Galen College of Nursing : Tampa Bay
Insufficient Accreditation[ ? ]
Galen College of Nursing : Tampa Bay is a For-Profit, Non-Sectarian, Nursing, Institute established in 1989. The campus is located in Tampa Bay, Florida, USA and hosts students with an endowment of .
Website: www.galencollege.edu
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Institution Type: For-Profit, Non-Sectarian, Nursing, Institute
Established: 1989
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168 Student Reviews of Galen College of Nursing : Tampa Bay
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LEAVE!! it started with 22 students and only 7 passed to the next class. So many students were failing they had us do a survey how we studied. The exams was different from what was studied. Teachers would look at the exam and apologize for the exam being different from what was studied. There is limited instructors and you will have the same teacher for most of the classes.
Former student. During my time there there was a high turnover of instructors. One instructor was fired in front of the class and escorted by security off the property. Another instructor wore inappropriate clothes and had arrest records for drugs and presenting fake id. Tutoring not available to students as promised at admission. MY CREDITS DID NOT TRANSFER TO A SACS ACCREDITED SCHOOL. First class in we had to take a test with material that was not covered anywhere. If we failed this test, we had to take the class over – for material they did not teach! In clinicals, one student pulled a Foley cath. out of a patient without taking out the saline from balloon. Micro teacher has issues. You can read about that in other reviews. There are a lot of former students out here like me, but the reviews get deleted. Many five star reviews virtue signal that complainers did not study enough or weren’t dedicated enough. Totally untrue. I had good grades. They are suspicious, I will leave it at that. Went on to a real university. Just finished my Bachelor’s 4.0 and half way through a Master’s program, 4.0. Galen was a $14,000+ nightmare and waste of time. Go anywhere but here.
This school will show you your tests after you take them while taking classes that can transfer. Once you start taking classes that don’t transfer you will not be allowed to see your test even when going to the principal. Beware if you are choosing a school I would ask if they show you your test so you can understand what you’re getting wrong and right. This factor can also allow them to manipulate grades.
Galen is a great school. It’s just a very challenging program. Most of the negative comments on this site are clearly from the 40 percent of students that start but don’t finish the program. This is an expedited program that blends prerequisite courses with nursing courses. Everyone that I know who has graduated has past nclex first time and walked into an RN job. It is teue that the registration process is flawed, but I’ve found the academic and administrative staff to be uniformly friendly, passionate, and effective. Don’t go to Galen unless you are willing to work your tail off. One last thing – Galen was recently purchased by HCA – the largest hospital group in the US. This provides employment opportunities to students that other schools can’t match. If you are super-hard-working, passionate, and reasonably bright, then you can trust Galen to do the rest. Good luck to you.
First, let me say, for a so called national nursing shortage, it’s unbelievable to pay $30,000 for a nursing program. Yes, that’s what you will pay if not more. Some classes are only offered online, which may sound nice (you pay more for online classes), but good like with support from the instructors. If assigning videos to watch is the new form of teaching and getting paid well, a sad state of affairs. Plus YouTube will be your only help at times.
I do not believe in money over education, and I’m sorry to say, I guess the new building has to get paid for somehow. I wonder what HCA thinks about this, since they are a partner.
There are many more options for excellent education without a high price tag.
I graduated from the ADN in March. I’m someone who always reads reviews before committing to anything, but also remember to take them with a grain of salt. People are quick to write negative reviews but rarely take the time to write positive reviews when they’ve had a great experience. Galen should really focus attention on their brand reputation and get more of their success stories out there. No school is perfect, but they had everything I was looking for: Accreditation, good NCLEX pass rates and getting in right away. I will say that excuses get you nowhere at Galen, so be prepared to make significant sacrifices. Staff are friendly on campus though and I think they do care about their students. Seems like the reviews on here are from people who did not make it through the program. No one said nursing school would be easy. Being a nurse is even harder.
Best nursing program and best place to work for
My girl goes there. She pulls her hair out trying to pass. She studies 4 hours a day. She makes A’s on everything but test. She fails test. She ask for help from school. No help. She goes to the office to ask for help and explain everything. Nothing! She failed 1 class. She fails again. She is kicked out. She reached out for tutor. No response. Your grade is based on your test. Nothing else. But you have to do everything else. The school or teacher don’t send anything out for test reviews. Or let them see what they did wrong on the test to study more. They don’t help prepare for the test. My girl studies the book. And everything on it. None of it is on the test. This semester test score so far average for the first two test are an 81 and 78. That’s sad. If I could go back in time. I would tell my lady to do SPC. And do the extra year. But she is half way. And if she can pass the next test with a 88. She is kicked out. Student loans racked up for her and she can’t pass. Sad. Don’t go to this school. This school needs to be shut down. It’s ruining people’s life. And not giving them the fair chance with the high tuition.
Galen “Private” college of Nursing San Antonio IS NOT Nationaly Accredited!!!
Your education credits WILL NOT transfer to any other college!!! My Advice to you if you are thinking of attending this school I’d DO NOT!!!
But If you are currently in the LVN program complet that program as a technical education get licensed to practice as an LVN!!!
If you aspire to become an RN… Go to a REAL ACCREDITED COLLEGE, to gain REAL transferable College credits!!! And a REAL ASSOCIATS DEGREE!!
This private institution is way over priced and instructors are in it for only the pay check!!
I’m half way through the RN program at Galen currently. My experience thus far has allowed me to explain the following-
The instructors, well the majority, are decent, and some are actually pretty darn good. The material is overwhelming and can become pretty difficult but, it’s manageable. The recurring issues I’ve experienced, and the reason I would not ever recommend this school to anyone, EVER, is the staff outside of the instructors. The most difficult part of Galen has been dealing with Galen, not the classes nor the material. It has been their stupidly executed registration for classes, where they clearly don’t care to spend the money to have adequate technology to allow for the online traffic involved, because every registration everyone scratches and claws their way through a freezing, lagging, barely working registration system that only guarantees stress and anger. It’s embarrassing, at best. The system may ALMOST be acceptable from a first year start up college; almost. I’ve emailed the higher ups about pressing issues involving the recent hurricane effecting huge amounts of class time. I’ve tried to communicate about issues that are imperative to my completing the program. I’ve called, emailed, been at the school…. none of it matters and no one cares to help. Just pay them. Pay them and then deal with the B.s. Don’t expect an inch of professionalism. Don’t expect to feel valued in the least. Just shut your mouth and pay them, I think is the actual Galen slogan. I had an instance where, after a long time off because of a hurricane, I desperately needed some help and redundantly emailed and tried contacting the staff…. of course to no result. The first real day back, i came to campus to speak in person and NONE OF THE ADMINISTRATORS CAME TO WORK THAT DAY BECAUSE THEY HAD TO WORK LATE THE NIGHT BEFORE???!!! Meanwhile, thousands of students working their butts off and giving you $40k need help and you are… what…. not in the mood or something? It’s nothing if not a complete joke. Almost like a group of little kids decided to open a college because they heard it can make money. One kid says to another “But, we don’t know how to run a college.” His friend simply replies “Who cares, we’re going to be rich!”
And that’s how Galen college started.
Having graduated from USF with a biomed degree, and not really knowing what I wanted to do post graduation I gave Galen a shot. The only thing I walked away with from this school was a newfound love of nursing and a bad taste in my mouth for the way their education and administration system works.
I am currently at an ACCREDITED school, where there was no “wait list” when you get the marks you need for the pre-reqs. Take the extra time to finish 5-6 classes for pre-reqs and go to a public, accredited college or university. I thought a short cut would be a good idea and it bit me in the butt, not because I am lazy student, but because you are not prepared for the proctored HESI exams. We were given a study guide for a HESI during a review course given during a special class time, and when we walked out of the HESI exam got an “oops” that study guide was for a different HESI. So there went that test. I’ve also noticed in these reviews that the majority of the positive ones are for the LPN program or from years ago. Hm. I’m speaking to the ADN program here, can’t speak to the others they offer.
Good student or bad student, satisfied or not with what they have to offer, heed the warnings in these reviews. They will do their best not to transfer your credits, regardless of what you are told. My transcripts reflected up to Calc II and I was still required to take their remedial math course. Money makers.
This school is not ideal and it is just a few that end up happy, whether or not they have graduated. This school is not indicative of your intelligence or abilities as a student or nurse. Save the money, spend a little extra time on yourself. Get the A’s in classes that are being taught well for pre-reqs (and for pennies compared to Galen costs) Go elsewhere my friend!
This school is a joke! While all schools are supposed to make money, this school can’t only stay open by taking anything walking in the door to pay the bills and line their pockets.
Yes, this school is “accredited”, but the accreditation is worthless.
Galen is the school you go to when you can’t get in to a real university or program. When was the last time you heard a commercial for USF college of Nursing? Legitimate Universities and Colleges don’t advertise on late night tv.
If you really want to call yourself a nurse, but can’t actually qualify to be a nurse, Galen is your paid diploma!
I literally hate everything about this school. I graduated a few years ago with my Lpn from Galen, and made the mistake of coming back for the RN bridge program.
HESI was dropped mid quarter and suddenly we’re doing ATI with no prep work. In addition, during the whole program professors refuse to go over exams with students. This hinders learning and doesn’t allow students to learn from their mistakes. I do not know the question and rationales of what I got wrong, nor will I ever know.
I’ve managed to obtain A’s and B’s during the whole program working my ass off. I will continue to do so until I’m done. I will definetly go elsewhere for my BSN, and I plan on writing the accreditation agencies when I’m finished to inform them of the lucricy that goes on here. I have so many emails and paper trails they will love to see.
Take it from a passing professional, there are better schools. It used to be a good school; it is not anymore.
They may have a few amazing teachers, but for the most part they have teachers that do not know what they are teaching or how to teach it. They do not let you review your exams (not even one on one) so you are unable to learn from your mistakes and with finals being comunulative this makes passing short of a miracle. I was in a class of about 60 students, where only 10 passed and 5 of those 10 were repeating the course. I went from a presidents list A student to failing. Do not go here! They will just take your money and cause you a lot of stress!!
Yes They are accredited now but they are still they worst nursing college one could attend. Please do not go here!!
Went all the way through till 280. Received exceeding expectations on my last mid term, then out of the blue my clinical instructor decides I’m not compassionate, or kind or meeting any of the requirements. These people lie a deceive. I have been working on this degree for the last 4 years taking my prerequisites part time and working part time. I have worked for HCA for the last 11 years, and yes I studied and came to class on time. So I am def someone who can handle nursing school. I also have a friend who went here and she went through the whole program only to get kicked out in the last quarter. Now it seems the same thing is happening to me. She told me not to go here and I wish I listened. PLEASE GO TO A DIFFERENT SCHOOL , UNLESS IF YOU LIKE WASTING YOUR MONEY>>>>>>>
Galen is a good school. You just have to be willing to sacrifice all of your time to pass. Nursing isn’t easy and it shouldn’t be. We get trained to save lives and that comes with a high degree of responsibility. The school has its hiccups sometimes but you can always guarantee that they want you to succeed in nursing.
I recently graduated from Galens ADN program and passed my NCLEX on the first attempt with around 90 questions. YES- This school IS expensive, however, you get RIGHT IN and it is an accelerated program. You dont have to deal with the wait lists at Galen – I mean seriously, who has time for that? This is a TOUGH program, you have to be dedicated and willing to put 100% effort into it. The teachers want to see you succeed and are usually very willing to work with you. I think I only encountered one that I didnt care much for during my 2 years at Galen. The whole HESI thing DOES suck BUT it does help prepare you for nclex.
I FEEL LIKE THE MAJORITY OF THESE BAD REVIEWS ARE JUST BITTER PEOPLE WHO COULDNT HANDLE NURSING SCHOOL! Please do not let them deter you!
Galen is now FULLY accredited so no more using that as an excuse to not go here.
I was able to pass every single class without failing any so if I can manage that with two very small children at home, I think anyone can as long as they are willing to put in the effort. It isnt easy folks!!
I would definitely recommend this school to someone wanting to get into nursing. They really do prepare you for NCLEX.
I recieved a job offer during my last quarter at Galen PRIOR to even graduating!! Happy to say that I accepted the position and will be starting at a local hospital very soon!
I am a current student here at galen in nursing 255 mental health. Every school will have there problems here and there, but these comments are ridiculous I can’t complain about galen the accommodate whatever I need most of the time in a timely fashion. I go to school fly under the radar and do what needs to be done. Do not be discouraged to come to Galen. I can guarantee 90%of the people with a bad review did not make it through, don’t get me wrong It is nursing school and it’s not easy but it’s deff doable.
Just don’t do it!!!! A word a good enough. Be smart and stay away. If you decide not to I hope to God you don’t regret it. Have a bless day.
Keith prokopp is the biggest narcissistic sexest mam at this school he also taught at Hillsborough County college. If you are younger and pretty he will pass you. If you are older and don’t laugh at his stupid jokes he won give you extra points. He needs to be fired because he hates his job and tells the students he has too much on his plate. Same on you galen college of Nursing for not listening to your students. He has has more complaints then any other teacher at that school. And he has the most fails each quarter!
STAY AWAY , the treat students terribly , discriminate, and unprofessional ,sadly they are taking all of ITT techs students only to put them in further DEBT
Terrible TERRIBLE excuse for a nursing school. If you want to be failed for no reason at all other than your clinical instructor saying she “doesn’t want you to pass” then go here. Teachers bad mouth students to OTHER teachers, clinical sites are AWFUL (basically spend 12 hours doing nothing because they need clocked hours) there is one good teacher in the LPN program and I can’t say his name but he made pharmacology a breeze. The best day I had at Galen was the day I graduated and got to rid my self of that terrible, unethical, immoral, shithole joke of a school. Don’t waste your time here.
Horrible scam. Don’t go to this school. You are wasting your time because they will look for any insignificant reason to make you repeat a class. The ADN program director ( which I do not know if she’s still there ) accused me of not paying attention to their rules and regulations and therefore would not let me continue the program there. She was extremely rude and made me cry in her office as I was begging her not to do this. She replied with “I cannot change my mind, have a nice day!” I couldn’t believe how awful and ruthless she was to me and soon after I had learned she treated a lot of students like this. Besides the fact that she was a complete pig, this school is also dishonest about money and costs. I’m very shocked that they still haven’t had a lawsuit filed against them. DO NOT GO TO GALEN!!!
I just graduated from the LPN to RN Online bridge program this past March.The instructors are knowledgeable and helpful. The clinical sites were at well-known hospitals around the Tampa Bay Area. Nursing school is going to be a challenge no matter where a student decides to attend. There is way too much information to know for an instructor to be able to cover everything in a lecture or type up on a power point. As students, we have access to the material and are responsible to learn what we need to know in order to become competent RNs in the future. I cannot believe some of the reviews that I have read on this site. I’m seriously considering going back to Galen for their BSN once they have the final go ahead with ACEN accreditation because they are one of the schools that will accept my college credits from years ago, saving me time and money in the end.
I just finished the LPN to ADN bridge program and I’m about to give an honest review so pay close attention. First things first any private school is for profit and work on keeping their NCLEX ratings. Galen is a profit school and even though their school tuition is some what less than others they are slowly creeping up there. Ok now moving on to the experience.
