Grossmont nursing program, san diego..what should I expect?

puresass · Dec 16, 2008

I applied in March or April 08. I know my wait wasn't very long when compared to others, but I am VERY grateful to have even been considered. I work for Scripps, and through the Scripps grant program, which I previously mentioned on here, 30 employees per academic year (whether they were on the Grossmont list alrerady or not) can apply for the program. I have 2 coworkers who were not even on the waiting list until this grant came out so technically they waited about 30 days on the list. On the contrary, I have co workers who were chosen after 30+months on the wait list.
But from what I understand, the Scripps candidates have nothing to do with the general waitlist, ie, we don't make your wait any longer because this Grant was designed to provide Grossmont with enough funding to educate an additional 30 nurses per year. So the employees that are chosen come out of an entirely separate pool.

i wonder if the scripps students are going to be in an entirely different class all to themselves? i can see the short wait that the scripps people had causing some bitterness among those that were on the list for 2+ years... not that it's your fault that they waited longer than you & if any of them had the opportunity to get into the program right away you can bet they'd have taken it, but i can tell you that that's just how some people will think.

anyway, just curious.

SDMamma · Dec 16, 2008

i wonder if the scripps students are going to be in an entirely different class all to themselves? i can see the short wait that the scripps people had causing some bitterness among those that were on the list for 2+ years... not that it's your fault that they waited longer than you & if any of them had the opportunity to get into the program right away you can bet they'd have taken it, but i can tell you that that's just how some people will think.
anyway, just curious.

Well at orientation on the 5th, a question was adressed to the class by one of our professors, "Can I see a show of hands how many of you are Scripps employees"?

And when 22 hands went up, I heard someone 5 rows away from me say, SH*T, no wonder the wait is up to 4 years.

And I can understand the bitterness, but with all the new nursing programs here in San Diego, (Sharps OU, PLNU, National, Azuza, SDSU, USD, CCSD) not to mention all the community colleges, people are bound to drop off the list way sooner than the estimated 4-5 year wait.

And as you said, anyone, if offered the chance would take this opportunity in a heartbeat and I couldn't be more greatful after 5 years of CNA (ahem, cough, GRUNT) work.

puresass · Dec 16, 2008

Well at orientation on the 5th, a question was adressed to the class by one of our professors, "Can I see a show of hands how many of you are Scripps employees"?
And when 22 hands went up, I heard someone 5 rows away from me say, SH*T, no wonder the wait is up to 4 years.
And I can understand the bitterness, but with all the new nursing programs here in San Diego, (Sharps OU, PLNU, National, Azuza, SDSU, USD, CCSD) not to mention all the community colleges, people are bound to drop off the list way sooner than the estimated 4-5 year wait.
And as you said, anyone, if offered the chance would take this opportunity in a heartbeat and I couldn't be more greatful after 5 years of CNA (ahem, cough, GRUNT) work.

ooooh, after 5 years of CNA work, you definitely deserve a spot! :)

i hope you love the program! keep us updated about how it goes for you.

SDMamma · Dec 16, 2008

Thank you, that means alot. I sure will :)

katilynn · Dec 16, 2008

I don't know about that. When they told me it would take 2 years it took exactly that. If they are saying 5 years; then it will probably be 5 years, maybe more now because of recent events. Is it your for getting in early...no, but i think the people on the wait list have a right to know and i think the web page should be updated. But you need to take the initiative!!!!!

I would call the school set up an appointment with the directer and ask where i stand and ask for a new estimated start date. I do remember being on that list, two years of limbo. I thought it was unbearable. And I would be lying if I said that I wouldn't have been bitter.

SDMamma · Dec 16, 2008

but i think the people on the wait list have a right to know and i think the web page should be updated. But you need to take the initiative!!!!!

I'm sorry, maybe I missed something; You feel that its MY responsibility to ask Grossmont to update their website about the Scripps thing and how it will affect the waitlist?

katilynn · Dec 16, 2008

No, its not your responsibility. You didn't do anything wrong!!! I would have done the same thing. It is the schools responsibility. I was speaking more to the people who have been waiting for the past 2+ years. They should find out how this is affecting them. Wouldn't you do the same?

SDMamma · Dec 17, 2008

Yes, I agree. One must be assertive and act on their own behalf to discern how this new partnership will affect their status.

SOCALRACERX911_RN · Dec 29, 2008

congratulations, I graduated there 7 yrs ago. Just a helpful hint in skills check off....do it actually how its taught by the instructors and how it is shown on the book, ie taking a blood pressure. This is very difficult especially if you have any medical experience, you have to come humble.....establish a study group as soon as you can, but get to know them first because you want to team up someone who is serious about graduating, networking is key. Developing a well thought nursing plan and utilizing the correct nursing dx was difficult for most of us.......there really isn't a way to prepare for that. Good luck, you'll do just fine.

SDMamma · Jan 2, 2009

Thank you so much for the advice....especially the "come humble" part. I hear all too often that students with medical experience show up to Nursing school acting like know-it-alls, and then they get reamed by the instructors. Great piece of advice. I am already reading like crazy. They just gave us our reading list that must be completed by the2nd day of class.....20 chapters!!! AHHHH!!

SOCALRACERX911_RN · Jan 3, 2009

No problem. There is always one person in the class that seems to disrupt lecture with "well at Sharp we use to do it this way", was very annoying but the one thing I learned though was that even that person may end up helping you with clinical,skills, lecture notes, a ride to clinical....etc.....So networking is key to survival. Don't be afraid to pick each others brain, even if they aren't in your study group. My gosh its coming all back to me, yikes all that reading. It's impossible to read everything. In addition, ask your instructor what you should concentrate on for the test, most are usually glad to give you hints. If you can answer or are able to discuss the outlines, you should do fine on the test. I worked full-time while going to school cause I had a family to feed but would not recommend it . My military medical experience helped only in the beginning. Good luck to ya

SDMamma · Jan 3, 2009

Thanks. I plan to cut back to only 12 hours a week, but I too have a family to feed and do all the the cooking, housekeeping, and child care so I will be pretty busy in either case.

I can't wait though. I'm so very excited. By the time I graduate, my oldest will be just starting kindergarten so I'm really psyched that I will no longer be a student by the time my kids become students :)