SuchAMuffin

I just started at Banner on Monday. Training is going to be at least 6-8 weeks. TONS of training plus classes and even more classes after your initial training is done. It seems amazing

I loved all my clincal sites through CGCC. We went to Banner desert, Cardons, Mayo, VA, Banner behavioral, and of course long term care. But it depends....not everyone has the same clinical rotation/site and really your clinical experience is what you make of it :)

MA pay can range depending on your experience and where you work. Id say an average range is about $9-$12 per hour but it really just depends.

Does it not show up on your stated Board of Nursing within 24 hours????? It does here.....

I was in the accelerated program (block 1 and 4 and capstone in the summer) and we had several LPNs bridge over. However, I believe the only accelerated program left is at Gateway? I could be mistaken

https://www.google.com/shopping/product/6160429579662009206?q=skechers+clogs&ved=0CBEQhC0oAQ&ei=ndSHU4T7AtK3yAS89YCYDQ i got these for clincals last year. i think they work great. easy to clean. Also if you have a sketcher's outlet nearby chem them out. i got mine there at almost half this price :)

This is what scares me the most! I graduate in just a few months and i know I want to apply to a BSN program soon after however, I want to secure a job before I continue my education. Mainly because I don't want to have to take out too much more student loans. I know most places prefer BSN or at least want you to have started it so I'm definitely concerned. Good luck to everyone! Keep us posted if you get an offer :)

I currently go to CGCC and it is okay...don't have anything to compare it to. It has it's ups and downs but I would think all programs do. I would suggest maybe look into the CEP program as it looks like most/all facilities in AZ are making a BSN mandatory for nurses. Found out at clinical a few weeks ago that starting next year Banner will most likely not be hiring ADNs. Just something to think about. Plus you could do all your co-reqs and work on the additional BSN classes while you wait. Good luck!

no problem :]

A lot of it depends on how you learn and study. I got the ebook package and I hate it. While it is easy to carry around (you can have it on up to 2 devices with the app or anything with internet access) I just find it a little difficult to navigate at times. I've survived this long without the books but I honestly don't read a lot of the course material anyway (its impossible to read it all and I only read if I need further clarification). As far as devices go DO NOT go buy something new. you can get free apps (medscape, micromedex, drugs.com, even free nclex apps) which is nice for like lab or in class but in clinicals the are constantly telling you NOT to use your phones even to look up drug info. They want you to do it on the facilities computer or with a book. that has been my experience anyway. I think you have a certain window to check out the ebooks and if you don;t like them you can upgrade to the ebook/actual book combo. So you could always try them. Or you could just use used books like some people in my class did/do and do just fine as well. Hope that helps

If you are around the East Valley area I recommend taking it at CAC Superstition campus in the evenings. The professor is really nice and friendly and most importantly WANTS people to pass her class. She is always willing to work with you and makes the class interesting. I took it with her during block 2 and passed with a very high A

Maybe but I don't really know where its at right now The days and times may have changed but it was 0800-like 1150? then the extra classes if you enrolled in them.

You have a certain amount of additional lab hours you must attend plus i believe if i remember right a lab day every week and several practicums. That is for block 2 anyway.

I agree with what people hae said about working on co-reqs if you haven't already or working towards the concurrent BSN program. However there are still classes you have to take DURING your blocks in addition to regular block course work. No one in my block is in the CEP program (currently in block 3) but the block behind us there are a lot and a good amount of them didn't pass block 1. This may or may not be directly linked to the CEP workload but just doing the "regular" ADN route is so time consuming that I can see doing the CEP as being super intense. But with so much time I would get ahead if that's something you are interested in. If not I would advise taking some med terminology classes if you are unfamiliar or new to the health care setting. This really can help in block one. Many of my friends had no previous medical background and really struggled with terms. I personally wouldn't advise the LPN route but that's just me. Good luck with whatever you choose!

Im at CGCC in block 3. I can try and answer any questions you might have Tests are different depending on the teacher obviously. Most come straight from lecture/powerpt. I can honestly say that I rarely read the text (only if I need clarification) and currently hold an A in block 3. BUT it all depends on how you learn and how and who you study with. You need to learn your own learning style. Super important. As far as clinicals for block 2 go we had them at Mayo, Mercy Gilbert, VA, Chandler Regional but I believe they go to Banner Facilities now? so Banner Desert maybe Gateway and VA and Mayo?

Agree with some of the earlier posts: a lot can depend on your teachers and how the information is presented. There's also differences in teaching for "real world" and teaching for the NCLEX. I can appreciate that our teachers let us know the difference but to me, right now, the NCLEX is the most important because lets face it, without it there is no "real world" because you won't have a job as a nurse. Starting new blocks has been frustrating because it seems all the rules change each time a new one starts. Even with math! Since I'm only on block 3 I cant say yet which is most difficult but we lost about 3 people after block one and i believe 5 after block 2 (out of 38 students). The class behind us lost 10% of their class in block one. So I really think it just depends on how you adapt and learn and it is best to be over prepared and be happy you aced everything than anxious and struggling because you didn't prepare til the night before an exam.

yeah at the end of every block there in a proctored final and proctored hesi.... I dont know if I would call it an "exit" exam as you can not pass it and still pass the block. typically ive found the hesi to be easier than the class final

Im currently about to start block 3 at CGCC (I was told our class is the last accelerated program). A classmates husband just finished up the LPN program a few months ago and is now going to be in block 3 with us. He said it depends on how many slots are available. I believe we only lost 3 or 4 people so their arent too many places available to begin with, but the wait isnt nearly as long as starting from block 1.

Hey Brenda- The biggest thing about block 1 is learning how to think like a nurse. I have always been the type of student that never really studied much or read much and could still pull off As (not to sound conceited or anything!!). But nursing school is completely different. Its not regurgitating information you learn. Its not so many yes or no questions. Its about the application of WHAT you know. So yes you do need to memorize a ton of information but you also have to know how and when to apply it. The biggest thing for me was re-learning how to study and how to take tests. It IS different. I think you're really smart doing CEP. I wish I would have done it that way. I guess my advice would be to be prepared to have nursing school take over your life, be prepared to make sacrifices for it. DONT be discouraged if it doesn't "click" for you right away. Everyone seems to have that "ah ha!" moment lol its kinda great. Make friends quick. Flash cards and study groups are a necessity. Encourage everyone. If you arent familiar with med terminology start getting cozy with it. It seem to be a huge obstacle for people brand new to the medical field. anything else i can help with let me know!

Hey all! Starting Block 3 at CGCC next week, any tips on getting through and rocking OB/Peds? Or having clincals at Banner facilities? I've had clincals at Mayo and South Mtn Long term care facility and was previously an outside contracted employee at a Banner facility. Any advice or tips would be appreciated! Likewise if anyone has questions about blocks 1 or 2 I'd be happy to help with whatever I can :) Thanks!

I know you said you wanted to take this course prior to February but I just wanted to let you know that I took it at CAC at the Superstition campus at night and it was extremely easy and still interesting. No lab practicums, no essays, no long answer questions. Most everything was fill in the blank or multiple choice. The study guides reviews are all available to you and all test questions come from them. Didn't even need a textbook. The teacher does make class interesting and is very nice and helpful. Tons of opportunities to get lots of points. I took it while I was taking Block 2 and still passed with an A. Towards the end is stuff you are already familiar with if you've already taken A&P or been in the medical field so it gets even easier. I'm not going to lie and say that I learned as much as I could about microbes but I did get a good amount out of the class, I also wasn't trying to spend all my time writing micro essays. Anyway thought this would be helpful to anyone who still needs to take it. Teachers last name is ------------------.