arizdolphin

I just finished one week; going on second. So far so good. This is my first job as an LPN so the dosing is brand new but chemical dependency is not. I thik I am going to like it. It is taking a bit to wrap my head around changing one addiction to another but each day, I get more understanding. Just watching amazing people maintain careers that opiates destroyed once (twice, third, etc.) in their lives.................My area of town is not so great either and my hours are 4:30-11:30. There are always a few folks there waiting. The clients give me feeling of safety. Unless theres a gun used, than the odds are on our side - hahaha. I am learning to use the eyes in the back of my head though!! I do like that time fly's by. Still struggling with sleep and saturday I slept 16 hours!!! Went to bed around 8:00 last night and today is the first day in a week that I feel pretty good. Alot of paper work but still less than anything I say in clinicals and definetly less than nursing school. The count is soooooo easy because there is only one drug. Med errors are pretty much gone, if you can trust the computer. It's been fun....the bosses are laid back and so is secretary. I like everyone's attitude. I think I may haven found a career....I know.....its only been a week but it feels really good:)

I will enter Block 3. Still have three classes to take, Bio 201, 202, and Algebra. Just started them so will end in May. Enough time to get in Gateway in July. Since the LPN program didn't have any pre-reqs, got right in and did some pre-reqs during Blocks 1 and 2. Lot of work but no wait list. Cost more than community college (7,200) but it ends up paying for itself.

Hi, I work as a HUC for about 5 years. I really enjoy my job (at times). I started in the ER which is totally different than the floors. Very, very easy in ER. Floors are hard. Now it is great experience towards your nursing degree. You will lack patient care but if you can get in to a hospital you can easily get crossed trained as a CNA. There is many different kinds of training you can add on, EKG tech, ortho tech, blood draws, cna, etc. Once you start adding on the various trainings that your hospital has, you become a PCT. Each training usually brings more money. Now it does get tricky though if you are going for your RN. I just finished LPN school and my place of employment said if I get licensed they will have to terminate me because they don't hire LPN and I can't work under my license. The State had a talk with them because there are quite a few LPN's working in this facility as a CNA. It can be done but don't get yourself in a place that may cause you stress. Nursing school is stressful enough. Be a HUC, enjoy, learn and get through school. The hospitals pay for your training so take advantage. Huc'ing is fun most of the time. I was the only one during clinicals that could read doctor orders!! My Huc skills came in handy. Now it does get stressful from time to time. You are responsible for the smooth operation of your unit. You can set the tone of that unit and soooo much depends on the accuracy of the orders you put in. I don't know what you are looking for specifically but just ask. Being a HUC is going to put you in a pretty good position to further your education in medicine and you don't go home at the end of the day with a back ache. hahaha

Just my two cents.....I just graduated with LPN from Maricopa Skill Center. Took some pre-reqs while going. Will sit for NCLEX in a couple weeks and work in home health for the next year. Work on P/T basis at $40.00/hr and keep F/T job which will pay for RN. I have three more classes left. Bio 201, 202, and Algebra. Will start Gateway RN in July. My friends at work are really mad they didn't go with me because I am a year ahead of them now. There is no waiting to get into a RN program if you have your pre-regs done. Gateway leaves openings or has a larger class to fit all who graduate. Think about all your options. This is a very doable program. And while my friends are working on getting their pre-regs done the wait gets longer. I will get advanced placement over them. This is a good way to get in. Think about it.........

You better believe it!! We all have to stop and tell ourselves that often......As someone said here - it's like a roller coaster ride. Sometimes you just have to throw up:eek:

I don't know what I'm going to do. Had plans to finish pre-reqs by October but dropped my 201 because Block B was so overwhelming. Also, our graduation was moved to January. There are some very unhappy people now in Block C. I'm just trying to regroup and make a new plan. It is hard because I'm angry with the school for the changes they made and I'm angry with myself for not be able to get my prereqs done like I planned. With that said, I'm looking into LPN - BSN programs vs LPN-RN. I have a job when I graduate and I have a job that will help with tution. The problem is, I'm so tired of school and studying and not having a life. I want a break and think that if I take one I may not go back. It makes sense to keep going and get it over with. Each Friday I have my clinical and that helps to refresh me and assure me I'm on the right track but than back to work and school...........well, I go seven days a week. Three days school and three days work and one day clinicals. There are a lot of us doing this. We are getting sick and staying sick. Run down and tired.......You get it......Just BARELY seeing the light at the end of tunnel at this point!!! It will all be worth it. It will al be worth. It will all be worth it???????????????

