az_melanie

I had surgery last month so obviously didn't respond, KDOLL, sorry!! Yes, we should meet up!! Did everyone get their immunizations? I have to go in tomorrow for my second tb read and then I am done with that. Already have CPR as well....So, looks like I will be registering at the last minute. What about you guys?? I am getting SOOOOOO nervous!!

My date/time stamp was for 2/09 and I only had one selection, MCC, which I did get. I am sure some schools have a bit longer list than others (like MCC, Gateway, and the part time options). Good luck to you ALL and wishing you get in ASAP!!!

Katie-I got an email on Thursday with the registration PPWK in it and it goes through ALL of that stuff. Did you not get the email? If not, I'd call ASAP! The review class is during the first half of block 1. The math review is Mondays from 12:30-1:20 (class is from 9-11:50) and the RN review is Tuesday's from 12:30-1:45. I did not by my stethoscope yet, I figured we'd get it where we got the scrubs? I am sure those things 'walk off', I'll be sure to inscribe it or something!! As for the CPR class, I went to www.cprinstruction.com . They are in Mesa off Gilbert/University and the lady who teaches it is really funny, it went really fast! You have to have your CPR card before you can register and we have to register by Nov 24th, so I'd be sure to get that done ASAP! I was thinking, maybe before class starts we could all meet at the Startbucks by MCC. It'd be nice to know a few people before we start our journey :)!

Thanks apatientlywaiting for the info! My friend is in there too, I am sure you know her. Anyway, good to know about the review course. I had no idea it was only 8 weeks. Are both classes 8 weeks or just the math one? If that is the case, I'll definitely take them. Do you guys start your LTC clinics here shortly? I bet you are excited to actually get out in the field. SO exciting for you too :).

Hi Katie-Nice to meet you!! Yeah, it has been a long wait, that is for sure. Did you get your CPR card yet? I got mine last week. The lady who taught our class was hilarious and it was only $25! LMK if you want the info. Are you going to buy your books on Amazon or through the bookstore? Also, did you see that there are two review classes one for math and one for a regular review? I am trying to decide if I am going to do it. I will probably do the regular review, but not the math one. My friend is in block one right now and she said she kinda wishes she wasnt doing the math one, esp if you are comfortable with math. So far, the people that got into MCC were all date stamped Feb. I wonder if there were others? I only had MCC as my choice, as I don't want to drive farther than I have to. Did you just have one choice?

Ah, I figured I was missing some info there! Don't go too crazytrying to analyze things, when its your time, its your time!! I am enjoying every second of my down time b/c I know school is gonna be crazy :)!

I just got my Block 1 ppwk and it says you have to have 2 MMR's (if you show proof of this, you do NOT need to get the titer), 1 varicella (chicekn pox), 1 td in past 10 yrs, 3 HepB, and the 2 step TB. You also need your CPR card, Fingerprint Card and an exam by a Dr stating you are 'fit for RN school.'

Crystal74, where do you see that there are 70 slots open? I am on the Maricopa RN Placement Application sttus page and it shows there are only 3 spots available. One at MCC, and two at GWCC (one accelerated, one regular). Just curious, wondering if I am missing something here :).

There are all those slots open because people are deferring or dropping out. Which is good if you have a 6/16/09 date stamp b/c you might get in!!! Fingers crossed :)!

annek, I bet you will get in, you are SOOO close and people drop up until the very first day of class. I was going to do Nuc Med and I dropped out the day before class started, so someone else got my spot. There is still hope!! Crossing fingers :)....

KayL, I was date stamped 2/09 and just got in for the spring, so that was 4 semesters for me . But, I also only had one choice listed, as I wasn't willing to drive farther than MCC and didn't want to go to CGCC (which is a good thing, since it wasn't even offered this semester...Hmmm...). HatchetRatchet (or was it Ratchet Hatchet?! LOL), anyway, that is how I was figuring it for me, taking the # of students divided by about 650(450 who get in and the 200 or so that don't reaffirm) to figure out how long it'd be. I think there were about 2300 when I got my date/time stamp and if you do the math for my situation it was 3.5 semesters and I was 4, so it was right on. Now that there's about 2700, my guess it'd be 4-5 semesters! Only time will tell and I wish evreyone good luck while they wait. It really does go fast, even though it doesn't seem like it at first :)!!

Congrats bellabarbiegirl too :)! My friend just started the MCC RN program this past Aug and her schedule is as follows: Mon/Tues lecture from 9-1 or 2. Wed/Thurs are lab days and they run 7:30-3. The first 8 weeks or so you have lab at school and then about halfway through the semester you start your clinicals at a LTC center. She had 5 options (different times/locations) with 3 or 4 being 7a-3p (or so) OR 2-10pm (or so). She said that she studies all the time and that most people formed some sort of a study group pretty fast. She said that the girl sitting next to her wasn't taking things seriously the first few weeks and is not passing! Anyway, she keeps telling me to enjoy like now and get all the tv shows, reading, and house projects done now while you have the chance :)!

My guess would be Fall 2012 or Spring 2013. The first date you will 'officially' run for is the Fall 2011 class, so that will be semester 1, then Spring 2012 is semester 2, Fall 2012 semester 3 (if you have lots of choices hopefully you will get in here) or Spring 2013 (if you only have one choice-like I did-then you will probably get in here.) Best of luck to all of you. It seems like a long time away, but it really does come FAST!

