Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts in Concord

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I'm just about done with the LVN program at Gurnick there's a few things I would like to share if you are considering attending...

Teachers read straight out of book providing no notes, no study guide or any visual tools

Only one of the clinicals out of four is worth going to the rest were a complete waste of time no hands on experience because the clinical teachers are given little or no instruction by the school on how the clinicals should be ran

You are required to pass the hesi with an 850 before graduating none of the classes are structured around the hesi and none of the test questions are hesi format

They change policies all the time since the school is fairly new and just verbally notify the students

These are just my main concerns I could literally go on and on. :uhoh3:

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I just started at the Fresno campus. I started 2 weeks late so I'm playing catch up and was given two weeks to catch up with the rest of the class. The class has about 35 people. So far you are right the teacher is just reading off a slide, but I heard that she really does prepare you for the tests you take in class. But our campus is pretty new so I think they are still getting settled. Our first graduating class I think is finishing up in June or they just finished.

I am a little worried about getting LVN work. After reading the threads on here it seems as though most places except LTC are not hiring LVN's and only hiring RN's. I really hope that is not the case because I wasn't planing on doing a bridge to be an RN for 5 or so years.

Anyhow, good luck everyone!!

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As far as finding a job, for the most part LVNs are mostly being hired in LTC in California... at least that is the case in the Bay Area. Hospitals are only hiring RNs except for their various clinics. Kaiser hires LVNs for their injection clinics. But also LVNs are in high demand at the prisons. I work currently as a CNA for a prison. LVNs do all the med passing there and run the clinics. Plus I have noticed that a bunch of rehab/ detox facilities are beginning to hire LVNs as well. So there is hope for us!

Good luck at Gurnick...start studying for hesi now!

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Thank you for your reply. Reading the threads in here had me questioning whether I made the right decision to go to Gurnick for my LVN. You made me feel a lot better.

I bit the bullet and moved back home with my parents to go to school and not work. Living at home at 32 is hard to swallow and a little embarrassing but I think in two years from now it will be a decision that I won't regret. :)

Did you buy any books outside of class that has helped you? I was told to buy Medical Terminology for Dummies ... Amazon has it for almost half the price as the book stores do but there is no reviews on it so I wasn't sure.

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Well you can always do a bridge program later..not to mention after you already have your LVN getting into a RN program is much easier. I've heard some good things about Indiana State online LVN to BSN program.

I moved back with my parents also to pursue my education. My parents and friends pointed out to me over and over it will be sooooo worth it in the long run.

Books I bought- Hesi NCLEX PN and Davis NCLEX-PN

Everyone in my class has basically purchased a different book we all share, test eachother, borrow eachothers CDs with practice questions. You just started your program but trust me its never too early to start preparing yourself for the hesi and NCLEX. Unless you are one of those test takers that is super good at multiple choice regardless of whether you have studied or not. If so luck you! :)

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I was living in Las Vegas, living alone in a 2 bedroom/2 bathroom condo ... and did I mention single? :D So moving to Fresno, Cali with my parents is like a fish out of water. Now adding school on top of it all, is just kinda the icing on the crazy cake. lol

But as my friends in Vegas keep reminding me and I am sure your friends and family are as well ... it is only two years ... I can do this!!

It looks like the more I get certified in along with the LPN license will greatly help my chances at getting a job later. I've been reading over the other threads and it looks like there is a lot I can do while I am in school.

BTW my name is Kelley ... thanks for all of your input!!

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BTW my names Jordan ...

Yup nursing is your best bet. You will always be able to find a job. People will always be sick. We will always be needed.

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I am going to take my HESI test on Aug 15th 09 i am nervous cause i went to a school that opened the first time and we all felt like GINNI PIGS. The School originally started in San Mateo, Ca for 7 years then opened a LVN program in Modesto,after 11 months the school fired our teacher who lied on her App stating she was an RN when really she just got her LVN license. Most of the students failed MED SURGE part of the school year and had to re-due that module

I am nervous because after they fired the teacher they made us take a Med Surge HESI test only and many scored under a 600. A lot scored from a 300-550 i scored a 611. Its nerve recking because since we have gotten out 6-17-09 i have been studying my Hesi CD and my Sauders CD questions, and my Mosby's flash Cards with Rationals.

