Concorde Arlington, Texas work/school

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lovelane78

14 Posts

Specializes in Hospice, Adult and Pediatric Home Health.

Concorde Arlington gave me the skills to become a Licensed Nurse in State of Texas 2 years-ago. I was in a dead-end career as a CNA, newly divorced, single mother and I needed a change asap. I didnt have the time to complete my pre-reqs, and then try to get into a nursing program somewhere. I had to work full-time but I needed to go back to school. Concorde had an evening program that lasted for 18 months and cost me around 20,000.00. I pd the pretty penny for the convienence of starting the nursing program asap, no waiting lists, or fierce competition against hundereds of other applicants...AND I was able to keep my job and continue to BARELY support myself and my dtr. It was worth the money- I would not have been able to go to Nursing school had it not been for Concorde. It was a busy 18 months, but sooooooo worth it. I am now finishing my prereqs for a bridge program. Granted, there were some pretty questionable people in my class, but those were weeded out pretty early on. It is nursing school after all- the material is hard and requires brains and intellect.

Now, just 2 years later and a pesky lil' student loan, I am making great money as a home-health lvn. I make more than my sister, who got her rn license last year, and she works full-time at Harris Methodist on a floor. I decided not to go work in a nursing home (where lvn's tend to make around 20.00 per hour) and get my feet in the door with Home Health. I work for 2 companies- averages out to 40 hr per week- give or take, and I am bringing home 1000.00 per week easy. I felt a little put off by some of the comments that were made here. I feel while some people are still trying to get in a program at a CC and turning thier noses up at Concorde, I am graduated, licensed, and making great money. Trust me- Concorde is a great school and well worth the money. It can save years off your nursing education.

HungryPanda

7 Posts

If you are still in the service (reserves), You can also choose REAP (reserve educational assistance program). It pays well, and you do not incur and active duty service obligation. And It can be used for Concorde career college.

jaymom2b

11 Posts

Specializes in None.

I almost turned around again at the door of Concorde because of the $ and some of the comments listed here but I told myself I am so tried of not been accepted into CC programs and taking class after class just to keep updated. I have 3 kids and I have been a student all of their lives. I know its costly but that is a bridge I am willing to cross when I get there so thank you to the two graduates for your encouraging words.

bcskittlez

208 Posts

GO FOR IT! I have a friend that makes 90K as a home health LVN that graduated from Concorde and another friend that makes around 70K as an LVN (Home Health too I believe). Do what is best for YOU. Plus they have a pending LVN to RN program and Dallas Nursing Institute was just approved in April for the LVN to RN program. Woohoo!! I love my school (DNI), alot of people just complain for the sake of complaining. If you can, don't wait another minute. Go for it and give it your all!

Best Wishes!

Quidam

121 Posts

It is my understanding...and I could be wrong, but I think that after your first year in RN school that you are then qualified to sit for the LPN NCLEX. Please...anyone who knows, correct me if I am wrong...but this is what I have been told. I considered looking into this, but was granted an student externship and did not pursue it. It might be a viable option for you if it is true. Also...I am enrolled in a county college and had a's and b's in prereqs...and got in the first and only school I applied to. Some of the rumors about how difficult it is to get in are just that rumors. Good luck to you.

txgal34

33 Posts

Specializes in LTC, HH, Psych, Med-Surg.

i am so frustrated at the "better than thou people" who constantly berate concorde and/or the choice of LVN route. it's a PERSONAL choice and i understand the just don't understand why so much negativity about those of us who choose to go LVN vice RN. great for you if you went RN at a public college, but please quit criticing those who go another route. i have had nothing but positive feedback and compliments of my nursing knowledge and competence....and surprise, surprise....i am a concorde LVN graduate. and i started my first job at $18 an hour, not too bad. i used the old GI bill and going thru the evening program i was still considered a full time student and my $22,500 was paid off in full by the time i graduated with a surplus in my pocket of a few grand. in the military you can always tell the officers who were prior enlisted from the "naval academy officers", unfortunately it seems nursing is the same way. for the most part you can tell the RN's who used to be LVN's to the ones who went straight to RN as some of them feel the need to tell us "how poor a choice we have made." while not all RN's are that way, i am sadly seeing that too many are. please do as your heart desires, whatever choce is best for you. i know you, as prior military, know where i am coming from!!!

starsgirl78

35 Posts

Specializes in Urgent Care, Pediatrics, Hospice.

