Advice- College of the Canyon vs LA County School of Nursing

[Heidi Kaffeekanne]

Hi all,

First time ever posting in that forum. I need advice. I applied for nursing school this fall and was accepted so far for two our of three schools I had applied for. I had applied for Glendale Community College (which is my favorite school, but they haven’t send out letters yet and it’s a lottery system), College of the Canyon and LA County School of Nursing. As previously mentioned, I was accepted into both College of the Canyon and LA County School of Nursing. I was wondering if you can give me your opinion on which school to choose. Maybe some of you are currently in one of the programs or have recently graduated from either one.

My problem is that I live pretty much right in the middle between both schools. It takes me 20min (without traffic, but there is always traffic) to get to La County, but 35min if I have to drive during rush hour. It takes me 30min to get to College of the Canyon (without traffic, but there is hardly any traffic). Consequently, the commute is about the same.

College of the Canyon has had an NCLEX pass rate of 92% last year (according to director of the program) and LA County has been hovering in the 90s for the past couple years (except last year).

College of the Canyon will have us come 5 days a week in the first semester for six weeks at the end of which we have to pass pharmacology and some skill evaluation. After that, things will slow down and the schedule looks more like two lecture days per week and one 12hour clinical day. Clinical rotations are held in many different locations and they don’t necessarily divide students according to zip code. However, according to current students who spoke at the orientation, the program offers a wide variety of clinical sites including private hospitals and County Hospitals and they said its actually positive that they don’t stay long at one location. College of the Canyon has multiple corporations with Universities to get your BSN ranging from online programs (Ohio University), to local universities like Calstate LA.

La County will have us come Monday through Thursday and we usually start at 7am in the morning and are done by early afternoon ( third and fourth semester clinicals are a bit longer). We will have to lecture days and two clinical days. Clinical locations are confined to County Hospitals. They have one Collaboration with Calstate LA to obtain your BSN and an online program is pending with the university of Phoenix. The program is slightly more expensive than COC, but they offer you to sign a contract to wave your tuition if you work for the county after (no job guarantee, but most nurses I know who went there were hired by the county including my mother in law).

I should add, that I am a mom of a three-year-old and I am expecting my second baby in late May next year (after first semester). Both schools are supportive.

Thoughts on how to make the decision. Maybe you can share your own experiences?

[Overcast]

Absolutely do not go to LA CONAH..... it’s beyond difficult; they overwork you beyond any community college standard. I’m finishing up first semester now. We started with 50 and 3 months in we are down to 35...not one student works or was forced to quit and those whom have kids NEVER have time for them. Every single day off you have will be dedicated to extremely detailed projects in addition to studying. There are two tests a week. I got stuck with a clinical instructor that manages out of fear and will roll eyes at you. There is a second semester clinical instructor that failed 4 students from the program...after everything it takes to make it that far.

Also CONAH is not NLN accredited so graduates cannot work at VA hospitals or inside federal prisons, etc.

I highly recommend you read this yelp review and all the others support it.

[NCKate, MSN, NP]

Hi! I worked for Keck Medical Center of USC (4 years) and I've worked with people who went to both. The experience/exposure the ones from County got were far better than the ones who graduated from Glendale. However, I've heard negative stories from everyone. I do think Glendale has a better reputation for their teachers taking time with their students. To be honest, go with whatever school you think will work best with your life/family. A friend of mine just graduated from Glendale and she was able to be a wife/mom to her husband and two boys AND still work, so it was a win-win-win. Good luck and you got this!