For those of us who were accepted at MCC for spring 2011, I thought we could start our own thread! We can introduce ourselves and share any helpful info with eachother (ie. CPR places, shot places, scrub places, cheap books, etc, etc!) I will go first...My name is Melanie and I had a 2/20/09 date stamp. I only had one option, MCC, which is why it probably took so long! I am currently a SAHM but now that my kids are both in school, its time for me to hit the books as well! I am looking foward to the program, but am also pretty nervous, as I hear all the time how time consuming and hard it is! But, like 'they' say (who is they by the way?!), nothing good ever comes easy! Looking forward to meeting you all!!

I know that when they first started the program they only did a fall start. They told me that it may change as time goes on. Also, Catholic Healthcare West does a scholarship program through CGCC (just like Banner did with Gateway) and that program is accelerated and starts in May, as well as Aug, I believe? I have the contact info if anyone is interested in this :)!

I know this is a little late, but I had a Feb 20, 2009 date stamp and got my first and only choice of MCC. Can't wait, although I am freaking out already :). I am going to try to start our our thread, unless someone else already has?

I don't think this program is new by any means. I knew about it about 2 years ago and the advisor I spoke with said it was VERY competitive. The only thing different btwn this and if you had no degree is that you don't have to take English, Psych, two of the HCC classes and philosophy. She told me the average GPA for someone going into this program was 3.85. Remember, you are getting in to the BSN program, and your 'competition' will be everyone applying to the program whether they have a bachelors or not. Don't mean to sound harsh, just want to present another side :)!

Yes, the books are about $900 for the entire program. My friend started block one at MCC this fall and she bought ALL of hers on Amazon for about $600-650. Plus the shipping is free :).

Thanks for the info, fifthwheel. I was thinking about going this route, since I have my BA already, but have decided its still way cheaper to do the MCC route ($4k) and then have my employer pay to convert my ADN to a BSN. Plus, I can do the BSN online and be working and making $$ (hopefully :)) at the same time. I don't know why it has to be so darned expensive!!

You're one tough mama! I can't imagine going back to school with my little ones still at home. That's why the wait hasn't bothered me. My baby just started Kindergarten, so now I have my days freed up, I am ready to start. It would have been harder for me if one or both of my boys were home!!

Crystal-How cool that you come from a whole line of women nurses, that is pretty awesome :)! My mom was a dental hygienist, so healthcare runs in the family for me too. I swear the wait goes fast. I am SOO enjoying the calm before the storm right now. Ihear so many horror stories of how hard it is!! Dont' be too discouraged about the banner thing. Remember, it was only going to be for about $4000 and you have to work for them for 3 years. That is a long time for such a little amt of $$. Yes, it would've been nice to have the job at graduation, BUT that was never a guarantee. One bright note in waiting right now is it gives the market time to correct itself. I am hoping that when I graduate in 2 yrs, the market will at least be on the upswing and hospitals will once again be hiring new grads. I am sure there is a nursing shortage, but I am guessing its for experienced nurses?! In the meantime, while youwait, have you thought of taking terminology or patho, to keep up your skills? I haven't done any of that, just been enoying my freedom and kiddos before the real work begins :)!

Not for any public schools. You can pay $5k at a Maricopa Comm. College or $40k at private....I'm waiting, but I'm also a little cheap and don't want a ton of college debt :).

The 2 yr wait actually goes by a lot faster than you think :). After you apply, most people still have a few prereqs to complete like BIO202 and BIO205, so by the time you finish those, it's like a 2-3 semester wait. I finished BIO201 in Dec 08, took202 in Spring 09 and 205 in summer 09. My date/time stamp was 2/20/2009 @ 8:02am. I was accepted into the last Banners program, but had to defer due to scheduling conflicts (it was a night/weekend/parttime thing and that didn't work with DH schedule with the kiddos). Anyway, I would have gotten in at MCC this semester, but due to the deferral it'll be Jan 2011. Sooo....it would have taken me 3 semesters to get in, which isn't that bad, plus it went by REALLY fast! Now one of my good friends is in the MCC program and am eagerly following her progress. She says she misses her old life and its only been 3 weeks LOL!!! I laugh now.... As for the ASU thing, if you don't have a really high GPA, it might be difficult to get in. They cut their program a ton over the past few years and as of a year ago, the average gpa for those core classes was about 3.85 for those who were accepted. This new program that you guys are talking about sounds really interesting, as I already have a Bachelors and would love to just go straight for the RN, but at this point I'll be starting at MCC soon enough. Just remember, if you get your ADN, you can be working while your employer pays for you to get your Bachelors! Best of luck to all of us :)! Melanie

$40k for 1 yr for an ADN....Hmmm, I too think something sounds fishy. Out west if you do an accelerated program (and of course you have to have all your prereqs like Micro/A&p 1 & 2/CHM/Math/Psych etc done with) it is still 18 mos. That just doesn't sound right. I think a lot of the other posters have excellent points and you should heed their advice. Also, just do a simple google search on 'Concorde Career College Reputation' and you can read what others are writing (which is NOT good). Check out this link of what one person wrote: http://www.ripoffreport.com/adult-career-continuing-education/concorde-career-coll/concorde-career-college-concor-3b77f.htm Remember, this is your career, your livelyhood and rushing it to just get done is not necessarily in your best interest. Plus its not like there's loads of jobs out there waiting for you (or me or any other new grad!) Do your research and listen to your gut!

$40K is A LOT! I'd wait the 2 ys to go to Community College. I promise it goes by really fast! And while you wait, you can work on classes to satisfy your BSN. I have been waiting to get in for 1.5 yrs and will be starting in Jan and it really has gone by fast. I think that's a lot of $$$$ plus, it's not like the economy is that great and hospitals are no longer throwing out sign-on bonuses as they used to. If they're pressuring you to start, run!