I started school in 4/2014 and projected graduation was supposed to be 6/2015 but had to retake 2 classes which where math and NUR 242. Math was challenging because it is usually a packed class with over 50 students and even though the instructor knows her math she is fast and won’t stop to explain so if you didn’t understand tough luck. Then NUR242 I felt cheated because we had 3 instructors teaching and I was so lost on what the heck was going on by the time I realized we were pretty much on our own to study and teach our selves it was too late. I didn’t whine or complained because at Galen it doesn’t get you anywhere but probably quicked out. So my main goal was to suck it up and continue because at this point if I decided to leave and go to another school it was going to be a waste of money and time. I already invested money and time to leave and other schools would not accept my nursing credits only general courses. As I continued my journey I basically studied on my own asked a lot of questions but I felt I was on my own. After taking mental health and OB/Peds everything was pretty much self study. Administration is never flexible on school schedule every quarter they tell you get ready to register early so you can pick what you want but the schedule is already made and you are stuck with what they already have. They say in the commercials flexible schedule and online classes but it’s a lie. Online is only for online students if you are on ground you won’t be able to get any online classes unless they don’t have an instructor on ground. Then they have lab components that are a total waste of time and money when they give you a tour of the school they show you the state of the art lab with the kool manikins and guess what I only stepped inside that 3 times the whole time I was there. Lab times were boring we did not get to do anything specially for NUR 265 and NUR 280 it was like another lecture. Some of the instructors don’t know what the heck is going on and they don’t give you the correct info.
Wait this is the one awesome comment I would like to comment on. For NUR265 and NUR280 you get to keep the same clinical. I was very happy I choose Bayonet Point Hospital over in Hudson. The clinical instructor there Mrs. Campagna was awesome very professional, Knowledgeable and she makes you work for your grade. I had the best clinical experience because she made us seek out learning opportunities and encouraged us to take care of up to 5 patients. The hospital staff was also awesome the nurses ere really helpfu and willing to teach. Most of the nurses I got to follow let me take the lead for the day. Awesome experience I think this was the best learning I had since starting the program.
Galen has a good concept but I feel that in order to get better review from students and retain more students they need to revamp the staff. We as students pay a lot of money and Galen should hire competent, organized instructors to be able to handle the student ratio load. This way students don’t feel as if we are on our own and struggling to make it out alive. Becoming a nurse isn’t a piece of cake but if Galen wants to push the best nurses they should collaborate with students and staff to help us understand the material. Many instructors kept telling us we are not teaching to pass the test but yet they kept pushing Hesi at the last minute. I don’t want to be able to pass a test I want to understand why that answer was the correct one because once I’m out on the real word a mistake could cause a life.
If I could give this sh*t hole place negative 1 million star rating, I would. This place is the root of all evil. GO ahead and apply and go to school here, you’ll find out and know what i’m talking about!
Should have listened to all these reviews. Bottom line is they are a money making business. Please consider all reviews and if you can afford to pay back loans for 4 times the cost of most nursing schools, if God forbid you have an event which causes you to drop out before you graduate. Galen Tampa Bay does bad business. I had to drop on day 3 due to a family situation. Galen was very nice about it when I told them I had to withdrawl. Of course they were because they were about to make a lot of money from me! I understood if I dropped right at the beginning of school, they’d keep 10% of the tuition for the term in which I was enrolled. That was a total of $8800 and they’d already been paid this amount by the Fed Student Loans and Sallie Mae. I should have owed $880 which is a lot, but understandable. Instead I owe $2100 in student loans for 3 DAYS of school as they kept 10% of the YEARLY tuition even though they had not yet been paid for the whole year. I surely did not attend 10% of the school year. What a complete rip off, not right and simply bad business. Pure greed. I am disappointed, and completely disgusted. I’ve done a lot of business with many companies over my lifetime, and NEVER have been shafted like this. It is a disgrace. I will likely be able to go back to school in the spring and you can bet I will not be going to Galen. BUYER BE WARE!
This is an instructor there.
http://pubrec10.hillsclerk.com/Unsecured/CaseDetail.aspx?CaseID=3992106
I have not started yet, but am really worried about all the negative comments. I see that other locations, like Texas for example do have these sort of comments. I chose Galen because I could not wait for all the waiting list BS of the public insitutions. I’d have do complete all pre-reqs which would take a year, then HOPE to get accepted. If not I’d have to go private anyhow. I am not sure if all the negs are just sour grapes (negative people are more likely to rant) or if there’s truth to this. Unprofessional people, I can deal with, but messing with my education I cannot. I pray that I do not have to deal with unprofessional, unhelpful staff in edition to the stress of Nursing School. Especially at the crazy high cost of tuition I’m paying. :(
THIS SCHOOL, I HAVEN’T EVEN GOTTEN INTO THE SCHOOL’S PROGRAM YET AND ITS STAFF IS ALREADY LYING AND GIVING PROBLEMS. ADMISSIONS SURE DOES LIE A LOT AND MAKE UP STORIES JUST SO THEY CAN MEET A DEADLINE. ALL I HAVE TO SAY IS ANASTASIA SOFFOS IS REALLY NICE BUT AS SOON AS YOU TURN YOUR BACK, SHE LIES HER WAY THROUGH HER JOB. I AM ALREADY EXTREMELY RICH AND SUCCESSFUL AND I WANTED TO GO TO THIS SCHOOL SO THAT I COULD USE WHAT I LEARNED FOR THE GOOD AND WELL BEING OF HUMANITY. I WOULD HAVE RECOMMENDED IT TO MANY SOURCES. HOWEVER, NOW I HAVE CHANGED MY MIND COMPLETELY AND READ IN BETWEEN THE LINES AND WANT NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS SCHOOL. ALL THE LIES THEY, AND WHEN I SAY THEY, I JUST MEAN HER BC SHE IS PART F THEIR TEAM. I AM GLAD I CAUGHT THIS ON TIME. I WILL BE GOING TO ANOTHER SCHOOL. I NOW KNOW HOW DIFFICULT SOME SCHOOLS MAKE IT FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO DRESS LOW, AND ARE OF HUMBLE AND NOT SO WEALTHY BACKGROUNDS. NEVER, EVER JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER, BC YOU NEVER KNOW. I HAVE CALLED AND COMPLAINED TO MULTIPLE AREAS.
I attended Galen’s ADN program for 7 quarters. I left with 3 months left and transferred to a different nursing school. I can honestly say that my experience at Galen was the worst college experience that I have had. The instructors could care less about your grades or the students. Clinical sites SUCKED and we always left early. Clinicals were supposed to be 12 hours and we only stayed 5 or 6 hours per clinical day. We didn’t get to do anything in clinical and most of the time we were paired up with CNAs instead of RNs. The instructors are constantly changing the syllabus and changing the rules throughout the quarter to save their butts. Administration is a completely different issue. When I first applied at Galen it was complete pampering and they made it out to be golden. Once I started classes administration would not even give me the time of the day. Roxanne Riles was a complete joke. She walked around the school like she owned the place and if you weren’t at her feet 247 then you weren’t in her “good graces”. I had a family member pass away hours before taking a HESI exam and was forced to stay and take the exam unless I wanted to fail. I had asked Roxanne Riles if I could reschedule the exam so I could be with my family and have time to grieve and clear my mind before taking the exam. Knowing that I probably wouldn’t do well with the mental and emotional stress that I had on my plate that morning she said no and acted like my family crisis was no big deal. This school lacks compassion and they are only there to make a paycheck and take your money. They could careless if you are 3 months from graduation and have spent $40,000 on their program. As long as they get their money they do not care what avenue you take. I would HIGHLY recommend a second thought before attending this school. Save your time, gas, and money and pick a different school. If you are truly compassionate and want to become a good nurse this is not the place to be. With a 1 star rating and ample amounts of negative reviews from different students you can clearly see that there is a problem with this school and I’m sure it will not be opened much longer due to current open investigations.
Unethical favoritism. I left before I finished, though I was on presiden’ts list bc I was disgusted with the institution
They change the hand book to cover their butts, computers go wrong and students have to pay, you pass the class (entire school program) but because they decide to change the requirements of the HESI in the LAST quarter, i may not graduate which makes no sense if I’m passing the last class, they are careless and don’t care out students no their lives, they only care about money and looking good with NCLEX pass rate, people cheat and they pat them on the back and the ones that try hard are looked at and treated like crap! Don’t come to this school cause if the Dean (Godwin) and the Director (Adams) could treat you like garbage and not care what problem you have with testing then no one will care…Almost all of the great teachers are gone and that should tell you to RUN RUN FAR AWAY!!!
Worst school ever! Administration not willing to help and doesn’t care about their students on pass rates. NUR280 is doing a dis-service to their students
I am a official Galen graduate! My experience with this school has been awful. Administration has acted unprofessional: disclosing student information violating FERPA. Although I’m Caucasian I have witness minorities especially African American student be segregated into a stricter grading system. One of my classmates was told she need to prove herself because people like her don’t become good nurses. It saddens me to know that our country has resulted to this, even within in our educational system. I hope the Nursing Board of education investigate this school administration staff along with faculty. Each complaint this school receives need to be taken serious. 4,000 dollars every 3 months is a scam considering the lack of care, respect, and education provided.
You will regret it. Don’t apply to this school because of the no waiting list. You will end up spending double the money and double the time to graduate. Just ask students that attend the school.
I don’t know what’s going on but this school is always changing rules and syllabus and they keep finding a way to hold students back or keep from finishing the program. It’s so terrible! I’ve seen many bright students have to walk out because of how this school is trying to get money. It’s so incredibly frustrating I wasted over a year and paid way more than I should for this type of education. I mean the education is good but the way they treat students I can’t believe the education department or state nursing board allows it. Anyone thinking about coming to this school better think hard about wasting alot of money and your time. I tell anyone I talk to about my experience at this school to seriously stay away and find a better school!
Racist
First let me say that I received my LPN at Galen before it was called Galen. All of the instructors that taught at the time are now gone. I understand, people move on. I wanted to go back for the LPN to RN bridge program because of the education I had received. Big mistake!!!! I’m now at Pasco-Hernado State College and I could not be more happy. The instructors are great!!! The clinicals are great and most importantly, your credits are excepted anywhere!!! On a two part plus bonus, your total cost is around $7000.00 and as long as your a good student there really is no waiting list. Especially if your doing the bridge program as a lot of students are just starting out and going for the RN generic route. People will love Galen and hate it, I’m on the hate side. I did not like it because it felt rushed and over $25,000 for a RN education is just stupid!! the hook is “no waiting list”. That’s because it’s a business. Don’t get me wrong they do produce some good nurses, however, take your transcripts to a state college and see what most will say. Seriously, a little over $6000.00 for an LPN to RN State college where as all of your credits are excepted anywhere! You can love or hate these comments, I really don’t care!!
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Oh and it’s only one year long once a short pre-req list is completed.
As a current student I would NOT recommend this school to any one. First, they don’t have their things together. They are making up everything up as they go. They are constantly editing and change the student handbook, teachers changing their syllabi the last week of class, it’s a complete wreck. I’m half way through the program and the staff is continuously changing every quarter. It seems like every quarter I have an instructor that “leaves” mid way through. My wife graduated from Galen in 2013 and my brother in law 2014. There are only 5 total staff members that remain from their time there. They claim the students are their #1 priority, that is complete bull s%$t. All the school cares for is getting your money. The bursar would be the first to let you know what I mean. I’ve been paying cash for the program due to defaulted school loans. When I’m running a few days behind on payments the bursar will email, call, send letters to your home, chase you down the hall with food in her mouth and even pull me out of the middle of class to come in and pay. When your paid in full for the quarter, it’s unbelievable how she can walk passed you in the halls as if you didn’t exist. I regret ever going to Galen 110% If I could return the credits and get refunded I would. I hate every second I’m in there.
I have had such a great experience at Galen! I hate reading all of these negative reviews, and wonder if this site actually posts any positive reviews. (I guess we’ll see!) Most of the other students I talk to here love Galen and are prepared to begin their nursing careers right out of graduation. The courses are accelerated, so it takes a lot of discipline to buckle down and finish, but it has been well worth it.
I’m really disappointed in this school since I heard so many good things about it. Russell was awesome in administration, giving me all the information I needed, even told me Clinicals are stricly on the weekend for the LPN bridge for Tampa location (My classmates also told me they were told the same thing). This school is a complete bait and switch. Tell you what you want to hear and once they got you, completely change everything around on you. I had issues from the beginning where administration/registration signed me up for an in-seat class without letting me know even though I requested online since I’m an online student. Maybe the issue is online, in seat may be a better option. Her reasoning was, because online was full she put me in in-seat. I was never notified of this so I had to drop from the class because I had already missed a day. Communication with anyone is, like someone said below, harder than eating a cement call. You will not get a clear answer from administration or staff unless you are in seat and see that professor or staff member every single day. I’ve been told you don’t pass your HESI, you fail the class from one teacher, another teacher tells you different. Nothing is consistant. It’s like individual teahers working under Galen. NOT a unified teaching staff working for Galen. I’m sure in-seat is much more beneficial, but they do not have any online program together. The Dean has no experience in healthcare, he came from a Banking company, to them it’s all about the money. Also, they can’t keep staff.
just got accepted into the PN program kinda nervous about the money and classes after reading the reviews.
Graduated 2013 right after accreditation. Felt like they were cracking down to get accredited. Feel my nursing skills are up to par but that my book knowledge leaves something to be desired. Okay school. Don’t hate it or love it. Probably would like it more if the cost wasn’t as high.
I absolutely loved Galen. Really loved Mrs. Kirk! She knows her stuff. Would definitely recommend.
The caring factor is lacking on the administration end of this school. One is recruited in on the basis that they are there for you and support you and will go out of the way to help you learn. They are ALL TO QUICK to dismiss a student from the program wen the student is struggling yet knows the profession of being a nurse and does it well. The academic teaching is lacking, whether it is too much information crammed in too short of a time frame or the instructors are better nurses than they are instructors. The students need to understand the material being presented in order for it to be useful, not just hear instructors read it off of a power-point. Then trying to meet with a dean, president or director of the department is harder than eating through a cement wall.
It seems that the last two positive comments are coming from the same person trying to make excuses for the school. Who are you to tell people they aren’t cut for this even tough they work hard and still struggle. To me the ones that don’t give up and continue are the strongest and will become the better NURSES!!!!
I agree I’m getting kicked out tomorrow!! Only had 12 weeks left had I passed this quarter! Now hopefully Rasmussen will take my credits!
I have just finished the 2 year RN program Here and did not experience one issue complained about below. I have never had a problem with teachers or administration. The teacher don’t just give out grades to whoever they like, you earn them. This program has challenged me and has given me the skills I need to perform in the field. I have had many job offers from HCA hospitals. This is not a school that is going to do the work for you so you have to grow up and accept the responsibility for your education. The teachers are very knowledgeable and are eager to teach if you are willing to learn. I would recommend this school to those who are responsible and who can man up to the challenges of school instead of complaining about them. Let’s face it, nursing school is no walk in the park. You are going to have small problems no matter where you go.
This is the worst school I have ever gone to. The teachers are extremely unfair because everything is teachers discretion. If you are not blonde with big boobs you will fail microbiology. The list goes on and on!!!! Do not attend this school. They are about money and more money!!!
To the person who just posted about getting a lawyer you should start a class suit I am pretty sure you can find a whole lot of un satisfied ex Galen or even present Galen Students. I for one will jump on board and maybe together everyone can get justice serve and make sure it doesn’t happen to no one else.
I gave 100% at that school showed up every day for every class and when I ask for help, I was told that it was my fault that I signed up for an expedient it program. They do not help you there they do not care about you they’re all they want is your money and when they completely drain your bank account they will kick you out with no remorse. I can’t believe people righted over the Michael Brown shooting and no one riots over this massive amount of thievery happening every day right in our backyards. This school is worse than credit card companies they will take everything from you don’t think this is a joke Galen took everything from me. I can’t pay my bills I can’t pay my student loans because I never graduated and I never will get the chance from that school my only option now is suicide.
