@lailamarquezzz Hope you're ready to conquer this semester here in a couple weeks!! You're gonna do great! Feel free to reach out for assistance if you need anything along the way!
Finally, someone explained it very well. Thank you! There are so many resources available in this program. Seriously, you should make a video on how to study the GCU ABSN way :)
Than you for this!!! You are helping out so many people. Ive been on the fence about this program so im happy you made this video to give some more info and so not as many people feel alone.
Thank you for this! I'm supposed to start Tucson in the Fall and was getting a little antsy from the lack of info available. This video is super helpful! I second the request for a study tips video if you have time, it would be super appreciated.
Thanks for this informative video. I'm currently doing prereqs for the program but I didn't know that the lectures of the actual program were online too. Is it the same structure, as in you're given textbook chapters you have to read or is it a video of an instructor going through the materials? Also, did you ever feel like the online lectures took away from your learning experience? Thank you!
Well I found it nice to have the online lectures and Zoom calls since it makes it much more concise and digestible for me, especially compared to reading. I didn’t really feel it took away from anything, but rather that it added more context. It did take some getting used to however, but once you get used to it, it’s better than reading!
Starting the program September 9th. About 12 months to knock out prerequisite and the take the HESI A2. I found your channel you got a new subcrisber. Thank you for this video.
Well you have to move close to wherever your site is, so you can’t stay in CA. BUT we would go to campus at least 2-4 days a week. There is a bunch of variation per week but that^ would be a safe bet :)
Thank you for this!! Now that you’ve finished, how was it overall? I’m starting at Sun City in a couple of weeks and will take any and all tips/advice/insight :)
Oh boy, you’ll love it and hate it lol. Seriously it’ll be the best and worst 16 months and it’ll be hard as hell, but damn is it worth it. Sun City has amazing faculty. Choose your friends wisely but be kind to everyone. It’s a marathon not a sprint, and if you believe in God, rely on Him. That’s my 2 cents lol, if you need anything more specific just let me know :)
Do you know how often they drug test throughout the program? I know they test in the first semester early on and charge $75. Is that a reoccurring thing and do they continue to charge every time? Thanks
It’s random after that first one. I never got tested after that and I don’t think I knew anyone that did, but if they suspect anything (at all) then they have the right to do that at any time for any reason. Think of it this way, why risk your career saving lives, and those lives that you’ll save, over a substance that makes you feel some type of way for a little bit? Also, the potheads I knew in the program stopped once they entered in to not risk it.
Hi, I’m also from California and going to AZ west valley campus, but my main concern is the loans, did you have a big balance remaining that financial aid didn’t cover for the clinical portion. How are you going about it
Fellow CA student sweet! I did not have any remaining balance after loans and my own funds. FAFSA and private loans did the trick for me. I’d have a detailed conversation with your counselor about this.
Hey Sarah, Semesters are around 15 weeks long and then there is a short break between semesters depending on the schedule. Winter break is around 2-3 weeks long, Spring break is a couple weeks, and fall break is a couple weeks. The breaks are enough to recharge you so you have some time to mentally prepare for the next semester. Its actually pretty lenient in my own opinion! Hope this helps! Also we have a few days off for Thanksgiving and other holidays that are interspersed throughout the year. If you Google the GCU Academic Calendar you can find a pdf of these holidays :)
Hey Sarah!!! Mapped out the semesters… Dawson correct me if wrong.. this is after pre reqs are done Semester 1 Jan-May Semester 2 May- Aug Semester 3 Sept- Dec Semester 4 Jan-May
@@Authentic_t.e.a There are new starting cohorts each semester so your example would apply if you start in spring. But otherwise those are the semester “months”. Thank you :)
Thank you for making this video!! I start in the fall for this program! I just have two questions, how long is each semester? My other question is roughly how many days a week are you on campus or completing clinicals?
each semester is 17 weeks long I think? Give or take a week or two. Clincial days completely depends on the semester but usually once or twice a week and on campus once or twice a week. There are times where this is more often for both
Hey I know this is super late but I mapped out the semesters and they break down: Semester 1 Jan-May Semester 2 May- Aug Semester 3 Sept- Dec Semester 4 Jan-May
Thanks for the video! I was wondering if you had to take a week off during the semester, is that feasible? Can you easily make up what you missed during that week or is it not possible to miss anything?
