What in the heck are private LPN programs?

Nurses Activism

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Recently I have a positon in which LPN's are on staff. In the 1970's, my Dean, Dr. Luther Christman, was instrumental in discouraging LPN programs. I realize that times have changed. I have changed my own old attitudes,which has been difficult. My generation and ANA were promoting the bill to define two levels of nursing practice. BSN, and ADN. This was in the early 1980's. Medical center's boasted a BSN staff. Primary nursing was the gold standard.So this is the bias of my earlier years in clinical practice.

But recently I have become aware of these private LPN programs. One such program has unusual entrance requirements. A high school diploma/GED, a clean criminal record, and $26,000-$30,000 guanantee a spot. I am aghast at the quality of care that I have witnessed. My colleagues, including seasoned LPN's from reputable programs, were flabbergasted to hear about such programs. This discovery was prompted by investigation of the educational preparation of 3 new LPN's. They have all since been terminated for patient negligence, life threatening medication errors, or substandard clinical practice.

Posting this thread will be met with outrage, and criticism I am certain. But why were the LPN's I have spoken about totally defensive concerning thier LPN program?

I am wary of a program that is not certified by NLN. I am wary of a program that does not include,or require an English class. I am wary of a program with such pathetic entrance requirements. I am adamant that these programs are not EDUCATION. I am not sure what they are.

Specializes in Peds Homecare.

"In the 1970's, my Dean, Dr. Luther Christman,was instrumental in discouraging LPN programs" "My generation and ANA were promoting the bill to define two levels of nursing practice. BSN, and ADN. This was in the early 1980's. "

I have no idea who "your dean" is, funny, I went to LPN school in 1979, no one was trying to shut my school down. Also the ANA, is just an organization that has no say about what goes on in each state. You see this all RN idea fell apart and many facilities realized it was a pipedream. I remember the 80's, that's where my screen name came from, because I'm a nurse, a real nurse,:nurse: regardless what the ANA says. As many others have stated there are alot of "private programs" and they aren't just for LPN's.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

To the OP - I've never heard of your Dean, either and I got my LVN through a private "for profit" school in 1976. I got a series of grant/loan combos just like students at private schools do today. My instructors were exemplary. Many of them were diploma school grads, some went on to get their BSN, and some did not. I ended up with about 20 people in my graduating class. All of us passed the "boards" as we called them them, on the first try. I resent your critical attitude if only for it being so obvious that you haven't kept up to date on all the changes in nursing education today.

In 1984 I started the first alternative to brick and mortar school LPN-LVN-to RN program which was through SUNY and is similar to many online programs today in it's structure. Your blanket condemnation of online programs again, has no real basis in fact and many of our members have obtained their advanced degrees through reputable, quality online programs that they researched well in advance.

I wonder if you are aware of the the Institute of Medicine's report on the future of education in nursing which is, I am sure endorsed by the ANA and the AACN that states as we would expect that a BSN should be the minimum entry point but as for how to get there, here is a quote:

Improving the education system and achieving a more educated workforce—specifically increasing the number of nurses with baccalaureate degrees—can be accomplished through a number of different programs and educational models, including: traditional RN-to-BSN programs; traditional 4-year BSN programs at both universities and some community colleges; educational collaboratives that allow for automatic and seamless transitions from an ADN to a BSN; new providers of nursing education such as proprietary/for-profit schools; simulation and distance learning through online courses; and academic-service partnerships.

I wonder if you consider the 16 month second-degree accelerated BSN programs sub par as well? It's unfortunate you had the experience you did with the LPNs at your workplace, but blaming for profit schools is unwarranted. Experience is valuable, but so is flexibility and an open mind.

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Specializes in Emergency, Telemetry, Transplant.
There are lots of reasons why people don't pass the NCLEX on try one (or two, etc.), and it is not always the quality of their school. quote]

I completely agree. Some people don't do well on standardized tests, some have anxiety related to testing. However, that is for people who test two maybe three times. I am speaking of the ones who test a dozen times. First, I never knew that was allowed. At what point do we say this person just isn't going to succeed as a nurse? Also, how did they complete a nursing program if they don't have basic literacy? That is more concerning for me as it demonstrates a lack in the curriculum.

Regardless, I though there was a finite number of times that one could take the NCLEX. Either way, I think that not passing is sometime the student, sometimes the school...often times a combination of both

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Specializes in Emergency, Telemetry, Transplant.
Oh, you mean Capella College/University?:devil:

I hate that commercial, too. They've got one with a guy who's some sort of cop/EMS provider.

Could be(???) :D

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Specializes in Hospice / Ambulatory Clinic.

