Calling all Paducah, KY Nurses!

Published

I am a pre-nursing student at WKCTCS (Paducah) and noticed the KY forum seems overrun with people in Lexington-Louisville area. If you are a current or former student at the college or just a Paducah nurse in general give a shout out. We newbs need some good resources and some insider info on the local nursing scene.

I am a 32 year old male starting my nursing classes either spring or fall 2010 (may need the prereqs from fall to bankrupt a 10-year old B.A. GPA to get accepted). I am interested in ICU at either local hospital and eventually getting my CRNA.

Specializes in Alzheimers and geriatric patients.

I got my letter today and I have 93 points. So she said above 90 pts was good? I haven't talked to that many other students so I wasn't sure what the median points was, but that makes me feel a lot better!

I'm taking A&P l this fall also. Who are you taking? I've got ballard and hilinka. Hopefully we are both in!!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I've got Garr on Wedns nights....its a back to back, lecture then lab. This is how I take all my classes, at night, 1 day a week.....I've got 4 kids so I have to take evening classes ( or internet) so dh can watch the kiddos.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I got my letter today and I have 93 points. So she said above 90 pts was good? I haven't talked to that many other students so I wasn't sure what the median points was, but that makes me feel a lot better!

I'm taking A&P l this fall also. Who are you taking? I've got ballard and hilinka. Hopefully we are both in!!!!

I would say that, yes, 93 is good!! I guess I'll see ya in Nursing 101:yeah:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Alzheimers and geriatric patients.

I feel ya- I've got 2 little ones. Luckily I have wonderful childcare so it makes scheduling classes a lot easier. Let me know when you get your letter!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Got my letter says 61 points so a little better than I expected.. guess they gave me the 12 credit hour points since I have a previous Bachelors degree...and will have 12 hours after fall semester. Just hope for lousy competition for spring entry.

Wife only has 53 pts and will need to retake a few classes to get her GPA up unless its really low this semester. Son was really sick first couple of years and wife had to miss a ton of school so GPA suffered! (she has a A.S. in Business) She's hoping she won't have to get her LPN first :cry:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Alzheimers and geriatric patients.

Hang in there! I wanted to apply for Fall 2009 admission but I had an awful high school GPA so I would have had 64 points (although I had a friend who did apply for fall and said they waitlisted students who had 62-64 points so maybe I should have applied!)

I hated that I was having to wait ANOTHER semester but I still had gen eds to take so it wasn't that bad. I really hope we all get in!

At least if you don't get in this time, you'll probably get in the Fall 2010 since then you can bankrupt your old grades. Let us know when you find out something!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Good luck to all you applying for spring 2010.

Mimib, I got your message but can't reply yet due to me not posting enough!! :) Anyway, I am ready for my second semester of nursing this fall. You asked what could make it easier on you. I had taken AP II with nsg 101 and it was tough. I got an A in AP II and a B in nsg, but it was difficult considering when I got home, studying was hard with having kids to deal with. If you can take as many classes before nursing or in the summer to just allow nursing classes only, it will help. This summer I am taking two classes online and next summer will do the same also to help lighten the load. I scheduled study time and that also helped. I didn't go home, I either stayed there in the Allied Health Building or went to the library. Like I said, when you go home there is too many distractions waiting.

I hope this helps. Have any more questions, just holla!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

KeithJones: If it helps, I got into the spring 09 program with 62 points. Maybe it will happen for you too!! Fingers crossed.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

About clinicals, day one or on day two, you will sign up for either Tuesday or Thursday, so be deciding with your schedule what works best. If you live closer to Mayfield then you can elect to do all clinicals there on either Tues or Thurs also. Then the instructors will divide everybody into groups for each of those days and will post them on the board in the classroom. Paducah groups will either go to Parkview or Lourdes or Lourdes. Two different floors you will work on. You will rotate through all three. Parkview clinicals start at 0700hrs and normally Lourdes is 0800hrs or 0900hrs.

