Thank You Note to GPC's Nursing Program

[stillbetteryet]

I can’t neglect to thank the faculty and staff of the GPC nursing program for my experience while enrolled. The reason it is important for me to say thanks is because my plethora of negative experiences while enrolled in the program helped me to be truly grateful for the nursing program I left GPC for.

If I had never gone to GPC and been treated like dirt by many of the faculty and staff (minus a select few – you know who you are) I would not appreciate the instructors I now have nearly as much in my new program.

My time at GPC helped me to develop a thicker skin, more confidence in myself, and a deeper faith in God because that’s the only way you will make it out of there with enough sanity to thrive in another program as I now am.

I know that many students that leave GPC’s nursing program are not able to get into other programs for various reasons. To those of you in this situation, don’t give up on your dream. GPC is not at all the typical nursing program despite what others have said. Unfortunately, many are so wounded after leaving that they don’t continue to pursue nursing.

Just a few of the things that I have in my current RN program that I did not have at GPC are:

• Rationales provided for all tests questions
  
• Polite, respectful faculty and staff
  
• Returned calls and emails
  
• Organization, Organization, Organization
  
• Tests questions whose correct answers can be found in the required reading
  
• Not having to put my family on the backburner until I finish school
  
• Exam grades and a GPA that reflect the diligence that I put into my studies

Again, GPC I sincerely thank you from the bottom of my heart for your unprofessional, uncaring, and blatantly unfair practices because they have served to make me a more grateful, and solid nursing student currently finishing up in another program.

God Bless

[carostar]

Wonderful letter!

I, too, am still at GPC but I'm not that impressed with their "temporary" fix because it was admitted by the administration that they were "one time exceptions". The problem is not with the caring teachers whose hands are tied, but where it bottle-necks with the administration who can't see doing it another way. I'm so frustrated with their poor planning for summer school spaces, uncaring and condescending attitude and poor communication! :angryfire

I should have gotten the hint when first applying and hitting a stone wall on the first level for any information about the sancrosanct Nursing program. Even the counselors at GPC get the wrong information and pass that along to the clueless students for pre-requisites. I had the experience of being told ON THE DAY OF the NET test that the policy had changed and only one chance to pass would be given (like we weren't nervous enough) so if you didn't feel ready to take it, LEAVE. I could go on..but.. maybe another time.

Word of advise: If you get accepted somewhere else, choose that school first!

[onmywaytoRN]

There is one good thing about the program, IF you actually make it through you know that you have pretty much went through the toughest struggle of your life and anything a hospital or other nurses (bad ones) can throw at you, you will be able to take it b/c you have been dealing with disorganization, lack of time management, lack of good leadership......, could go on but I won't. So, at this point I'm glad I went there, but if I had to do it again, NO WAY!!

[rollie]

What does it mean when you say administration said they were "one time exceptions?" Just curious.

When I graduated with 21 students over 1/2 were repeaters, meaning they had failed the last semester.

And we all think that since we made it through that program we can do anything but unless you've been in that program you have no idea what it's like. Because all you ever hear from everyone when you get out is "all nursing schools are hard". So no one will really ever understand or give you points for making it through that program.

[nursinginga]

Okay all:

I am going to be an exception in this thread. I am a current GPC nursing student and I will say that things are changing slowly, but they are changing. No, these are not one time exceptions. Most of these changes are staying. Every nursing school that I have spoken with has their own problems. Nursing school is not going to be easy and if it is, that is when you need to look for another school to attend because you are going to be eaten alive when you get out in the real world of nursing. I too had the same thoughts and feelings about GPC when I first started there and yes the first semester I was very upset with how the structuring was and how unfair it seemed, but instead of not doing anything, we (the students) started making our complaints known and we feel like the faculty took this into consideration. If you ever have the opportunity to attend a state or national convention, please do so. I learned so much more about not being the only one struggling with issues of nursing school once I attended my first convention. They may not be the same issues, but once I had spoken and found out about what other schools implement as policies, I left with the thoughts of "well we have this issue, but, wow, they have to go through this". I hope that you will all consider everything positive as well as negative that you hear about any school and make the decision yours and not anyone elses. Good luck to each and every one of you.

