Now I don't know what to do...

Nurses LPN/LVN

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I posted in the Canadian nursing forum before, but I've only been lurking here.

I'm a 32 year old mom of 3. Currently, I'm upgrading my Science and Math (graduated, but didn't have the required courses for this) to get into the Practical Nursing program here, in Alberta, Canada.

We have a local Regional College (Grande Prairie Regional College) where I am doing my upgrading, and they are affiliated with the University of Alberta. You can take your Bachelor in Nursing there - a 4 year, full time program. Because of my children, and life commitments, I don't want to spend 2 years upgrading and then 4 years in full-time school (I don't think my family could handle it, and I couldn't handle the workload, and the guilt). So I know I don't want to go for my Bachelors in Nursing, and since $$ isn't the reason I'm doing this, I think that Practical Nursing is just as good, and more do-able for my life circumstances.

Now, I said all that to say this: I've had my sights set on a program offered through Northern Lakes Community College - the campus is in Slave Lake, and they offer it through a "satellite" classroom where the actual instructor is teaching the class on the other campus, and you have live video feed, etc, and it's in real time. There is also an "on site" Nurse instructor to help you with any questions, and you do your practicums in the nearby towns. This all sounds great, and if you'd like to take the time and trouble to visit the link for Northern Lakes which describes the program, just google the name.

Trouble is: I talked to a lady tonight who started the program, and quit after two weeks. She said that they are horribly disorganized (moved the local "campus" only a week into the course) and there were more than 12 women registered, but only 4 showed up, and two others quit when this lady did. She said that the format was far too difficult to follow along, and the amount of information you were expected to absorb was overwhelming. She said she is used to a traditional college format, with a Prof who gives you notes, etc, and this was nothing like that.

Now I don't know what to do. There are no other alternatives in the area I live - only in Calgary or Edmonton (we left Calgary 2.5 years ago). I feel like my dream is dying. I've been working so hard to upgrade, and things are going VERY well. But maybe it will all be for nothing?

I'd dearly love to talk to someone else who had experience with Northern Lakes, because if you talk to them(the Northern Lakes college staff), they blow sunshine up your butt and tell you everything is wonderful.

What should I do?

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