GCU SUMMER 2018

Jazzy1207 · Aug 14, 2018

Hi lexykinz18. I was wondering if you can give me some info about second semester now that I will be level 2 soon! Is med Surg hard? Was it busier than level 2?

lexykinz18, BSN, RN · Aug 15, 2018

Hey Jazzy! I am taking my last final for Med Surg tomorrow morning! Honestly speaking, level 2 is wayyyyyyy better than level 1. You DO have more time; however, don't let the free time distract your study time too much. Med surg is hard, but it is doable. On average, most people score about high 70s-low 80s on the first exam because the level 2 exams are different than level 1 exams. The hardest part of the exam is knowing how to answer the exam questions. My professor has a good reputation in the sense that she truly prepares students for each exam. My biggest advice to you is to stay on top of your reading and really focus on Nursing management. Level 1 exams were all about knowing the content. Med surg is difficult because you have to take what you read, critically think and apply it to the question. Psych is a breeze...you got that in the bag. If you did fine in intro, psych will be easy peasy. The online class is fine, just busy work, really, but not bad at all. Clinicals are wayyy more fun and the 12 hour shifts aren't as bad as they sound haha. In terms of the PBA, the IV PBA was the easiest and most people finished in less than 10 minutes. The medication administration PBA was easy, as well; however, some proctors are more picky than others, so be sure to really emphasize and overexaggerate your movements. The Foley PBA is easy too. The biggest reason people fail is breaking sterile, so as long as you got that down, you're good! I have not failed a PBA yet so you should be fine. If you really want to be scared, look at the level 3 schedules for the fast track students: we take critical care, OB, Peds, plus an online class, with three different clinical rotations, on top of applying for residency and labs/ PBAs! Feel free to ask any more questions!

Jazzy1207 · Aug 15, 2018

Oh my goodness! That's a lot thanks for replying and I wish you luck next semester!

Jazzy1207 · Dec 15, 2018

Hi. It's been a while but I'm going to level 3 and wanted to ask about the courses and residency. How do you do that and how did it go for you ? Thanks

Jazzy1207 · Dec 15, 2018

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lexykinz18, BSN, RN · Dec 15, 2018

Congrats on making it to level 3! Im going to be honest, level 3 by far is the hardest semester. I honestly dont even know how I did it. The biggest advice I have is to NOT GET BEHIND! If you get the slightest bit behind, you will suffer tremendously. Level 3 is honestly a huge fight to the finish. OB gave a lot of people a run for their money and I am aware that at least 6 people did not make it due to that class. If you have Lovata you will be just fine. I must say that this class is very specific content wise and it is important to read everything. Peds is easy and the tests are similar to patho, enough said. Critical care, for me was easier than med surg but I know that there was a lot of people struggling to the end. I noticed that for those that did well in med surg struggled more in critical care, and vice versa. The online class is your typical online class but a waste of tume as usual. In regard to residency, start getting your Letters of recommendation now. The professors get swamped once the email comes out and have to turn down a lot. You need at least. One from didactic and one from clinical but can turn in more. I submitted one from lab, clinical and didactic. The applications will be emailed about a month before the end of the semester and you will have exactly one week to submit it. Then, they will send out secondary applications about a week or two later that you only have about 3 days to submit. You will most likely find out your acceptance status about 6 weeks after submitting the original application. I am still waiting to here back and am expecting it the last week of winter break. If you don't get placed in residency, that's okay! You will just be placed in a group rotation instead. Residency is designed for those that aspire to go into a specific specialty and want more time in that particular field. you DO NOT have to be a resident of Arizona to apply. It is not guaranteed a job at the end so it is important to note that you need to work hard and network if you DO want the job. Please let me know if you have any specific questions. I would be pleased to answer them.:)

Jazzy1207 · Dec 16, 2018

Thank you so much! I am so nervous. Our schedules look crazy. I believe we have class twice in one day on 2 days but the schedule for lab is confusing. Did you have lab twice a day?

lexykinz18, BSN, RN · Dec 16, 2018

No...however the schedules DO vary so I can't speak for everyone. The labs go by fast though since half of what you see is actually instructional simulations. On is like 2 labs and peds is like 4...so it isn't bad...and yes, you will officially have zero time to do anything. I missed out on a lot of campus events because I just couldn't afford time away from studying. I suggest reaching out to SNA as well! I'm actually the president and we have a mentor program that will pair you with someone a level above you to give you advice. Follow @purplescrubclub on Instagram for updates! Merry Christmas!

