Banner Nurse Fellows Program

sgrnspc · May 12, 2009

i intervied for the july 09 cohort in early april. just got word yesterday that i made it in. they told me in the interview the selection process would have their decisions on may 8th 09.
i am really excited and honored to be selected into program but in my interview found out it was a part-time program at gwcc. i was also placed in the fall program at mcc which is not with banner and is a traditional program. i am having a hard time trying to choose. i know boo hoo i should be so lucky. i just want to make the right decision. i dont know much about the part time program and it scares me a little because i will have to be away from my wife but will be able to stay at home with my daughter.
does anyone know if there is a way to defer placement for a later date say like october cohort or have any info on how the part time program works?

so they said the final decisions would be made by may 8th?? hmm...i'm confused because in my meeting i could have sworn they said they would let us know either way. they said we would get an email or phone call saying we made it and they wanted an interview, or we didn't make it and to re apply later if we wanted to. any thoughts on this? obviously its past that 8th cutoff date, so it makes me a little concerned. the biggest thing is, they called me about 3 weeks ago and said that they didn't have my transcript showing i passed 205, so i resent it to them and i'm nervous that maybe they didn't get it and that's why i haven't heard anything?? i don't know, just getting frustrated with the waiting...... :cry:

briantofaz · May 12, 2009

"so they said the final decisions would be made by may 8th?? hmm...i'm confused because in my meeting i could have sworn they said they would let us know either way. they said we would get an email or phone call saying we made it and they wanted an interview, or we didn't make it and to re apply later if we wanted to. any thoughts on this? obviously its past that 8th cutoff date, so it makes me a little concerned. the biggest thing is, they called me about 3 weeks ago and said that they didn't have my transcript showing i passed 205, so i resent it to them and i'm nervous that maybe they didn't get it and that's why i haven't heard anything?? i don't know, just getting frustrated with the waiting...... :cry: "

i may be wrong but during my interview they gave me a little wallet sized card reading all selected candidates would know on the 8th. i had the same problem with transcripts last year when applying for the program and i think they just past me over beacuse of it. are you sure you got it in before the deadline? i know it can be frustrating so hang in there. good luck!!!!

serenity1 · May 12, 2009

"so they said the final decisions would be made by may 8th?? hmm...i'm confused because in my meeting i could have sworn they said they would let us know either way. they said we would get an email or phone call saying we made it and they wanted an interview, or we didn't make it and to re apply later if we wanted to. any thoughts on this? obviously its past that 8th cutoff date, so it makes me a little concerned. the biggest thing is, they called me about 3 weeks ago and said that they didn't have my transcript showing i passed 205, so i resent it to them and i'm nervous that maybe they didn't get it and that's why i haven't heard anything?? i don't know, just getting frustrated with the waiting...... :cry: "

did you actually have an interview yet or just attend the meeting? it sounds like they did the interviews for the july cohort and would be letting the interviewees know by may 8. that sounds about right. i found out the first week of august that i made it into the oct. cohort. we were told at the info meeting that we would be notified if we were selected for an interview, and if we did not hear anything, to reapply. at the interview, i was told that i would receive a letter either congratulating me or telling me to try again. hope this helps. keep trying--it's totally worth it. good luck!!!

serenity1 · May 12, 2009

I intervied for the July 09 Cohort in early April. Just got word yesterday that I made it in. They told me in the interview the selection process would have their decisions on May 8th 09.

I am really excited and honored to be selected into program but in my interview found out it was a part-time program at GWCC. I was also placed in the fall program at MCC which is not with Banner and is a traditional program. I am having a hard time trying to choose. I know boo hoo i should be so lucky. I just want to make the right decision. I dont know much about the part time program and it scares me a little because I will have to be away from my wife but will be able to stay at home with my daughter.

Does anyone know if there is a way to defer placement for a later date say like October cohort or have any info on how the part time program works?

I don't know about the part-time program, but you can defer your placement. I have a couple people in my class that deferred for a year. I don't know all the details. Congratulations!!!

mackenziec85 · May 14, 2009

Hey everyone!

I've been following this thread for a while, and I just finished reading through all 51 pages. There are a few things I was hoping someone could clear up for me.

1. Is the MCCBNF program really only for people who hold a bachelor's degree? I was really hoping to get into that one (I only have an AA), as it's the closest of the four schools to my house (sadly, it's still 50 minutes away...I live in the middle of nowhere).

2. Which schools, if not all four, are participating in the October 2009 cohort?

3. Is the unofficial transcript they need a high school transcript as well as a college transcript? I'm assuming it's just college, as you need a high school transcript in order to get into college.

