How marketable is the ADN?

[PhoenixGirl]

I'm starting the fast track program at southwest skill center in Feb. Anyone been there or heard anything good/bad about the program?

They said it's the same nursing pathway that all the MCC's follow and it's under Gateway CC. So this program is so far only the first year (LPN) and then if they don't implement the 2nd year I will have to transfer to one of the other MCC's. That is fine with me I just want to get this done with. Anyone here transferred between MCC and was it easy to transfer the nursing classes?

How marketable is the ADN vs the BSN here in PHoenix? I would love to go right into the hospital setting as a new grad. Been reading up on CC a lot.

Thanks.

Rebecca

[mendocino]

Hi, Rebecca ... here's what I got after looking at the fast track SW Skills Ctr path you're on, correct me if I'm wrong (I'm very close to EMCC and would consider following your footsteps) ... (a) the nursing program contains two blocks and is for the LPN only, so the RN path would require you to go elsewhere, Rio, Gateway, etc., (b) the program requires 4 courses prior to entering the LPN path, and those 4 courses "are not transferrable to the community colleges," so it looks to me that those 4 courses alone would put you back a semester or so, right? If you're not on track for one of the valley's RN programs (or if you're subject to the semester or two waiting line), the SW Skills Ctr may be an OK route, at least you're doing something to get you the RN ... otherwise, it seems like taking those extra 4 courses would slow you down ... am I missing something?

[purplemania, BSN, RN]

I am not familiar with this program, but would like to caution you that "transferring courses" and "applying transferred courses to your degree" are not the same thing. The transferred courses may be listed on your transcript, but may not apply to your degree plan. An advisor from the school that will award the degree you are seeking will know better about that.

[PhoenixGirl]

Hi, Rebecca ... here's what I got after looking at the fast track SW Skills Ctr path you're on, correct me if I'm wrong (I'm very close to EMCC and would consider following your footsteps) ... (a) the nursing program contains two blocks and is for the LPN only, so the RN path would require you to go elsewhere, Rio, Gateway, etc., (b) the program requires 4 courses prior to entering the LPN path, and those 4 courses "are not transferrable to the community colleges," so it looks to me that those 4 courses alone would put you back a semester or so, right? If you're not on track for one of the valley's RN programs (or if you're subject to the semester or two waiting line), the SW Skills Ctr may be an OK route, at least you're doing something to get you the RN ... otherwise, it seems like taking those extra 4 courses would slow you down ... am I missing something?

Mendocino,

Those 4 courses they do before the start of the blocks last 5w, and your right, not transferrable towards the CC program. Basically, the reason I decided to go this route is because at the time that I applied, the wait was not too long. And I still have quite a few prereqs to go before I can apply the CC program anyway. I keep hearing there is a one, possibly 2 semester wait to get into the CC program. So I figure if I do the SWSC LPN program, I'm getting the first two blocks out of the way with no prereqs, plus while I'm waiting to get into the CC program (and finishing prereqs) I can work.

The other day I was there and I think I overheard the woman saying they now have slots in Sept of next year. So the wait is definitely longer now then when I applied.

You should go to the informational meeting at the end of the month.

Rebecca

[klone, MSN, RN]

Kerry - have you taken the Rio chem classes? If so, are they acceptable, or would you have rather taken them in-class? I'm having trouble figuring out if one can do chemistry online, with only minimal actual lab time ... your perspective is appreciated!

Also ... do you have your CNA yet? If so, how did you get it (via Rio or some other educational institution)?

No, I didn't take Chem. It's not a prerequisite to the nursing program. It *is* a prereq Yavapai's Micro. But I took Micro through Rio, and Chem is not a prereq for Micro at Rio. Did that make sense or was that totally confusing?

I took a CNA class last summer through Yavapai (it's a prereq to starting the nursing program), but I chose not to take the certification test.