Maricopa Skill Center

arizdolphin · Aug 25, 2009

Our start up date was delayed. The secretary should know. Call J. and ask and tell her you need to schedule your work. To be honest, I am not sure when we start Block C. We have a date on our calendar but you have to be very flexible. Things are always changing. It sucks for work scheduling but once you get going, you will get on schedule. I only worked two days until clinicals started than I went back on my 3 day schedule. Work would let me pick up a day here and there - like when the teachers were sick or we would have time off because we finished testing early. Again, flexibility but some things will be black and white. J. is a good resource because she has to have things ready. And now D. is the interim director so if you can get with her. Forget the front office now that you are in. Nursing office baby!!!! You are in and demand to know!! hahahaha

JessLP · Aug 25, 2009

I don't know who J and D are. I've only worked with A and don't know about anyone else at MSC. Would you mind PMing me names and numbers if you have them? I would really, really appreciate it.

I have two jobs right now. I work in enrollment for a university and as a CNA. I'll have to leave my university job because it's a regular Monday through Friday job, but I'll be keeping my CNA job because it's super flexible. I just need to know what to do regarding giving notice of my resignation for my university job. I want to work there as long as I can because I make much more there than at my CNA job and I want to establish as much of a savings as possible.

arizdolphin · Aug 25, 2009

I don't know how to pm. Forget the A now. You are pretty much done with him. Ask for the secretary "J" or the acting director of the nursing program "D". Call the school and ask for the nursing dept.

Adammn · Aug 26, 2009

Is it too late to apply for the september class?

nurse2b83 · Aug 26, 2009

i don't not beleive it's too late to apply for the sept start date. i would call just to be sure, i'm hoping i receive my fingerprint clearance card before the deadline.

JessLP · Aug 28, 2009

It is too late to apply for September. The deadline was July 31. They're now taking applications for February.

wastingmytime · Aug 30, 2009

I unfortunately went to MSC, I was in block A. Our final class was last Tuesday. We had 2 different teachers for the classes. One taught structure and function as well as nutrition. She was knowlegeable and most of the time gave tests that were fair. One test contained material not even listed in the index of the book, such as Tay Sachs disease. The other teacher we had "taught" Basic Skills 1 and 2, medical terminology and math. She often rambled on and her tests were very subjective. We had to prepare a poster board of our culture. I had not made a poster board since 2nd grade. Her med term class generally was straight forward, but even then she would throw in the occasional obtuse term such as DME (durable medical equipment). One day she actually had us play hangman in small groups. Even though our classes began on May 26th, and the math class did not begin until late July, we never received the text book. She xeroxed pages and gave us that instead. The math instructor said for the math final there would not be a certain type of math question on the test. Guess what? there was. My classmates and I were furious afterwards. I hope she throws the question out as she has done in the past. I have the patience and desire to become an LPN. Like many people I came here because I heard about the one to two year wait to be accepted into nursing school. My advice is: Finish your pre-reqs, take the NET test and apply at one of the community colleges. I have heard that after you graduate from here you can just slip into one of the other community colleges' block 3 but I would double-check first. Something else, if you don't get accepted to block 3 within 6 months after finishing from here, you have to take another pharmacology class beside the one you took here. We also heard since day one the graduation rate is 100%. I heard it was actually 82%. If you are just looking to become an LPN and have not done any of your pre-reqs this place might be right for you. But if you are finsihed with the pre-reqs and want to become an RN I suggest you take another route.

