sheri_u2

Very Helpful Dee Dee...................I was your friend at GPC and got injured in the first month and had to leave.................don't know if you remember me I'm just now considering going back and since I already attended Lanier last year I figured I'm going to try for the LPN there. I recocognized your name right away and your post was VERY helpful. I'm finding very little info like what can be found on "allnurses............" so your insite is appreciated. Sounds like LPN is just as demanding as the RN program. However, it also sounds like your chances of success are better. Would you agree? PM me and let me know

Yes, you work only weekends. Your workweek could also be Sat, Sun, Mon...12 hour shifts and yes you make a differential for working weekends and even more $$ if you work weekend/nights but I don't think it's fewer hours. :)

You might not hear back until well into the fall. You will first get a letter telling you that you qualify to take the NET test (entrance exam) and then they will tell you your results of the test, and then after that...........they will send you a letter of acceptance if accepted. I applied by the deadline for this fall and didn't hear back until almost May. I'm in the program now and FYI.......try not to be too influenced by what you hear on this board. I'm in the program now and so far it seems good. It's gonna be hard as hell, but the students I talk to now that I'm there say good things. In addition, from what I understand, GPC has an excellent reputation in the area for coming out prepared. Good luck! :)

Many say not to bother getting the PCT, just get experience as a CNA and the PCT job will come anyway. I took both and got hired with people for the same job that only had their CNA but they had experience. St. Joesephs will pay around $10 (day) to start and Wellstar pays $9 (day) to start.

Also, Discover Mills outlet Mall up I-85 has a scrubs store (w/ shoes) and other shoe outlets wich carry nursing shoes

I did have Chemistry prior to the test but some of the science questions on the TEAS I just guessed at. There were very few that were foriegn to me as far as science. Just know whats in the study guide. I remember some of the math questions were so ridiculous they were something like this....................If a hot dog stand has an inventory of 8 dogs, 6 burgers and 2 pounds of fries and the sell them for .08 per hot dog and they purchased them for .04 per hot dog, what was the average profit if they sold x hot dogs and 1 lb. of fries? They did the same thing with baking cookies. When I walked out I was like, "I'm glad our entire future depends on our ability to bake cookies and sell #$*&@ - ing hot dogs! :chuckle

Same here! They want us to be noticably students I think. Head to toe white! And promise me, we will stick out!

I would recommend applying everywhere to assure a spot. I applied to 4 schools cause I wanted to assure a spot and even though it was timeconsuming (transcripts, essays etc) and expensive (application fees) the end result was some schools are too far, some are too expensive, and some put you on a waiting list so better safe than sorry! Also, each school differs in their pre-reqs a little, some require Chemistry, some require 2 chemistry etc........so make sure you got the pre-reqs taken care of for your first choice. Good luck :)

I was successful with the study guide you have for the NET. For the TEAS, get the TEAS study guide because that test was a little different. I also used my NET book to study for the math for TEAS. The questions were identical to the study guides for me.

I've been hearing that it's close to 4-6 hours per day and all day on weekends! So please,,,,,,,,,,keep these responses coming :)

The way I see it, the older grads have 10+ years under their belt of dealing with not only life experience............... but most came from previous careers and previous degrees in other fields. We've dealt with various employee relations issues, mean bosses from previous jobs, career stress, career burnout, probably had a lot more experience with needing healthcare for ourselves so we know how NOT to be on the floor, we've learned how to work in various work environments where personalities clash, and we have all these experiences to compare when we're faced with similar experiences in our new career. I think it's also a plus that patients will think you've been a nurse for years! That will be the only time I'll be glad I'm not 25 anymore

There are also business degrees out there in Healthcare Administration as well :)

I have read many posts on here where people claim you are eligible to take the LPN boards after completing your first year of nursing school. I was curious if anyone can confirm that this is true or false in GA after you complete your first year of an ADN program

I met with Sanford Brown as a backup to the RN program. Even though I completed A&P I and II (this year), they wanted me to take "their" A&P and the tuition is $30,000 for 18 months. They basically want your money cause they won't "send you information", you have to go in for a physical interview so they can give you the sales pitch and won't tell you the tuition costs until the end of the interview. They will only accept one transfer class as credit to their program and you still have to proctor their class even if your transfering credit. I'm sure it's a good program, I just didn't like their approach. I heard Emory has an ultrasound program too. Although the lady I met with at Sanford Brown said they were the only program in Atlanta. Also may be hospital based programs.

Good luck. I've been at it for months now trying to get positive feedback . For every one positive comment I get 10 terrible ones. I'm trying to focus on the positive cause I'm starting the program this fall. From the many posts I've read and the private messages I've received (have a couple people from my pre-reqs in the program too)..........................to sum it up, there is not much "handholding" or concern from the professors about your success. However, if you "really apply yourself" and don't have to work or have a family.......people can make it through...... I hope.

