Taking her time to enroll,Gretchen made certain that the Practical Nursing Program at Bridgerland ATC was exactly what she wanted to do. She compared and researched all the many different nursing programs throughout Utah, carefully weighing out her options. Three important discoveries were made: 1. BATC offers a minimum of 240 clinical hours per semester, allowing more hands-on training than many other programs offer; 2. Class sizes are limited to 24 students in the LPN Program, giving students more of a personal touch than the programs with 200-300 students; and 3. For the last several years, 100% of the BATC Nursing Students have passed the licensure state board exam.
“The more I talked to people about BATC and the more I looked into it, I discovered that I just liked the way Bridgerland ran better.” Gretchen says the instructors and staff members are more personable; getting in to talk to someone about the program and getting answers was easier at here than at her other options. She finished by saying, “this is what I need to do. This is where I need to be.”
In February 2016, Gretchen enrolled in the Practical Nursing Program at BATC. "A lot of people told me I couldn't do it," she recounts. "A lot of people said they didn't think it was right for me but I told them it was what I needed to do."
After graduating in December 2016, Gretchen wants to work in a prison facility or a behavioral health unit, where patients require a more compassionate nursing. She offers one bit of advice for anyone looking into a nursing program: “If you are looking into it, try it. Don’t give up. There will be a way if that’s what you’re supposed to be doing. Go find the resources. Come in and ask them what you need to do. If you’re grades have been bad, there are ways to remedy that. If it’s what you want to do, go get it!”
For more information about the BATC Nursing Program, click here.