Info about picking your clinical day. You have to do work the day before you go to clinical. You must go to your designated spot and get client info in order to do paperwork so you will be prepared the next day for clinicals. Parkview was easy to get info but alot of at home looking up drugs info and filling paperwork out. Took average 3-5 hours. Lourdes, I did client info once and I was at the hospital 1.5hours and spent another 3 at home filling all of it out.

This will all make more sense when you are actually doing clinicals but wanted to give you a heads up on time requirements involved. I had class on wed all day until 4pm then had to run and get all info for my clinical on Thurs. I didn't get home until at least 5 - 530 and still had several hours worth of work ahead of me. Did I also say we had exams on Friday. After working your butt off at clinical, you then had to study for exam. The plus side is I had Tuesday to study for AP II lec and lab. Got an A in that thanks to having Tuesday off.

Depends on how you want to do things, but hope this helps.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

DRA and Mimib,

Hlinka is a good teacher. Just listen to her and study her handouts. I don't think I even used my book!! I heard good and bad things about Ballard. You be the judge on that one.

Garr on Wed nights, good luck. I know four people that barely passed last semester due to his teaching and info didn't match tests. There was quite alot of problems. Maybe they will be straightened out.

I know you both said you had kids, have you checked into childcare assistance? What about WIA? There are different programs under WIA which you may qualify for. I didn't my first semster but now have and it pays for everything and any pell grant money you pocket. That will be paying for my childcare. It also pays for books and uniforms. It is worth checking out and all they can say is no and you are out maybe one hour of your time. I know you have to apply after being accepted into the program. Need more info just let me know.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

SHW129, Super Thanks! for all the great info. I am planning to apply for the child care assistance grant. Like you said, all they can say is no. We do exceed the income guidline, however, our situation is somewhat unique in that we provide over 50% of the annual income for a child (my wonderful stepson) who does not live with us primarily and isn't counted in number of household members. If they will consider that it will place us in a little higher income bracket....but we would still be over somewhat. In any case, all I can do is ask. I will only have one child not in school this year so that will help somewhat I suppose.

As for WIA, someone once told me about this when I was in school for Nail Tech several years ago. Nail Tech was not an approved area of study, but I'm assuming nursing is? Would you mind giving me contact info for WIA either here or in a pm?

About Garr....I KNOW! Every single person says the exact same thing, lol. I guess I'm just gonna have to count on my uncanny ability to deal with difficult instructors to eek out an A in this course. Believe me, if there was ANY other way, I would not have chosen him. But there wasn't. It was only at the last minute (after all of the classes were filled) that I discovered I would be able to do the Nursing program (kinda a long story). There was only 1 seat left for the Math class I needed, and only one A&P night class still open (and it was Garr). I jumped in my car, raced to Paducah from Marshal County, arrived at the advising center just 30 min before closing, waited to see an advisor without an appt., and was able to secure that last seat in the online Math and a seat in A&P so I would be able to fullfil my pre-req requirments before Spring. It was a close one. Its hard for people to believe, but those two classes were either gonna make or break Spring Nursing for me. Without em, I would have to wait 7 more mths for Fall Nursing 2010.

I thought we only had class for like half a day on certain days? Can you give a brief run down of what your hours were Mon, Wedns, and Fri? And are clinicals all day? And we have either Tues or Thurs off depending which clinical day we choose? Your Friday exams, were those A&P exams or Nursing Exams?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Alzheimers and geriatric patients.

Thanks a million. I'm nervous about the Lourdes clinicals (never worked at a hospital) but I've worked at nursing homes for 6 years so I think I'll be able to adjust to Parkview.

I've always heard that Hilinka is hard but if you study you'll pass. I guess I'll see this fall!

I've never heard of WIA. What exactly is it?? As far as childcare my mom doesn't work and watches my kids while I'm at school, so I've never had to apply for the childcare assistance.

Anyways, thanks for your reply. I'm always digging for info about the program!

SHW129- You have any tips about how to make it through the program? Thanks!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion