GCU Summer Program

My advisor called me today. The Scottsdale campus will still have a night program but like I said AT Still switched to day!

Thank you bskinner 661 and inspiredRN10 for your input!!! And congrats on getting into the nursing program to you both! Can't wait til i'm in your position!

Hello all --

After finding out ASU's 2nd degree program is a no-go for the time being, I began researching other 2nd degree options and saw that GCU had one, then subsequently came across this thread. I am not at a point where I am ready to talk to an advisor, so I was wondering if someone could clarify a few things:

1) Based on information in this thread, the second degree program is only offered at the GCU campus? And is this only offered during the day or is there an evening/weekend option?

2) I see a few of you are planning on doing a 5 semester evening/weekend program at other campuses - is this some kind of accelerated program, not necessarily a 2nd degree program?

3) Does anyone know what the evening/weekend schedule is like? I would be interested in an option where I could work while going to school to offset having to take out too much financial aid.

I realize these programs are subject to change, but any info would be appreciated! I plan on getting on the Maricopa Waitlist later this year and am trying to explore all other options. Thanks for your time ;-)

Hi broghan 99!

From what my counselor told me, the 2nd degree cohort program sets aside about 20-30 spots at their home campus GCU in phoenix. This is a day program (4 days during the week), and it depends on how many applicants apply with bachelors if this program happens. Some semesters it happens, others not. This summer and last spring both had 2nd degree cohort groups. The fast track program is 20 months at any campus. The night program which is now only at the Scottsdale campus is 3 nights during the week, 5 to 9:30 with clinicals being all day Saturdays. I will be graduating in May and I was concerned that they didn't have a set in stone 2nd degree program, but from what I have seen that program does not differ from the fast track program, both are 20 months, and you have the option of a few other campuses. I hope I helped! I am sure you will get a few more responses back, there are a few of us that keep in touch through this thread! :) When are you thinking of applying? (I am sooo bummed out about ASU pulling their 2nd degree program!!! That's ASU for you!)

Whoa, to clarify I will be graduating from ASU in May with a non nursing degree...I wish I was graduating from nursing in May! Ha! :)

Hello InspiredRN!

I remember you responded to my ASU post, thank you for that. ;-) And thanks so much for the clarification on GCU. I am still in the pre-req process, but having mathed things out, I would probably be in a position to apply for GCU's Fall 2012 evening program. I made the decision to pursue nursing last year and have been monitoring this forum religiously ever since. I have seen so many changes to all the different program options, so I am trying to cover all my bases. I would love to do an evening program through Maricopa, but it looks like I'd be waiting a while to even start. I'll still do the Maricopa waitlist, just in case things don't work out otherwise. ASU's program had me intrigued, but I'm not too bummed as GCU has a competitive NCLEX pass rate and it sounds like they have really good clinical locations, not to mention the whole evening/weekend thing.

Barring no new developments, I'll probably meet with an advisor this summer to make sure I get up-to-date info and am on the right path with pre-reqs. It looks like you are going to be applying for Fall 2011, is that correct? I will definitely contribute any info I have about the program and my experiences once I have something to share lol. ;-)

So, what did you think of orientation? Are you doing SJMC or main campus? I wish the uniform shop had been there to try on sizes. I'm taking the drive to Tempe on Saturday just to get everything ordered on time! I hate waiting until the last minute.

Sorry I didn't reply to the CPR question! I didn't get a notification in my email. I took my cpr at GCC. (now that its too late!)

Please GCUJen tell us what it was like at orientation and your schedule?!! I am taking the TEAS on tuesday and after that I am ALL done and fully applied. I am so nervous about that dang test!!

Good luck on your test, InspiredRN10!

So, what did you think of orientation? Are you doing SJMC or main campus? I wish the uniform shop had been there to try on sizes. I'm taking the drive to Tempe on Saturday just to get everything ordered on time! I hate waiting until the last minute.

Sorry I didn't reply to the CPR question! I didn't get a notification in my email. I took my cpr at GCC. (now that its too late!)

No worries about the cpr!!

I am SJMC, you also right? Oh my, all I can say is I'm a little overwhelmed with it all. I'm sure once I get thru the first fews weeks I will feel much better about the whole thing (I hope). I HATE the schedule!!! It is so all over the place & seems a little unorganized in my opinion. I wonder how the main campus schedule is? It is definately going to be difficult because I HAVE to work full time. Thankfully, my job is pretty flexible and I don't report in or out at any particular time and a lot of my work can be done from home or from a laptop. I know being in the hospital will better prepare me for what's it's really gonna be like but I feel like we are displaced having to move around to so many classrooms. What are your feelings?

As far as the scrubs, I went down and ordered 2 tops today and bought my pants at Scrubs and Beyond. They are a little cheaper there. If you are not close to Tempe to go size, they are 'Landau' brand so you could try them on at any scrub shop, then order online. He said my tops would be back late tomorrow or early Monday from getting embroidered. Are you gonna wear your scrubs to all class or just when necessary?

Inspired I will post the schedule later. Basically though it is 4 days, morning & afternoon, 4 - 8 hours a day with some split shifts, no Wednesday classes right now. Good luck on your TEAS....you will do fine so don't stress it!!

Please GCUJen tell us what it was like at orientation and your schedule?!! I am taking the TEAS on tuesday and after that I am ALL done and fully applied. I am so nervous about that dang test!!

I know how you are feeling! I studied for weeks and did pretty well. I highly suggest the TEAS practice book from ATI. It is well worth the money and you can see which areas you need to strengthen and which areas you will do well on.

For the schedule we received, keep in mind that classes change every 8 weeks and the schedule we have now may not be the same for a new cohort. We have NUR209 on Mondays and Thursdays, and NUR206A Tuesdays and Fridays. Start times vary with 0800 being the earliest and end times are no later than 1700 (for now). Also, there is an online class UNV103. This is only the first 8 weeks. We don't have our next schedule yet.

There are HEAVY reading requirements before school starts (and during!). Unfortunately, with new editions coming out, etc, they did not hand out a specific book list, which is a little scary for me because I like to get things done way in advance. I really felt comfortable with all of the staff who presented orientation. Everyone seemed very approachable and willing to help.

The beautiful part about being in nursing school is you have 30 team mates working together! No more competition because you are already in and you all have a common goal of becoming the best nurse you can be. . . (and graduating).

Good luck on your test on Tuesday! Just take a deep breath and realize that you DO know this stuff!

No worries about the cpr!!

I am SJMC, you also right? Oh my, all I can say is I'm a little overwhelmed with it all. I'm sure once I get thru the first fews weeks I will feel much better about the whole thing (I hope). I HATE the schedule!!! It is so all over the place & seems a little unorganized in my opinion. I wonder how the main campus schedule is? It is definately going to be difficult because I HAVE to work full time. Thankfully, my job is pretty flexible and I don't report in or out at any particular time and a lot of my work can be done from home or from a laptop. I know being in the hospital will better prepare me for what's it's really gonna be like but I feel like we are displaced having to move around to so many classrooms. What are your feelings?

As far as the scrubs, I went down and ordered 2 tops today and bought my pants at Scrubs and Beyond. They are a little cheaper there. If you are not close to Tempe to go size, they are 'Landau' brand so you could try them on at any scrub shop, then order online. He said my tops would be back late tomorrow or early Monday from getting embroidered. Are you gonna wear your scrubs to all class or just when necessary?

AZblondie, a little overwhelmed? That's an understatement! :)

I'm so excited to be on the SJMC campus! I really feel that being on the hospital grounds will be advantageous to our education. I was expecting the worst, so the schedule actually looks pretty good to me! Off by five and only four days a week with no weekends! (yet) It is all over the place, but I figure I'm just going to block out 8-5 M,T, and Th, F to be at SJ's and if I get out early or start later then I'll feel blessed for the extra study time. I know that working full time and going to school is going to be difficult, but I am so inspired by your dedication. Have you signed up for the mentor program yet? I haven't yet, but am planning to do it next week. I'll take all the help I can get!

I kind of like the idea of moving around to different areas, but I don't know if I will after we have to do it for a few weeks!

I thought the orientation was helpful and a little confusing. I really wish they had handed us a piece of paper and said "Buy these books and Read these chapters". Did you see how many chapters we have to read in ATI? Maybe I misunderstood, but I got the impression that we won't get that until one week to 3 days before class.

Thank you for the information on the scrubs! I was talking to my friend that is in the program with us about wearing scrubs all the time or not. After a short deliberation we decided that it's better to be a girl scout and be prepared by wearing them all the time, rather than chancing not having them when you need them. Do you have to pick up your tops in Tempe?

Also, do you know what kind of shoes you're going to use? I think I'll stop in Scrubs and Beyond and try them all out. I don't want to wait until the last minute or buy cheap shoes that will kill me after 10 hours. I've asked a lot of my friends that are nurses about shoes and compression hose or socks and they have all agreed that they wish they had taken care of their feet and legs from the beginning.

Let me know if you have any more ideas or want to talk about anything!:)