LynneMarie02

flwannaB bchlver596 is definitely talking about the price of schools in California. Galen is like 17K for LPN and then I think 22K for the RN program....

CareBear, Hello!! I also started Galen in August with NurseAeja and we are having the time of our lives. It is a lot of hard work, harder than I thought but at the end of the day when I'm going to sleep I can't help but smile thinking that this whole experience is awesome!! I am in such a better mood nowadays and have made some pretty cool friends. Since starting in the middle of August I have already been to 3 clinicals. I have seen everything and even wiped some butts and changed diapers. I've seen catheters inserted, feedings given. My clinical site has been really good to us and not only asks for help but even tests us in the process as well. Today is midterm week. Surprisingly I have been doing very well on all my exams, A's and B's. Anatomy is another story though I will NEVER get that! So I'm a C student in there. Today we have our CPE's, Critical Performance Exam where we go onto campus in their labs in our clinical uniforms and perform a variety of different things on the mannequins infront of instructors. I'm about to pee my pants I'm so nervous but I know everything and I know what I'm doing so it shouldnt be too bad just nerves is all. If you ever have any questions or want some notes or need help with how the teachers are or how they test or anything don't hesitate to e-mail me or ask to meet up at the school. [email protected]!

FOR ANYONE LOOKING INTO ATTENDING GALEN - RECAP OF MY FIRST WEEK This has been one of the craziest weeks of my life. I started the LPN day program this past Monday...I wake up at 5 to be to school by 8 and then don't get home until 7 at night...by the time I get home I just want to sleep and not study. And then I work two 12 hour shifts on both Saturday and Sunday. SO basically I'm already behind, which is NOT a good thing. We have covered so much material in a matter of 4 days it's unreal. I'm already frustrated because more than half of the class are CNAs or work in the field already and here I am with little to no experience. The girls are snobby and act like they know everything. I'm finding out who to stick with and who to stay away form right now. They definitely throw you into the quarter and expect you to know a lot of stuff already, which I don't. Which means I'm going to have to work extra hard. I'm hoping this next week will be better and I'll be better adjusted. If you thought over 17,000 was expensive for tuition. Guess again, You need to buy uniform about 80$, 400$ for books just for the FIRST quarter (TIP but I have learned that students put messages on the boards on campus for discounted books they are trying to get rid of so they are selling for little to nothing too bad I didnt know that before I bought books on half.com) another $40 if you are not a certain CPR certified cant remember which one it is they will not just take anything, fingerprinting is free THANK GOD, stethoscope, penlight, and other misc things. Too weird, didnt think it was going to be that much extra (my counselor did tell me but I didnt think it'd be a lot of extra stuff) Then not to mention the gas over 400 miles a week. Hopefully you others will find a place to live close by. Good thing is though that I can bring my lunchbox with food and put it in the refrigerator and not have to buy stuff in the cafeteria everyday. Theres another TIP lol I have my first exam tomorrow after only a week of classes and on 5 chapters. The teachers are ok...most are pretty boring and a 4 hour class drags on and on and on. The lab teacher is amazing! And the labs are amazing too. We learned how to take vitals, turn a person in bed, and putting a person into a wheelchair all in a matter of 6 hours and had practice time too. They have open lab on Mon Fri nights and then saturday for a couple hours in the morning so you can go in and practice your skills. Hopefully this gives you some kind of overview....wish someone would have done this before I started so I knew what happened the first week =) if you have any other questions I'd be happy to answer. E-mail me though at [email protected] I read that everyday.... Good luck with everyone!!

He did not give me cost of the program but I know my LPN is 17,000 and change and then the RN is like 22,000 (hopefully they don't raise it in a year) Basically he said the new program is the two programs put together but more intensive. Apparently you go the whole two years straight with one week break he said. I was looking at the class schedule and it looks like you get less clinical experience too, I glanced at it real quickly so I could be wrong. The other thing was that you had to retake the PAX exam for the RN instead of the LPN PAX. He said the score they were looking for was like a 126....which I don't know if I could even get that score...mine was 111 for the PN. I'm also wondering if you do the LPN program then bridge over to RN is it still considered an associates degree in nursing? That was my one main concern, or if at that point do they even care what it is labeled as when trying to get a job? I'm going to stick with the LPN because after that year or within the year hopefully I'll be able to get a job and start working while going for the RN afterwards....