Galan Tampa campus is the worst nursing school to spend your money on. Everybody’s friendly when you start there they tell you lies like we will help you no matter what. When the rubber hits the road they tell you it’s all your fault because you signed up for an Exceller rated program. I was strategically forced out of a $7000 course because I sent an email to the president of the company exposing the bullying and the intimidation tactics in which their instructors use to keep the students there in their place. They like to keep their students in fear. They push their students around and they have no idea of what nursing is in the real world. Those who can’t do teach, and apparently the instructors at Galan were failures. I have never been treated or talk down too like the instructors, administrators, and staff do at Galan. I promise anyone who reads this, Galan Tampa campus does not care about your future all they want is your autograph and your Social Security number they don’t give a damn about you whether you fail or succeed. I know this after spending over $40,000 to attend school there. For only one year and they will not allow me to come back to have a chance to complete the program. I’m going to hire a very good lawyer and start the fight in retrieving some of the money I lost to their bullshit lies. Galan Tampa campus ruined my entire life. I came to them with zero debt and a 750 credit score I am a single white male working full time trying to make ends meet – they sold me on the fact that they were there to help. The commercial say bring your compassion and will do the rest. They must need a lot of compassion because there’s not one administrator that has an ounce. The president is responsible for denying my request for readmission. I have absolutely nothing to live for, I have no money, there’s not one school that will except Galan credits, they just laugh. They are not an accredited school and their credits will not transfer anywhere. Galen is a joke. They are worse than credit card companies. They are thieves. And they deserve to be held accountable for the injustice done to any and every student who has been wronged by that institution. They need to answer for the lies and the thievery. Terese Sanders is a financial aid advisor, she is a joke. Stay far away from that idiot. Roxanne Riles is the most unprofessional pigheaded, Miss Piggy look alike, nastiest b***h I have ever come across. Robert Wolf, the president of Galan Tampa campus, has a complete lack of respect for the customers that have shelled out outrageous amounts of money to attend there. He understands that he alone has ruined my life, and he could give a s**t less. The final email he sent me told me good luck in my future endeavors. I don’t have any future, because Galan has taken all of my money. I have nothing, I spent a year of my life, and over $40,000 on that school. For absolutely nothing. I am close to jumping off of the roof at the Galan Tampa campus. They have taken everything from me, and now I have nothing, and no chance of getting it back. Do not go to the school. Find another school not this one
Galen ruined my life, forced me out of a med/ surge class for sending an email to corporate & now the refuse to let me finish my last 3 quarters. The last year and a half of my life has been wasted and now I have to hire a lawyer to attempt to get my money back because other RN schools laugh at Galen’s “Fake” credits – and won’t accept one Galen class as accredited –
Galen ruined my life and I don’t know what I’m going to do – I have so much $ out in loans following Galen’s financial aide advisors directions- I’m in big trouble and they could care less. I even spoke with the president rob wolf – he and Roxanne riles care the least – ALL THE WANT IS YOU TO SIGN – once they have your $$$$$$$$$$$ – they could care less about wether you succeed or fail – BIGGEST WASTE OF MONEY & TIME – PLEASE TAKE THIS VERY SERIOUSLY –
Unfortunately, the reviews posted are very true. One of the biggest problems Galen has is the administration, especially the ADN program director, Dr. Riles. She is unprofessional, rude, and disrespectful. Complaints have been made against her, but she is still there. Many of their best instructors have left because of all of the drama that goes on. Those that are still there, probably won’t be for long. There are so many nursing programs in the area, Galen needs to make major changes to keep students from going elsewhere. It is a business, the students are their “customers”, we are paying their salary, and therefor each complaint filed needs to be taken seriously. Many of my classmates now find it painful to even walk through the doors, we are walking on eggshells and just trying to get through each day. If you are a potential student, I advise you to look at other schools. Galen is regionally accredited, but not nationally, they are currently a candidate, but with what is going on, it may not happen anytime soon. Not being nationally accredited will limit the number of facilities that will hire you and the credits you paid so much for will not transfer to other schools if you are planning on getting your BSN or MSN. If you are a current student, I advise you to voice your concerns and complaints to those that are not employed at the Tampa campus. The president and CEO of Galen is in Louisville, sending complaints to him directly may bring about changes to keep their Tampa campus in business if there is a threat of their enrollment going down significantly. Also, filing a complaint to the Florida Board of Nursing may get their attention too. The more voices they hear, the more likely there is to be change. They need to bring in administrative staff that truly cares about the students and works for them, not against them. Dr. Riles is not capable of that, she is the first person that needs to be replaced. I think with her gone, the black cloud hovering over will start to diminish.
Oh no no I am NOT staying with this school! If YOU value your TIME and hard earned MONEY then do yourself a favor and listen to the reviews!!! This greedy school is working their behinds off to SQUEEZE money out of current students. They are bringing new passing rules each quarter to make sure that most students don’t pass. WTF kind of school does that? Literally, myself and all of my friends in class failed and we’re not stupid! They are not interested in giving us the right education. We worked too hard in this stupid accelerated programs to let them fail us. I’m out man I don’t need Galen doing this crap to me. Seriously I wish I knew how they were before I totally regret enrolling in this school. Admin is terrible, can’t ever get any real answers, and yes, everything people wrote about the head of the ADN program (her name is mentioned in every review) is absolutely the rudest and most arrogant person I’ve met. Yikes. This school needs to get reported for what they put their students through. Future students, find a public college to get a degree! These for-profit schools are a joke and in the end they will be the ones laughing in your face. Worst experience ahhh!!!
Anonymous must be a staff member trying to divert the attention to the students. Shame on you and if you don’t have anything productive to say don’t bother commenting.
It seems that everyone here complaining about the school has made poor grades. Instead of Googling the staff maybe you should be studying!
RUN! RUN! RUN As fast as you can DO NOT GO TO THIS SCHOOL! ILLEGAL PRACTICE !!!!! Criminals and MONEY HUNGRY!!! Great teachers ( nursing courses) who are trapped into a mire of crap teachers afraid of being fired because of administration being bullies…. math teacher is a criminal, yet they keep her there. ADMINISTRATION SUCKS!!!! Work hard and you will pass, but poor preparation for the real world of nursing and state board exam. Roxene Riles is a b***h they need to get rid of her. Students who are failing/ or think they “know it all” start whining and get their way, because the school wants money, they really do not care rules are constantly changing because what they have going on doesn’t work …check out pass rates. I am ashamed to say I ever went there! If you are really serious about your education STAY AWAY !Wait to get into a good school that is not for profit because that is all Galen is…for profit. ZERO for this school.
OMG I am reading the reviews and I am getting weary about staying with this school. So far I have not experienced any problem except that I had to repeat math again because Mrs. Holmes is a non-cooperative person she tells you one thing and does another. She also has mood swings maybe because she is always getting in trouble and has her mug shot posted all over. The only pet peeve I have with this school is if we are paying a lot of money to get an education the school better make damn sure they hire professionals just like they do criminal back ground on the students and charge us $150 which by the way is way too much for a criminal back ground the most I have paid was $85 through the state of Florida Nursing. Ms Roxanne Riles I don’t even really acknowledge her because she looks like a rude and ignorant person. She walks around the school like if she owns it and never smiles or says hi to anyone she expects people to worship the ground she walks on. This school needs to fire some high payed upper staff and hire people who don’t have criminal records and give a damn about students problems and concerns.
My son just came home from class today and almost in tears (and he is a grown man). He is enrolled at the Tampa/St.Pete campus. I have called the office trying to get ahold pf someone and no one tell me who to speak to about the way he is being treated by a women named Roxanna Rile. I believe she is head of the program. Anyone have any suggestions as to what I should do?
PLEASE DO ME A HUGE FAVOR AND STAY AWAY FROM THIS SCHOOL! The St.Petersburg campus is ran by money hunger, lying, cheating and the most selfish people I have ever met! I am an ADN student and I wish I never stepped foot nito this school. OH, yes their song and dance is great and they make you feel like the are interested in your well being but when you sign on thast dotted line and they have your money in hand. That song and dance is over and you are just another one of their puppets that is paying their paychecks.
Ms. Holmes ( Brandi Jennifer Holmes) She is the Math teacher. Is a convicted felon. Drug user, criminal. That in just this past March 2014- was convicted of drug charges, lying to police, using someone id and her past record includes DUI and many other charges.. Google her name.. There she is in black and white. She is a horrible teacher and hates women. She will tell you the first day of class that she only remembers guys names. She changes her rules and policies, and teaches you wayyyyy to fast and then hands you the quiz and exams and the material is not what she taught you. She gets some sick pleasure out of failing students.
Forget going to administration! They are worse.. Ms. Riles is another one with a past. She has been fired from numerous jobs because of harrassing and not following the rules. She walks around like everyone owes her something. Just because she has “titles” after her name does not give her the right to treat the students the way she does. I WOULD STAY FAR AWAY FROM THIS SCHOOL!!! WORSE MISTAKE I HAVE MADE IN A LONG TIME!
ALL COMMENTS HAVE TRUTH TO THEM. CURRENTLY I’M A 2YR ADN STUDENT AND I AM LOOKING FOR ANOTHER SCHOOL. I’m transferring out of Galen. I am an A student (not to toot my own horn but rather to really emphasize my point I have a 4.0 GPA and on President’s List but I am not continuing to shower Galen with my money). Quick note 1st, anything given 3 stars is because it doesn’t apply to me and I can’t give zero stars on here. If there were negative stars, I would give administration -530 stars. Good luck if you are trying to transfer classes because it is impossible to get in touch with the registrar to get proper answers!!! I had to really fight really hard to get a couple of classes transferred I feel like they tell you at the beginning they will accept but then they try hard weasel their way out. Don’t bother emailing or leaving voicemails. When you need timely answers, you won’t get them from the registrar. But you’ll see her casually in conversation roaming around the desks back in the admin corner of the school. Apparently they added another registrar I think so I hope my complaint is a thing of the past. I am in my 4th quarter and I had no real issue with the RN program or the staff. I have shed some positive and share that the instructors are really good they do truly care about your learning experience. They don’t want students to fail and are helpful when they can be. Many negative comments probably come from students who cannot make the 120% time and energy commitment because people do have outside things in their life. This accelerated program is very demanding and there are tests like back to back each week over like 15 chapters each course. You pass with a 74% or higher so it’s not always easy for everyone to keep up so people fail sometimes. There’s no rounding so getting a 73.9% means you have to repeat the class+clinical+lab. Now they have new HESI rules (very similar to NCLEX questions) which are a percentage of each course grade but now many subject require a certain score on the HESI to pass the entire course! That’s the problem. Usually only a handful of students get the high enough score they like to see because, well frankly, WE AREN’T TAUGHT EVERYTHING THE HESI CAN ASK US. How are we expected to get questions right when we learned absolutely nothing about? When it was 10 or 20% of our grade then fine, I’ll practice questions and try my hardest because there’s no real way to study for HESI except practice how to answer critical thinking questions. Truly saying, I thought this program would help me learn and develop that type of critical thinking that HESI/NCLEX is looking for. It seems that between the best 2 answers, most of us end up picking the “wrong” one-the one they want is different from our best logic. I really am not that dumb that I get so many HESI questions wrong. Getting A’s on the class exams doesn’t mean I’ll do fine on the HESI either. There’s something missing here and Galen doesn’t offer anything to fill in that gap. And there is absolutely no time during the quarter to get outside help. The HESI review book I have didn’t even have topics for the HESI’s we had to take last quarter. Only like 5 people “passed” with the score they wanted out of I think 60 students. Clearly the HESI is not an indicator that we are ready because we have a lot of smart students who didn’t “pass” it. So ok fine, whatever, I passed the quarter and moved on. But now we are REQUIRED to get a certain score on HESI to pass the entire course and move onto the next quarter. Seriously??? 1 stupid exam that we cannot be properly prepared for will cause us to repeat course, and the pass/fail CPE’s in lab, and all the 12 hr clinicals?? Oh, of course, and to hand over thousands of dollars again?? What am I going to Galen to learn every day if most people don’t pass the HESI? I did decent on HESI’s last quarter but I am not a standardized test taker, and I need more time to learn how to take HESI/NCLEX type tests because they are not like typical college exams. Almost all of us are panicked because at the end of the quarter we will know if our time and hard work went to waste. Galen didn’t prepare us enough yet for this kind of pressure. They just now made this a rule, and what if they spring this again any time in the future or make it even harder to pass? It’s profitable for them when students need to repeat classes. They say it’s for our own good to prepare us for NCLEX and it is true. But I’m sorry I shouldn’t have to repeat every single part of the course because of HESI. Galen otherwise needs to provide better education to facilitate passing the HESI with the score they want. I just don’t have any more time to spend in school taking the same classes over and over. I planned to attend a 2 yr school so that I can bust my ass, learn everything I need for success quickly, and get my RN license. I’m looking for another school that I can get my RN license without the bullshit of all this. They really want our honest feedback on course evaluations. I don’t know when our feedback will apply because I don’t see it yet. For those who are really good at standardized tests you’ll be fine probably until they add new things each quarter. But otherwise, I really really really REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY regret starting Galen’s program just to waste my time and money so far. Do yourself a huge favor and look for a better school please!!!!!!!!!!
Do not go to this school they will screw you over. The tuition is disgustingly high. The administration is a joke. The ADN program director is very unprofessional and also very rude person who thinks she is better than everyone. They will draw you in by being all smiles and positive and act like they give a crap about you do not be fooled. You must not have a life whatsoever to get through this school and they WILL make it seem like they can help you with any distractions and such but they don’t do s**t. They are money hungry people who do not care about you. You’ve been warned
I am damn close to dropping the f*ck out of this school. Roxene Riles is an arrogant B*tch who doesn’t give a crap about you and yes, is the rudest person I have ever met in my life. The teachers are very nice and knowledgeable… but if you fail ONE test you’re out and have to, of course, pay more money to retake the class. I would not reccomend this school to anyone. Get good grades and go to a community college where it is WAY less cheaper. I still want to be a nurse more than anything but this school is doing everything in it’s power to fail as many people as possible. Screw Galen!!!
Do not go to this school. I am a president list student in this school, and I am going to run far away from this school. I am going to report this school to education department.
This school can do whatever they want to you, and will not allow you to defend yourself. If you have a complaint, it is the time for them to abuse you. Please protect yourself. Do not go to this school!
My experience at Galen started out positive… of course I worked hard to set myself up ahead of time to be able to put everything into studying… I noticed allot of dropouts regardless of race they where the people who showed up late to class or was absent from class or did not get their books and did not bother to turn in assignments. I considered them not serious but I got good grades…second quarter it was the people who had other commitment like children or full time jobs witch distracted them from their studies. Galen has no room for excuses. By the time we got to third quarter there where only really serious students left. In spite of this the nursing classes are set up to fail students because of the high amount of pass or fail test involved and even the most minor thing would get you caned. Your nursing classes are really three classes in one…12 credit hrs and it only takes not passing one pass/fail or any minor aspect to fail the whole course. It became obvious that the classes where designed to fail a high percentage of students and when the class is four thousand dollars it is a lot of pressure. I have one friend who was making straight A all the way through and on her very last quarter had an A in the class but scored low on of the last test and was kicked out of the program. Yet have seen others who failed and retook many classes and were allowed to retake without ever being dropped. I also knot iced that only about 5% or less of students make it all the way through to graduation.
