by KristinaJ

Good morning,
Lost soul looking for an advise..I can't make up my mind which to choose for RN program studies-community college (I would have to complete their LPN program first, and for that I'd need to take preadmission exam ,+4 prerequisite courses,they have a long waiting list too...The waiting list for RN is even longer, as well as the prerequisite course list ..My employer would reimburse 80 % of tuition up to $ 2000 per semester/$4000 a year for LPN.I would aim at starting LPN in Jan 2011 at the earliest..),or vocational school(they offer admission to RN program directly, no waiting list,since I have completed my CNA program there , my employer would reimburse tuition 100% for RN program .RN program tuition is 27 K,it is a 2 year program.One can exit the program after 1 year, and become LPN,if need be.But they are only accredited by the state,they are not accredited by National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission at the moment).
Thank you in advance

Re: Community college vs vocational school

If you complete the program at the vocational school, get licensed, and wish to return to school in the future to advance your education and career, you may well have trouble getting your academic credits accepted by other schools (I'm not saying I know that for a fact, but it is an issue with many "vocational" schools). Before I paid any tuition to that program (or even allowed my employer to pay money to them), I would verify whether credits are fully transferable (and I wouldn't just take the school's word for it; I would contact colleges and universities in the area and ask them whether they accept credits from that school.)

There are plenty of nursing programs in the US that are operated by vocational or proprietary schools that may offer perfectly good nursing education and are approved by the state BON for their grads to be eligible for licensure, but, because they are not accredited by the agencies that accredit "regular" colleges and universities (and I'm talking general academics, not specifically nursing), other schools cannot accept their credits.

I recognize that you are focused on getting licensed at this point, and you may be thinking there's no way you would ever want to go back to school -- but plenty of nurses felt that way at the beginning of their careers, and felt very differently a few years later! I can't see any justification, at this point in time, to pay a penny in nursing tuition for courses that can't transfer to other schools. You would really be closing a lot of doors for yourself, or creating a lot of unnecessary (repeated) academic work in the future.

Again, I'm not saying for a fact that the courses from the school you describe wouldn't transfer, just that I recommend strongly that you check that out before you commit to studying there, because it is an issue with some (many?) "vocational" schools. The fact that your employer hospital will pay for it, to me, doesn't mean anything, because the hospital is interested in its own interests, not yours -- the hospital isn't interested in what kind of future opportunities you have or don't have in nursing; in fact, it suits them for you not to have many other opportunities beside bedside nursing ...

Welcome to allnurses, and best wishes for your journey!

Re: Community college vs vocational school

I have to echo the same regarding vocational programs. Most people have to take college level anatomy and physiology as well as several other classes to be accepted into RN programs.

Re: Community college vs vocational school

Originally Posted by KristinaJ

Good morning,
Lost soul looking for an advise..I can't make up my mind which to choose for RN program studies-community college (I would have to complete their LPN program first, and for that I'd need to take preadmission exam ,+4 prerequisite courses,they have a long waiting list too...The waiting list for RN is even longer, as well as the prerequisite course list ..My employer would reimburse 80 % of tuition up to $ 2000 per semester/$4000 a year for LPN.I would aim at starting LPN in Jan 2011 at the earliest..),or vocational school(they offer admission to RN program directly, no waiting list,since I have completed my CNA program there , my employer would reimburse tuition 100% for RN program .RN program tuition is 27 K,it is a 2 year program.One can exit the program after 1 year, and become LPN,if need be.But they are only accredited by the state,they are not accredited by National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission at the moment).
Thank you in advance

^^When could you start the vocational program? I'm going through a cc program but that is because I was able to get in right away with a start date for this fall. If it was a question of having to wait till 2011 just to start then I would think differently. Since your employer is willing to reimburse 100% I'd go with the vocational school if you can start this year. There is the possibility that some of your credits from the tech school may not transfer. This matter depends on the school though. I know e.g. some tech schools in my area where the curriculum is the same as the one in our state cc's - they literally copy the curriculum, so the courses have the same names and credit values. The only difference is that you're paying more for the private classes and the credits are transferable. But if I was getting reimbursed at 100% for a "get my foot in the door" degree, I think I'd just retake what I needed to at community college after I got my license and started working. And be sure to test out or use clep wherever you can.

Re: Community college vs vocational school

Hi! May I ask what schools these are? I have been looking for a vocational school which offers RN and have had no luck. Any info would be super helpful. Thank you.

Re: Community college vs vocational school

Lupeeez,the school that I am interested in is called Genesis Healthcare Institute, they start RN in August,I believe.They are located in IL

Re: Community college vs vocational school

I see. Thank you for replying Kirstina. I am in Southern Cali so it won't work out.
I totally appreciate it though. Have fun in nursing school.