I just talked to someone and I plan on sticking with the LPN program first, and then gonna still bridge over to the RN....

If you get this soon will you forward the information over to me? Either to [email protected] or [email protected] whichever one you have, I'm trying to consolidate e-mails lol and get off the HCC website.

But you know what, maybe it is for people who already have an associates degree, or are already certified LPN's what do you think prettyinblu??

I'm scared now because I'm already signed up for the LPN program and ready to start in August and now I feel like I'm going the wrong route.

I Tried asking someone about the RN 2 year program, but got no response. I'm currently enrolled for the LPN program day time. What's the difference between doing RN 2 year program and then LPN then RN bridge. Do you know? Now I'm kind of freaking out that I'm not doing the right thing. Thanks!!!

Jessica, Hello. I'm attending Galen in August. I'm soooo excited. I was hesitant at first too because of the drive. I live out in Valrico, right by Brandon. It'll be about a 45 minute WITHOUT traffic. It is also pricy, you're right, but I as well as you are ready to be done! I took the teas test at Erwin. I had signed up for it before I went to visit Galen. But as soon as I stepped in those doors and the admissions person took me on a tour I was sold, I absolutely fell in LOVE with the school. It has such a good set up. Dummies that crash, dummies that give birth, little baby dummies, it's amazing!! I took the teas test and got a horrible score, I can't remember what it was but it was enough to BARELY pass. I didnt even try to go to school there because I figured there were so many other people who would get in before me and I'd be put on a waiting list so I concentrated on getting into Galen. I also felt like Erwin was VERY disorganized and had no idea what they were doing. (Figures that the more expensive one would huh?) The test at Galen the PAX, I studied for for like 2 or 3 weeks, but just here and there. The study book helps a lot, the questions are the same. But the thing was is I felt like the test was just a way for them to get $50 out of you. I felt like I did horrible. I ran out of time on the math and seriously had to go back and bubble in like 15 questions on the computer. But I scored really well and was in the high percentile. You only need to score a 92 and I got a 111. They start their programs 4 times I year I think, August, November, then I guess February, and May. The night classes take 15 months as apposed to 12 months if you go day time. I hope this helps some. But honestly make an appointment and go visit the campus and take a tour and then the admissions counselor will sit down and talk to you about costs and entrance exam and basically EVERYTHING else. And the thing that I was most surprised about was there was NO pressure at all!! So do that! Best of luck to you!

I'm doing the day LPN program as well. And I'm super excited!! I'm working at a restaurant right now, I volunteered at Tampa General for a while though. What are you doing exactly at Bayfront? And how will you work and go to school full time? That's gotta be rough. Have you gotten any information about orientation yet? I think they said it was July 27 from 1-4. Can't wait to hear back from you

Hello! I am attending the LPN program at Galen in August. I'm very excited and cannot wait. My boyfriends friend is attending RN classes there now and will be done in August. He says that he really enjoys his experience there. But just like any other school they have their ups and downs. But that's to be expected right? I have my financial aid meeting tomorrow and very excited about starting soon!!!

prettyinblu is it for the LPN or RN program? Seems to be the RN huh?

Hello Mary, So many questions you have...A lot of your answers depends on the type of school you will be attending. It also depends what kind of nursing you want to go into, LPN, RN, bachelors degree, associates degree. Community colleges and universities are harder to get into than technical and private schools. I know at my community college you have to finish pre-reqs first which I believe is a total of 6 or 8 classes, which is covered in about two semesters. (That is if you have already taken math, english and whatnot) If you have not completed any of those classes you could be looking at over a year before you even APPLY to get into nursing school, and with that their GPAs are VERY competitive (they are usually looking for something above a 3.4 maybe 3.5 to even consider you) The Teas test is an entrance exam that some schools use. I took one for Erwin which is a technical college, the teas test is basically an SAT. I did horrible on it, I have not taken a math or english class since high school and that was 8 years ago. If you HAVE to take the test your school will recommend books to study for it. You seem very confused and have a lot of questions, the thing that you need to do right now is check out the schools that you may want to go to. Just make an advising meeting and check out different schools and apply to different ones as well. I checked out two different schools because I wanted to start right away, and didnt want to spend the time waiting to get into a community college. So now I am waiting to hear back from Galen school of nursing, I'm very excited and hopefully I'll be accepted. Good luck!!!