GCC Weekend Program

Calzonan RN · Jun 9, 2007

I'm in the weekend program at GCC and it's not really as 'year round' as they say it is (or it wasn't for us at least). If you set a date for the 4th of July weekend you should be good to go. Warning though, nursing school is a lot of work and any distractions (wedding plans, baby, etc) can set you back some. We had two people planning weddings and they both failed block 3. You really have to be prepared to make a huge committment, even for the weekend program. It may be only two days a week, but it's a full-time program.

Good luck with school, you'll love the block one instructor!!!

Keli

1BUSY SN · Jun 16, 2007

Thanks but I don't want to get married on the 4th of July. However I have found out that the break for the weekend program always occurs the last week of June and the 1st week of July - just in case anyone else out there is interested. Coming from a family of nurses and nursing students I have been well schooled on how difficult it can be sometimes but I truly believe that we have to live our lives too. Giving up everything is perhaps the biggest failure of all because we fail to enjoy life around us. Though school is a priority for me - my children and my family will always be first.

I really believe that cheating ourselves out of enjoyment for 2 years is as responsible for failure as any distraction could ever be.

Congrats to all who just got in and to all of those getting ready to graduate! :balloons:

Calzonan RN · Jun 18, 2007

I think you may have misunderstood me. I was just letting you know a weekend that you should be out of school, not suggesting you get married on July 4th. Also, I never said that your life would be without enjoyment or family while in nursing school, quite the opposite. Those of us that have been successful while in nursing school have tried to lead as 'normal' a life as possible. But I've also seen a lot of people go into nursing school without really 'committing' to it, if that makes sense. You can still have relationships and a somewhat regular lifestyle while in nursing school, you just have to remember to focus and not become distracted by other things in your life. That's all I was really getting at.

So I'll say it again, good luck in nursing school, you're going to love it.

Keli

GCC blk 4

DesertWolf · Jun 18, 2007

i think you may have misunderstood me. i was just letting you know a weekend that you should be out of school, not suggesting you get married on july 4th. also, i never said that your life would be without enjoyment or family while in nursing school, quite the opposite. those of us that have been successful while in nursing school have tried to lead as 'normal' a life as possible. but i've also seen a lot of people go into nursing school without really 'committing' to it, if that makes sense. you can still have relationships and a somewhat regular lifestyle while in nursing school, you just have to remember to focus and not become distracted by other things in your life. that's all i was really getting at.
so i'll say it again, good luck in nursing school, you're going to love it.
keli
gcc blk 4

well said calzonan......

1BUSY SN · Jun 18, 2007

No misunderstanding at all. Thanks for the reply and suggestion. What I was saying is that next year the 4th is on a Sat and I don't want to compete with it. Also there seems to be a lot written and spoken on boards and between people (especially instructors during orientation) about putting everything in your life on a shelf and forgetting it for awhile to focus on nothing else but nursing school. I come from a psychology background so I tend to think still along those guidelines and believe that it plants a very negative seed with individuals already nervous about starting new careers. There seems to be a lot of talk on all the boards too that tend to plant the seed of "you'll have no life, no enjoyment, and all those around you will be neglected for nursing school." I t just seems such a negative idea to feed to folks and causes even more nervousness and uncertainty. I agree that living as normal as possible of a life and just simply being aware of the various distractions out in the world is the best recipe for success in any goal being sought. I also just wanted to give an fyi about what I had learned from the school about the break that would occur. Perhaps so much is lost in the written word that it can cause oversensitivity to what is actually being said or typed. I'm sure most have the best intentions but the venue may be what is lacking.

Calzonan RN · Jun 18, 2007

You're right, sometimes what you say online can come across in a different manner than you mean.

About orientation, take what they say with a grain of salt. They tried to terrify all of us by saying we'd be studying 60 hours a week, have no life etc., but that's not really realistic. I did study a lot, but I'm pretty good at time management and was able to set aside time after my kids were in bed so that my family life didn't suffer much. YOu do study a lot, though, and things like keeping your house clean or getting the laundry done on time may be where you make the sacrifices. I figure it's more important for my kids lives to be as normal as possible, the laundry and the housework can be a lower priority. Also, I've found quick to make meals that I can make for my family when I have a test I"m studying for, I just stock up my freezer. My original point had been, you just have to be well organized, know that your life will change some (ex. dirtier house, or missing your favorite TV programs etc.) and focus on completing school. If I could do it with six kids at home, anyone can....you just have to have focus.

Keli

ariannasmom · Jun 18, 2007

How hard is it to get into the weekend program? Were you put on a waiting list before you got in, if so how long did you wait? I'm interested in applying once my prerequisites are done.

1BUSY SN · Jun 19, 2007

It was about the same wait time as all of the other Community colleges. Just make it one of your choices on your app. It was my 1st choice due to childcare options. And I lived in Gilbert (now in QC) at the time and thought it was nicer to only have to go to class 2x per week. Its kinda a long drive. Just an FYI though many times you will end up driving there more than 2x per week to do labs or study groups. Also to do testing esp. in summer when typical campus stuff is closed on Fri and Sat. Good Luck.

ariannasmom · Jun 19, 2007

It was about the same wait time as all of the other Community colleges. Just make it one of your choices on your app. It was my 1st choice due to childcare options. And I lived in Gilbert (now in QC) at the time and thought it was nicer to only have to go to class 2x per week. Its kinda a long drive. Just an FYI though many times you will end up driving there more than 2x per week to do labs or study groups. Also to do testing esp. in summer when typical campus stuff is closed on Fri and Sat. Good Luck.

Thanks for the information! Sounds like this would be the best choice for me since I have kids and don't want to put them in daycare.

mxems · Aug 6, 2007

It was about the same wait time as all of the other Community colleges. Just make it one of your choices on your app. It was my 1st choice due to childcare options. And I lived in Gilbert (now in QC) at the time and thought it was nicer to only have to go to class 2x per week. Its kinda a long drive. Just an FYI though many times you will end up driving there more than 2x per week to do labs or study groups. Also to do testing esp. in summer when typical campus stuff is closed on Fri and Sat. Good Luck.

I also live in queen creek and am on a list for the part time program. I'm curious if you looked into the on-line program at Rio as an option? I'm kind of kicking it around right now. Have you heard anything about it?