In short, no. This is a “hail mary” program that is fully consuming your life (like any nursing program). BUT you’ll have periods of 2-5 days where you may not have to be in person for anything (but should still be studying your butt off) where you could take time “off”. There’s always time to make trips and such here and there but it’s very random and varied so scheduling stuff in advance with any certainty is super complicated and practically impossible. They talk about that in the orientation meeting, where they recommend no one plan trips like weddings or anything for the entirety of the program. It’s still doable but I had to turn down MANY opportunities due to the varied and changing schedule of the program. That may sound daunting but it’s just a year and change, and was SO worth it! :)
Happy to be of help! I have another video that goes into detail for that since it’s honestly dependent upon which class, your learning style, and since there’s too much to get into over a simple text message, so I would recommend checking that out first! If you still would appreciate some assistance afterwards, I’d be happy to get more into the details with ya :)
Do you also work while you’re going to school? I work full time but my schedule is like 6/12 then 8 days off and I was wondering if it would be too much 😫 they told me most of it is online but it looks like it’s not
I did not. A couple of my peers worked PRN as Techs within the ER or Med Surg floors, and they were able to swing that with no problem through Banner Health here in AZ. This program is "online," but not in the way it sounds like you are imagining it. It is online for a lot of your studying, homework, papers, etc. Zoom calls, lecture recordings, and all that are done at your own discretion on your own time. You come into "class" for labs, exams, clinicals, etc., which is frequent enough to get in the way of your work schedule. We had many people who quit their jobs (myself included) before joining the program because it truly is ALL intensive. If you can wing that, I would recommend it, but if not, then I would at least talk with a GCU counselor by calling GCU and asking for tips and advice after walking them through your situation :)
@ No problem! It’s super varied from week to week. We were told to expect a minimum of 3 days a week either on campus or in clinicals. That was pretty close to the average throughout the entire program, but at the beginning there is a lot more time spent in person. You’re on campus for labs, exams, practice labs, exam reviews, etc. Then you’re in the hospital once a week usually, occasionally twice a week after 1st semester if you have a rough schedule. It’s not bad but DEFINITELY takes getting used to since you’re self studying outside in your free time pretty much all the time :)
Thank you so much for this video! I am looking to start the program in January. I had a few questions if you have the time. I am also coming from CA and looking to return to CA as an RN. I've seen a few people say that the CA BRN only accepts in-person prerequisites? Did you have to do yours in-person? Also, are there enough clinical hours to fit the CA requirements? I asked GCU, and they said it should all be fine since they're nationally accredited, but I'm overthinking for sure. If you have any advice, I'm all ears. Thank you!
Hi Lela! All of my prerequisites will apply and carry over, as it has for all the previous GCU grads who had done the program and pre-reqs here and then gone back to CA to work as an RN. I did some of mine online and some in person but it all works out through GCU. I cannot speak to other universities unfortunately, especially if it specifically says "online" on your transcript. Clinical hours are not a problem either. I was in the same boat prior to coming into this program with overthinking and all that, so you're not alone in that! I know several people from my hometown who did GCU nursing and are now working as nurses back home, so you'll be just fine like the rest of us! Hopefully that helps!
Hi, thanks for the video. I was wondering if you knew anything about which AZ ABSN campuses are more popular, etc.? I was interested in Chandler but West Valley or Sun City also seem cool.
Hey there! More popular? I haven't heard of anyone going off of popularity but its usualyl whatver campus is closest to home for them and whatever one has open seats. Sun City is the orginal for the ABSN program. West Valley is on main campus so its going to be a lot fo traffic and whatnot to get there, and Chalnder is in a nice area from what I've seen driving around that area. It all depends on what you are looking for. If you are going off of popularity, then I am a bit confused to be fair, could you explain what you mean by that?
GCU is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and I have not heard of any issues with accreditation negatively impacting students. So, in short, yes and you'll be able to get a higher education later no problem :) For example, get a BSN from GCU then go work for a hospital, and most hospitals will help sponsor or pay for higher learning for you after a certain amount of time working for them!
@ Exactly, once you have your degree, it doesn’t matter a whole lot. You’ll be fine either way :) We had a bunch of professors working on their doctorate doing papers just like we were!
Thank you for the information! My question is how long are the break between each semster i stat in september. Is there a summer break or winter break ?
Hey brother, thank you for the video. DUMB question for you or anybody who has already started Block 1. My counselor said we need ALL white shoes with white soles. Any suggestions from anybody besides Vans? Lol
Clove, comfortable and they wipe of gunk easy. Nike had some nice ones too, but anything with canvas or cloth will STAY pretty gross even after bleaching.
