Georgia Perimeter College

[nursinginga]

I am a 1st year nursing student at GPC and am having a very difficult time right now with my decision for coming to this school. The program is very unorganized. Here is a list of the problems I have found so far:

1. There are only 2 allowed check-off chances for skills. You are given a PLA which is supposed to be a teaching session of the skill you are learning, but only ends up being the teacher quickly going through what you have to do and then making us watch 80s film reviews of the skill. If you are not successful with the 2 check-offs, you are out of the program

2. For the tests, we are given a lecture 2 to 3 times a week for 3-4 hours. Some of the teachers are very good at expanding on the powerpoints that are shown, but others are strictly by the powerpoint, word-for-word, and do not give any insight into the material we are speaking about. We have just began this past test to have a review with the teachers the day before the test. How this helps, I haven't figured out yet. It would make more sense to have it at least a few days before the test in order for us to study what we didn't understand a little better.

3. A lot of the teachers act as if we are already nurses and should know everything that nurses do. They are not as helpful as they need to be and seem as if it is a hassle to answer questions that we students direct at them.

I know that nursing programs are difficult and not easy, but my question is for those of you that are in programs in and around the Atlanta area. Are your programs as difficult or do you have direction on learning your nursing skills?

I want to know what I am doing and be a smart, caring nurse. I do not feel that GPC is teaching me this. To throw me into clinical without even feeling comfortable with my skills yet is not my idea of teaching. I feel anxiety very time I walk into the hospital because of the uncomfortableness and I do not want that. I want to be a nurse but I think I need to find another program that is going to allow me to learn what I need to know and not just what I need to know to pass a test.

Please help with any advice. I greatly appreciate your time.

P.S. To all those this past spring that tired to talk me out of going to GPC, I should have listened to you then.

Thanks and God Bless

[jemommyRN]

This is truly awful to hear these things about this school. Westheat, you are getting alot of good advice from those who have done it and even though you may have to wait another year or so, but it the whole scheme of things (to help make you a better nurse overall), it's probably worth it. I've heard that Gordon College is a really good school. I wish you luck with whatever you decide. I would start applying to other schools NOW!

[wefdm21]

Jemommy-- I like your location "dirty south"

Anyway... thanx for the free info. I'm an LPN and was considering going ot GPC. If anyone knows about N Ga, I thought that they were'nt doing the satelite centers anymore and you would have to go all the way into the mountains to their campus.

This is becoming harder and harder. I will be sure to tell any highschoolers who would like to become a nurse to start THE day after graduation, or else you can count on spending the rest of your life trying to complete this.

[dmarie (GA)]

I spoke with the rep. at N. GA. a few weeks ago and according to her, the LPN-RN Bridge satellite program is alive and well. If I'm not mistaken, they have a couple of different satellite locations with a new one at Lanier Tech starting soon.

I'm currently attending Lanier Tech's LPN program and the instructors have told us to look forward to the new satellite program offered by N. GA. I've heard great things about it!!!! :smilecoffeecup:

[Paris2B]

Hey westheat,

How did it turn out for you this semester? Hopefully you derived at

an effective resolution with the instructors/Nsg program.

"When life give you lemons, make lemonade...it taste better"

[nursinginga]

Well the semester is finally over. I ended up with a 78! AGGHHH!! But as a very smart RN once said "A "C" = RN"!! LOL! I hope that next semester is better, but I know that it is going to be more difficult, Med/Surg, but I have 3 excellent people by my side and 2 of them are going through the program with me, so I am going to try and stay positive and stick it out. I hope the best for each and every one of you. God bless.

[dmarie (GA)]

westheat, congrats on passing 1st semester! :) I remember I made a 79.83% 1st semster, and because they don't round up, they gave me a final grade of 'C'. I didn't care, I was just happy to be done.

If it's at all possible, see if you can transfer to the L'ville campus. The students there do much better on average. Med./Surg. makes Fundamentals look like Kindegarten, so brace yourself. The teachers at L'ville actually prepare you for the exams and give you a head's up on what to focus on with your studies. I was a Clarkston student and regret not transfering.

[abmsam]

. The teachers at L'ville actually prepare you for the exams and give you a head's up on what to focus on with your studies.

I beg to differ! There are two instructors that care, but the rest are just as bad as Clarkston's. You're pretty much on your own.

Congrats on passing the first semester! I also ended up with 79.76, which earned me a C that first semester. One additional correct answer on any one test would have gotten me a B.

[dmarie (GA)]

abmsam, I'll take you're word for it regarding L'ville instructors. When I was at Clarkston, however, the rumor going around was that L'ville instructors actually covered exam material during lectures, whereas C'ston often didn't. It was also rumored that more L'ville students made it through the program than C'ston, but I guess ultimately it comes down to individual experience.

[Paris2B]

Hey westheat,

Congrats:balloons: !! See it is doable...

[zazenchic]

I am so relieved after seeing this post! I started all my prenursing at GPC but with how rude the nursing staff to prenurse applicants, I decided to try Georgia Highlands in Rome. Yes it's a drive but its only 45-1hr from Marietta no traffic! Anyways they cator their program to help students suceed in understanding nursing! You get a personal nursing teach mentor who you can go to any day and cry,discuss strategies, and get support! The test are hard many people had to drop but they try so hard to cater to educating the students its amazing!!! THeir student success rate on the NCLEX is 99% from my understanding.

If you have any questions email me through my profile page or send me a private message (PM).

[harrisrn2b]

oh my goodness, all the neg. about GPC. I am scared now. I see a lot of the comments are farely old in date. Anyone have any new info to report on GPC

[nursinginga]

Well....Update time...from the one that originally started this post.

Things at GPC are slowing making a change for the better. We have had several talks with professionals and they have listened to us (the students) about issues that we see as being problems with the program. Our class has actually kept most of the students thus far. We have 50 left out of I think 74, and we also have many students at the Lawrenceville campus left too. The new class of Fundamentals is doing very well also. There have been changes made all around, but as most can see, it does take time.

I am very glad that the instructors (most of them) are listening to our concerns and I hope that it continues this way.

I have come to realize that most all nursing programs are tough and you must give 200% dedication to pass and although there are many things that we can groan about, there are many things we can be thankful for (like being able to get a job right out of nursing school and having lots of clinical experience by graduation).

I am now averaging a B in Med/Surg, but it hasn't been easy. I do hope that everyone that looks at this willtalk with other students (as many as possible) and learn from different aspects of the program and decide :monkeydance: . Weigh your options (good vs bad).

Good luck to each and every one of you and I hope and pray for you all to succeed and help to stomp out this nursing shortage.