Gateway LPN Fast Track

inspiredRN10 · Nov 7, 2010

I just don't get how there could be that many people on the wait list! If you go back through these posts on here, this time exactly last year, several people who applied got right in, and even more last spring a girl I know applied in April and got in for this fall. And they added the summer program. I mean after that April date, they accepted people for the summer session AND fall, thats 140 people ahead of us that have already started the program! If we are the next group to apply how is there 100 people left to get placed! That just doesn't make sense to me! Maybe I am just being hopeful! :) I heard the counselors are specifically told to not release a lot of information. I know that they don't want this program to become backed up like the regular nursing programs at the colleges, with a wait list of 2 years! I heard they try to accept as many people as possible, and try to not have a wait list, hence the reason the afternoon and summer session started…Given that is all hearsay but logically that just seems like a lot of people! I hope we all get in…like soon! :)

rzyzzy · Nov 8, 2010

I just don't get how there could be that many people on the wait list! If you go back through these posts on here, this time exactly last year, several people who applied got right in, and even more last spring a girl I know applied in April and got in for this fall. And they added the summer program. I mean after that April date, they accepted people for the summer session AND fall, thats 140 people ahead of us that have already started the program! If we are the next group to apply how is there 100 people left to get placed! That just doesn't make sense to me! Maybe I am just being hopeful! :) I heard the counselors are specifically told to not release a lot of information. I know that they don't want this program to become backed up like the regular nursing programs at the colleges, with a wait list of 2 years! I heard they try to accept as many people as possible, and try to not have a wait list, hence the reason the afternoon and summer session started...Given that is all hearsay but logically that just seems like a lot of people! I hope we all get in...like soon! :)

They weren't able to add classes like they were in the past due to budget cuts. If you think the nursing program is bad, check into the wait list for radiology... I heard their list is approaching five years...

miteacher, ADN, MSN · Nov 8, 2010

No, I work as a teacher, so that was the reason why I chose gateway. It was the only program that would allow me to teach at least through most of it.

I did take the CNA course over the summer, but never tried applying for a job or anything. Are there positions available that are only on the weekends? Something like that might work for me just so I could get some experience and learn more while I'm waiting to get in...It also might be a plus because I don't work in the summer.

Are they hiring right now at Mayo for CNA's? I looked at some positions but it looks like some of the other hospitals wanted people who already had experience as a CNA and i don't have any. What do you think?

azcna · Nov 9, 2010

The reason for the summer class was actually due to emergency federal funding meant to give displaced workers new skills. It is highly unlikely that they will have a summer program for '11 unless another bill is passed.

I was under the impression that they were going to start doing that every year to accommodate more students, but I got a little suspicious after I asked the main nursing advisor and she had not even heard of it :/

azcna · Nov 9, 2010

Miteacher- Most hospitals will want you to have at least 1 year of experience before applying. It is really hard to get into Mayo, especially now as they are cutting back.

I would recommend working in a nursing home for a short period of time to gain some experience. You will master time management within your first month, you will learn to deal with families, and you'll learn how to deal with ridiculously crabby and particular patients. The majority of the patient population is geriatric, so I figure it is a great place to start.

And who knows, maybe after getting through the LPN program you could land a job at whatever NH you worked for!

miteacher, ADN, MSN · Nov 9, 2010

I was planning on trying to relocate to another state after I finish nursing school because it seems there are not any kind of jobs available. I will look into nursing homes...that's where I did my hours for my CNA course. I know that there are some nursing homes that hire.

At least I can get my last science class out of the way while I'm waiting.

azcna · Nov 10, 2010

Most nursing homes have high turn-around, so they are constantly hiring. Some people from my CNA class said "I never want to work in a nursing home", but it is great experience. And you really do make peoples lives better :)

rzyzzy · Nov 10, 2010

I was planning on trying to relocate to another state after I finish nursing school because it seems there are not any kind of jobs available. I will look into nursing homes...that's where I did my hours for my CNA course. I know that there are some nursing homes that hire.
At least I can get my last science class out of the way while I'm waiting.

I wouldn't worry too much about getting a cna job if you've already got a teaching job - block 1 is all nursing home/snf, anyway, and the skills tested in both blocks are pretty basic - passing meds, changing a dressing, inserting a foley, giving insulin injections - those aren't skills you can practice as a cna, and when you do go to get a nursing job, cna experience doesn't matter for lpn jobs, lpn experience doesn't matter for rn jobs, etc.

As far as leaving the state, I'd just say wait and see, because a lot can happen in two years - there wasn't a waiting list for the lpn program or advanced placement two years ago. Even in this economy, 80% of last years RN grads were able to find a job within 6 months - the glass is a little more than half-full!

miteacher, ADN, MSN · Nov 10, 2010

I guess I should try to remain positive and see what happens when I finish. I would actually prefer to move somewhere colder though

steven h · Nov 19, 2010

Has anyone been notified that they have been accepted to the Spring Jan 2011 fast track program? Notifications were being mailed out this week

inspiredRN10 · Nov 19, 2010

If you applied this November notifications are going out next week, starting the 22nd. If you applied prior to that application period than notifications were supposedly going out this week. I haven't heard of anyone receiving anything yet. Makes you wonder how many people were on their "wait list"

miteacher, ADN, MSN · Nov 19, 2010

That's weird. I thought that the people who were waiting from last time would have received notification already. I applied for January, and I know that were supposed to start receiving notification next week....I would have thought that the people who were starting this time would have been notified by this point.