boston reed lvn program,gurnick feedback

monica969 · Mar 11, 2008

I am in the LVN program at Gurnik and I graduate this april and take my boards in June. I like the program because it has night classes. I work part time and go to night classes. it is 14th months long. there are a few student who did not make it as far as I am because they didnt commit to studying. I would say this is a good school, other students in may class may say it is not that great because it seems unorganized, but when I've talked to my friends in RN programs in universities their school is the same way. Clinicals are ok, not as acute because again we are LVN in training not RNs. My grades are at the top, and so are my friends but it is not an easy program, you really do have to study as with any program. it is 14th months straight no summer breaks just a week break for spring and 2 weeks for summer and 2-3 wks for winter. let me know if you have any questions.

shalamar · Mar 12, 2008

Hi thanks for replying, I was wondering what the entrance test was like? was it hard? What is the passi ng rate, in other words are students passing the state exam? do you feel that you are getting a good education there? would you choose the school again? you mentioned the school is a little disorganized, just curious, what kind of things? sorry for so many questions. thanks for the info

monica969 · Mar 13, 2008

the entrance test was easy, it is more like a test for what level of knowledge you have. if you don't pass it just means you have to take the prereq class they offer. as for disorganization it is very minor with administrative things for clinicals but other than that all is good. i have had a good education. I am one of the top graduates, for my class. it is cheaper than unitek. as for those who pass the nclex most do pass. there is a required exit exam by hessi and it is an indicator if you pass that 90% you would pass the NCLEX. as for numbers, i dont know the exact number but i know those who took the nclex prep course passed the hessi exam and nclex first time around. it is an accelerated program. i do have a background in health care, therefore many skills and science come easy to me. my good friend was out of school for many years no background in health care but has done as well or even better than i have. for skills taught during clinicals: insertion of foley, feeding tube, wound dressing changes, injections, blood sugar checks, bathing patients in bed and out of bed, giving medications, trache suction and cleaning, nursing care plans, assessments. this is what i have learned. if i were you i would visit each school and look at their lab, or ask permission to sit in for a few min in a class. i didn't do that, i chose this school because of night school, it worked with my work. i quit my job and got a part time job to go to school. so look at those as well. with my clinicals i have received invitations to apply for jobs and use them as reference at the clinical site. hope that helps

LVNin2009 · Mar 14, 2008

I'll be attending Gurnick in a couple of weeks and take the evening class. Any suggestions as far as helpful referrence materials I could avail of? I haven't taken Microbiology and Physiology but the pre-reqs program was waived for me when I took the challenge exam. I read a little bit on microbiology but I know my knowledge on it is very scant. I just finished Anatomy at the time I took the challenge exam for entry into the core prgram. I don't want to cut corners and short-change myself. I have no medical scenario experience at all.

Can you share something on clinicals, and what I can look forward to encounter on my first few sessions doing it? I've been briefing my husband and older son about possible changes handling house chores while I'm in school. I really want to increase my chance of not only passing the LVN program but also to really do well as it is my hopes to further my nursing education.

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. I've been prgramming my brain like crazy that I'll do just fine. I have managed to conquer my fear of cadavers last semester in which there was an extensive dissections of human cadavers involved in the study of anatomy.

LVNin2009 · Mar 16, 2008

Thanks, babie969 for the private response/email! :up:

Ginny Weasley · Mar 28, 2008

I applied as well to the Boston Reed program. I take the entrance exam on April 15. I'm worried because they sent me the study guide and what they refer to as "basic" math is a lot of pre-algebra! I never finished pre-algebra, so that's why I'm worried. Is the math section hard? I'm making myself try to learn how to do it as we speak. I even went to the library to find books on pre-algebra to help me study. The english part looks way easy. I shouldn't have any problem with that. So is it hard?

shalamar · Apr 1, 2008

Oh my Gosh!! are trying to get into Martinez adult school? where do you go take the test? I applied somewhere else, but Iam seriously thinking of getting my info off to boston reed for the Martinez adult school. even if I lose he 100 bucks, at least if I get rejected by my first choice, Ill have a chance with Boston reed. Iam looking to hear from you soon, respond asap. thanks and study! study! study!

moosepie · Jun 12, 2008

I haven't taken Microbiology and Physiology but the pre-reqs program was waived for me when I took the challenge exam. I read a little bit on microbiology but I know my knowledge on it is very scant. I just finished Anatomy at the time I took the challenge exam for entry into the core prgram.

Hiya,

I'm looking at Gurnick, too (heard about it on allnurses!).

Could you clarify: in addition to the basic math/reading test, you passed the challenge exam to skip the pre-req class "Essential Medical Bioscience"? And you were able to do it with just Anatomy and a lil Microbiology knowledge (no deep physiology)?

I'm hoping to skip the pre-req but I don't know how hard or quite what to study! I called one Gurnick office and the person mentioned there may even be questions on basic nutrition -- sheesh! I may ask the local office if they could at least give out some kind of 1-page syllabus listing the general topics covered in the Essentials pre-req class. Otherwise I may drive myself nuts reviewing/learning A&P, microbio, medical terminology, nutrition, international finance, basketweaving...

monica969 · Jun 12, 2008

For Gurnik, I passed the entrance exam but not the challenge, even though I have a BS in Biology. But I was actually glad I didn't pass the challenge test because it made me a better student and I got to know the teacher who was going to teach the A & P course and met my nursing friends there as well. Over all I passed my Hesi test which is your exit test the first time and graduated with honors. The pre-req challenge test is not too much into detail and nutrition is probably like 2-3 questions and the rest very simply bio and other sciences. which campus are you going to?

monica969 · Jun 12, 2008

the pre-req test is not too difficult, not too detailed. i unfortunately did not pass that test but in a way i'm glad i didn't. i got a lot from the essential bio class, i got to know the teacher who taught A & P and met my friends there which formed into my study buddies. The three of us all passed the exit exam and graduated with honors. there was maybe 2-3 nuturition questions, i can't even remember them, mostly bio and general science. which campus are you planning on going to?

moosepie · Jun 14, 2008

thanks for sharing your experience. congrats on graduating!

i'm looking at the concord campus (looks like it's near BART).