GCC Part-time Weekend Program - Anyone?

SNIXRN · Nov 4, 2008

Hey Jen! Just wanted to say hi! I just got accepted in the GCC Weekend program too!! : )

AZJENC · Nov 5, 2008

Do you start in January? Look forward to being classmates. I'm sure I'll be seeing you soon at the orientation seminars. :yeah:

skyae · Nov 8, 2008

I start at GCC's weekend day program in January too. :) Are you guys so excited?

SNIXRN · Nov 8, 2008

Hey Skyae!

Congrats on getting in : ) I'm super excited to start

Was the GCC Weekend Program one of your top picks?

sassiebaz · Nov 9, 2008

I knew someone that just recently graduated from there. It's intense, so don't let the part time aspect fool you! A handful of people dropped or were droppped over the course of the 2 years(or whatever the time frame is). You do need to have time during the week to study and do the work. It's a tough one. Not trying to scare you, but I believe that is just the reality of this program. Good luck to all of you, and congrats for finally getting in! :yeah:

frenchywoman · Nov 17, 2008

I am currently in the GCC week-end program finishing up Block 2 so you can say that I am in the "old " week-end nursing program since it changed this semester. This is NOT a part-time program! It is very intense and LOTS of studying time is required. I didn't do as much of the required reading in Block 1 as I should have and passed without a problem. It was mostly NA stuff and since I am a CNA I found it easy. However we had Psych and it was challending but you won't have to worry about that since they changed the program. Now in Block 2 I had to do most of the reading because the instructors tested from the textbooks and lectures. We didn't start clinicals until we passed the finals which means that we had lectures every Friday and Saturday for about 3 months. The finals were that same week for Process and Pharm which sucked! We did have OB and Peds which you won't have. The tests have to be taken outside class time and will either be computerized or scantron In pharm we had hybrid days too where we would self-teach and take a test. I really don't understand the rationale for that. We didn't loose anybody in Block 1, picked up two new students in Block 2 and lost 2 students as well. Block 2 was the most difficult Block for me and I am sure that Blocks 3 and 4 will be even more challenging. During Med/Surg rotation, we have to pick our patients on Thursdays and prepare two care plan prep for them due the next morning at 0630. This could take about 10 hours (when starting out) of your day to do! You will also have to spend some time in the lab outside class hours to practice skills. We had to video tape ourselves performing trach care, nasotracheal suctioning & NG tube insertion for check offs. It was weird!

My best advice to you if you work FT is to decrease the amount of time you work to a max of 20 hrs/week. I would also suggest that you start practicing NCLEX questions. Buy a book like Saunders and put some time aside everyday to answer some questions. It helped me so much!!!! I also bough the HESI NCLEX-LPN book to help me review the major points. This book is awesome! I am planning on buying the RN one soon. It does cost about $60.00 but so worth it. I used a 40% coupon from Borders which helped a lot! Oh also you should get a voice recorder, so worth it! I download all of my lectures and videos into my ipod, It helps me remember better plus when the instructor mentions something twice or says that you need to know something then you can make a note of it because it will be on the test for sure!

Good luck to all of you that are starting next spring! Get ready for a nice and long orientation day! (I mean ALL DAY!) A lot of good info will be given but so scary and overwhelming, especially when they tell you that the letter "C" is now your best friend! I have never had a "C" as of yet and hope to never get one, but I have heard that it is true!

SNIXRN · Nov 21, 2008

Woo hoo! Got my info packet today!!

NursingStudentGCC · Nov 24, 2008

Hi everybody! I am new here. I finally got placed in the weekend program starting in January!!!! I look forward to meeting you all at orientation. Much luck to everyone!! :wink2:

SNIXRN · Nov 25, 2008

Hi everybody! I am new here. I finally got placed in the weekend program starting in January!!!! I look forward to meeting you all at orientation. Much luck to everyone!! :wink2:

Congrats on getting in!!

AZJENC · Dec 6, 2008

I'm getting a little nervous now. I've done all my health checklist stuff and financial aid has been a problem because I'm switching from Paradise Valley to Glendale but I think I finally got it fixed. I talked to the bookstore at GCC and they said Monday they should have the big packet of books in. I told my husband he's gonna have to go with me to help me carry all of them. I'm just trying to get all my finals for this semester over with so I can focus on the nursing program and maybe relax a little before we start. I have a friend that's in Phoenix's accelerated program and she told me it's all about organizing your time. We're both stay at home moms with kids so she said it's good to get study groups together and try to do homework and studying away from home.

Well I can't wait to get started. Looking forward to meeting everyone. Good luck to everyone and hopefully we'll all have a good year next year.