I'll be honest, I had to look those up since I had never heard of them before. GCU "can" be tricky to get classes from elsewhere accepted, but for the most part, they worked fine with my outside classes. I would recommend calling the GCU phone line and asking them these questions since they will have to look up the class "code" and verify which ones can and cannot transfer. They are pretty helpful once you get them on the phone :)
This helped a ton, so thank you! I’d love to not work, but unsure how to move out there without working. For living expenses, did you entirely use loans? You might have mentioned but I wanted to clarify.
Working is still doable, just makes it a bit harder and you’ve got to figure out if you are capable of juggling that. I used a mix of loans and funds I had saved.
Anatomy & Physiology 1 & 2. A&P 1 is a combo class, and A&P 2 is the same thing but just at a higher level. You need both for this program. It also works if you go to a college that only offers them split up, such as Anatomy 1 & 2, and Physiology 1 & 2. Talking with a GCU counselor will help a lot since they can recommend steps, and walk you through all the details :)
4 semesters straight through. So right now I’m in block 3, summertime, and still going. It’s nonstop with a week or two break between semesters. Hope that helps!
@@lauricemullenax2369Yeah I have! We are wrapping up Semester 3/4 and it’s going well. We are at around 11 students in my cohort, down from the original 21 at the start. The Vegas site is pretty good from what I’ve heard, but I also haven’t heard much so take that with a grain of salt. Hope that helps!
West Valley has main campus professor while we have dedicated professors for our site. I’m biased and recommend Sun City but if you want to be on main campus with thousands of people then West Valley is for you!
@ That’s rare, for anyone no matter where you go. A couple of my classmates have gotten that this semester (so far) and a couple other cases in previous semesters. Dont get your hopes up for straight As, to be honest with ya :/ Cs get degrees and we all get the same license at the end of it anyways!
The HESI exams are essentially practice tests to eventually prepare you to take the NCLEX. They do count towards your overall grade, but there isn’t really any solid way to study for them so it’s a bit of a weird situation. You are tested on all the material from your normal classes so if you’ve studied well then the HESI isn’t really a problem. Failing those isn’t an issue, it just takes away points from your overall class grade. Failing an actual exam means that you have to work harder on the rest of the exams in order to keep your exam average above the passing of 76%. Hopefully that is what you were looking for!
@@dawsoneslinger4880 i appreciate all your input. Im feeling alot more prepared going into semester 1. Counselors have given me so many mixed signals, i was feeling extremely misled. I also seen on my share point calendar, that i have labs before an exam then following an exam. Is that normal?
@@micheleelliston257 The counselor situation is actually very common, we all had that issue ourselves, which led me to make these videos. And that schedule is unfortunate but not uncommon. There will be some weeks where you have no idea how you will get through it and manage your time, but you will! Welcome to nursing school and the wonderful adventures of chaotic schedules!! On a serious note, it happens to all of us, but you’ll be perfectly fine :) You’ll get very good at time management throughout these next 16 months!
I'm confused on what the schedule is like. Say you have all the pre reqs done. You come into the absn program, what's the weekly schedule look like? Are you having to go somewhere for either a lab, clinical work day or class every day?
It is confusing! Each week is different. All lectures are recorded online and for you to view on your own time. You come in person to campus for labs, exams, etc., not for anything else. Then you go to your assigned hospital for clinical shifts. So week 1 you may have 2 labs back to back on Monday. Tuesday, Wed, and Thursday you are studyign yourself and doing homework, then Friday may be clincial. Then the next week may be a bit different. We have access to a updated calendar for our cohort once you get into the program, so you will know more when you get it, but it really has a super varied structure on a week-to-week basis. Majority of your time will be spent studying and doing homework throughout the week. Hopefully that helps but if you need more clarificaiton feel free to let me know!
PHX isn’t far from CA by any means so that was one reason. Also cost was not too much more than many CA school, but the timeline is what really sold me. Took me less than 6 months to do all pre reqs and 16 month program with no waitlist or hoops to jump through like all the CA programs. I’d recommend it if you’re going to back to CA to work afterwards, get your degree ASAP and start making money ASAP rather than waiting around for a CA program seat to open up
Hey is the ABSN program even accredited? I am working with the Idaho site to apply there and I was looking around and cannot find anything about graduation rates, NCLEX stats, etc.....
The GCU program is accredited, but the Idaho site is new, so you’ll be one of the first groups of students up there. It’s the same process and everything no matter where you do it, so don’t stress too much about that. Expect 40% of people to graduate, and NCLEX stats can be found online if you look up the program. Hope that helps!
You are doing MANY things in person, so you have to relocate to whatever area you’ll be at. I relocated to Glendale area of Phoenix close to the Sun City site.