In general the teachers are nice and helpful as long as you are working hard but the administration is horrible. They lose transcripts, records, are woefully disorganized and are extremely mean to the students. The RN program director Dr Roxene Riles is especially mean woman who snarls at you when you say hello to her in the halls if you get any reaction at all. I once said very sincerely and pleasantly “good morning Roxene” to her as she was marching down the hallway like miss piggy on a mission and she spun around back to me, pointed her finger in my face and said ” that’s DR Riles to you” then stormed off. I chose to go back to St Pete College where it only cost 1/4 of the cost, there is a much better atmosphere, and there are real student services like writing labs and tutors not just one person behind a desk who makes useless appointments with you and patronizes you.
Been there done that. I was in and out in 6 months flat. I caught on quick and went back to community college and was accepted into a REAL ACCREDITED NURSING PROGRAM. This school is an astronomical F*$#@ing nightmare! Most of the teachers are stupid, have arrest records, the computer concepts teacher is a dirty old hippie alcoholic, the micro teacher with the bad bangs,is an arrogant C.U.N.extT.uesday, the office receptionist is RUDE as hell, the ex, yes I said ex dean that got fired, that fat biatch was rude and not fair to students. They fail you in classes by 1 or 2 points on final exams just so you have to re-take the course, hence, make more tuition money, but if the teacher likes you, they’ll pass you. Also, I have heard teachers talking about students behind their backs, dogging them out. I never once addressed these so called lame-ass wanna be teachers as Professor, they did not deserve the title. One “Introduction to Nursing” teacher was so stupid, so I thought, come to find out she was not only stupid but wiped-out on valium and Xanax half the time, constantly slurring her words and forgetting where she was in the lecture…dumb-ass. Needless to say, she was f#@%*’n fired. All in all, don’t go to GALEN,it’s so not worth $34,000.00. Even if you have to be on a waiting list, DO NOT GO TO THIS JANKY STRIP MALL SCHOOL. STAY AWAY. READ ALL OF THE PREVIOUS REVIEWS. 95% are negative and TRUE.
As a former student of Galen (The Health Institute of Tampa Bay), I can attest to much of what has been said here. I was enrolled in the LPN program, but was forced to drop due to an injury. I now want to pursue my RN & planned to return to Galen this fall, but after reading the above and knowing much to be true, have decided to check elsewhere. When I attended, we had EXCELLENT instructors, except for one who was VERY boring. I was a top student, so never had a hassle. I felt I was always treated fairly and courteously. I was appalled though at the treatment given to some other students. Most of us were mature adults…not naughty 5 year olds. I understand their rules and regulations on promptness and absences. Can you imagine all the disruptions if students are continually arriving to class late? I felt we learned so much so quickly and was really impressed with the curriculum. However, you absolutely can not work while attending this school. It is WAY to intense to allow any outside activities. If you want more time for work, friends, family, then try PTEC or SPC. I studied at least 3-4 hours every night, and on weekends even longer. I felt for what I was learning in a condensed course, it was worth the sacrifice. Students dropped like flies that had jobs or family. I felt bad for them. That really should be told up front before they are admitted, but as a “for profit” school, I guess that is not told. I really feel that if I had continued or did go back, I would graduate as a top quality nurse, however, I have been turned off from Galen due to all the above comments. I will be looking elsewhere. An educational environment should not be a prison.
true comments. very emotional experience going to galen. lots of instructors were fired while i was there and I felt there were only a few upper managers that really cared about the students, and all the others were totally corporate and profit minded business people, rather that student body. the test were too heavily geared toward having a a certain failure rate, so that certain % would fail and have to retake, hence more tuition money, than teaching future professionals. I made it through but I witnessed very serious and committed students fail a quarter due to bias and bad test creations by horrible istructors. now i am facing the reality of retaking all of my general courses such as, micro and a&p because galen’s credits do not transfer anywhere except grand canyon and university of phoenix, where credits are 690.00 a credit. take the time and be patient and go to local commuity college that is more reputable.
I too have attended Galen since August of 2011 and feel that alot of these comments are not accurate. If you can bring yourself to class everyday and study the material then you will not have any problmes. The majority of people who complain are the ones who would rather skip class and think that the material is going to be spoon fed to them. I only experienced one instructor who I felt lacked the ability to teach us effectively but I studied hard in that class and still passed. As far as losing the clinical sites, yes we did lose some but I still feel completely prepared to go out and practice in the real world with the sites we do have. Nursing school is tough and you have to have thick skin and an open mind to get through it. If you can show up, act like an adult and study the material then you can make it. The cost is expensive but it beats being on a waiting list for another school and wondering if you’ll ne accepted.
I have attended Galen since 2011. I absolutely love it. Yes, the price is very high but I believe it is worth it for the training you get compared to the other schools. Galen students are highly recommended for jobs, and we have met many Galen graduates working during our clinical rotations. I have read reviews bout racism, and I can honestly say that I have never seen any of that occur in the almost 16 months I have been here. Yes, some of the instructors are better than the others but that is going to be anywhere you go. Galen truly prepares you to be an excellent nurse. They are strict and expect you to do well just as your employer will when you get out in the field. You will be fail if you don’t give it your all. That is exactly what kind of training I would like for any of the nurses taking care of me to have gone through as well. Think about it. I would highly recommend this school to anyone who is disciplined and determined to become the most excellent nurse you can be.
I would just like to say nursing school anywhere and everywhere should not be easy and to have teachers that are strict is crucial for teaching on how to save lives! Yes the program is expensive, yes the instructors are impossible but welcome to nursing, if you cant hang with the big dogs in the beginning get out while you can! Your nurse manager isnt going to hold your hand while you make a med error in fact your nurse manager might fire you! Galen is not racist stop with that crap, you got the money, you pass the test, you do your work and be responsible then you pass; stop blaming everyone for things that you are in charge of! Galen has excellant NCLEX pass rates thats why they are hard on you so you become a damn good nurse!
Wow. I have Been reading the comments posted above for about an hour now. Many of the comments are correct. Galen ADMINISTRATORS do not care about the students at all. More importantly they have lost all credible Clinical Sites as has been previously stated.
Regarding the instructors, I have to DISAGREE with almost all of the comments above.
Many of the instructors are genuinely concerned with the students performance and make themselves very available. The most impressive and caring instructors are, Grecco AP, Halfacre AP, Prokopp, Microbiology Kirk,Pharmacology Rideout, Med Surge, Korfield, Mental Health Ritchey, MI Donahue, MI and several others. The worst of the worst is Dixon, Psychology. She should not even be called and instructor, I have met mentally challenged individuals who could do better than her.
Regarding Nursing School:
Nursing school is HARD. I took the LPN at Galen and had a fantastic experience. The clinicals were very demanding, as was the coursework. But becoming a nurse is not easy. The education I received made passing the LPN boards rather easy.
You will not have any life however when you are in nursing school. Expect 80 hour weeks and do not expect to be spoon fed the information.
With the above said however, the administration is one of the worst I have ever encountered. They are only interested in dollars, that is all. With the loss of the clinical sites, the administration never once sent out any communication to the current students that the sites had been lost. This was occurring in our last quarter of LPN school.
Had the administration notified current LPN students who were about to enter the bridge program the loss of the clinical sites, myself as well as many of my classmates would not have entered the bridge program. Now 4 quarters into the bridge program and only one quarter to go, we are basically trapped. While the LPN clinical experience was superb, the RN Bridge Clinical Experience is a disgrace.
I truly feel sorry for the instructors who do care, they are caught in the crossfire of an administration team that really does not care about the students, or the faculty. Some of them are absolutely fantastic.
Regarding claims of racial bias by some posters, I do not see that at all.
They treat everyone equally harshly and are demanding of all. There is NO leniency for tardy clinicals regardless of who you are or how well you know the instructor. I have to agree with this policy. When I am completing a 12 hour shift I do not want my relief rolling in 20 minutes late, or even 2 minutes late, I want them there 15 minutes early. If you want to work in health care then plan on getting to your job 30 minutes early and leaving at least 15-20 minutes after your shift is over. If you don’t want to do this then go get a job at Publix.
Your co-workers deserve this respect as do you as a professional in this field. After 12 hours you are not longer fresh and safety becomes an issue.
Overall the LPN program at Galen was awesome. With that said however, the RN program has a lot of shortcomings. Specifically the clinical setting.
In the next 2-3 years I would steer clear of GALEN until the much anticipated Sacs accreditation in July 2013. After this they can pursue NLAC accreditation and then possibly reconnect with the major hospitals in the area. Otherwise, your clinical experience is going to be extremely limited and very substandard.
Once the clinicals have been re-established in 2015-2016, then and only then will Galen be worth the price.
I only wish that the Administration had give my classmates and me the information to make an informed decision prior to spending another $20k++.
BOL to Whatever you decide to do but remember, NO nursing school is easy. Talks of SPC are garbage. I have been on clinical sites in my LPN program and the SPC students were like a bunch of fish out of water. Their skill set was so sub-standard it was scary.
GALEN like any other growing school has its own problems, but training good nurses is not one of them. Unfortunately their problem right now is the clinical sites they can send you to.
I am currently attending Galen. I am in my 2nd quarter. The school is expensive, but the financial aspect is known well in advance. I have seen other schools that cost more. I have not met any mean or rude staff yet. I know Dean Roberts from my prior schooling for my LPN at Galen and never had a problem with her. I carry the attitude that I am an adult and just need to buckle down and do what is expected of me. If I fail it is because I have not tried hard enough. The instructors seem very willing to privately tutor if you are willing to accept their help. The only problems I am seeing with the school is that they give you “busy” work. Being required to learn nursing informatics seemed completely left field. I did enjoy learning how to use Microsoft. Right away we were thrown into making care plans, nothing was reviewed. Not everyone in nursing creates care plans so this was difficult. Be advised, when taking A&P, you must pass both portions with at least a 74% in each. Just because your average is passing, if you are less than 74% in either lab or theory, you fail the entire class and have to retake the class. I have been hearing that Galen is loosing clinical sites so this has me concerned. Currently all HCA hospitals are not permitting Galen students for clinicals. Right now one clinical site is located in Manatee county. If you live in Hillsborough, Pasco or Pinellas county then you will be driving. Like I said, I’m concerned. Time will tell as things unfold. I am going to keep a positive mindset on Galen. They did me right the first time around.
I just have to say that a lot of you have unrealistic expectations, I own a private nursing school and will tell you that Galen is a average nursing school when it comes to requirements just as every other school out there. First, if you can’t get with the program and ensure your on time then your not considered reliable. On time is 15 min early and being there at the requested time is late. As far as homework 4-6 chapters tested on each six weeks is a dream, I was doing 200-300 pages a night and then tested on that two times in a week. Nursing school isn’t built to baby you or be easy, this is about ensuring you don’t kill anyone when they are in your care because after nursing school there is no blaming anyone else it’s you A$$ on the chopping block in court. As far as clinicals, most of you are not in the business end of running a nursing school. There are at least 20-30 schools per district and we have to all sit down and have a bidding war on who is going to get what clinicals. It is very brutal and if you are a new program forget it they are very cold and won’t give any clinical time to your school until you prove your self. Being late, using phones, your dress, attitude and are you being busy on a unit can cause a nursing school to loose their clinical contract, and NO NURSING SCHOOL CAN AFFORD THAT! So yes being two minutes late can cause staff to believe that the instructor does not have a good control over the students and if that the case what else is going on there. Next thing you know the school gets a letter stating that they have been dropped for clinicals. The school must maintain no less that 10 percent below the national NCLEX standard on first time test takers or they risk bring placed on probation and losing their license…so yes they must be very strict. Think about this… I they just give in every time you are upset or argue and let you slid by then that is not helping you in the end. You must be held accountable for your actions. Nursing school should be one of the hardest things you will ever take on in your life so you can ensure that you are the best nurse you can be. You are in fact held liable for your patients well being. I am a Galen graduate and am proud, like every school they have their flaws but the important thing is to look at the pass rates it speaks in volumes .
PS: if you think they were hard wait till you go to a public school because they are so large and have such long wait list to get in that they could care less what you like, they will drop you in a heart beat, remember they get paid no matter what so they do not care if your there or not.
Galen San Antonio is the worst!!! Q 2 medsurg instructor is one crazy psycho B….!!! s. Hesi for Q 2 is 20% of your grade and they don’t even prepare you for it. Galen SA needs to be closed down!!
I am a furture student & I was thinking about going to Galen college even thinking about quiting my job because the RN program is only offered in the day time. I just recently took a tour of the campus and the admissions rep named Gina told all 3 of us that it was accredited and that credits could transfer wow I am so glad I found these reviews!
Well, in actuality it will be that girls problem if she made it through school because she won’t get a license with a felony(new laws passed by HD) either way Galen gets paid lol so all in all it’s just more money she would have to pay back for a degree she can’t use which ends up being her problem but one things for sure, that was silly of you to put her name out there like that. Honestly, that’s pretty tacky and sneaky of you, I wouldn’t want you giving me any shots neither!
Noticed my posting from Feb of this year is gone. I graduated when the school was Humana Health Institute Tampa Bay.
its all BS I wish i had never made the descision of going to galen.
Nicole McClain student of this school arrested for Grand Theft and faked going to SPC instead on her record! A Nursing School allowing Fellons.
I’m sure we want our loved ones cared for by FELLONS! Right………
I am a lpn grad from this school. And have been working as an lpn for about a year now. All i can say is going to school there was the worst 12 months of my life. I didn’t fail any classes. Just had a horrible time here and don’t want someone to make the same mistake. Please DO NOT attend this school.
I know of 3 ladies that graduated from Galen Tampa Bay. All three liked the school and raved about the instructors. In fact, all three were employed and got management jobs in less than a year at local nursing homes. One is a unit manager, the other is an ADON, and the other was also an ADON before moving back to S. Florida. I still wanted to experience the school for myself so I called to set up for a visit. When I got there, I was told that they never got a call from me to tour the school. I specifically gave the name of the admissions rep I talked to (someone above mentioned his name). So I had to wait 40 minutes for someone. Once I finally got to tour the school, I was underwhelmed. I wasn’t really impressed with what they had to offer. And to top it off, the tuition is ridiculous. I already have students loans on deferred and I don’t want to pile on more debt. I’m already an LPN wanting to get my RN but I didn’ want to have to be taking prereqa for 2 years. I’m trying to get it done. But from reading these reviews, I’m gonna be going in another direction far away from Galen.
All I can say is WOW! Are the instructors like that in Texas too?
Former Galen student says: Run very far from Galen!, all the school is interested in taking your money. They tell you a bunch of lies to get you in the door and once you are enrolled in the school they do not give a s**t about you. They will pass who they like and the students they don’t like they will find something to fail you. All Galen I concern about is making extra money by failing you. Dean Roberts is the meanest b***h on wheels, she needs to retire all ready or drop dead. Mrs Brickner acts like she is nice, she is the most cold hearted b***h around, will stab you in the back with a smile on her face. Ms.Charron is a bipolar b***h that needs attention. As far as financial aide watch your money, if you do not keep track of it they will take some from you. This school needs to be shut down, they are con artist. This was the worst experience of my life, would not recommend this school to my worst enemy. If you do not believe what I am saying, just go up to the school and ask present students.