Does anyone have advise about the HESI test is it True its harder than the N-Clex for the state?

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I will have to agreed that at the begining of MODESTO CAMPUS for 11months this is how it went too

the LVN program at Gurnick there's a few things I would like to share if you are considering attending...

Teachers read straight out of book providing no notes, no study guide or any visual tools

The clinical teachers are given little or no instruction by the school on how the clinicals should be ran. The teacher i had luckly is the hiring Manager at a Convalescent home and taught us what we need to know and had many hands on and paper work responsibilities. The only thing is we only interned at two different Convalescent homes.

You are required to pass the hesi with an 850 before graduating none of the classes are structured around the hesi and none of the test questions are hesi format. Our class also starting taking practice question tests at the end of the semister with only 4 months to go. I will agree that the school did not provide anything throughout the time of the courses any studying for HESI or N-Clex type questions. Be prepared that a lot was missed in a short amount of time and when you take your practice tests at home on CDs you will feel you missed a lot.

At the beging for the 11 months the school change policies all the time since the school is fairly new and just verbally notify the students. The Director who owns the school changes her mind all the time too. When the school first opened you had to pass the class with a 70% then it changed to 75% with only one re-mediation per module NOTHING IS IN WRITING. Our school went through 3 teachers and the one that they let go after 11 months was teaching in the am and pm it sucked. The school cleaned up at the end and unfortunatly after paying $24,000 you would feel that the school would be more caring and appologize but there was no sympathy at all.

I wil have to say NEVER go to a school that just opened a CAMPUS the first year. Management and the teachers it takes a long time to figure out mistakes and how to make it better the next year etc. Our class got screwed until the end. The only thing that was great was the Clinical teachers, and the teachers that i had at the end that they hired who really had a teaching cert and RN license for Peds,Maturnity,Physicology, and health.

Also the school lied and stated that they were CREDITED PROGRAM well they still are not. We will not know until SEP 09 sometime. It sucks have to pass the school HESI test once passed have to wait if the school gets credited before we take the state. If the school does not get credited then there will be an Emergency thinking is what they told us that we would have to merge to San Mateo and you know we would probably have to repeat that HESI test. I think its stupid we have to take the HESI test and worry if we get credited or not. And who knows what we would have to do to get our credits credited and accepted.

This is an FYI and Caution

Remember its better to know someone who went to the school rather then not know someone or get on here to see what people say about the schools. Best of luck. All i know is i would never keep the knowledge to myself if i was a teacher i am a very giving person and love to help and work with others. I just pray i pass the schools HESI exam and the state and put this School in the past as a memory to forget

I hope all i wrote helps someone out with there future Career for the 14months of the LVN program

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I'm just about done with the LVN program at Gurnick there's a few things I would like to share if you are considering attending...

Teachers read straight out of book providing no notes, no study guide or any visual tools

Only one of the clinicals out of four is worth going to the rest were a complete waste of time no hands on experience because the clinical teachers are given little or no instruction by the school on how the clinicals should be ran

You are required to pass the hesi with an 850 before graduating none of the classes are structured around the hesi and none of the test questions are hesi format

They change policies all the time since the school is fairly new and just verbally notify the students

These are just my main concerns I could literally go on and on. :uhoh3:

That sounds like Gurnick SM.

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I just graduated LVN program with Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts in San Mateo on our Christmas Eve. It was blessing to me that school prepared me to my career path which I always wanted to do. I read some comments here people post earlier weren't fair for the staff and instructors at all. You people "whomever" must take part of your responsibility to prepare yourself to become a professional nurse. You cannot be so childish whining and blame other people for your own flaw. The staff at Gurnick work very hard to see we meet our goal. Our success is their success, please remember that! I enjoyed study there. I learned a lot from hand on practice at Laguna Honda and experience instructors. Please, please don't panic about Hesi and Nclex exams. You must prepare yourself for it. Nobody can put his/her brain to replace yours. Most of all learn respect authority like "teachers" God will make yours live much easier. Bless you all nurses or nurses to be out there! Lastly, It's good school. I recommend it for nurse want to be.

DK-Fremont

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Specializes in Surgical Nursing.

you're the only one that has anything good to say about Gurnick... hmm a littly fishy. I went to gurnick too and if I could go back in time i would NEVER go to this school. NEVER NEVER NEVER

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