I don't really have anything to add other that I attended a for profit school and I did receive an "education". I turned out just fine. I have no complaints about the quality of my school only the price. I live in an area where if you want to be an LVN you have to go private. There are off the top of my head 2-3 CC's that offer LVN programs and a handful of ROC. Both are almost as hard to get into as RN school in regards to waitlists and hoops to jump though. I didn't know if nursing was going to be for me and a private school enabled be to find that out quickly. The pay off is cost vs time.

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Specializes in Med-Surg/DOU/Ortho/Onc/Rehab/ER/.

Hmmm for profit schools scare me. Here in California, there is a few popping up. One is a BSN program and they don't even have pre reqs! You can either do the pre reqs and hope they transfer and pay like 100k or you can do the pre reqs there and do the program for like 150k. I believe it is still a 3 year program. And now that this school is known, they have waitlist! This is scary!

Too me, if you can "buy" your profession like that, then the whole career seems so worthless. Basically if you got the cash then you got it. Ugh

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Luther Cristman Dean, Rush College of Nursing.Chicago. He fired all LPN's who had given years of dedicated service to Presbyterian St Luke's Hospital. I never agrred with that, or his rationale. My BFF graduated from a CC based LPN program in 1978, I believe. Excellent nurse. She then recieved an AD shortly after, and a BSN 20 years later.

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Specializes in ICU, Telemetry.

There was a recent piece on NPR about the "for profits" basically stalking returning soldiers to separate them from their GI Bill money. One guy'd spent a fortune only to find out his school wasn't accredited and nobody accepted his degree.

It is very much "Buyer beware."

And FYI, I don't care what initials you put behind your name, I care how smart you are, how safe you are, and how well you work with a team. I'd rather have a good, experienced LPN on shift with me than a brand new, thinks they know it all, ink on my license still wet BSN.

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I graduated from a "for profit" lvn school which also offers an lvn to rn program. I am very confident in the skills that I learned. Just because you are in doesn't mean that you pass the classes. People failed out. Everyone I graduated with passed the nclex on the first try so we must have learned something.

I plan on continuing my education... online. Gasp! But I am confident in my skill as a nurse. I know what I know and I ask questions and do research when I don't. I have precepted several new grad rn's as well as seasoned rn's and can say without a doubt that the letters behind your name do not mean a damn thing when it comes to the quality of patient care.

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56,

I am not current on ANA happenings,Obviously. I no longer am a member, although I used to be. This is by choice. My own personal set of life circumstances limit me,We all have them. Acceptance is difficult.Chronic disease flares frequently.Being so LIMITED is so frustrating. Looking back at a brilliant career with tremendous potential that i used to have is no longer something I anguish.And I speak of no one about it.I am grateful that I am able to work, and that disease has been stable for over a year. knock on wood.

I am very much in favor of the 16 month accelerated programs, as well as the graduate level APN programs post a non nursing BS. I know 3 people currently in such programs. Open mind? Not even going to answer that.

Historical perspective of nursing is a great interest to me. My beloved mother was a diploma school graduate , class of 1945. Brilliant,gracious lady. When I moved back to this area, I became Elaine's daughter, in the community.Local people all remembered her as a wonderful nurse. I pray my clinical practice has been worthy her honor,

I SO REGRET posting anything, any opinion on line. It was late at night. I as very upset about a dangerous medication error I had discovered. Disbelief how the young grad defended herself.

Condescending? Yes, it certainly sounded that way. My intent when I wrote it? NO. Foolish to post my opinion on this reputable web site viewed by thousands of nurses. Absolutely. Any comment posted on line is there FOREVER. Do I feel misinterpreted? Oh yeah. But I am accountable for my post, and my poor judgement to post my opinion.

Condescending? I reread the post, and certainly see how it offended nurses who read it. Was that my intent. No. But my opinion remains in regard to several local private programs. I feel these nurses dishonor the profession.

So hopefully I have learned my lesson, I will NEVER post anything on any public website. I will NEVER write anything controversial online or in an email.Especially when I am tired, and angry. Had I slept instead, and waited until morning, a post would never have been written.

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Whoops, Did not mean to write that paragraph twice.

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Specializes in Hospice / Ambulatory Clinic.
Hmmm for profit schools scare me. Here in California, there is a few popping up. One is a BSN program and they don't even have pre reqs! You can either do the pre reqs and hope they transfer and pay like 100k or you can do the pre reqs there and do the program for like 150k. I believe it is still a 3 year program. And now that this school is known, they have waitlist! This is scary!

Too me, if you can "buy" your profession like that, then the whole career seems so worthless. Basically if you got the cash then you got it. Ugh

While I DO know the school you are talking about and do not recommend it because of the price and availability of other options you statement that they don't require prerequisites confuses me as in the next breath you state you can either do the prerequisites before you enter the school or do them on campus at the school. So it's not that they don't "require" prerequisites persay but they offer the option of doing them with the school which MANY schools offer.

There are lot of professions you can "buy" your way into. I didn't realize being poor was a requisite before becoming a nurse or a member of any profession.

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