My experience was fair, but you have to remember it is nursing school. Deal with it. The real world doesn’t stop just to deal with your needs. I failed twice, took one class over then took a CPE, and failed. The teaching staff, I fought hard to find a good quality to focus on, but some were better than others. I appreciated the “nazism” because now I am at a real school and all that discipline has paid off. Please review all the comments and make your own decision. BTW the nurse conselor I went to talk to – mainly just sound off, wrote a prescription for me that addressed “depression”. When I needed a new prescription, I went to my doctor and he took me of the depression medicaiton and put me back on hypothyroid meds. World of difference. I would trust my own doctor – just suggestion.
GALEN COLLEGE OF NURSING IN SAN ANTONIO TX needs to be closed down!!! Don’t waste your time with them.
First let me start off by saying they sell you this big ass dream. They have a entrance test that is easy as s**t. My fellow students in my class got curved by sometimes 20 points. They curved who they wanted too. I missed a test and couldn’t make it up due to being two minutes late. I took a makeup test for the same class which was easy as hell and the teacher gave me this crazy ass grade. It’s all crammed in don’t go to this school if you have a life. They claim it makes you a better nurse it doesn’t and half of my classmates aren’t going to make it in this school it’s sad to say. We just wasted almost all of our money on a dumb school that could give a rats ass about us!!!!
I attended it for my LPN and my RN education.I was an active member in the NSNA,as well as,the student advisory board.I also was in a study group and spent alot of time in the library.You have to study to make it through this school.I do agree with the comment about that getting in touch with the faculty is a problem. I also agree that the finacial aid department has a problem too. I reported this problem to corporate,while I was attending Galen. The major problem I have had since I graduated I haven’t been able to get a job in Florida.
I am completely mortified, as I too am was looking to attend Gaylen in Louisville, KY. I totally am turned off and I have heard its a great school and it sucks. I have a question though; What does finacial aid cover and what doesn’t it cover? Because nobody has a shitload of money to pay these a******s to teach us a bunch of bullshit. And I also want to know once you get in what you need like immunization records,CPR, CNA, what….
Now I won’t go there. Make sure you file formal complaints with the state board of nursing so they can recommend revoking their charter to teach nursing.
One of the instructors is the one who informed me of the review site.
well i was considering going to galen but after checking out all this reviews HELL TO THE NO!!!.. its amazing how many people has had such bad experienced at this school.. and i ask my self… does the president of the school read this reviews???? does someone working at galen read this reviews??..
mrs. kirk was worth the money i paid to go to this school. everything else you read is still true as of 2/1/2012. the school is always changing their policy and the agreement you sign when you start school doesnt hold up if they change the policy. i would advise anyone to go to a cheaper school. think about it……… a teacher is a teacher at any school just like a nurse is a nurse from any school. it all depends on how their day is going, how much they like their job, and if they like you as a person. im not a fan of any school, so make your choice carefully
mrs. kirk was worth the money i paid to go to this school. everything else you read is still true as of 2/1/2012. the school is always changing their policy and the agreement you sign when you start school doesnt hold up if they change the policy. i would advise anyone to go to a cheaper school. think about it……… a teacher is a teacher at any school just like a nurse is a nurse from any school. it all depends on how their day is going, how much they like their job, and if they like you as a person. im not a fan of any school, so make your choice carefully
Horrible school with the goal of collecting your school fees. No compasion for what is being taught. No actual teaching for those who are looking to understand the concept of Med-Surg nursing lecture and clinicals. I would never recommend this school!. Dont waste your money or time to ELSEWHERE!!!!
Did I say I HATE GALEN SCHOOL OF NURSING? GO TO SPC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hello fellow current/prospective students,
I am a current student at Galen as well. I was VERY skeptical of this school since the first day I visited. But I was desperate and eager to start nursing school, since I’ve been put on waiting lists at other schools. So, I am giving this school a “trial period.” One quarter and if I don’t like it, I’m out. Here are some things that I’ve noticed…
1. The instructors are not educated to a college level. To be a college professor, one must have a Master’s degree.
2. Not one, but two instructors administered a test without teaching.
3. The A&P instructor said, “20% of this test is material you learn in class.” The funny thing is, he has online students as well. Oddly enough, I missed 20% of the test.
4. The Intro to Professional Nursing instructor gave us a conversion test of 20 questions. He did not teach us how to do any of it. After the test was collected he said, “If you put a zero in front of the decimal, or a zero after, it’s wrong.” We all had no idea and majority failed.
5. The computer instructor (for the online students) gives us no direction on what to do on assignments, or number of discussions required. Just makes up a grade for the end of the week.
6. I have emailed instructors questions with no response.
7. This school is NOT ACCREDITED. They have been saying, “it’s in the process for years.”
8. I met someone in class where he needed financial assistance (with books) and they gave him nothing. Even though the guidance counselor stressed to us how much they will be here for us.
From what I have seen here so far, there is no way I will be attending this institution next semester. Notice how I keep saying, institution and instructors. This school is not a college and the people here are not teachers. With Galen, they excel at the outside presentation. Beautiful building, new tvs (in the office),radio ads with positivity radiating from it. But when you walk into the back and into the classrooms it’s suddenly not so glamorous. I knew I should of followed my guy instincts not to come here. I have zero school pride for Galen. I embarrassed to even say I attend this school. When people ask me, “Where do you go to nursing school?” I say, “ahhh.. St. Pete!” Also, I feel like the instructors, faculty and even some of the students are drones. This may sound funny, but I feel like I’m in a twilight zone here. And refuse to eat the food, for I may turn into one of them! (I feel like a character in Shutter Island) — This school has turned me off academically. For a person to pass this ‘hodgepodge’ of a nursing program, kudos to them. But it’s not real, it’s a scam and I will be reporting them to the Better Business Bureau.
PS, with that whole 5-star rating system, if they had an option of zero stars, I would have chosen that.
PSS, I would like to inform anyone reading this, I am not a bitter, unruly, lazy college student. I have two bachelors from USF and I understand what hard work is and a system that is set up for failure. Galen is set up for failure. Disregard the impressive pass rates, that is a lie too.
I too attend Galen in St. Petersburg Fl, and will tell you first hand it absolutely sucks. I got my LPN here and unfortunately stayed here for my RN as well. I have nothing good to say about the school. There are a few genuine instructors, Kirk, Grecco, and the Micro instructor. Financial aid, admissions, the registrar, Dean Roberts and Ms. Brickner the RN program director, are a total joke. Nobody returns e-mails or phone calls at this school. I have waited as long as 3 weeks to speak to Ms. Brickner about a course question, and she then referred me to Mr. Doody the Registrar for another week. When I got word back from him, he said it was Brickner to make a ruling on the question I had, and by that time, a month had gone by and it was too late. Galen believes in the ignore tactic, hoping you as the student will get fed up and drop whatever your concern may be. I also believe in the ignore tactic when my tuition is due, and it is absolutely AMAZING how many phone calls a student gets when Galen wants money. They can’t pick up the phone to return your phone call in your time of need, but when money is due, that want payment immediately. Most of the staff at Galen are completely burned out, and go there to collect a check. The hearing impaired librarian is a completely mean BITC_. She is beyond rude to anyone asking her a question. Ms. Sword (that does something) in the front office is another rude person. She is an instigator and stirs the pot when it comes to student relations. I saw a few students standing at the front desk talking to the receptionist about seeing available instructors, and Ms. Sword kept running up front looking at the students, and then telling instructors they were being too loud getting the students scolded like 4th graders. Galen is a lot like 4th grade come to think of it. They have signs in the hall ways saying students must adhere to dress codes, and not wear sandals etc. Galen is so caught up in stupid stuff like peoples sandals, they let education fly right out the window. I tell people every opportunity I get not to come to Galen because it is a joke. The school would have potential if they would get rid of the burnouts starting from the top. These would include the Dean, Brickner, Doody, Financial Aid, Admissions, and about 80% of the instructors. When a student has a problem, they are told to contact corporate! WTF is that? I was under the assumption that a school solved it’s own problems in house! This is the only school I have attended where there is talk of corporate! Galen is by far a business, and a school lastly. STAY AWAY FROM GALEN AT ALL COSTS, and do get everything they tell you in writing. Had I done this, I would have saved a ton of money in credits they told me were going to transfer in, and the last second told me no. Incompitence is rampant starting with Dean Roberts, and trickling right on down to the instructors. One last thing, the Lab with mannequins sucks too. Lab for the most part with the exception of Mrs. Anderson is ran terribly bad. There is no continuity with anything they teach. They tell you to do things one way one day, and something different every other time after that. It gets pretty confusing when calculating math problems and you are told to round math to the hundreds one day, the tenths the next, and the thousandths the day after that. People I know failed because of this and had to stand before the Dean and plead their case. Every single one of them ended up repeating because the Galen staff scratch each others backs, and have an F-U attitude toward the students. My friend was told by the Dean, “if you don’t like it here, you can leave”. Stay away from Galen is my message, and will spread that message long after I am done with this terrible school.
I agree with most of you people. Maybe not as rudely. I started Galen in Nov.09. Dr.Betty Holte was the best thing to happen to that school and SHE QUIT! I had her until Adult 3. I wouldn\’t of made it without her teaching. I got my lpn license in July 2011 and have yet to find work as a lpn. Not even PRN work. Lpn\’s are being phased out and if you don\’t have experience as a lpn you aren\’t going to get a job. The entire financial aid dept at Galen is a joke. Read every sentence on your paperwork. I did read it but just know Galen can give you the education but they can\’t guarantee you employment. The RN program I was warned by Galen instructors themselves not to waste my money on because it\’s not NLN accred. If your i ln the LPN program now my advice is get a PCT job at a Hospital and get into a RN program ASAP. IF I COULD RE-DO THE LAST 2YRS OF MY LIFE…I WOULDN\’T OF GONE TO GALEN. $17,000 LPN but don\’t forget interest if you have student loans. Also your end of school loan exit counseling…add about a $100 to their \”estimation.\”
I’ve been reading this site for months now trying to remain neutral and stay out of it all, but it is time for me to comment. I am in Qtr 5 RN, and have wittnessed some shady s**t. A lot of my classmates have failed because of the stupid exit Hesi at Galen in St. Pete/Tampa. These were good students who were washed out for some piece of s**t test that does nothing more than set you as the student up for failure. They(Instructors) say that the Hesi is a tool to help determine if you have a shot a passing the board or not. This is complete and utter BULLSHIT and couldn\’t be farther from the truth…The Hesi at Galen is strictly designed and administered to help boost Galen\’s graduation rate, and displays the number of students that can sit for boards for the first time. Galen does not want people to be able to sit for boards and possibly tarnish the schools pass rate. This is BULSHIT because if a student pays 24,000 dollars and passes all of their courses in school, they DESERVE a chance at taking boards. Galen is NOTHING but a lying, thieving, decieving school concerned only with taking students money. They make ENORMOUS ammounts of profit on people having to re-take classes that they fail. In the RN program, 74% is the lowest score one can recieve and pass. In quarter 5, some of my classmates were failed because they wer 73.89, and 73.95% Some of these students wer staraight A students until quarter 5…What does this tell you? There is a major disconnect between Galen and quarter 5. I am luckily graduating, and PROMISE to uphold my work in NEVER EVER recommending this TERRIBLE school to anyone. Nursing school is absolutely hard no doubt, but when a school stacks the deck against you around every corner setting you up for failure on purpose, there is something seriously wrong with that. The Dean, Mr. Doody, and most of the staff are FUCKING LIARS…With the exception of 5-7 instructors, they do not care about the students…Ironically, the 5-7 instructors that do care are comprised of instructors whom are not nurses…Imagine that, non-nurse instructors caring about nursing students more than actuall nurses…Speaks volumes wouldn\’t you agree? Nurses do in fact eat their own, and it is COMPLETELY EVIDENT at Galen starting from the top of the Galen ladder. All of the Galen CEO\’s/top execs are not nurses…they employ OLD burnt out nurses in hopes that they having so much experience will be able to run a school and be compassionate to student, but the actual effect is quite opposite. The dean of Tampa Galen, Sharon Roberts, fits this profile to a T. She is the biggest liar at Galen. She hires only her minions to carry out her orders of corruption. It is my experience she will lie to your face in the blink of an eye, and turn right around and lie again to defend the first lie. They all scratch one anothers backs even when they are wrong. I have managed to fair O.K. in this because I get everything anyone says in writing…This was a hard lesson learned from LPN. So in closing, Galen is terrible and I would not void on most instructors at Galen if they were on fire…In fact, if I saw Sharon Roberts on fire, I would want to gladly invest 3.50 for a gallon of gas if you get my drift! DO NOT COME TO GALEN…EVER
I was a sucker to waste my money at this strictly for profit hell hole. Nothing but burned out nurses who cant hack it in the field anymore trying to teach..your education consists of endless, boring lectures…power points…and inconsistent answers. Its expensive and not accredited. Financial aid is useless. Doody is indeed a dick. He promises to transfer your credits, but rennigs. The dean is a useless, uncompromising, unapproachable tuna muncher. There is a handful of staff and teachers who care, but thats about it. As the reviews above say…run and dont be a sucker.,
don’t bother coming to this school. you will be sad you wasted your money. you will be paying a monthly student loan fee of $300 dollars a month. and then you cannot go to SPC, USF or any other well know colleges. you have to go to grand canyon and pay tons of money….the instructors suck.
GO SOMEWHERE ELSE YOUR JUST A NUMBER!!! THATS how much can they get from you.
I’m checking out Galen tomorrow. After reading these very HILARIOUS comments I just wanna see what everyone is talking about. I’ve talked to 4 schools and so far Ultimate Medical Academy seems to be the best private school, thus far, despite the corny name. They answered all of my questions and no BS, like the other schools. Kaiser wouldn’t answer my basic questions, but I have to go to some info session (not going) and Concorde’s admissions rep couldn’t send an email if his life depended on it or tell where I can access a course catalog for the nursing program. If there are any other schools that are well respected in nursing in the tampa area, please let me know. Everest’s called my cell 6 times today, literally. After that, not interested.
Wow…. there are some serious issues with this school. I am glad you all posted all your troubles with Galen. I will not be recommending this school to anybody.
This school is a joke. Not accredited. Looks nice, but instructors are just burned out nurses that can’t hack it in the field no more. Dean is a crusty troll. Doody is a dick. His wife rides a broomstick to work. Admissions lies. This shcool is not accreditted. Go to SPC. Save yourself the money and time.
