Galen LPN program in Tampa

LFalcon · Apr 25, 2010

WOW! What a great deal!! geez, I might move out of my house!!!! They sound nice! That area is great because you are central to go places in Florida. Because I have lived in St. Pete I am not used to Tampa, but many students drive hours to get to school... springhill - plant city - brandon.. so you are not too far. Traffic will be a small hiccup - Atlanta has GREAT road systems, Tampa -- ummm not so much. but it's getting better. You will just have time in your car to listen to lectures!! :)

I stayed in Atlanta for a couple weeks I loved it!!! just LOVED it! IRB is niiiiicccee.. my son lives on IRB with his dad. I live about 6 miles from Madeira Beach, we end up taking it for granted... terrible!

Oh' and going over the bridge in the AM will be so pretty... a friend from school sends me pics from his phone...

The school system, well I think Florida is one of the worst? My son is 17 and has always been in public school - he is an honors/AP student - I honestly think allot of it is parent participation. I have always been very involved in my sons school activities and kept him busy. I talk to the teachers and stay connected.. I have always applied for the magnet programs as he is in band and it has helped... I know people complain... but also the schools close to you may be different..

The weather is in one word humid! but.. you get used to it. The water parks are a BLAST in the summer!! I love adventure Island - your kids will too.. the theme parks are kinda hot to me in the summer. I have never been a disney person, but the Islands of Adventure park is fun. Your complex should have a pool and that will keep them plenty busy too..

my email is [email protected] - and I also have a facebook page. Lots of Galen people use Facebook!! Lots - not so much the Galen Facebook site - but Facebook to communicate and share...

Take Care - and go ahead and email me at my personal email... see ya!!

Lisa

Yes the apartments that i found were like past downtown and the casino, they have not even finished building them yet, but they look really nice, and they are only 798.00 for a three bedroom, which is really nice. When i visited then early this month i stayed right around the corner from the school, since i did not want to get lost while looking for the school. I stayed off ulmerton rd.... I drove around st pete looking for apts.... but they all seemed so expensive in st pete. I will be moving from GA..... now i love Atlanta and i will miss it, but i have to do what i have to do. I visited Indian rock beach, which was beautiful i was in awww, cause i love the ocean so much, and its kinda wierd that i will be living that close to it. I forgot how close i was to the water until i had to go over the bridge. It seemed like the apts were far away but they were not that far, my GPS said only 30 min. Here in Atlanta you have to drive everywhere and traffic is terrible. So i am pretty much use to having to drive close to an hour to get anywhere. The scenery is also very different, but i love the palm trees. I am dreading the heat.... it was only 80 when i was there which was bearable, but i can just imagine how i will be literally melting just walking to my car... LOL.... How is the school system? I also have kids, which they are so excited to be moving to FL, since we will be so close to orlando, and major water parks, and attractions.

jplevin81 · May 5, 2010

I would not recommend spending your money or time attending Galen-Tampa! The admissions counselors are very nice & provide for a wonderful tour but they leave out a lot of details, such as any "sales-person" does. I attended Galen for 6 months (2 quarters). What they don't tell you is that for quarter 1, you have to pay over $1,000 out of pocket. Financial aid doesn't cover that portion because 1st quarter has more credit hours. Galen is a "weeding-game" and if you can't play the game, then look into another program and fight the fight. Expect at least 10% to withdraw from quarter 1 and another 10% AT LEAST to FAIL quarter one and NOT BE ALLOWED TO RETURN. THEY WILL DISMISS YOU AND HAVE YOU FORFEIT YOUR ID-BADGE ON THE SPOT. Galen does have an "ok" faculty but if you aren't willing to kiss an ass, there is no hope. If you think you are an A or B student, think again before enrolling and signing your life away on that bottom line. The tools are there - don't get me wrong! The hands on experience is there - don't get me wrong. But this program is VERY VERY accelerated and if the average person doesn't have at least 3 hours/night to READ, STUDY, PRACTICE CRITICAL THINKING, and 12 hours on the weekend to devote to your book(s), then it's not the right realm for you. Working is IMPOSSIBLE! If you have a job, you need to resign to succeed. If you miss a lecture - you better hope someone recorded it for you. If you miss a lab, you will probably fail CPE's (Clinical Performance Exams). The best part is FINAL WEEK. First quarter you have 3 finals all in the same week. DON'T expect to see your grade until all exams go in front of the dean. And if you'd like to see your test after the fact - good luck! Today was the end of quarter 2 and 13 classmates including me failed Maternity/Infant and it was a disaster. Our original class of November '09 downsized from 55+ students to 32 in 24 weeks. The final exam was almost as bad as being raped. Furthermore, it's crushing to be told that "you are dismissed and cannot repeat the course because there is just no room." You get half way and it's like someone robbed you of something. And none of the courses will transfer to a different school. P.S. the RN Bridge program is a ADN, NOT AN ASN. It is NOT regionally accredited and you cannot earn your BSN with credits from Galen. They will tell you that the RN will become fully accredited SOON! And they will tell you that the RN will become fully accredited SOON! Wait...did I already say that? So will they! They will say it again, and again, and again. There are other LPN career programs out there. My advice is to chose an alternate the FIRST TIME! Good luck with your decision.