Hey Sev! It went really well! A few close calls and one exam that I bombed, but I was able to make up for it all by just grinding and studying more and harder for the following exams. Clinicals were really unique with OB and Peds so it was overall a really fun but hectic semester (hectic applies to all semesters actually). Ended up with a mainly Bs and one C+, but those are all A's and B's on a nomral grading scale so it was pretty solid in my opinion. Are you in the program or looking to apply?
As far as I know, yes, although you have to jump through several hoops. I would reach out to a student counselor for more information since they will be the best person to help you along that process. You can find contact information on the main GCU website under the ABSN section :)
How many hours a day is each class and the work each day while doing it from home? Im just trying to see what my schedule is going to be like and if its manageable
Hey Virginia, This is a complicated answer since it varies so much day to day, week to week, and class to class. Some days you may just be in the hospital for clinical from 7am-7pm, while others you may have time for homework until noon followed by lab from 1pm-5pm. It’s very variable, but a rough estimate would be like 2-4 hours spent on homework or studying per day at a MINIMUM. It’s usually much more. I know that’s a roundabout answer but that’s honestly how it goes, so hopefully that helps!
@@dawsoneslinger4880 Thank you so much yes I will be starting the program in September and I was told for the first year it was online and than hands on I do currently work from home as a medical assistant and was wondering what a day consist of
@@virginiamadrid8407It’s in person and online for the entire program. So you’ll have maybe 2-3 days of in person lab, exams, clinical, etc per week. Sometimes it’s more sometimes it’s less, the schedule varies a lot. But if you work from home you could definitely make that work if you can arrange it!
They’ve been slowly expanding their ABSN programs to different states, which has been pretty cool to hear about. I think I heard that they are moving into the midwest recently too. It’s a slow process, but you know how GCU is, they’ll get there eventually! Clincials in other states at this point would be miserable in my opinion. I couldn’t imagine having to fly out to another state to do 3+ clinical shifts or something lol
How was level 3 for you? I start level 3 in like 1 week. We lost some people in our cohort in level 2 from mental health. I’m a bit nervous for nervous level 3, no lie. 🫠🥹
You’ll be alright, losing people is normal unfortunately :/ I’ve noticed that those of us who don’t have a “plan B” or at least think that way, will MAKE it work and pass regardless of intellectual ability or motivation. If you think or actually don’t have any other career options then you will be between a rock and a hard place, essentially pushing and forcing yourself to succeed. Prepare for some difficult material in Critical Care, like Cardio was difficult for myself, and in OB it can be very confusing, but you’ll do just fine!
@@dawsoneslinger4880thank you! Update- I loved OB, just finished- started peds this week & getting ready for med admin pba- these are nerve wrecking for me! Yikes! & we just finished cardio exam for 430- it was pretty tough. Pray for me! 🙏🏿
Dude seriously life saver, im starting the ABSN program in September and this is so helpful rather than going in blind
@lailamarquezzz Hope you're ready to conquer this semester here in a couple weeks!! You're gonna do great! Feel free to reach out for assistance if you need anything along the way!
Thank you for this video. This helps a lot with my unanswered questions.
Finally, someone explained it very well. Thank you! There are so many resources available in this program. Seriously, you should make a video on how to study the GCU ABSN way :)
Glad it was helpful! I’ll work on a study video once I start prepping for our first exam this semester :)
Decided to take your advice finally and make that video :)
th-cam.com/video/TBg4X2xdnn4/w-d-xo.html
Than you for this!!! You are helping out so many people. Ive been on the fence about this program so im happy you made this video to give some more info and so not as many people feel alone.
Glad I could be of help! I made it through this dang program, just trying to help in any way I can :)
Thank you for this! I'm supposed to start Tucson in the Fall and was getting a little antsy from the lack of info available. This video is super helpful! I second the request for a study tips video if you have time, it would be super appreciated.
I’ll work on one when I get some downtime, which could be a while😅
Potential Idaho student here, thank you for this video! They need to hire you for marketing and admissions! 😊
Thank you so much, I really appreciate that!
Thanks for this informative video. I'm currently doing prereqs for the program but I didn't know that the lectures of the actual program were online too. Is it the same structure, as in you're given textbook chapters you have to read or is it a video of an instructor going through the materials? Also, did you ever feel like the online lectures took away from your learning experience? Thank you!
Well I found it nice to have the online lectures and Zoom calls since it makes it much more concise and digestible for me, especially compared to reading. I didn’t really feel it took away from anything, but rather that it added more context. It did take some getting used to however, but once you get used to it, it’s better than reading!