[abmsam]

Okay all:

...make the decision yours and not anyone elses. Good luck to each and every one of you.

It's difficult for one to make such a monumental decision by one's self when you have not actually attended the school yet. The only information to which prospective students have access while making this decision is from other current and former students.

You don't hear these things about any other local program. You just don't hear complaints to this extent from former or current students of NGCSU, Ga Baptist, etc. Students who leave GPC for other programs report an unbelievable difference in the confidence and competence of their new programs.

Nursing school should not be easy, but when upwards of 50% (even as high as 75%) of a class fails or is forced to withdraw to save a GPA, there is a problem that reaches far beyond just typical "difficulty." Nursing is difficult, but should not be impossible.

[nursinginga]

It's difficult for one to make such a monumental decision by one's self when you have not actually attended the school yet. The only information to which prospective students have access while making this decision is from other current and former students.

You don't hear these things about any other local program. You just don't hear complaints to this extent from former or current students of NGCSU, Ga Baptist, etc. Students who leave GPC for other programs report an unbelievable difference in the confidence and competence of their new programs.

Nursing school should not be easy, but when upwards of 50% (even as high as 75%) of a class fails or is forced to withdraw to save a GPA, there is a problem that reaches far beyond just typical "difficulty." Nursing is difficult, but should not be impossible.

You make a very valid point, but I must disagree with you on you stating that former and current students of NGCSU, Ga Baptist, etc. don't have complaints. They do...I have talked with many in the past 6 months and they have issues also. As I stated before, maybe not the same, but they do have issues (big and small) with their programs.

[abmsam]

Of course they have problems, but most of the class does not fail. In my opinion, there stands the difference between GPC and other programs. Other programs seem to manage their problems more effectively than GPC, with far fewer "casualties," if you will.

Good luck at Perimeter. You know you're good if you make it through, and to you, I tip my hat.

[rollie]

As far as "being eaten alive in the real world of nursing", I have not found this to be true. I am a GPC grad and have been in the real world of nursing for over 9 months. All of my learning experiences have been helpful and not stressful and nervous breakdownish like when I was at GPC. Real world nursing practice is nothing like they teach you in nursing school. When you start working they teach you how nurses "really" do stuff.

[Oversteer]

I'm currently a nursing student at GPC, and I regret my decision. Everything that stillbetteryet outlined in the original post is still occurring. Most(not all) of the teachers are excellent, but I get the feeling they are frustrated also. Something is not right when you boast 100% NCLEX pass rates yet maintain 50-60% graduation rates, and many of those are repeats. IMO, they need to get rid of the current administration and bring in someone with a successful track record of professional administration. Someone who is an student advocate instead of someone who sacrifices students to enhance their reputation.

[nursinginga]

Okay everyone. I must recant something I posted a while ago. The exceptions that were made this semester were only one time exceptions, so I apologize if I mislead anyone. I still stand by my saying that GPC Nursing is changing. I believe that the faculty do want to see improvements as much as the students and I hope that everyone will not only take the bad, but also look at the good of this program. Good luck to each of you and I hope that you all have a blessed summer.

[rollie]

They can't just "get rid" of their current administration. That would be great but there are simply not enough nursing educators at this time. Not many nurses are going into education and the aging nursing faculty is preparing to retire. There are articles about this shortage all the time and it's a shame that so many people are being turned away from nursing schools simply because there are not enough teachers to teach all of them.

[onmywaytoRN]

I just graduated GPC and during the semester I attended a meeting with current students and a lady from the state board. A student suggested that maybe GPC was understaffed and that was the reason for all of the disorganization, etc. The lady told us that for the amount of students GPC had they were actually overstaffed!! So, they could definately get rid of some of the bad teachers and only keep the good ones.