Gateway Community College Fast Track LPN

When I was accepted to the LPN program at Gateway, I spent a lot of time on these boards trying to find info from other students. But there just wasn't much out there. So I hope this helps another person who is thinking about applying. I just started the program so I hope to update this periodically throughout. Here goes,

How long did I wait? I turned in my application on 4/25/18 and was admitted 4/16/19. I had 10 days to confirm or deny placement. Then I received information about the background check and the health and safety documents. I had to register for classes by 5/24/19.

How much does it cost? Total semester 1 tuition for an AZ resident is approximately 1090. The PN program is 11 credit hours. I'm paying out of pocket so with the payment plan I pay $179.19 per month.

What are the requirements? You have to either currently be a CNA or you have to have completed the CNA course at one of the community colleges within the past year. I took my CNA course at AMTI in Mesa so I was just required to show proof of that.

Health and safety requirements? You can find a list of these in the PN program application. For measles, mumps and rubella, I had my mom send me a copy of my immunization records. For varicella (chickenpox), I had a titer drawn. I had chickenpox as a kid. I declined the Hep B vaccine. For the flu shot, you have to wait until the shots become available for the current flu season. We were all told to wait for further instructions.

Books and supplies? You may as well just sign your paycheck over to Gateway. LOL The books are expensive but I'm playing it by ear and waiting to see what we're going to use. Schools are notorious for requiring things that you aren't actually going to use. There are extras however that I didn't find out about until orientation. In addition to Castle Branch, there are other programs used to track information about your clinicals and labs. These have to be paid for. Then you will need specific supplies. You will also have to pay for the drug test. Plus anything extra, like paper and pens, etc. The school is really pushing e-books but we don't actually have to take the books to class. This might change. It's still early on. But I do have physical textbooks so that I can study at work if I need to.

When they say accelerated, they mean it. Our first test is 8/26 and its over 9 chapters. Mostly fundamentals. Clinicals start for my group in early September and for the first semester we're doing long term care and correctional health. Next term is labor and delivery and more med surg but I don't know where we'll be placed for clinicals.

Will post more updates in the future.