Starting the program September 9th. About 12 months to knock out prerequisite and the take the HESI A2. I found your channel you got a new subcrisber. Thank you for this video.
Glad I could be of help! Any assistance you need along the way feel free to reach out :)
Hey, are there stuff on weekends or just during weekdays? Could you leave out of state for a little bit on weekends.
Are you allowed to dress how you want to class?
We wear normal clothing for exams, but every other time we are in the hospital or on site, we wear scrubs
Thanks so much for this video! You’re a life-saver; very clear and concise.
I'm about to start this program, thank you for this video. I'm in california, how often did you have to come in person for each semester?
Well you have to move close to wherever your site is, so you can’t stay in CA. BUT we would go to campus at least 2-4 days a week. There is a bunch of variation per week but that^ would be a safe bet :)
Thank you for this!! Now that you’ve finished, how was it overall? I’m starting at Sun City in a couple of weeks and will take any and all tips/advice/insight :)
Oh boy, you’ll love it and hate it lol. Seriously it’ll be the best and worst 16 months and it’ll be hard as hell, but damn is it worth it. Sun City has amazing faculty. Choose your friends wisely but be kind to everyone. It’s a marathon not a sprint, and if you believe in God, rely on Him. That’s my 2 cents lol, if you need anything more specific just let me know :)
Do you know how often they drug test throughout the program? I know they test in the first semester early on and charge $75. Is that a reoccurring thing and do they continue to charge every time? Thanks
It’s random after that first one. I never got tested after that and I don’t think I knew anyone that did, but if they suspect anything (at all) then they have the right to do that at any time for any reason. Think of it this way, why risk your career saving lives, and those lives that you’ll save, over a substance that makes you feel some type of way for a little bit?
Also, the potheads I knew in the program stopped once they entered in to not risk it.
Hi, I’m also from California and going to AZ west valley campus, but my main concern is the loans, did you have a big balance remaining that financial aid didn’t cover for the clinical portion. How are you going about it
Fellow CA student sweet! I did not have any remaining balance after loans and my own funds. FAFSA and private loans did the trick for me. I’d have a detailed conversation with your counselor about this.
What is the academic calendar structure of the GCU ABSN program? Are there week long breaks in between the semesters, etc.?
Hey Sarah,
Semesters are around 15 weeks long and then there is a short break between semesters depending on the schedule. Winter break is around 2-3 weeks long, Spring break is a couple weeks, and fall break is a couple weeks. The breaks are enough to recharge you so you have some time to mentally prepare for the next semester. Its actually pretty lenient in my own opinion! Hope this helps!
Also we have a few days off for Thanksgiving and other holidays that are interspersed throughout the year. If you Google the GCU Academic Calendar you can find a pdf of these holidays :)
Hey Sarah!!! Mapped out the semesters… Dawson correct me if wrong.. this is after pre reqs are done
Semester 1 Jan-May
Semester 2 May- Aug
Semester 3 Sept- Dec
Semester 4 Jan-May
@@Authentic_t.e.a There are new starting cohorts each semester so your example would apply if you start in spring. But otherwise those are the semester “months”. Thank you :)
Thank you for making this video!! I start in the fall for this program! I just have two questions, how long is each semester? My other question is roughly how many days a week are you on campus or completing clinicals?
each semester is 17 weeks long I think? Give or take a week or two. Clincial days completely depends on the semester but usually once or twice a week and on campus once or twice a week. There are times where this is more often for both
I just checked and the semesters are 15/16 weeks long with a week off in between semesters. Sorry for the wrong info initially!
Hey I know this is super late but I mapped out the semesters and they break down:
Semester 1 Jan-May
Semester 2 May- Aug
Semester 3 Sept- Dec
Semester 4 Jan-May
Thanks for the video! I was wondering if you had to take a week off during the semester, is that feasible? Can you easily make up what you missed during that week or is it not possible to miss anything?
In short, no. This is a “hail mary” program that is fully consuming your life (like any nursing program). BUT you’ll have periods of 2-5 days where you may not have to be in person for anything (but should still be studying your butt off) where you could take time “off”. There’s always time to make trips and such here and there but it’s very random and varied so scheduling stuff in advance with any certainty is super complicated and practically impossible. They talk about that in the orientation meeting, where they recommend no one plan trips like weddings or anything for the entirety of the program. It’s still doable but I had to turn down MANY opportunities due to the varied and changing schedule of the program. That may sound daunting but it’s just a year and change, and was SO worth it! :)
Thank you for this instant in a few days . How would you recommend studying for the exams?