LFalcon · May 5, 2010

I am a 1st qtr student... failed CPE's first time round... repeating Funds I... I saw you all in the hallways - I felt so bad you all looked so upset - rightly so.

We took NSH Final today - apparently all passed. I don't understand so far everyone has passed everything... including CPE's when will those be told they failed and are not allowed back? Please let me know - I just thought you failed the class you failed with an opportunity to retake the class?? not true? Our class has only lost 2 people... 2 - 2 out of 56!! because they quit - because they wanted to hang out at the beach... no other reason... perhaps that is the reason maternal infant is so full? 2 of us failed CPE at the 6 week mark... 1 more CPE day to go (tomorrow ) so time will tell...but at this point 52 people are moving in qtr 2 from the Feb 2011 class.. pretty good odds - am I missing something? did you talk to the dean? Bobbi Martin? I am just asking as they are so nice and helpful...

kgill1204 · May 5, 2010

Hey Lfalcon I emaile you a while back, dont know if you received it... I feel so bad for him too. I am not going to lie i am scared of failing, but failing at this point is just not a option. Even if i had to read medical journals all day....... How have things been going for you? I will be moving there in less then a month.... hope to meet you at school.

LFalcon · May 5, 2010

Hey - Kelli I will send you an email from my private email... :)

Michy60 · May 13, 2010

Hello everyone i will be relocating to Fl in June, and i hope to get into Galens Aug 16th 2010 class. I recently visited there and took their PAX-PN exam and passed. However the admissons rep stated that they will not be enrolling the aug class until May, and he said that as soon as i move down there that i need to obtain a Fl drivers license and come in for a interview, then the board will meet, What will the board look at?
I am hoping to get accepted in their day class which is only 12 months, but i would seattle for the night class. Then i am hoping to get accepted into their RN program. Anyone planing on attending the Aug 16th 2010 class? and does anyone know how many students that they accept and is it hard to get accepted?
Thanks.......

Hi,

I am taking the PAX-PN next week and I've been told that once you pass the exam acceptance into the program is pretty much guaranteed. I plan to attend the program full time so I will resign from my job and apply for loans to cover my living expenses. The enrollment counselor I have tells me that the class for Aug will not be choosing students until after the May class begins so he told me to take my exam by May 29th and I would be fine.

The thing that worries me is I don't have any of my shot records so I guess I have to get all those shots again.:crying2:

How long did it take you to get your test results? I was told that when you meet with the board; it's just a basic interview to meet you and determine your goals and motivation.

I live in North Tampa so I have quite a drive to the school but that's the least of my worries. I just hope I'll do well in all the classes and become a great nurse.

I've been studying for the exam for about a 6 weeks so I am confident that I'll pass.

We should def stay in touch; we will probably be in the same class.

LFalcon · May 13, 2010

Hi,
I am taking the PAX-PN next week and I've been told that once you pass the exam acceptance into the program is pretty much guaranteed. I plan to attend the program full time so I will resign from my job and apply for loans to cover my living expenses. The enrollment counselor I have tells me that the class for Aug will not be choosing students until after the May class begins so he told me to take my exam by May 29th and I would be fine.
The thing that worries me is I don't have any of my shot records so I guess I have to get all those shots again.:crying2:
How long did it take you to get your test results? I was told that when you meet with the board; it's just a basic interview to meet you and determine your goals and motivation.
I live in North Tampa so I have quite a drive to the school but that's the least of my worries. I just hope I'll do well in all the classes and become a great nurse.
I've been studying for the exam for about a 6 weeks so I am confident that I'll pass.
We should def stay in touch; we will probably be in the same class.

You don't have to get the shots over again, you can get your blood drawn and they can pull titers. If you have health insurance all the better!! If not, check around. The school deals with Lakeside Medical in St. Pete, they will do the tests and are used to Galen's requirements. Just be sure you get 2 TB tests, and read through the paperwork carefully. Several people in our class had to miss the first day of clinicals because of problems with their medical stuff, and you don't get but 1 or 2 days absence... Maybe the front desk has a medical office in Tampa? Just a suggestion as the medical part had us all running everywhere... :eek:

Good luck on the test, I am sure you will do great - oh' and they usually tell you your score immediately.... pretty cool!!!

Michy60 · May 14, 2010

Thanks so much for the info; I appreciate it. I have medical insurance so I will ask my family doc.

Michy

sj9983 · Jan 3, 2012

Hey, do you have any books still? My number is 419-819-8681 if you do!!