I know. I feel like such an underachiever. After my divorce, I found myself moving back in with my parents as a single parent with no career and no education. I chose to take the slacker's way out and go through a 40-hour a week, year-long LVN program. Now I am making $50K a year as a new grad and can support my child on my own. I am completely independent for the first time in my life. But I guess I should have sacrificed another year or three and waited for my independence.

Underachieving was not me waiting until I was 30 to begin my nursing career as an LVN. Underachieving was getting married at 20 instead of going to medical school like I should have. I am PROUD of where I am right now because I did it completely on my own. Look down on me all you want, but you will never know how far I have come and where I have been until you walk in my shoes.

MTips

12 Posts

For the lvn program at nctc there arent any waitlists...all you have to do is go to an orientation session and take the net test (nursing entrance test). it has a math and a reading section; the applicants with the highest scores get in. so your previous gpa wont matter, no prereqs, etc. all you would have to do is study up for the net and youre golden! classes begin in jan and august. look into it www.nctc.edu.

and the best part is that its accredited and probably around six thousand dollars for the entire program.

ive been to a private "career" college before and they sugar coated everything and i ended up burned. PLEASE dont go to a school that charges 4 times the price just because its quicker to get into!!!! Good luck

TheCommuter, BSN, RN

102 Articles; 27,612 Posts

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
For the lvn program at nctc there arent any waitlists...all you have to do is go to an orientation session and take the net test (nursing entrance test). it has a math and a reading section; the applicants with the highest scores get in.
Many perfectly competent people cannot achieve a competitive score on the NET, no matter how much they prepare. Where does this leave them?

I have no regrets for taking the trade school route.

MTips

12 Posts

With all due respect, my opinion as far as the net goes...

I see how some people might have a little trouble with the net at first. If you dont go online or get a studyguide to see the layout of the questions or type of material you need to study I can see how someone could fail the net. Maybe some people are anxious, when the pressure is on to take the test.

However, if you have the resources available to study for this exam (online sites, handbooks, or if youve taken it multiple times) and you still dont pass it....then you shouldnt be a nurse.

I would like to think that someone who is going to be MY nurse would be able to take a test with general math/reading questions. How in the world are you going to PASS strenuous nursing school if you cant pass a standardized test?!

Im not knocking trade schools, I just think WHY spend the extra money if you can do it for less. Ive been to an expensive trade school to get certified to be a dental assistant; and had a bad experience where none of my credits transfer, and I cant transfer between states. I was TOLD by my instructor that there wouldnt be any problems with that, but now there is and theres nothing I can do about it because I didnt get it in writing! So I just urge everyone to be cautious because there are trade schools out there that will tell you what you want to hear.

Tatertot

2 Posts

I was laid off from my job on the rail road and I am considering starting the day classes in June at Concorde. I have everything done except the financial aide part of it. I am lucky and I don't have to work through this but I am still intimidated because of my age and I have never worked in the medical field before. I really need to get back to work as soon as possible, that is why I chose this program. I am also looking for something with job security. I do have a bachelors from 17 years ago in Criminal Justice but I was far from a star student. I don't want to get in over my head here. Can anyone offer any guidance?

TheCommuter, BSN, RN

102 Articles; 27,612 Posts

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
However, if you have the resources available to study for this exam (online sites, handbooks, or if youve taken it multiple times) and you still dont pass it....then you shouldnt be a nurse.

I'm not referring to someone's outright inability to pass the NET.

I'm referring to the people who can easily pass it, but achieve average scores. Community colleges are only going to take the people with the highest NET or HESI scores first, which is the way it should be (merit-based). However, this leaves the people with average test scores behind. A person with excellent prerequisite grades and average test scores does not inherently deserve to be left behind. Hence, trade schools do play an important role, in my opinion.

My prerequisite GPA from TCC was a 3.67, which is not competitive when I am competing with people who have 4.0 GPAs. I scored a 70 on the math portion of the NET and 91 on the writing skills. Again, people are going to have better scores than me. Does this mean I am not deserving of ascending the career ladder of nursing?

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