THANKS FOR THE WARNINGS!! I WILL TAKE HEED AND NOT ATTEND THIS SCHOOL. IT WILL SAVE ME A LOT OF MONEY & PAIN!! I WILL GO ELSEWHERE….I KNEW IT THE MOMENT I WALKED INTO THE FRONT OFFICE…
I just graduated from Galen with my RN a week ago. To all reading this site, the majority of the information is COMPLETELY ACCURATE. Even though I passed LPN and RN, the program itself was pretty crappy and disorganized. It is possible to be sucessful if you ignore all the bullshit, lies, and inconsistencies of Galen. By inconsistencies, I am mostly referring to the instructors. I swear, one instructor tells you one thing, and another instructor tells you something different on a DAILY basis. The CPE’s are also a source of confusion as well. Lab instructors in particular are the worst at delivering accurate and non-contradicting information. It has gotten so bad with all of their mis-information and failing people, that they no longer allow students to video record them doing the exact procedures they want the students to remember for fear of retaliation/complaints when they fail the students. I have never understood how students are expected to do things the “Galen Way” when the instructors themselves can’t even do it appropriately?!?! Oh well I guess, nothing will ever change at that school, and I am sooooooooo glad to finally be done with it. If I had any other choice of going elsewhere, I would have done it immediately and not thought twice about it. Galen is for students like myself. It is for people with credits that are too old to transer, people that are fed up with waiting lists at HCC, St. Pete College, etc; that want to get in and out without waiting anymore. While you are there, you have to tune out all of the nonsense that goes on daily just to keep your sanity, or it will get the best of you. I too had “TERRIBLE” experiences with the Dean, front office (financial aid, admissions, the registrar (Mr. Dick Head Doody etc). 98% of the people with titles such as those named are completely igrorant, and lie incessantly just to get you in the front door. Mr. Doody and all of the admissions representatives are completely incompitent with the exception of Dawn Firedline. She is the glue that holds Galen together. The CEO of Galen should fire everyone in charge especially the Dean, and promote Dawn because she is the only one that cares in that school. If you have a question that needs answered by anyone in admissions, the Dean, the registrar Mr. Doody, or anyone else in the front office, you may as well forget it. They DO NOT return phone calls or emails AT ALL. However, when your bill is due, you get absolutely HARASSED by them until you pay it. I personally get gratification from this by waiting until the last possible second to pay my tuition as some sort of rebellion. I mean come on, none of you can answer a f-ing phone call or e-mail in a timely manner, but you seem to be able to find my phone number when you want my money!!! F**K YOU GALEN!!!! I too have to point out that not everyone on this site is a person that has failed or couldn’t cut the mustard. I passed just fine, and I believe 100% that this school is complete s**t…I swear, the people who write positive comments on this site are the instructors that are trying to save face! lol If you decide to come to Galen, get EVERYTHING in wrtiting, and for god sakes, talk to current students that are attending now. Don’t just read the reviews on here, do some actual research by going there and speaking to students. Don’t go there and take the “propaganda tour” give exclusively by liars, talk to the students in the trenches. I’m quite sure then, and only then, you will get the true sense of Galen, and what it’s all about. Good luck to all considering the school, and to Galen, Dean Roberts and Mr. Doody, F**K YOU…………Peace
This school does blow! Even though I graduated from LPN Program and now currently in 3rd quarter RN, the whole school is a joke and very unorganized! Financial aid sucks, they screw everything up and bill you for an arm and a leg. You do learn alot which helped me passed the boards for LPN but my experience here has been nothing but crap!
My name is Lindsey and was a prospective student who visited the St. Pete campus on 7/14/2011, and was not impressed. I was supposed to have a “tour” with Ernest from admissions, but he was 45 mins late and I had to sit in the front office listening and watching. In that time I observed 20-30 students coming to the front desk to speak with various instructors and office personell and most often, were told that there concerns couldn’t be met at that time. It seemed financial aid was a hot topic that most students left upset about, and who also verbalized could never get a hold of, or return calls for weeks. Mr. Doody was another staff member who never got back to students either. So in sitting there waiting for Ernest, I took the advice of several students on this thread and roamed the halls speaking to various students in the cafeteria and hallways. The general consensus by 90% of the students that I spoke with advised me to try every other school first, and then come to Galen as a last resort. My question is, if this school is so good, and the only people who supposedly write bad reviews on this thread are past dropouts/failures, why do most currently enrolled students have nothing good to say about the school? I was also advised by a faculty member named Mrs. Kirby to try to go elsewhere so that I will be able to get my credits transfered, because Galens credits don’t transfer. This struck me as odd, because I was told over the phone by Ernest and Dawn in admissions that all of my previous credits would transfer into Galen, and out of Galen once I graduated. I’m here to say, that is absolutely not the case according the the Florida Board of Education Regulatory Services. They informed me that Galen’s credits do not transfer to USF or any other four year school because Galen is not accredited, nor will it be in the forseeable future. The board advised me to go to a “reputable school” not under investigation as Galen apparently is? They told me Galen is an LPN tech school with an average passing rate for boards. They said that Galen does not have a 95% passing rate on boards, because they do not calculate the pass rate correctly. Galen does not factor in how many students who do not take the board exam, or who fail the last quarter of school and are “eligable” to sit for the exam, so the pass rate is fabricated? So once Ernest arrived, I took the tour and he pointed out great things about the campus such as the library (which wasn’t so great, and the cafeteria). I guess Ernest believes the cafeteria is a selling point of Galen? He also pointed out a group of studying students who he said he admitted, and they loved Galen. Ironically, these were also a group of students I talked to while waiting for him, and they told me to go to a different school as well. So, I guess I will follow my gut instinct and not attend Galen because I feel like as a prospective student, they DO tell you what you want to hear. They will not put anything in writing as far as credits transfering in, and they build up what the school really is. I am glad to say that I found out all of this out by Ernest in admissions being late to his own appointment, and me getting a chance to chat with currently enrolled students. If anyone is interested in attending Galen, I strongly advise you to speak with the currently enrolled students at lunch time in the cafeteria, and when it comes time for Galen to back up what they say, have them put it in writing, because they will not. This act alone is shady at best, and needs to be questioned. Shame on Galen.
Galen is S**T. When you go on from the LPN to RN program, it’s even more disorganized than the LPN (as if it could get worse). You get absolutely NO time to practice CPE in the “SKILLS LAB”. Isn’t that what the name “skills lab” infers? Not lecture lab…Not I’m going to talk to you about everything other than what you need to be doing lab…Not we’re burned out nurses so we’re teaching at a shitty college lab…FUCKING SKILLS LAB….The instructors in lab Mrs T and Mrs W “seem” to know their stuff, but they are TERRIBLE teachers following an equally terrible teaching plan, which is specifically designed to fail your ass, and get your money on the re-do. Oh, and be prepared for the s**t hole Galen to milk every last fucking cent out of your pockets by taking stupid classes like nursing informatics, and literature. What the F**K do spreadsheets and e-portfolios and powerpoint presentations, have to do with becoming an RN? And PLEASE explain to me why I have to read TO KILL A MOCKING BIRD AND OTHELLO…I’ll answer that, because Galen is FUCKING GREEDY and only cares about making money…GALEN, BE SWALLOWED BY A BLACK HOLE (or the dean’s fat ass) ALONG WITH MOST OF THE STAFF ALONG WITH THAT FUCKING FAT ASS DEAN ROBERTS YOU PIECE OF S**T “SCHOOL”…and by the term school, I use that VERY loosely. So anyone reading this, do your homework cand stay far far away, because this place is fucking rat-filth, and managed by the stupidest of fucking LIARS starting at the top…AKA DEAN FAT ASS ROBERTS……………..
Can anyone tell me why the deaf librarian at Galen in St. Petersburg FL campus is so F-ing mean??? Holy crap! I’ve dealt with menopausal / angry single mom’s who should’ve kept their legs closed man haters / bitchy ass wining women, my WHOLE time at Galen, but I have never met a bigger B***H than the deaf librarian! Helen Keller was both DEAF & BLIND, and was a pleasant women to be around. You miss Deaf Librarian Nazi Book Whore, get a life, and change your F-ing Vibrator Batteries…Oh, and one more thing, quit telling people to be quiet in the Library when YOU CAN’T EVEN F-ING HEAR!!!!! BIATCH
I was a potential student looking into galen, until reading these reviews anyways, and just wanted to make a comment on something I found interesting. I was most concerned with the fact that this school is not accredited through the NLNAC nursing boards? This bothered me. So I called the Board and ask them how going to a school that is not accredited through this organization would affect me in the work force or in furthering my education, here is what was reported. Don’t Do It! Going to a school that is not accredited through NLNAC could cause you problems with job placement, as most employers now require you to have gone to a school accredited through the NLNAC. Along with if you wanted to further your education most accredited institutes will not accept transfer credits from non accredited institutes. Well need I say more, this is the point right? to get a job! Don’t believe me, call this number 404-975-5000. this is the number to the NLNAC certification boards. Ask the first person who answers any questions regarding the issues I’ve mentioned above and see if you don’t get an exact response as I’ve mentioned.
Thanks for all the feedback folks!
Not getting my money Galen!
WOW!!!
LPN-to-be
Damn Dajavue, that is pretty depressing! I guess being a TERRIBLE institution is a part of ALL Galen nursing schools! The mission statement in Tampa should be, ” We are here to steal your money, and look for a way to fail you to get more of your money”! I agree with mostly all of the other posts on this site. I have been a Galen student for a whole year, and am continuning for my RN. I want to KILL MYSELF for staying there, but unfortunately I have NO OTHER OPTIONS. The Tampa camupus is worse than broken glass up your a*****e! I don’t know what that feels like, but I would choose that over coming into Galen as a new student! Some of the instructors are decent, but some are tyrannical fossils who care nothing about the students and are burn outs who can’t hack it in the field. I agree completely with the Donahue comments…I would not pee on Donahue if she were on fire…She is mean spirited, fake, and completely heartless. She plays the role of a bible thumping b***h, but I know she probably goes to the pound to smash puppies with hammers…HORRIBLE instructor as well, who can’t spell to save her life…Amazing standards for what the school hires for instructors. The front office of the Tampa school is nothing but lying degenerates who have no clue how to so their jobs. Dawn F is the ONLY person in the front office with any compassion and or a pulse above their ears. The Dean is the biggest (literally) disgusting piece of s**t in the school. She rules her hell (Galen) with an iron fist, or more appropriately, iron cane that she hobbles around on. She promises you the world, but when it comes time for her to anty up, she renigs on what she promises. These douche bags will lie to your face saying your credits from other 4 year institutions will transfer, and then they don’t honor it to suck more of your money out of your pockets…At graduation the Dean didn’t even crack a smile or hardly congratulate the graduating classes. She hobbled her FAT CAVE TROLL ASS up to the podium and talked in her mono-tone voice for 2 mins about god knows what? I hope the president of all Galen’s looks at this web-site, because this is soooo the way the Tampa campus is. I would be appauled if I were the CEO of Galen. The school would have potential if they would overhaul the Dean, front office, Mr. Dick Sucker Doody, and half of the staff. Oh yeah, and to the staff of Galen if you read this, Male students don’t appreciate the nursing field being referred to all the time in the feminist context…IE NURSES ARE ALL she/her. Over the years nursing has been predominantly a womans field I acknowledge, but times have changes you SEXIST FUCKING DINOSAURS…So in short, all who are considering coming to Tampa Galen, STAY AWAY…GO SOMEWHERE ELSE…I am a student here, and will NEVER recommend this school to anyone…EVER….F**k Tampa Galen, I’m out!!!
Actually I looking for a way to get the word out about Galen College in Louisville, KY. Could not find a better way than to say it is a carbon copy of the one in Tampa. OMG! There is more than one. I just wonder if your instructors are as fat and lazy as the ones in Louisville?
I’m going to be graduating soon so my name isn’t going on here and neither is my email. Galen is horrible. Donahue has nothing better to do with her time. She is so heartless and is looking to fail students. That is no joke. I think its because she has no kids and is trying to make her life better by teaching MI and PEDS. Might be wrong, but shes the worst instructer there by far.
On another note, since the vary start I have studied about 3-4 hours a night, after class ends. You pretty much have to do that to pass any class. And the person above me is 100% right. Only SOME of the students will get a curve–ask other students if you dont believe me. A stduent needs to be “to their liking” for them to “decide” to pass you. And thats correct. I have seen too many people get kicked out due to conflicting personalities. and I dont mean the student is bad, I just mean if you don’t kiss a$$, goodluck. I graduate next quarter then I am moving somewhere else for my RN. NO WAY WOULD I COME BACK HERE.
This is probably one of the least professional setting I’ve ever seen. I am a current student(almost done!)and I am so DISSAPOINTED with the proffesors and the school as a whole. I get along with a few of the intructors there and sometimes they are out smoking they talk about the students and it feels so unnecessary. I do agree, there are rules that should be followed for the benefit of all the students, but I believe that if you’re gonna be harsh, be harsh to everyone equally. Don’t let your personal opinions of the students influence how you treat them in the classroom setting. Its highly unproffeccional, and not only that but the students there make so many unbelievable sacrifices just to be able to go there. Every single student there wants nothing more than the opportunity to better themselves, and the teachers make it so that you almost need to be “to their liking” before they “decide” if you’re to keep moving forward.
Have to agree. I graduated but no work. Insructors dont teach. Favortism big time. Cant get emails answered or return phone calls. STAYAWAY!! Had student in my class should have been kicked out first quarter for fighting at clinic and same student had altrications every quarter yet nothing was ever done. She graduated. School makes rules as they feel, when they feel.
Do yourself a favor and drive past Galen. They are NOT what they say.
The person above wouldn’t go here because he/she can’t spell, or us proper punctuation. Oh yeah, GALEN SUCKS THE SWEAT OFF A DEAD MAN’S BALLS….
Dont Go near this school! Run away and Dont look Back! Faculty lies and are only interested in making you enroll for your money! The teachers don’t know how to teach. Mrs. Bake is boring and Reads right From the book also treats you like your five.
I agree with you completely on all things mentioned Galen Grad To Be!Especially the fact that Katerina B is a crazy BIPOLAR FAT ASS B***H!!!See you at PEMS soon Kat, you f-ing nut job!!! LOL
Thank the lord I am FINALLY done with this CRAPPY SCHOOL. Peace out, and and Katerina B, you are a FAT CRAZY B***h……………
3rd quarter here…. I haven’t studied one bit and I have made it to thirsd quarter… mostly in part due to the curve system. Why buy books when the instructors teach through powerpoint hand outs and boring lectures which are not even their own creation. What total lack of concern for the student. They try to enforce made up policies which they say are in the Handbook but they can not reproduce this material. MI and Pediatrics instructor is a total B. She has no control over the class or her clinical instructors. The program I cannot rate as a whole because it is only a fraction of a program. They have such a high pass rate of the boards because one thing they do good is teach you how to take a test. The first class you have they make you buy a book on test taking which sets you up for a whole world of passing tests you know nothing about b/c they HAVEN’T TAUGHT YOU A DAMN THING. If I graduate, if mainly in part b/c I speak up and don’t back down and cower, I will take this to the media and to the COE. I hope they never get their RN accreditation we would have a bunch of idiot nurses running around the US making more stupid mistakes b/c the institution that enforces scopes in your pockets forgot one vital thing….. TEACHING THE STUDENT…………
To all students looking at this, “WE” can’t get all of you in CPE’s, but it is our MISSION to get a large majority of you. See you in class!
Sincerely,
The Faculty
Research says————-you are a FAG……………..
I’m an attorney, currently my niece is a student at this school. She has been an “A” student her entire life. She is now directly enduring and being affected by this negative experience at this time. She is observing and watching events unfold; in addition gaining knowledge of the unethical, unprofessional and favoritism of seeing undeserving students pushed through. The faculty is conscious of the event’s that partake in holding a students future and life in their hands.
Students Legal Rights Most faculty do not realize that they are personally liable if their instructional methods or techniques deny a student any of the constitutional rights. As faculty as a public institution of higher education, your liability and your responsibility is much different than your colleagues. Your legal liability is not determined by the University of Washington, but rather by the federal court’s interpretation of constitutional law. In particular you should be aware of legal implications associated with: Accusing students of academic misconduct Grading content versus behavior Students’ right to due process Providing access to instruction for students with disabilities Family Education Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA). Grading Issues Related to Conduct You do NOT have the right to: grade a student based on his or her behavior alone. Grading on Mastery of Content vs. Conduct Many due process cases do involve the question of fair procedures or procedural due process. However, question of legal fairness may be related not only to procedures, but also to legislation that unfairly affects people. As a result, courts in the U.S. have interpreted the language of these Amendments as a limitation on substantive powers of legislatures to pass laws affecting various aspects of life. When applying what is called substantive due process, courts look at whether a law or government action unreasonably infringes on a fundamental liberty. Good Day
Students’ Legal Rights
Most faculty do not realize that they are personally liable if their instructional methods or techniques deny a student any of the constitutional rights. As faculty as a public institution of higher education, your liability and your responsibility is much different than your colleagues. Your legal liability is not determined by the University of Washington, but rather by the federal court’s interpretation of constitutional law.
