College vs. Community College vs. Vocational School

Before I decided on which school to apply to, I asked some local nurses what their thoughts were on the new grads coming out of the schools I was looking at. I found that to be the best guide.

I don't think going to a vocational school is bad. Just make sure you're doing your research. Make sure it is accredited. See if you can't get in touch with people who have gone to the school and get their input. Make an appointment with whatever college or university is in your area and get their input. If they think that ______ vocational school is good, then go for it. If they advise against it for whatever reason, take it into consideration and then do what you want to do. If you ever plan on continuing your education and going for an RN, you'll definitely want to know what the possible future schools will think about it. Voacational schools are tricky in the sense that some of them have horrid reputations but some of them have great reputations.

I have a friend who went to technical school for nursing. I think it was Long Technical College. But I'm not 100% sure about that. Anywhoo, she graduated, got her RN, and she has a fabulous job in the NICU at a large hospital in Phoenix.

I had a friend who went to a tech school, and her entire class passed the NCLEX on the first try, so they obviously are doing something right there. However, she went for her LPN, and the school doesn't have and RN program. All of the colleges she found she could "bridge" over to she encountered problems with. Because the tech school had their program all in one, no prereqs required, she had to go back and take all the prereqs that were required for the colleges anyway. It will take her a year to get those done, so even though I started my LPN year right as she was getting hers done, we will start our RN the same thing.

It's just something to think about it!

Like the other posters said-- always and I mean ALWAYS check the accreditation. It can be a real bummer if you want to go back to school to further your education and no one will accept credits you paid good money for. Make sure the program is on your state board of nursing's list of approved LPN programs.

If everything seems to check out and look kosher then I say go for it (although I hope it's not one of those schools that really scam their students out of a lot of money. Some programs that notoriously advertise on TV all the time will charge students $28,000 for a LPN certificate and you can't use financial aid to cover it. If that's the case I'd be weary-- That's more than my bachelors is going to cost me at my state university (did a few prereqs and gen eds at community college and am doing the nursing program at the university). Look at the cost of attendance. A LPN program at community college will cost only a couple thousand and the RN program at a CC around here wouldn't cost you more than 6,000.)

Good luck deciding what to do. Like the above posters said try to speak with students who have attended and see what their opinions are. I wish you all the best in your future endeavors and don't let the naysayers derail you from your dream. If you determine that this school isn't for you after research then find a program that is for you and apply.:loveya:

I'm starting a community college nursing program in September. One thing I've done is to look up the NCLEX pass rates for schools. This will give you some idea about how well your school does to prepare its students to pass the NCLEX. I'm from California and contacted the Board of Registered Nursing for this information. If you're in another state you'll have to contact your own state nursing group.

Hi, I go to a community college which has a 2 year, 4 semester program, not including the prereqs. Some schools are just not good schools, whether it be vocational, community, or a university. Personally, my sister got her LPN through a vocational and she has recieved compliments from my instructors who've worked with her. And many nurses that` Ive ran into have raved about how they know some great nurses that have come out of my community college. So IMO, its not the school, its the person.