You'll get in urstrulii......don't worry. Did they say when they would notify you that your application is complete ...or did they already do that?

I'll have to check out Southmountain and see what they have. I'm right with you on getting into accelerated spot. The school will help you out also with that and remember we are a Gateway school so there are always spots there. The problem that we may run into is that Banner system is having their LPN's sign contracts to get their RN within the next two years. This is going to take up a lot of spots when it comes to advance placement. I still need my 201 and 202. I took everything online at Rio so I know it is doable. Just keep ahead. You are going to have a ton of work to do in Block B. It is doable but for the three of us taking either 201 or 202, we all dropped. Someone dropped 205 in Block C but I managed to get through it during Block A and B as well as Algebra. This program is all about time management. As for a more detailed opinion, we are just going to have to meet one day. I would suggest that if you haven't already met anyone in Block B, do. They can give you a lot of insight into what is coming. Some are also able to help you out in any area you may need. Block B all your testing is going to come NCLEX style so prepare yourself. Go through your NCLEX book from time to time, know the answers to ALL questions at the end of the chapters and know your powerpoints. This is a fun and exciting time.............as well as the hardest educational experience I have ever had.

Hey Smileyperson, Welcome to Block A. Block A allowed me time to get a couple pre-reqs out of the way. I still need 201 and 202 and just can't seem to find any (except Rio online). Block C will end in January so it looks like I am not going to make it into any acelerated program. I wish I hadn't dropped my 201 in Block B but it seems like everything was too demanding and I couldn't find the time for homework. Block B really, really sucked. I'm glad it is over and Block C is awesome! Love the teachers and I think I can handle a 201. Do you know of any other online classes except Rio? Hope to meet you soon. I think there are three or four of you in Block A that actively post here!! Let me know if I can help you out with anything along the way.

Hey JessLP, You should have no problems in Block A. Teachers are great and since you are a CNA, that really helps. Good luck. If you have any pre-req's to do, now is the time to get them out of the way. Block B will hit you like a brick wall!!

I took 092 during block A and 205 during block B. Block B is really time consuming and a lot of studying but I made it. I started 201 a few weeks ago and just can't do it anymore. This program is really demanding of time. As long as you can put your family life on hold, you will be fine . Because our graduation date has been delayed, we are not going to finish in time to enter any block 3 program in January. It has taken a while to accept that so at this point, I am going to go easy on myself and focus on graduating. I came this far, with a lot of work and don't want to mess it up now. I was sooo stressed when it came time for testing I just want to focus on finishing so probably no more prereqs till I graduate. Who knows, in a month I may feel different. I still need 201, 202, and 121 and I really wanted them done. NOW, I just want to graduate!

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.

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.

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

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.

Sorry to hear that. Since we were together than I probably know who you are talking about. Not sure when you left but things are much,much better. Were you there for the big meeting with director? Things really changed after that. The rest, yes just like you said, "just take things day to day". That is very good advice. That's just about what any of can do. I hope whatever is going on with your life will certainly turn around for the better. Hang in there.

I don't think 88% is so bad either because everyone does test differently. I think the State stepped in because they were in the high 90's. I am so stressed just thinking about it. After our math test I wanted to cry. Now we have to score 100% on the next two math tests! It's getting fun!! Today was our first day of Pharmacology and we did injections. Tomorrow we learn foley insertion and this is only week one! I started in January also - 2009. Were we together? Would you be in block B with me now? If so, we have the same three and two new ones. One came near the end of this last graduating class and a new one who I will meet tomorrow. I believe we are her first teaching experience. She is a new nurse practioner and will be teaching the hands-on portion.