Happy to be of help! I have another video that goes into detail for that since it’s honestly dependent upon which class, your learning style, and since there’s too much to get into over a simple text message, so I would recommend checking that out first! If you still would appreciate some assistance afterwards, I’d be happy to get more into the details with ya :)
Do you also work while you’re going to school?
I work full time but my schedule is like 6/12 then 8 days off and I was wondering if it would be too much 😫 they told me most of it is online but it looks like it’s not
I did not. A couple of my peers worked PRN as Techs within the ER or Med Surg floors, and they were able to swing that with no problem through Banner Health here in AZ. This program is "online," but not in the way it sounds like you are imagining it. It is online for a lot of your studying, homework, papers, etc. Zoom calls, lecture recordings, and all that are done at your own discretion on your own time. You come into "class" for labs, exams, clinicals, etc., which is frequent enough to get in the way of your work schedule. We had many people who quit their jobs (myself included) before joining the program because it truly is ALL intensive. If you can wing that, I would recommend it, but if not, then I would at least talk with a GCU counselor by calling GCU and asking for tips and advice after walking them through your situation :)
Thanks for answering!! I have one more question, sorry 😅 how is the schedule for clinical and labs? Is it 5 times a week?
@ No problem! It’s super varied from week to week. We were told to expect a minimum of 3 days a week either on campus or in clinicals. That was pretty close to the average throughout the entire program, but at the beginning there is a lot more time spent in person. You’re on campus for labs, exams, practice labs, exam reviews, etc. Then you’re in the hospital once a week usually, occasionally twice a week after 1st semester if you have a rough schedule. It’s not bad but DEFINITELY takes getting used to since you’re self studying outside in your free time pretty much all the time :)
Thank you so much
No problem! Let me know if I can help out in any other ways
Thank you so much for this video! I am looking to start the program in January. I had a few questions if you have the time. I am also coming from CA and looking to return to CA as an RN. I've seen a few people say that the CA BRN only accepts in-person prerequisites? Did you have to do yours in-person? Also, are there enough clinical hours to fit the CA requirements? I asked GCU, and they said it should all be fine since they're nationally accredited, but I'm overthinking for sure. If you have any advice, I'm all ears. Thank you!
Hi Lela! All of my prerequisites will apply and carry over, as it has for all the previous GCU grads who had done the program and pre-reqs here and then gone back to CA to work as an RN. I did some of mine online and some in person but it all works out through GCU. I cannot speak to other universities unfortunately, especially if it specifically says "online" on your transcript. Clinical hours are not a problem either. I was in the same boat prior to coming into this program with overthinking and all that, so you're not alone in that! I know several people from my hometown who did GCU nursing and are now working as nurses back home, so you'll be just fine like the rest of us! Hopefully that helps!
Hi, thanks for the video. I was wondering if you knew anything about which AZ ABSN campuses are more popular, etc.? I was interested in Chandler but West Valley or Sun City also seem cool.
Hey there! More popular? I haven't heard of anyone going off of popularity but its usualyl whatver campus is closest to home for them and whatever one has open seats. Sun City is the orginal for the ABSN program. West Valley is on main campus so its going to be a lot fo traffic and whatnot to get there, and Chalnder is in a nice area from what I've seen driving around that area. It all depends on what you are looking for. If you are going off of popularity, then I am a bit confused to be fair, could you explain what you mean by that?
Is it a regionally accredited program/college? To get a higher education later?
GCU is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and I have not heard of any issues with accreditation negatively impacting students. So, in short, yes and you'll be able to get a higher education later no problem :) For example, get a BSN from GCU then go work for a hospital, and most hospitals will help sponsor or pay for higher learning for you after a certain amount of time working for them!
@ Thank you for responding! So getting in a Master’s or Doctorate program somewhere else shouldn’t be an issue…? I appreciate your help!
@ Exactly, once you have your degree, it doesn’t matter a whole lot. You’ll be fine either way :) We had a bunch of professors working on their doctorate doing papers just like we were!
Thank you for the information! My question is how long are the break between each semster i stat in september. Is there a summer break or winter break ?
You usually get 10 days (give or take) of break between semesters. No full summer break or anything - straight through.
Hey brother, thank you for the video. DUMB question for you or anybody who has already started Block 1. My counselor said we need ALL white shoes with white soles. Any suggestions from anybody besides Vans? Lol
Clove, comfortable and they wipe of gunk easy. Nike had some nice ones too, but anything with canvas or cloth will STAY pretty gross even after bleaching.
Do they accept Sophia classes ?