I'm sure I'll find out the answers to these questions on Monday at the information session, but I'm anxious to find out now! Not that it'll really help me at the moment. Thanks in advance!

studymaniacmel · May 14, 2009

This is my first time posting on here but I think I can help with your questions :)

1. BNFP is not just for people who hold a bachelor's degree. However, they may have certain cohorts where they only accept people who hold a bachelors degree. I was just accepted into the July cohort at GateWay and I have no previous degrees.

2. When I attended the information session in March they said that the October 2009 cohorts will be at GateWay and Estrella.

3. I included both unofficial transcripts because my high school transcript showed that I took Chemistry, which is a required class. If all of your prereqs and coreqs were taken in college then your highschool transcript is not necessary.

mackenziec85 · May 14, 2009

Thanks for the info...I'm just worried that Mesa CC is the cohort that only takes people with a bachelor's degree.

serenity1 · May 14, 2009

I don't know of any cohort that only takes those with a Bachelor's degree. We have a student that transferred from Mesa's BNFP and that does not have a degree. Good luck-it's a great program.

MassagetoRN · May 15, 2009

Hi all,

I am in the March 2009 Mesa Cohort. We are halfway through Block 1!!! WOOHOO!! I have been reading through the last few pages of questions, and hopefully I can shed some light. I remember being in your shoes, and I applied to Banner 4 times!! So, I know how frustrating it all is...

1) No, Mesa CC is not just for Bachelor's only. They did 1 (test) cohort there about 6 month back that was for students with a Bachelor's degree. Banner liked the sucess so they will be doing others. It seems like the location will kinda float around. My cohort that started this past March does have 1 or 2 students with degrees, but really we all over the map with college credits and health care experience. Some have zero health care experience.

2) Yes, you are allowed to work. Banner wants to know that you can handle this really hard, accelerated program well. I don't work for Banner so I don't know what they consider full vs. part time, benefits, etc. But there are about 10 people in my group that do work for Banner and its a mix between 3-12's and 1-12 per week. Most started out with the 3-12's attitude and by the end of the first week, they were scaling back. Block 1's first few weeks are rough because you are scared, nervous, and don't know what to expect. By week 3, most had found our groove and could deal with everything. There is even one woman in my class who is married, has 5 kids (under the age of 13ish) and works 2 or 3 12 hr CNA shifts a week. She is handling it well. Banner management doesn't dictate your work schedule, but (I've been told) they are pretty accomidating to those students in the BNF. Having said that, I am a single mom who is blessed enough to not work. I don't know how those who are, are doing it..... Maybe in Block 2 when there are less hours per week at school....

3) No, they don't screw you over on pay. The only difference when it comes to hiring, is that when they hire new grads every May/June, the individual HR's and managers from each hospital give great prefference to BNF grads than other new grads. The BNF program works really hard to get you placed. So far, they are 100% successful. We were just told on Tues that all the June grads have jobs. Thats better than what I've heard from SCC's program with Scottsdale Health Care. You have to remember that we aren't indentured servants. We can break our contract with them and work elsewhere. We would just have to repay what it would have costed us to attend the traditional Maricopa County College's Nursing program. Except we got done quicker, were treated better, and the money was interest free while we did. But, you've gotta work somewhere, and in this market, I sleep better at night knowing that I am pretty much guranteed a job when I graduate.

4) I have no info on when you will be notified. I do know that they switched over to sending emails vs. letters in the mail. So, check your spam folders! And the main BNF coordinator is super swamped right now.... She is probably the sweetest, non-scariest woman on the planet too. She cares alot about this program and the students in it. She works really hard on it, so I am sure if answers are running late, there is a reason, and shes getting to you....

Hope this all help!!

mackenziec85 · May 15, 2009

Thanks MassagetoRN!

That's all really helpful. I'm glad to hear that Mesa takes all kind of students. Now here's hoping they'll be participating in the October cohort....

MassagetoRN · May 15, 2009

I don't think so. I think its only March and July 2009, but I'm not 100%. There's also some talk about scaling back the cohort sizes to 20 students instead of 30 because of lack of new grad positions. The problem with that though is that Banner is trying to predict the need for new grads 2 years in advance. Maybe thats what is holding up the May 8th notifications.... I am just speculating though......

irlgirl79 · May 18, 2009

They do have a part time program. The July Cohort is a part time program at GWCC. I just found out that the October 2009 cohort at GWCC is for persons who already hold a bachelors degree so I will not be able to defer. There is also an EMCC october cohort but I am not sure the specifics of it. Jbac thanks for the info on part time programs.

I am curious how you found out that the October 2009 cohort at GWCC is for Bachelor's degree holders only??....is that just rumor, or did you hear that from a reliable source??....I believe that will influence people greatly in taking the time to work on the application for October GWCC cohort, if they don't have a degree.......will they be announcing that at the informational meeting??

thanks