starting out (school)

Hi, there!

I've moved your post to the California Nurses forum so that it might accrue more replies. Good luck with finding an answer to your questions!

Im not familiar with your area because I live in San Diego, but I know that none of the community colleges require you to already have a degree. Try looking into the programs at community colleges near you. You can earn an associates degree in nursing there. There are pretty extensive waitlists for the programs, and you need some pre req's completed before applying. I know here they are anatomy, physiology, and microbiology. It varies by school. It would be a good idea to start on those to get them out of the way so you can apply. Also, you can look into private schools such as Maric College or National University. They are pricey (Maric is around 50k), but there are no wait lists and if you get accepted you can finish in under 2 years. Good luck!
Also, google the nursing abbreviations. RN is obviously registered nurse. BSN is a bachelors degree in nursing, MSN is a masters degree, LPN is licensed practical nurse, which we call LVN(licensed vocational nurse) here in CA. ADN is associates degree in nursing.

Just so you know. When taking your pre-reqs like Anatomy, Physiology, and Microbiology, try your hardest to earn an A. It's so competitive to get into the nursing programs in that area, it would be to your advantage to do well.

Saddleback College in Mission Viejo has an excellent nursing program and there is no waiting list. However, they select their applicants based on GPA (grade point average). 75% get in based on GPA and 25% by lottery. They accept about 50-60 students each semester out of more than 500 applicants. If you have straight A's in your pre-reqs, you'll likely to get in right away (and even then, it's not guaranteed).

Golden West College is also has a good program and I don't think they have a waiting list either. If you go through the Certified Nursing Assistant program in that area through ROP (regional occupation center), you get priority entrance.

There are a few other schools in OC like Santa Ana College but I don't know much about their entrance requirements other than you need the pre-reqs.

You can google each school's name for more info. Good luck!

Check out cmaschool.org. This school offers programs in Anaheim and Torrance. Their VN program is 11 months and includes prereqs. No degree needed (other than high school grad) and they have Sallie Mae financial aid. I don't think there's a waiting list.

Good Luck!

I actually attended Capistrano ROP for their certified nursing asst. program (CNA). However, if you want to apply at Golden West, they are specific in which ROP location you attend. You need to have the certification from Coastline ROP-http://www.coastlinerop.net/

If you want your RN, then you need to attend a community college (or Univ. for a Bachelor's in Nursing). You can't get an RN at an ROP and none of the classes taken there will be taken as credit at a community college or Univ. (other than the Nursing Asst. cert at Golden West).

I believe that North County ROP has an LVN program.
http://rop.ocde.us/
Look under vocational nursing under the courses offered.
http://www.quikreg.com/classreg/cata...4&view=catalog

Saddleback's nursing program info:
http://www.saddleback.edu/ap/hs/RN/

Here is the program curriculum:
http://www.saddleback.edu/ap/hs/RN/C...mGeneric07.pdf

Hope this helps.