Jazzy1207 · Dec 17, 2018

Thank you and merry Christmas!!

futureicunurse9 · May 27, 2019

Hi guys! I know this is super old but I found your discussions about the actual program extremely helpful and was wondering if anyone could answer some of my questions! I am planning on applying to the spring 2020 program and I will have a 4.0 GPA and a 97.2% HESI (no summer classes and since we apply in September those will be my stats)! I had some specific questions, particularly about levels 3 and 4 so here they are:

1) I aspire to be a CRNA in the future and that pretty much requires working on an ICU. My mom works on a SICU and I volunteer on her unit and love it! I was wondering for the critical care Clinicals, do you get to have preference as to what unit you are in (for example ER vs. ICU)?

2) I’m super interested in doing residency during level 4 and as you can probably tell, I’m hoping to do it in an ICU. How does application to that work?! What do they consider and do they take preferences into consideration?!

Thank you in advance if you are able to answer these! ❤️

lexykinz18, BSN, RN · May 28, 2019

Hello! I just graduated a month ago from the GCU nursing program and would love to help give you some insight, as I too have a love for critical care and completed a residency. For your critical care rotation, if you let your instructor know your passion, most likely they will try their best to put you there. For instance, since the age of 9, I've had a passion for all things cardiac and hope to work in the CVICU one day. I told my instructor how passionate I was and if she could put me on the CTICU transplant floor at St. Joseph's and I had a wonderful time there and got to see so much!. Not only that, but it solidified my passion even more!!! For residency, toward the middle of Level 3, the applications will be sent out and you will have exactly 1 week to submit them. The application requires at least 2 letters of recommendation (start collecting those ASAP once you're in the program), resume, cover letter, and personal statement, along with the application itself, where you can put your top 3 hospitals and departments you wish to obtain a residency from. Some advice: I really wanted to be at St Joe's; however, it was not on the application, so I wrote it in anyways and that is where I was placed!! About a week or so after you submit the application to GCU, you will receive secondary applications from the specific company where you can specify a lot more of where you want to be placed, as well as talk more about yourself and your passions. About 8 weeks later, you will receive an email with either a declination, or offers from the hospitals that want you, along with the department and shift (you have 24 hours to respond). About 5 weeks into Level 4, you will begin residency, which can be either day or night shift (I worked night shift on the Cardiac Post Interventional Unit and loved each second of it). You habe 9 weeks to complete all 9 shifts. Night shift has more restrictions where you aren't allowed to work the night before class, lab, or HESI. It's great because you get to utilize residency to build your confidence. I had a full patient load and was calling doctors during my residency and truly feel it solidified my confidence by the time I graduated. Hope this helped and best of luck!!! :)

futureicunurse9 · May 28, 2019

1 hour ago, lexykinz18 said:
Hello! I just graduated a month ago from the GCU nursing program and would love to help give you some insight, as I too have a love for critical care and completed a residency. For your critical care rotation, if you let your instructor know your passion, most likely they will try their best to put you there. For instance, since the age of 9, I've had a passion for all things cardiac and hope to work in the CVICU one day. I told my instructor how passionate I was and if she could put me on the CTICU transplant floor at St. Joseph's and I had a wonderful time there and got to see so much!. Not only that, but it solidified my passion even more!!! For residency, toward the middle of Level 3, the applications will be sent out and you will have exactly 1 week to submit them. The application requires at least 2 letters of recommendation (start collecting those ASAP once you're in the program), resume, cover letter, and personal statement, along with the application itself, where you can put your top 3 hospitals and departments you wish to obtain a residency from. Some advice: I really wanted to be at St Joe's; however, it was not on the application, so I wrote it in anyways and that is where I was placed!! About a week or so after you submit the application to GCU, you will receive secondary applications from the specific company where you can specify a lot more of where you want to be placed, as well as talk more about yourself and your passions. About 8 weeks later, you will receive an email with either a declination, or offers from the hospitals that want you, along with the department and shift (you have 24 hours to respond). About 5 weeks into Level 4, you will begin residency, which can be either day or night shift (I worked night shift on the Cardiac Post Interventional Unit and loved each second of it). You habe 9 weeks to complete all 9 shifts. Night shift has more restrictions where you aren't allowed to work the night before class, lab, or HESI. It's great because you get to utilize residency to build your confidence. I had a full patient load and was calling doctors during my residency and truly feel it solidified my confidence by the time I graduated. Hope this helped and best of luck!!! ?

Wow! Thank you sooo much that was incredibly helpful! Congratulations on graduating and good luck on the NCLEX! I’ll be praying that you can find a fantastic job on the CVICU!!!