nurse2b83 · Aug 30, 2009

I unfortunately went to MSC, I was in block A. Our final class was last Tuesday. We had 2 different teachers for the classes. One taught structure and function as well as nutrition. She was knowlegeable and most of the time gave tests that were fair. Except for the one time she had her 13 year old daughter pick the questions for an S & F test. It contained material not even listed in the index of the book, such as Tay Sachs disease. The other teacher we had "taught" Basic Skills 1 and 2, medical terminology and math. She often rambled on and her tests were very subjective. We had to prepare a poster board of our culture. I had not made a poster board since 2nd grade. Her med term class generally was straight forward, but even then she would throw in the occasional obtuse term such as DME (durable medical equipment). One day she actually had us play hangman in small groups. Even though our classes began on May 26th, and the math class did not begin until late July, we never received the text book. She xeroxed pages and gave us that instead. The math instructor said for the math final there would not be a certain type of math question on the test. Guess what? there was. My classmates and I were furious afterwards. I hope she throws the question out as she has done in the past. I have the patience and desire to become an LPN. Like many people I came here because I heard about the one to two year wait to be accepted into nursing school. My advice is: Finish your pre-reqs, take the NET test and apply at one of the community colleges. I have heard that after you graduate from here you can just slip into one of the other community colleges' block 3 but I would double-check first. Something else, if you don't get accepted to block 3 within 6 months after finishing from here, you have to take another pharmacology class beside the one you took here. We also heard since day one the graduation rate is 100%. I heard it was actually 82%. If you are just looking to become an LPN and have not done any of your pre-reqs this place might be right for you. But if you are finsihed with the pre-reqs and want to become an RN I suggest you take another route.

wow i heard rumors of things not being well put together there, i was hoping that had improved. i'm hoping to get my cna certification in time so i can apply to the gateway fast track lpn as well, i'm going to use MSC as a back up if i cant get into the fast track program.

2bnursewithnopurse · Sep 3, 2009

I went to Phoenix Workforce Connection and completed SOAR and some other required jobskills programs they had. Once you complete the class a couple weeks later you meet with your career advisor and go over some certified "trade schools" or "certificate schools" they offer to pay up to 6k towards a certificate or trade. I dont believe they pay for degrees! google arizonaheat for more accurate info but i believe thats the jist of it. :twocents:

cmi528 · Sep 8, 2009

Starting Block C on the 8th or 9th. Hang in there. Things are confusing but it is well worth it in the end. Keep focused on your goal and stick with the positive people. This program is easy to get caught up in all the negative bs that goes on......and believe me, there is a lot. You will be so much farther ahead of the game with your LPN than your friends who are still on a waiting list. Jump through whatever hoops there are, talk to people in Block B and C and get their help. We are all in this together and believe me, there are good people in this program and great teachers. Stay focused and when you are ready to quit, remind yourself of your goal.

Hey arizdolphin, congrats on your progress. I am also interested in the LPN program at MSC. I didn't see any info pertaining to prereqs on their website besides the NET, shots, ect. Can you offer any advice and or info pertaining to what the scheduling might be like for classes and clinicals? I work at night so I'm hoping this program will be doable. Any information about your experience or what to expect will be greatly appreciated.

arizdolphin · Sep 13, 2009

Hi cmi528, sorry to take so long to answer. There are no prereqs for this program. That is one of the positive things about the program. As for the scheduling, it may change but Block A is m-f 8-3. We did get days off here and there but it was really hard to schedule my shifts. I work three 12 hr shifts a week. For the majority of Block A, I only worked two days. Finances were bad. Now in Block B, you start your clinicals so in school three days a week, clinicals on 4th so I was back to work the remaining three days. Your schedule is set so your work can schedule you. Now for Block C, this first week has been testing and check offs of skills. We start clinicals next week. Again three days a week and one clinical. You have three different clinical sites this block so the days will change but my first clinical is M/S which is 10 Fridays. It works out for me. I also did some pre-reqs online in Block A. I started 201 and I just can't keep up and dropped. At work now and trying to tell you what I can so will spend a little more time when I get home answering your questions. :up:

blkcind · Sep 13, 2009

hey arizdolphin, do you think it's possible to take classes on the side for block A and B? I'm starting in the september class and am currently taking bio 202 this semester. I plan to do chm 130 and bio 205 in the spring and summer. Also do you have any other information that would be useful for new students. Thanks so much!