In particular you should be aware of legal implications associated with:
Accusing students of academic misconduct
Grading content versus behavior
Students’ right to due process
Providing access to instruction for students with disabilities
Family Education Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA).
Grading Issues Related to Conduct
You do NOT have the right to:
grade a student based on his or her behavior alone.
Grading on Mastery of Content vs. Conduct
Many due process cases do involve the question of fair procedures or procedural due process. However, question of legal fairness may be related not only to procedures, but also to legislation that unfairly affects people. As a result, courts in the U.S. have interpreted the language of these Amendments as a limitation on substantive powers of legislatures to pass laws affecting various aspects of life. When applying what is called substantive due process, courts look at whether a law or government action unreasonably infringes on a fundamental liberty.
Good Day
I am on President’s List and this school makes me want to jump ship everyday. It is not fair and the best advice I was given by students who made it through was to “keep your mouth shut”. I have to agree with those words. They are selective in who they help and clinical instruction has been very poor. You can only fail one course (I haven’t failed any) and it is soooo easy to fail a CPE (clinical performance exam) or have life happen and need to be absent.
I wish I had known then what I know now that I am in. They make their $ in how many students they get in the door. Once they’ve got you, they don’t care if you are there or not and will just get other students.
It’s sad.
I actually googled Galen so I could figure out how to sign up. I had a packet and realized that SPC just wasn’t for me. Then this came up. I am totally turned off from this school now. Things happen in life that you cannot help. I can’t just give up 2 – 2 1/2 years of my life busting my ass and ignoring life. I am definitely looking for another school who takes that into account.
I’m so glad to hear that I was not the only one who was treated in an awful manner. All they cared about was profit! I didn’t pass the second part by less than 1/2 a point not even a whole! During my time there, a Clinical Instructor quit and advised me to go to a real school where there was equality.
I’m a student at SPC. I graduate in Dec with from their ADN program. When I first decided to be a nurse I also chose Galen. They sold me on the no wait list. I left within the first month–cancelled my loans before writing my letter to that nasty director. I didn\’t care at that point. Waitlist whatever. 3.6 GPA and up only acceppted at SPC—fine. I spent about a year doing pre reqs, ended up with a 3.9. Got into SPC right away. I\’ll graduate with NO loans and a degree from a school accredited by the NLN. The only thing that turned me away from Galen was the absolute rude and unprofessional behavior I saw within that first month. I was never treated badly, but witnessed it daily. I wouldn\’t recommend that school to my worst enemy. If you\’re just starting-you CAN get out…just do it quick
I too experience a whole lot of bad s**t at Galen. 98% of the bad is true on here, 2% of the good is true. The best story I can share in my career, is one of my favorite doctors at the hospital where I work. Galen students came to the hospital for clinicals and were doing their thing. One of the doctors overheard the instructor telling the students completely wron information. He pulled me aside later in the day and said, ” Bill…What the F**k IS AWIPE”? I laughed my ass off and proceded to tell him. He then looked at me, and in all sincerity said, ” That’s the dumbest thing I’ve EVER heard”! I said, yep….well you oughta see how the rest of the school is taught!!!! LOL Good luck to ANYONE risks there asses to attend Galen Boot Camp For Nurses!
To Current LPN Student,
You are so absolutely right in saying that everybody has an “opinion”. However, MY OPINION, is that your opinion is completely inaccurate! Of course you having the greatest time of your life now, Nutting is the man, and if you just simply show up, you pass! How anyone can flunk out of 1st quarter LPN is a complete mystery to me? Tests are graded on curves, and if you happen to get a 50% on a test, the current grade is an 85%! LOL I would venture to be my RN License, that your OPINION drastically changes the second you encounter DEMON Linda Donahue, and Satan Mrs. Massie! I am an LPN Galen grad (Longest, most backward, mis-informed, most expensive, harder than it needed to be, most full of BULL S**T, lie to your face, year of my life), and the best thing I EVER did is leave that crappy school for my RN. So before you go and say everything is peachy, and that ALL NEGATIVE comments were written by “Students who didn’t manage their time, or put in the effort”, let’s get the facts straight.
I am glad that you are having a great year, and I hope you continue to do so and have success both at Galen and in your career. Me personally, being that I can only write from the heart and from what I witnessed with my own eyes, have to add to the negativity side of the comments here. I too was blatantly LIED to in admissions. They ABSOLUTELY lied to my face saying, “GALEN IS NATIONALLY ACCREDITED”…BULLSHIT…….That is the reason I went to a different school for my RN. If you ask the management at Galen about the accreditation, no one, especially the BEAVER MUNCHING Dean, has a clear answer…..Oh yeah, my experience with financial aid as well was a F-ing JOKE!!! Nancy who got fired for embezzlement of Galen tuition funds was a Nazi WHORE. It’s my experience as well that the front office people are completely angry, and should be clubbed repeatedly with erect elephant penises, especially that old SKANK Pat with glasses and short hair…. What is her job really? She should be bronzed and placed on the second floor of the parking garage (that no student can park on, but is expected to pay for in tuition dollars as an F-ING GARGOYLE to scare off would be parkers!!! Can anyone please tell me why there is a sign in the hall way saying that anyone parking on the second and 1st floor will be towed and kicked out of school? WHAT DOES IT HURT? I recently went back to the underworld (GALEN) for a copy of my LPN transcripts, and saw a new note in the hall. Anyone not adhering to dress code will be sent home, and NO SANDALS! DRESS CODE? People pay 17,000 a year to attend this S**T HOLE, and Galen is talking about sandals? Heres a thought BEAVER MUNCHING DEAN….Lets try not to worry about things suck as parking garage bandits, and people who wear sandals, and try to live up to what you promise all SUCKERS who enter the front office…That is a Nationally accredited education, state of the art equipment, top notch instructors (not angry, burned out of nursing, can’t hack it in the field, I eat small children)OGRE’s! Oh yeah, and if I hear one more F-ING Galen commercial on the radio, I am liable to projectile vomit. Wonder where your tuition dollars go? ADVERTISING, and in the Deans pocket!
Well, that’s my rant! Completely HONEST, from the heart, from a person who suffered in the trenches of hell know as Galen Boot Camp. If you are considering attending the school, do your homework first, TALK TO STUDENTS IN THE HALL WAYS, GET EVERYTHING THEY SAY IN WRITING…..It will maybe save you a whole lot of money, and one hell of a headache! GALEN BLOWS….I’m Out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ive been at this school since 2009 for LPN and continued through for my RN. KAY SEYMOURE the financial aid person for RN is the WORST! LET ME TELL YOU IF U WANT AN APPOINTMENT WITH KAY, GO TO THE SMOKE AREA AND THATS WHERE SHE WILL BE. THEY SHOULD HAVE A PHONE PLACED THERE SO SHE CAN CONDUCT HER BUISNESS. SHE DOES NOT RESPOND TO PHONECALLS, SHE WRITES IMPORTANT FINANICAL INFORMATION WITH A PENCIL. FORGET IT IF YOU ARE A VET AND ARE ON THE POST 9-11 GI BILL. SHE DELAYS WITH THE VERIFICATION AND THEN YOU GET DELAYED GETTING PAID! SHE NEEDS TO RETIRE AND SMOKE HER LIFE AWAY SOMEWHERE ELSE. I CAN KEEP GOING AND GOING ABOUT HOW AWFUL THIS SCHOOL IS. THE ONLY REASON IM GOING THERE IS TO GET MY RN ASAP AND GET THE HELL OUT OF THERE! DONT WASTE YOUR TIME WITH THIS SCHOOL. THE INSTRUCTORS ARE VERY “CLICKY” AND BIRDS OF A FEATHER FLOCK TOGETHER. DONT WASTE YOUR TIME, MONEY, ENERGY AT THIS PLACE! TAKE IT FROM ME, IM STILL A CURRENT STUDENT THERE AND I CANNOT WAIT TO GRADUATE!
So I have read every comment left. and WOW, I don’t know if Im happy I read it or angry at myself. Before reading I was sure this was where i was going, But with so many people basically saying the same thing, I will seriously have to reconsider.
I am already enrolled in an LPN program in Albany NY , and every one is just so nice and helpful, my tuition was 1100.00 total. and my credits are accepted by other colleges. This is sad. I cant stay , and must move to florida, with my family in tow. So this means I haveto work!, but I have dedicated so much time of research, and now i may have to start from acratch. As for the racist thing, well that does kinda worry me, I am indian and truly have not had to deal with that. But nursing is my love and it is my goal to go to school and succeed. Im not 100% sure yhet what I will do, but I will keep looking.
F**k all these bitches! I’m the man around here and they can all suck my dick!
If I decide not to start this month well they be able to collect my fa and loans.
Galen is a for profit technical school. It does not have regional accreditation. You will not be able to work at the VA. You will not be able to transfer your credits to 99% of the schools in this country if you want to continue towards your bachelors. God help you if you fail out. Your credits will be a bunch of expensive nothing and you will have to start over somewhere else. The admissions department will lie to you about this. “We’ll have our accreditation this year” is a line they’ve been saying for about 3 years now. It takes about seven years to achieve accredited status, so you do the math. If you are a young person with options, do not attend Galen. I went because it would take too long for me to get through SPC and I am a bit older than the average student. I need to ramp up my income fast. I was willing to take the hit on credits in order to get my RN as quickly as possible, but it is generally unwise to attend a non-accredited school. I think the quality of some of the education is very good as a whole, but you have to really be informed about the accreditation issue and go in with your eyes wide open. Oh, and they really don’t give a crap about you. I was valedictorian in the LPN program and they spelled my name on my engraved plaque all wrong………what a hoot.
Galen is a S**T HOLE, burn it to the ground…………….
It’s all true. Especially the FACT the the maternal infant instructor HAS A PENIS!!!!!!!!!!! Horrible instructor, terrible person, Wretched human being…
I agree in what Grain Of Salt says in that a person should not read into what people say…HOWEVER, Grain Of Salt assumes that ALL the people who wrote reviews were “spoiled” and bad students. I am STILL a current student at Galen with a 3.5 GPA, and am here to tell you that for the most part, the BAD REVIEWS are spot on…There is WAY too much crap that goes on at this school, and there are some pretty horrible teachers with MASSIVE EGO trips and Bi-Polar personalities. One such teacher would be the Maternal-Infant WITCH who desperately needs some penis…or a penile RESECTION if you will…Sorry to say it, GO SOMEWHERE ELSE, GALEN SUCKS. It’s all about the money for this school…………………..
Wow! and i was really considering Galen for my Nursing education, i am so glad i read the comments… Thank you all for your honesty.
Sincerly, Future LPN/RN
Just so you know. If you fail out of Galen, your credits dont transfer to local community colleges. Your other choices of fast track bridge program schools are a joke. If you dont fail out of Galen, you have limited schools to choose from if you go on for your bachelors. And if you were planning on joining the Army after as an officer, note that the Army does not recognize the degree. Beyond that if youre hoping to land a job at the VA, that’s a no go too. The VA does NOT recognize the degree you get at Galen even though youre a licensed RN. Now thats a slap in the face.
Good luck. Yes, it’s hell. Yes, they treat their students like children. They make you feel like youre a burdon.
ITT has an RN program, no bridge, but RN program. The director there used to run the LPN program or bridge program at Galen. If you want to hear first hand from a professional who knows whats going on behind the scenes at Galen, attend her new student enrollment class. I was quite amused to hear a former employer dish the dirt that I basically already knew. She admits that she left due to the way that the school treated the students and even said that it’s run like a boot camp. And no, not just in strictness, meaning they treat at you like youre a nothing piece of s**t student. Pond scum.
lol….and who’s good in the front office??? Being friendly and professional are two totally different things. And the assistant dean….are you kidding me??? I remember one of the strongest students in my class leaving her office in tears and had to go home for the day after complaining about the lack of wi-fi and constant problems with the copy machine in the library. I guess that’s not important though. I mean why in the hell would students need internet access or a copier, oh wait, because they have 100pages of a power point to print out so they can keep up in class. Im completely amused. At least they have money to run 500 advertisements a day on the radio, and those flat screens look great as they play the galen commercial all day.
It’s all about the money there. Im completely amused by the people who defend Galen, yet bash them at the same time. You all know the place is a stinkin’ joke. Ive yet to meet a happy galen student. The place is a damn rip off. yes, they start with 50 to 60 in the class and graduate 20 people if theyre lucky.
The clinicals are a joke, the teachers are uniformed and have no bussiness in a classroom, the facilty has great bathrooms and a fabulous over priced cafeteria. Galen is a money grubbing bussiness they do not care if you pass or fail. They only care about the money. If you are a person that has a lot of extra money and time laying around. The proffesors ONLY teach from powerpoint and out of the text book. I am someone that cannot learn from powerpoints. They bore the hell out of me. The disrespect that is shown to adult learners is jsut appaling. At our clinical they treated us like we where snotty high school students being forced there by are parents. I am an Adult, I am at school attempting to persue something I do not need to be talked to like this.If you are like me, a person trying to better your circumstances, then you should definately look elsewhere. Good luck to all those persuing a career, read these posts take a second look and if you see fit then come to Galen, but as someone who is currently enrolled, I advise differently.
I agree with everybody. I just graduated from the PN program at galen. They cram everything as if we are suppose to be competent nurses and remember. The clinicals they have us at dont even let us go the the ER or do much. We were stuck for 3 quarters at same boring non teaching hospital and didnt get to do any hands on. Then everything they teach us is not everything. I took my nclex board exam and half the s**t on their was over diseases that I had never seen or heard of and galen didn\’t teach us. So that made taking the boards even more frustraing. All of this after spending 17,000 not to mention the crapy expensive uniform you have to order from their particular website and the books that arent included in tuition. Then at the graduation, you\’d think all of the money we gave their hungry asses that they would of thrown us a formal dinner or something, anything. NOPE they didn\’t offer us s**t! And all of that passing rate crap they be annoucning for state boards is a lie. By the time you graduate almost all of the student you began with are gone due to failing. and so that is just for advertisment to gain the school more students which equals more money for them.
Oh…I remember that wonderful tour when I was first looking into different LPN programs. And then the new building! How amazing. The flat screen t.v.’s, the new sim-lab that was featured on ABC Action News. JOKE! BIG JOKE! For Profit Schools are all about the money $$$. Our November ’09 class started w/ 50 students and now there are 32, not including me. I’m anxious to see how many students are left after this quarter (which would be my 3rd). I was 1/2 way done when I got the boot for failing a course with a 69.9. LOL, right? That made me wonder…how “well” did I do in first quarter? Do you think they made the grades/exams available to me? NO! They either boot you, or keep you for as long as they can hold on to you by a thread. The attendance isn’t horrible – I will disagree with that. But it is true that they don’t have a heart. The instructors are okay, but the administration is off the chain. The exams are UNREAL! There is no interactive study, peer-involvement, one on one attention like advertised. You basically teach yourself unless you love sitting through death by power point. The accreditation is NOT what they say. They are NOT NLN accredited. They are a “member!” They are a for-profit vocational school & therefore assume they can make their own rules. I have already filed a complaint with the FL Dept of Ed. I thought I had something on them, but the assistant dean saved her a$$ on that one. She thought she was real slick. I’m still looking into litigation to get my money back for being pushed through the program, barely making C’s! And it IS TRUE…If you don’t have at least 3 hours per night and 8 hours/day on the weekends – you have no cushion at all. If you don’t put that bed ALL the way down during Clinical Performance Exams, FAIL! It’s a GAME. It’s a SCAM! And it’s the worst JOKE. Don’t waste your money, time or energy. There are other accelerated programs locally that have great programs.