I'll be honest, I had to look those up since I had never heard of them before. GCU "can" be tricky to get classes from elsewhere accepted, but for the most part, they worked fine with my outside classes. I would recommend calling the GCU phone line and asking them these questions since they will have to look up the class "code" and verify which ones can and cannot transfer. They are pretty helpful once you get them on the phone :)
This helped a ton, so thank you! I’d love to not work, but unsure how to move out there without working. For living expenses, did you entirely use loans? You might have mentioned but I wanted to clarify.
Working is still doable, just makes it a bit harder and you’ve got to figure out if you are capable of juggling that. I used a mix of loans and funds I had saved.
What is A&P1&2?
Anatomy & Physiology 1 & 2. A&P 1 is a combo class, and A&P 2 is the same thing but just at a higher level. You need both for this program. It also works if you go to a college that only offers them split up, such as Anatomy 1 & 2, and Physiology 1 & 2. Talking with a GCU counselor will help a lot since they can recommend steps, and walk you through all the details :)
Thanks for your service.. not sure if you covered this but do ppl take summer classes too? Or is 4 semesters the only way it’s broken down ?
4 semesters straight through. So right now I’m in block 3, summertime, and still going. It’s nonstop with a week or two break between semesters. Hope that helps!
Did you make it through more of the program? How was it? How many people graduate? Have you heard anything about the Vegas location?
@@lauricemullenax2369Yeah I have! We are wrapping up Semester 3/4 and it’s going well. We are at around 11 students in my cohort, down from the original 21 at the start. The Vegas site is pretty good from what I’ve heard, but I also haven’t heard much so take that with a grain of salt. Hope that helps!
Also I was wondering if the lectures are recorded?
All lectures are recorded and posted on a playlist you get access to with the class!
Would you say the professors at Sun City are good? Idk if I should go there or West Valley. 🙏
West Valley has main campus professor while we have dedicated professors for our site. I’m biased and recommend Sun City but if you want to be on main campus with thousands of people then West Valley is for you!
@ Ok thanks for the response. Do you know of anyone in your cohort or the other two where they have gotten all A’s?🙏
@ That’s rare, for anyone no matter where you go. A couple of my classmates have gotten that this semester (so far) and a couple other cases in previous semesters. Dont get your hopes up for straight As, to be honest with ya :/ Cs get degrees and we all get the same license at the end of it anyways!
Thank you for all this! I start level one on September the 3rd. Can you tell me more about the hesi exams? And what happens if you fail an exam?
The HESI exams are essentially practice tests to eventually prepare you to take the NCLEX. They do count towards your overall grade, but there isn’t really any solid way to study for them so it’s a bit of a weird situation. You are tested on all the material from your normal classes so if you’ve studied well then the HESI isn’t really a problem. Failing those isn’t an issue, it just takes away points from your overall class grade.
Failing an actual exam means that you have to work harder on the rest of the exams in order to keep your exam average above the passing of 76%. Hopefully that is what you were looking for!
@@dawsoneslinger4880 i appreciate all your input. Im feeling alot more prepared going into semester 1. Counselors have given me so many mixed signals, i was feeling extremely misled. I also seen on my share point calendar, that i have labs before an exam then following an exam. Is that normal?
@@micheleelliston257 The counselor situation is actually very common, we all had that issue ourselves, which led me to make these videos. And that schedule is unfortunate but not uncommon. There will be some weeks where you have no idea how you will get through it and manage your time, but you will! Welcome to nursing school and the wonderful adventures of chaotic schedules!! On a serious note, it happens to all of us, but you’ll be perfectly fine :) You’ll get very good at time management throughout these next 16 months!
I'm confused on what the schedule is like. Say you have all the pre reqs done. You come into the absn program, what's the weekly schedule look like? Are you having to go somewhere for either a lab, clinical work day or class every day?
It is confusing! Each week is different. All lectures are recorded online and for you to view on your own time. You come in person to campus for labs, exams, etc., not for anything else. Then you go to your assigned hospital for clinical shifts. So week 1 you may have 2 labs back to back on Monday. Tuesday, Wed, and Thursday you are studyign yourself and doing homework, then Friday may be clincial. Then the next week may be a bit different. We have access to a updated calendar for our cohort once you get into the program, so you will know more when you get it, but it really has a super varied structure on a week-to-week basis. Majority of your time will be spent studying and doing homework throughout the week.
Hopefully that helps but if you need more clarificaiton feel free to let me know!
Considering to attend GCU, I’m from La ..
Why didn’t you chose to attend west coast?
