ardentanglophile

Well I thought the program was not so good...Truthfully, I would rather send you a private email with the details because I do not want to offend the other posters who graduated from there because it is true that their pass rate is high and graduates do get hired. My gpa is only 3.5. Not good enough for most of the schools around here. I applied to SCCC and didn;t think I would get in but they notified me in JULY!!!! ( that is the first time I got in..sorry if not clear). I am working on getting back in the program although I think it is down right silly to have only 3 year expiration date for prerequisites...I am scheduled to start in Sept at Skagit Valley but its a 63 mile drive one way, so I am weighing the cost of gas/daycare, with redoing my prerequisites to enter SCCC again... Look up my profile and send me a private message if you want more details.

Dear Rainsun, A word of caution: if you took your prerequisites elsewhere, it can take up to two months for them to complete transcript evaluation. Follow up on it because they have lost my friend's evaluation. Then another word of caution: do not send in your application via federal express, overnight mail, or any way other than the regular post . How do I know this? Nancy Harris, the program assistant, told me that applications sent this way are rejected. I was in my 3rd quarter last year when I withdrew due to illness. I have much more information about the program if you want to know.....

It looks like I will be commuting in the Fall to Skagit Valley. I realize it's not ideal but I can't seem to get into the other colleges around here and I have heard so many good things about Skagit Valley. I am transferring into Nurs 162 and wondered if anyone can give me feedback about clinical skills they expect you to master in the 2nd quarter and what expectations are like during clinicals. I had two quarters of nursing school down in Seattle and it was so useless I just want to measure! I am making a long distance effort to complete this goal. Any advice would be appreciated!

Dear fellow CNAs, I am quitting my SNF CNA job after 6 months because I cannot handle the physical exertion required to do the job. I feel like I am working construction most of the time. I do ask for help but it is grudgingly offered. So I would like to move to work as a CNA in the hospital but my confidence is low. I worked nights at the SNF and I mainly took residents to the toilet, changed, wiped, made occupied beds, emptied catheter bags, collected I & Os, and did vital signs. Do you think I need more experience to work in a hospital? Need encouragement! Thanks!:nuke:

Your reply was valuable to me. I am surprised the attritrion was so high in the program. I withdrew this Spring from my program in Seattle because I got sick; Our program had a 40% attrition rate...the tests were so hard that the teachers would allow us to group test to earn extra points. But I like how what you said that the clinical assignments are based on your skill level...many of us in the program I was in felt that our first quarter was a wash and second quarter we really didn't do much at all also. My impression was that the school just focused on us passing the NCLEX. I am torn between transitioning back where I can continue as 3rd quarter student and the 3rd quarter instructor is very good and challenging...I can go back as long as I pass the clinical skills test and comprehensive exam. Skagit has accepted me already and I don't have to do a skills test and exam, although I think they will probably put me in 2nd quarter. That's fine by me though. It's sounds like you really got a good education and I am envious...envious because it sounds like you will be much better prepared than I will be in return to Seattle. But I am also happy for you! You begin a new career doing challenging and important things! Thanks so much for the information!

Thank you for the information. I was just thinking how I am going to manage this. It sounds like it won't work for me but I am so determined to go to this school because of the good things I have heard...I am transferring in with 2 nursing credits already under my belt so your scenario is a little worrying...can you tell us anything else about the program? I know what I can ask!!! Clinicals, ...do you get a choice of night or morning? Will they consider your choice if you are a commuter? Thanks!

No, I believe my timing is correct. In August 2006 I got on the waitlist. In September 2007, they called me and said I could start for Fall. I got off the list but was placed on it again in April 2008 and the letter said it would be 1.5 year wait.

:)Hi ! I am on the waitlist for Skagit Valley college in Mt. Vernon but I live in Bellevue. I was hoping maybe someone is on the waitlist in the Seattle area and would like to carpool. I have been on their waitlist before and it only took a year to get in so I anticipate starting next Spring. (I got my name on the list in April). I just want to get a feel if I will be doing all the driving alone! I believe it is worth the trek compared to the school I was attending....

Skagit Valley College @ Oak Harbor (satellite branch)has 2 year part time LPN program. The next one begins in Sept 08. When you are done you can bridge over to the Mt. Vernon campus to fulfil your RN. LPN graduates from Oak Harbor have first priority in the 2nd year program @ Mt. Vernon. You need to have all your prerequisites done by Spring of next year to start up in Oak Harbor. Classes meet on Tuesday and THursday from 5:30 to 9:00pm and Saturday from 9-12 or 12-3. I know this because I was considering it and had my name on their waiting list when I got accepted elsewhere. I really like Skagit Valley because they are nice and professional. But it is 2 hrs from where I am. The school has a good reputation so that's why I was considering the drive! Look into Tacoma Comm College too. I think they have a part time program and viable if you have really good grades.

Nancy H does not teach any classes so you don't have to worry about dealing with her. I could never get a straight answer about how many students would be admitted. Nancy told me she had to reserve 10 spaces for Workfirst Students. Did she tell you that there were 30 seats not including Workfirst students? I heard also that they might be going towards a lottery for Fall 2008. The school was placed on warning by National League of Nursing Education in 2005 (not exactly sure when) but they fixed whatever problems they had an now the accredation (sp?) is intact. You can verify this but going to www.nlnac.org Many of my friends who are good students but not 4.0 students are taking the LPN-RN route. They are many good schools like Renton Tech, Bates Technical College, Clover Park Technical College that offer LPN program. You could bridge to other schools for the RN. But the expiration is a problem. I am having to redo my Chemistry, Biology and Math because they are only 2-3 years old but by the time I get into a program, these classes will have expired! PS if you want me to go into my personal experience about getting on the program ready list then I thinkyou can pm me? It's long but gives you a good insight to how they run things over there

Although I have not attended SCCC, my experience dealing with the staff in the Nursing Department has been fraught with disappointment and frustration. And if this is any indication of the program, then I would be concerned. Actually I have not heard positive things about the school. In fact, if you go to ratemyprofessors.com and select Seattle Central Community College, someone has rated the instructor who teaches the first quarter classes as "incompetent" and "unorganized". I am still waiting to hear if I will be admitted in the fall. I was told by Nancy Harris that she cannot tell me if I will able to attend or not because she has to see how many students do not register according to a certain date. She does not return phone calls or emails. I had to call about 5 times before I got my answer which to me is no answer at all. Ive only found one school where there is no expiration date on prerequisites, Skagit Valley College. They do have a good reputation but 2 year waiting list and it is a distance for some of us...