Galen blows…I have been a Galen student now for over a year, and have good grades in ALL of my classes, and am here to re-iterate that this institution is TOTAL CRAP. I have seen MANY of my friends and classmates get the boot. I have 2 friends that just got booted from the program for failing maternal infant. They failed because the instructor is a HEARTLESS TYRANT who needs a life and some good lovin. Galen is all about money, that is making money off poor SOB’s like myself. Equiptment is terrible, the school is cheap. The school prides itself on it\’s library which consists of maybe 75-100 textbooks, various medical journals 75-100, and the rest of the library is online…Which is the biggest joke ever. The library has 8 computers, and limited space to study for students. The nursing school shares the building with a bank and some other professional offices with maybe 200 employees and a huge 3 story parking garage. They do make you park on the top of the garage even though there are literally 400 open parking spots on the 1st and 2nd floor out of the sun. Some of the staff is nice, but there is certainly room for quality instructors. It seems Galen mostly hires the burned-out nurses who want to try their hand at teaching. If you do happen to question the ALL MIGHTY instructors about anything including something they are blatently teaching wrong (because you may be a medical professional in a different field as well) you are completely black balled and made to leave or quit. I agree with all of what Jay Bush, John, and LET down says. As a student who has been getting good grades the whole time I\’ve been here, I have seen all the BS that goes on daily, and cannot wait until graduation to kiss this CRAPPY assylum goodbye. On a final note, scuttle butt has it that the \”ever so helpful…HAHA LOL sarcastic \” financial lady has left Galen immediately for some unknown reason along with the Dean who is apparently on administrative leave for some unknown reason. It\’s rumored that funds were being shall we say mis-placed…such as in the pockets of the above mentioned persons and an investigation is currently pending. I don\’t know if it\’s true, but there is CERTAINLY SOMETHING going on at school. I like to think that our tuition dollars may actually go to something useful at least such as big Texas Hold-Em bets in Vegas, cuz the money sure isn\’t invested into the school or our educations at all!!!! TOOTLES!!! Good luck to all of my fellow POOR SOB\’S who are in this hell we affectionately call Galen!!!!
Okay…I know by now you\’ve read all the horrible stuff about Galen, so here is a quick rebuttal…. It does suck, I admit that, but… some of the people who posted comments on here are a little bitter because they didn\’t make the grade…and it\’s true, it\’s a tough grade and getting tougher in August, 2010 when they raise the bar to a 74 passing (instead of 70). There are great people at Galen, some in the front office, definitely some of the instructors, and especially the Assistant Dean! Parking sucks, you have to park on the 3rd floor of the otherwise empty deck, and if you don\’t…expulsion..and yes, it’s happened. But…guess what, kids? It\’s what YOU make of it. If you go with a bad attitude, you won\’t make it, but if you do “stay under the radar” and find a study partner, you\’ll be fine. Just work the program for the fullest and you\’ll be a better nurse for it.
Please know that Galen is completely unprofessional. I shouldve known by the demeanor in the reception area when I applied that I was at the wrong school. I guess it’s okay to curse in front of potential students though, or argue with your boyfriend at work. I recently got the boot from Galen. I was a good student, however in one semester I found myself dealing with a lot of ‘life problems’. I ended up near failing two classes, however there was hope in one. Galen’s policy is you can fail 2 classes before being dismissed. I needed to take a make up test in order to pass the class. When I went to the office to do so, the secretary told me the test was not there. I asked her to call the instructor, who was not in her office. When I emailed the teacher asking if I had misunderstood, she emailed me back stating that the test was there and gave me no option to retake the test. NOTE: it was a med math test that if you dont take/pass, you fail the entire class completely. So, even though I had another student with me when I went to go take the test, I was basically called and liar. I didnt appreciate that. But who knows, maybe that was the plan to get me out. I cant help but to feel that way.
Beyond that, my English teacher was disgusting. He used words like ‘c**t’ (twice) like it was no big deal. My med-surg teacher taught me nothing. Thank god she basically gave you the test answers before the test so you could pass with no problem. We were to have learned how to do nursing diagnosis’s and care plans prior to moving to the 2nd med surg class, but that wasnt done. And no, not everyone is taught those things in LPN school, Im from out of state and didnt learn those things…thats why I paying to go to school. The anatomy instructor is great, he is WAY TO GOOD for that school. If I learned anything for the money I paid, it was from him….thanks Greco. The pharm teacher is great too.
Just know that the staff is completely unprofessional. The instructors talk about eachother to the students. There is no real area for students to study. The teachers expect you to print out 100 page power points because the school is too cheap to let them do so for the students. There is no working wi-fi in the classrooms. The library copier works about 2 days a month. I did hear about a story where a few students complained about an instructor, and those students were given the boot. Financial aid is also a joke, they dont return calls, or do their job at all. So, here I sit, not in school, I submitted my please take me back letter, detailing all the problems I encountered which is humiliating, but like the other guy said, I was told they dont let you back in.
My credits dont transfer to any schools because galen doesnt have the accredidation they need. So I have about 60 credit hours under my belt with no where to go. The school was a waste of my time and money. I regret that I ran into hardships with my family which cost me my education. Thanks for understanding Galen.
Dont find yourself in the same position. Ask the students how they like the school while youre there.
Has anyone that is interested in attending this school question the school about all the negative commentary?
hit submit button- oops— just failed Galens course !!!
check n-clex results and see how many students take the test from the original class— if 45 students start out and 5 take the test– do we need to say anything else?
those 5 will pass and on the results with the state it will say 95% pass or even 100% pass. looks good for the school to the ignorant and teh state– not that there is a difference between ignorant and state!
Remember later you may want to advance your degree— you will be trapped as these credits will not transfer, and if you look at the course curriculum it is inferior to other schools- who require pre-requisites– who will be hired? the students who know what they are doing or someone trained to pass a test?
BUYER BEWARE- BUYER BEWARE- BUYER BEWARE
You read reviews and wonder if they are only posted by the disgruntled student. Students who were late, were unprofessional and not prepared for tests etc.
Hard to know what the truth is until you witness these issues first hand.
However, there is no room room to second guess the posts on this site for they are all true and 17,000 dollars is a lot of money. One way is to check them out is to go to places like Vocational Rehab, your employment offices- where they help retrain dis-placed workers and they will tell you what you are reading here is true for they have the numbers in their – data base.
Pull the Nclex- results from teh state website
i used to hear comments about this school being racist and i thought it was bull. im telling you first hand (and no i am not black) that this school IS racist against black people-even their own. when i went that had a black secretary (which was great) in the evening. the day secretary quit, which means the evening sec had first dibbs. nope. they ignored her request and hired a white woman off the street, even though shes been there over 3 years. for no reason! Plus i saw firsthand how one clinical instructor would treat the black students horrible-she would mock one every single day in front of the class. i felt sooo bad for her. and you cant complain, cuz when this student did the instructor got all up in her face and we never saw the student again. i wish i was lying…
I TOTALLY agree with John. i went there and its 100% true. you can go and it is possible to graduate but lets just say my nickname for them is galen: bootcamp for nurses. we started with over 30 people and only 10 graduated. my clinical instructor treated us so bad that the hospital we went to for clinicals complained at how horrible we were being treated, and almost kicked the school out of their facility unless they had a strict talk with her. that damn howard franklin was horrible-especially when it rained! if youre late-youre done. you cannot defend yourself with those people-its their way or the highway. TRUST ME.
Do your research before attending school.
I would agree with most of the comments concerning Galen. Look into a public school for your LPN(PTEC and ERWIN). ITT and Everest both have Rn programs that don’t require an LPN, both programs are very expensive. Read the reviews on both schools. SPC and HCC have bridge programs, but you have to take pre-reqs that may take you a year to finish before you can start your RN courses. ITT offers your pre-reqs as co-reqs and so does Everest this may cost you more, but save you time.
I too share the pulse of most of the other comments. It\’s my opinion that Galen is a horrible school. From my first encounter with the admissions office, not much has been true. Admissions will BLATENTLY LIE to your face and tell you things you want to hear, and ultimately misrepresent the inter-workings of the school. When inquiring about Galen, I asked admissions where clinicals are done, and if a student lived far away from the school, will we be placed nearer to our homes? The answer was yes, the TRUTH IS no. On the first day of class, an instructor said, \” This is not true, admissions will tell you anything to get you to come here\”. Im an honest person, and that has always stuck with me and rubbed me wrong… As a first quarter student who is doing well, I\’m not impressed overall by Galen. Classes are hard and I can accept that, it\’s nursing school. CPE\’s or clinical check offs are absolutely atrocious. On CPE day, there is no room for error. CPE\’s are too strict and encourage students to become task monkeys. For example, EVERYTHING in CPE\’s have to be performed in steps 1-5… If a student misses step 3 in unfolding the blanket, they are failed immediately for that time, and have to sit down and think about it. If you fail any step in CPE\’s 3 times, you are out of the program, and have to re-enroll the next quarter. This has gotten MANY of my class mates. During CPE\’s, clinical instructors will also try to rattle you to get you to make a mistake, and think it\’s funny. It\’s not funny because we are paying A LOT of money (too much money for what we receieve) and are already under a lot of pressure. It\’s unprofessional, and there is no point to it other than to generate more revenue for the school. Galen is also VERY cheap. Advertisements brag about the state of the art facilities at Galen, and it\’s simply not true. Galen\’s labs consist of two rooms of 8-10 artificial patients. However, when you look at the patients up close, they are banged up, broken, and are not in very good condition for being 2 years old. We were also told not to use as many gloves either while in LAB? If that doesn\’t show how cheap the school is, I don\’t know… (considering tuition is 17,000 (for LPN) X 45 students)…do the math…Where does all that money really go? Certainly not into supplies, teaching devices, or enough faculty or clinical instructors for each class. In a nut shell Galen is what it is…It is a private school that costs way too much for what you get out of it. It\’s good in the fact that you don\’t have to be on a waiting list, but bad in the fact that it is cheap, faculty does not care about you AT ALL, there is not enough instructors vs. students, mis-informs students of the real facts, and faculty make it too strict (more than it need to be). I\’m only in my first quarter of Galen and am passing, but I would not recommend this school to anyone… It was my choice to come here, and I made a bad one but I\’m going to make the best of it. If you decide to come here, good luck, fly under the radar, and be prepared for a WHOLE LOT OF BS…Upon touring the facililty, I recommend you pull some students aside when you are away from the admissions rep and ask for the REAL FEEL of Galen, and you will quickly see for yourself. Good Luck All, hope this helps, because I didn’t get to read any of this before I started…
HORRIBLE
Don’t waste your time. Horrible school! Why don’t you look up the Pinellas County Public Records and take a look at the teachers that have been arrested. Or take a look at the State of Florida board of nursing complaints. The tuition in 15,000 just for an LPN, you can count on your test to include at least 50 multiple choice questions which cover 4-6 chapters every 6 weeks so those of you that don’t memorize detailed information for long periods of time are screwed. There is no homework; you show up to school for lecture only minus your once a week clinical/lab, so more less your teaching yourself. There is no review or worksheets to make sure your gathering the information and progressing, as you should through the courses. They are extremely strict on attendance and they will dismiss you from the course and keep almost half of your tuition and all you have to do is go to school for 12 weeks for this to happen. And think about this Galen sure does pay a lot for advertisement but more reputable schools you never hear anything about why because Galen is more less a technical school that’s money hungry and they don’t care if you pass or fail regardless they have your $$$$ vs. the community college and university that is far less cheaper and you will get a much better education that wants you to pass so they have stats for the state to make the school look better. When you start your classes at Galen don’t expect any individual attention from the teachers because you will have 30 students in your class starting out, so over 400,000 dollars in tuition for each class what a rip off. The lab is very impressive but really what’s the point of that when you’re not learning anything. If you do decide to go to this school take a few pointers when you take a visit:
1. Ask to review the agreement they make you sign stating Galen can keep —% of your tuition if you withdraw or are dismissed from school.
2. Ask to see a syllabus of the course and take a look at how much information is included on each test.
3. If you have a family, job, or any other obligations look elsewhere.
4. Call another college and ask them if you were to sign up with their RN program if they will accept your transcripts/credits from Galen.
5. If you live in Tampa, keep in mind traffic on the Courtney Campbell and Howard Franklin is awful and if you’re late, NO EXCEPTIONS! YOU’RE DISMISSED!
6. While you’re visiting ask some of the students out side or in the hallway what their advice is we wont lie to you.
7. And lastly just do a little research on this school before you decide to make a quick decision that could hurt you in the long run and that could also be extremely costly.
Best of luck to you in your nursing studies.
I can\’t say I agree or disagree with some of the comments on the site; however, there are some truths to the statements you have read. For example, they are very strict as far as being on time, but guess what??? That\’s life, and your boss is going to be equally as strict! As far as favortism, absolutely, but if you have a big mouth and are bullying the school or its students, you don\’t need to be going to this school anyway. St. Pete College is down the street, good luck getting in and finishing your program. Then, most importantly, there are good people teaching the program. They aren\’t antiquated, and most have years of experience in various fields of nursing. It\’s your choice to go to Galen…if you have the money and the brains to go, then you are welcome, no matter what your skin color or ethnicity. We look forward to seeing you on campus!
I am so sorry to hear these negative reviews of this school. I was considering attending and mostly in part because I have been hearing infomercials on 95.7FM lately. I do have a friend that graduated from there and now I see why she was praying that her baby was born after she completed her finals. This is not a good way to go thru Nursing School being stressed and under pressure. This is a field of study you want to do; not a field you have to do. The instructors should be a bit more concerned with their students overall success. Those that have no integrity should be reprimanded. They should not be allowed to continue cheating their way through. This is awful. :-(
It has been a very bad experience. Though I passed with flying colors, I have witnessed outspoken students being treated unfairly. Instructors are very vendictive and they all work together. I have seen one person failed because of 0.3 pts of which one of the grades was a presentation in which the instructor had complete layway. I would not recommend this school to my worse enemy. There are other schools out there. The Dean is a bully and drill sergeant they treated us like children and destroyed all confidence and self esteem at the first quarter and then they abused you……
Dont waste your time, its true they pick and choose who they want to go forward. students had failed classes and they put them through the next semester,their star students were seen cheating and nothing was done.They make rules as they go and its different strokes for different folks
I agree with the comments left by the others. I was failed on the last day of clinical after I had passed the final for the course. My failure was due to being 2 minutes later than the cut off time for being tardy, and being past that time counts as being absent. I was late due to a medical problem I had on the way to the clinical site. I was then sent back to the school, where they proceeded to tell me i had failed the course( on the last day mind you!) and that I was welcome to take the matter up with the grievance committee. Nobody from the committee was available to speak to that day, and when I voiced that it was unfair that this outlet wasn’t available to me, I was told that nobody ever gets the decision reversed anyway, so don’t waste my time with the committee. So, please if you are considering this school, just remember they are not lenient in any way, shape or form. Good luck to all who are pursuing a career in nursing.
Don’t waste your time or money with this place. This is not a good teaching institution, they pick and choose who they want to pass most of the instructors are old and behind the times. Despite them I did graduate but it was a horrible experiance.
This school blows and if your black forget it no chance. You might as well try joining the klan!