PHX isn’t far from CA by any means so that was one reason. Also cost was not too much more than many CA school, but the timeline is what really sold me. Took me less than 6 months to do all pre reqs and 16 month program with no waitlist or hoops to jump through like all the CA programs. I’d recommend it if you’re going to back to CA to work afterwards, get your degree ASAP and start making money ASAP rather than waiting around for a CA program seat to open up
Hey is the ABSN program even accredited? I am working with the Idaho site to apply there and I was looking around and cannot find anything about graduation rates, NCLEX stats, etc.....
The GCU program is accredited, but the Idaho site is new, so you’ll be one of the first groups of students up there. It’s the same process and everything no matter where you do it, so don’t stress too much about that. Expect 40% of people to graduate, and NCLEX stats can be found online if you look up the program. Hope that helps!
@@dawsoneslinger4880Thank you very much! Will be starting this Spring in AZ
How often do you take a dosage calculation test?
Once or twice a semester, but we also have 3-4 med math questions on every test. It’s not bad!
Do you have to relocate since it’s hybrid or is it doable to do while living in another state? Thanks!
You are doing MANY things in person, so you have to relocate to whatever area you’ll be at. I relocated to Glendale area of Phoenix close to the Sun City site.
And Ty! For the video!
Hey Dawson. How did level 3 go?
Hey Sev! It went really well! A few close calls and one exam that I bombed, but I was able to make up for it all by just grinding and studying more and harder for the following exams. Clinicals were really unique with OB and Peds so it was overall a really fun but hectic semester (hectic applies to all semesters actually). Ended up with a mainly Bs and one C+, but those are all A's and B's on a nomral grading scale so it was pretty solid in my opinion. Are you in the program or looking to apply?
Do you know the opening dates? Or do you get accepted whenever?
You get “accepted” kind of whenever but Id talk with your counselor for exact details and dates!
Do they take transfer rn students? I had to withdraw from my ADN program .
As far as I know, yes, although you have to jump through several hoops. I would reach out to a student counselor for more information since they will be the best person to help you along that process. You can find contact information on the main GCU website under the ABSN section :)
How many hours a day is each class and the work each day while doing it from home? Im just trying to see what my schedule is going to be like and if its manageable
Hey Virginia, This is a complicated answer since it varies so much day to day, week to week, and class to class. Some days you may just be in the hospital for clinical from 7am-7pm, while others you may have time for homework until noon followed by lab from 1pm-5pm. It’s very variable, but a rough estimate would be like 2-4 hours spent on homework or studying per day at a MINIMUM. It’s usually much more. I know that’s a roundabout answer but that’s honestly how it goes, so hopefully that helps!
How many weeks is each semester/program total.
It’s 15-16 weeks per semester with a total of 16 months in the program!
Hi is this the hybrid absn at gcu ?
Hey Virginia! Yeah it is! Any specific questions I could help with?
@@dawsoneslinger4880 Thank you so much yes I will be starting the program in September and I was told for the first year it was online and than hands on I do currently work from home as a medical assistant and was wondering what a day consist of
@@virginiamadrid8407It’s in person and online for the entire program. So you’ll have maybe 2-3 days of in person lab, exams, clinical, etc per week. Sometimes it’s more sometimes it’s less, the schedule varies a lot. But if you work from home you could definitely make that work if you can arrange it!
I really wish Gcu could do other states and have them do clinicals in those states, I'm Gcu alumni
They’ve been slowly expanding their ABSN programs to different states, which has been pretty cool to hear about. I think I heard that they are moving into the midwest recently too. It’s a slow process, but you know how GCU is, they’ll get there eventually!
Clincials in other states at this point would be miserable in my opinion. I couldn’t imagine having to fly out to another state to do 3+ clinical shifts or something lol
Dawson, emailed you via the GCU email. Hope you don’t mind.
How was level 3 for you? I start level 3 in like 1 week. We lost some people in our cohort in level 2 from mental health. I’m a bit nervous for nervous level 3, no lie. 🫠🥹
You’ll be alright, losing people is normal unfortunately :/ I’ve noticed that those of us who don’t have a “plan B” or at least think that way, will MAKE it work and pass regardless of intellectual ability or motivation. If you think or actually don’t have any other career options then you will be between a rock and a hard place, essentially pushing and forcing yourself to succeed. Prepare for some difficult material in Critical Care, like Cardio was difficult for myself, and in OB it can be very confusing, but you’ll do just fine!
@@dawsoneslinger4880thank you! Update- I loved OB, just finished- started peds this week & getting ready for med admin pba- these are nerve wrecking for me! Yikes! & we just finished cardio exam for 430- it was pretty tough. Pray for me! 🙏🏿