Does anyone know about the BSN program for those with a non-nursing BA? I will be done with LPN soon.

blkcind, I cannot be specific on this forum however, you can talked to staff in person. They are aware of the issue and are open to discussion. Yes the scores went down. I cannot remember what was said today but the pass rate was somewhere around 88%. That was down from somewhere around 98%. The numbers are probably published on State web site. All Arizona nursing schools are held accountable the same. It is really awesome what is being done to better the program. Once I got past the anger and frustration I could look at things differently. They do provide a forum to air out problems and this one was taken care of in less than 24 hrs. I have been to other schools where I feel like they don't even know I exist. I feel very supported by staff and classmates. You bet there are some problems but I feel they are dealt with very quickly. You are not just another student here. The staff in the nursing program really want to be here and it shows. Yes it is individuals who are creating problems. What has happened in various blocks trickle down and affect the next block. They are not letting things slip by or allowing bad nurses out there. What is happening is a good thing. The unforturnate part is that I am feeling the changes, which sucks, but it only betters my skills so good in the long run and for a couple more weeks delayed in graduation...........I'm just trying to keep positive. When you get there in September I will have tested out the new changes taking place for you!

Oh my, I really got edited because I used names. Sorry about that. Long story short, talk to the director of the nursing program. She and other instructors are great.

hopefulfutureLPN, I would suggest you talk with scheduling staff personally. Someone from the program came in to class today and discussed what happened with to cause the changes in the schedule. No one was happy with the changes we were given yesterday. Our graduation is not going to be December 18 but now into January. Even though our commencement exercise will be later, staff will be working with those students that need their grades posted earlier who are transferring into Block 3 to complete their RN. From my understanding, any Arizona schools would have to complete an "action plan" in similar situation when student failure of NCLEX drops. Changes that were made, (including removal of an instructor) brought the next graduating class to 100% passing. One of the classes is being placed online which will limit the amount of time the staff has to be here and will require our Block to attend two more hours. This school is hourly remember. It takes some time to get use too but all I know is that it is not costing me any more money, will do online work, and show for two hours to demonstrate "hands on knowledge". I would suggest you check out ALL your options and talk to as many people as you can. There is so much involved in the nursing programs that I made a spreadsheet out to compare them. All this feed back you get you have to remember it is based on individual perceptions. Some of the staff are approachable and will answer your concerns. This program was the best for me - no prereqs, no cna required, I can make more than the RN's at my hospital (depending on where I go), no waiting lists for this program or getting into an rn. If you go back in May, you will be that much closer to your goal. Oh, they are only charging you for 5 hrs a day of classes. Those Fridays we didn't go or left early, we will get our money refunded. Your hours are tracked. I'm a self pay. I also didn't get all the books. That alone will save you 700.00. I am using books from previous student two years ago. There are ways.

There are a couple students who work nights and come right from work to school. Sometimes they fall asleep and other times we are only there for a couple hours. There is so much homework and it took me a good month to get organized but we were allowed to work together and helped each other out. I had to cut my work to Saturday's and Sundays and extra days we got off, (teacher illness, rearrange schedule, etc) I can pick up shifts at work. We had a lot of Fridays off near the end so I was able to pick up extras but you won't know this for a while. We got out of most classes by 12:00-12:30. Like hopefulfutureLPN said, flexibility is the key to any program.

I'm in Block B. From my understanding they will give us the HESI before we are allowed to graduate. It's part of the program here so don't worry. Things are not as frustrating once you get past the admission and financial aid stuff. The program is good, the director and teachers are good. You will learn the material and pass the Boards. I was really frustrated going into Block A but it all works itself out. Stick with the positive people and stay focused. The things we complained about in Block A, we wouldn't change now.(well maybe a couple things) We had our first day of Block B today and attitudes have changed already. How excited we are to be this far along and closer to our goals! We actually made it through Block A (and it really sucked at times!) Ask questions from your Block B and C folks. We are all in this together and they helped me get through some tough times. Think also how much closer you are to getting through the program than your friends who are on waiting lists! Once you solve all the "front office" stuff, it is sooooo much easier.

I took the same class. If I can do it, so can you......believe me. The tests are not that difficult. Study your test and especially your essays. They are identical on the mid-term and final. The instructors will give you liberty on the test because you don't have your book in front of you. When I was doing the essays I would say that there is "something" that happens at this point but I just can't remember the name. Spelling is not an issue either on your midterms. Try to relax. You can answer a question and go back and change it. You have plenty of time. You have an A, so did I going in. I got a 57 on midterm and 63 on final. This gave me a B for the final. Try not to stress it. Focus on you essays and quizes and labs. Thats all you need to pass this class and others. The essays questions are at random except for the most obvious like diffusion......you will be asked that. Or at least they have always asked that. Don't drop at this point. You sound like you are on target. THe online classes can be overwhelming until you get into the flow of it but it ends up being such a time saver. Hang in there!