Hi, I got into GPCs program for this fall (I'm terrified by the way, only 9 people made it to graduation this past May :uhoh21: ). Anyhoot, I got in with a a 3.33, maybe a little higher by the time I finished Micro this spring. I have a Bachelors degree from a few years ago and had like a 2.95 from that. I would recommend getting a minimum of a B in all Sciences. I'm not an A student all the time, I'm mostly a B student and I got in. Just like all programs, a lot of people get turned down (despite their bad reputation.) My friend had a better GPA than I did but she failed the NET test so you never know! oh, yeah and the NET test is identical to the study guide.

I was curious about this one............. What if your bachelors degree was business focussed (B.S.) and your an ADN and are hoping to go into "administration management type" positions after bedside? Does your bachelors assist you there?

Can't we all just get along? I knew very little about the depth of dedication and knowledge involved in nursing when I started too (see above post). Now, I look at it different and I can see why nurses that have "made it" to being nurses are defending how important their jobs are. Not only do they have people's lives and emotions in their hands on a daily basis............they made it through nursing school.

Bachelor of Science in Travel Toursim/Business, 1996. Coordinated weddings, social functions and meetings at hotels. Fun working environment, no pay, work 60 hours a week and you never "make a difference" in the world. Realized on 30th birthday that your never too old to start over. After all, I'm gonna turn 35 either way. If all goes well, I'll be a nurse when I do!

Heres the cold hard truth (in a nutshell), I don't want to sound harsh, or scare you from pursuing your dream, but I wish I had someone to inform me of all this when I started. I'm surprised nobody has said this yet........ For starters, you need to take several science pre-requisites (that are accompanied by hands on laboratory) if your degree is in business, computers, or even liberal arts. Sometimes, depending on what school your trying to get into, they will make you take some additional psychology class, or history class even though you have numerous credits in these types of classes from your previous degree. Because it's "required for their program." Then after you finish them, with at least A's or B's, you need to apply to the "nursing program", take entrance tests to get in, possibly be put on a waiting list because hundreds apply and only 50 to 70 students actually "get in." And THEN, you need to plan to be in school for AT LEAST 18 months (accellerated program) to 2 years. Even if you only get your associates, your looking at 2 additional years (yes, even if you already have a bachelors degree). Oh, and somewhere along the way you will find out that working (even part-time) while in the program is nearly impossible. People do it (part-time), but in my opinion it's by the grace of God. Then if you graduate without killing yourself first, you may sit for your boards, and get "certified" as an RN :)

Get the study guide and review it cover to cover, even if you meet people that have taken the test and say "don't worry about studying"..............study it anyway. Usually the test will be identical in structure to the study guide. I took the NET and the TEAs and that was the case with both. I was worried about my tests when other people didn't seem to be worried at all. I got high 80s percentage on both. They're actually not that hard but they are timed which in some portions is stressful.

Just an FYI :) From what I understand, you have to have experience before you can go PRN. You get paid more for the skills you have and the fact that you get to basically "make your own schedule." No benefits for PRN though. Thats what I've learned in my area of the world anyway........

Its nice to hear from someone that they too were sick of hearing how much you "Have no life" when you start the clinical nursing sequence. I'm getting ready to say my "goodbyes" to friends and family on August 22nd for that very reason. And no, I'm not even relocating! :chuckle However, I hate to break it to you but if you took pre-reqs for a BSN while doing a full time nursing program w/ clinical for ADN...............you ARE smarter than the average student Thats a compliment!

Nicole, I actually never ended up doing home health but knew people that did and it worked out well for them to get experience. I worked in the hospital but had to leave to get a summer job where I could actually make money before not working this fall. Great skills learned but no money (where I was anyway). And yes, the hospital shifts are always either 7a-7p, 11a-11p, 7p-7a OR sometimes there will be 8 hour shifts 7a-3p etc. Home health might work best for you. I had insurance for malpractice through NCO (in think thats what it was called) and I forget what it stands for. Maybe do an internet search. They hooked me up with it at the school where I got my CNA. About $20 per year. You won't need it working in a hospital though, only if you do private duty. At least thats what my hospital told me.

Hey Mary, I actually do have another question. Someone recommended to start reading the Fundamentals text (like I said, I have a lot of free time at work), do you remember anything about what was covered first semester in that book? Also, I hear a lot of people on these boards stressing about the meds they need to know, is there any way on earth to get ahead familiarizing yourself with meds that need to be memorized? or did you not even get to that first semester?