their Block III. Please advise, tnx!

Statistically, it is tough to get a pure "passing rate." First, some people quit rather than get tossed out. So the passing rate is always a bit higher than the published average. In my cohort, we lost about 7 of the original people. That left 23. We also "picked up" people who had previously failed. Of the people we picked up, every single person with the exception of one, either failed or were kicked out (1 guy kicked out). So the passing rate from my original group was 77%. Much lower if you factor in all the people who tried for the second time and failed again.

That said - there are always the intellectually challenged types that somehow manage to squeak by (instructors do tweak grades though they claim not to). None of these types have yet to pass their NCLEX - most outright failed the first time, some have not taken it yet. Just because you get through the program does not mean you will practice as a nurse. I personally met someone who failed the NCLEX 5 times. That is frightening - the test is not rocket science - and this person is practicing as a nurse.

SN12 · Dec 22, 2007

Thank you for your quick reply. I was just wondering because in Chandler Gilbert Community College, we lost 12 or more students on our Block II, they all failed after finals. Three of them transferred to the Banner Block II Program at Chandler Gilbert and they all passed. One of them told me that it was a lot easier than our Block II and that everyone in their class passed. So I started to wonder if that has something to do with the contract (with Banner), since this happened in same school, same students and same instructors. Just curious :idea:

I passed Block II but I struggled, it would be nice to know if the instructors in the Banner Program are willing to help me succeed and not just fail many good and smart students.

MsBruiser · Dec 23, 2007

Thank you for your quick reply. I was just wondering because in Chandler Gilbert Community College, we lost 12 or more students on our Block II, they all failed after finals. Three of them transferred to the Banner Block II Program at Chandler Gilbert and they all passed. One of them told me that it was a lot easier than our Block II and that everyone in their class passed. So I started to wonder if that has something to do with the contract (with Banner), since this happened in same school, same students and same instructors. Just curious
I passed Block II but I struggled, it would be nice to know if the instructors in the Banner Program are willing to help me succeed and not just fail many good and smart students.

There is no difference among the programs. Block II is probably the easiest to fail and then pass. That is the one success story among the people we picked up - the single student in Block II. All Block III and IV "pick-ups" have failed. Contract does not specify a certain % must pass.

Cursed Irishman · Dec 23, 2007

Of the people we picked up, every single person with the exception of one, either failed or were kicked out (1 guy kicked out).

so what'd the guy do?

MsBruiser · Dec 23, 2007

stay within your scope of practice

Multicollinearity, BSN, RN · Dec 27, 2007

Since BIO and CHM are both "high school" equivalent courses (I took BIO but my transcripts had a 5yr expiration date :angryfire), I can't imagine a 1 credit "definitions" course will be too difficult.
Thanks :)

While the MCCCD system permits high school bio and chem courses instead of BIO 156 and CHM 130, I don't think that necessarily means that the BIO 156 and CHM 130 classes are at the high school level. I say this because I received transfer credit for both of these community college classes at a public state university in Arizona.