advice on how to start....lincoln tech?

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jul 18, 2008

This post has been moved to the LPN/LVN Student forum for more responses.

trixiemunson · Jul 19, 2008

i don't understand, i was looking for aadvice from people with experience, this wasnt a student forum question, thanks anyhoo...

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Jul 19, 2008

trixie, i've been an rn for 30 years and my mother was an lvn/lpn (depends on what state she was living and working in). the country, in general, is experiencing a shortage or rns. some areas are not. here in california, particularly the los angeles area, we are. most hospitals because of insurance and accreditation standards are often looking to hire rns over lpns when they can. lpns, in general, are the backbone of the nursing homes.

this website has the most thorough information about nursing today and how to get into the profession: http://www.discovernursing.com/. other sites you might want to check out are: http://www.choosenursing.com/ and http://www.gem-nursing.org/.

unless i had a need to get into the workforce and start earning money asap i wouldn't monkey around with getting an lpn first. $31,500 is a lot of money to spend on an education. the only redeeming quality would be if you worked for an employer who offered a tuition reimbursement when you went back for your rn which would help pay some of your tuition, but my experience has been that most employers only pay up to $1,000 a year, if that, in tuition reimbursement which hardly makes a dent. you can research tuition assistance on your state board of nursing website. i would also suggest that you check your state department of education website to see if they offer any kind of tuition or grants to adults who are returning to school to learn a career. you also need to check the list of official nursing schools in your state so you can find the ones near you. state supported schools are more likely to be much cheaper than private schools. most all these schools will have websites that you can explore--in particular, check their financial aid opportunities. don't discount the idea of getting loans.

certain college classes no matter how long ago they were taken will still be good and will transfer for credit. those are the base classes like english, math, history, etc. all you need to do is have those transcripts sent to the college you end up going to. if the credits are good for transfer, the college will let you know.

i've taken classes in about 7 different colleges over the years. there's a savvy about being a college student. you learn the rules after a bit. just get on the website of a college and explore. peruse their college catalog--it is the bible of the school. schools with nursing programs will have a webpage for the nursing department that will usually give you information about the admission requirements. don't be intimidated by what you read or hear. keep in mind that thousands of people get into nursing schools every year and you could be one of them.

http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos083.htm - about registered nursing from the u.s. department of labor
http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos102.htm - about lpn nursing from the u.s. department of labor

NycCutie · Jul 20, 2008

i don't understand, i was looking for aadvice from people with experience, this wasnt a student forum question, thanks anyhoo...

Hey trixie, I am currently attending lincoln tech's lpn program in paramus NJ and I must say we were charged 23,000 for the program which I thought was incredibly high but it was the only part time program that I could fit into my schedule so I ran with it and I have say that I have no complaints so far almost 5 months in they are #1 and most important appoved by the board of nursing.All my professors are excellent(either MSN'S or BSN's)they are making sure to it that you are learning what you have to learn,testing all the time makingsure you know the material which is helping alot of the failing students.The director of the program is also great she is on top of her nursing students makin sure everything is on the up and up.:yeah:I have no complaints except for the price but it a choice I made my mom started as an lpn and made 51,000 here first year and your are in connecticut which I researched as one of the highest paying states for lpn's and I live in new york, but to eaches own sweetie that 31,000 seems dammmmmm sure too much lincoln tech is taking it a little too far because they are probably seeing the success of most of the students so they are taking advantage.After my students loans and financial aid I still have 2,000 left over that I am paying out of pocket so I can imagine if it was 31,000 they are a bit nuts>even though the campus I am attending is excellent if I were you I would look around some more unless you have absolutely no choice and this is your only way.I work full time and I have a 4 year old daughter who I take care of on my own so I felt I had no choice at that point the RN waits were too long and I need to make good money while pursuing my RN so this is the route I am taking and so far I can't complain,But like I said sit down and see if it is really worth it and if i:nurse:t is your only way to go.keep me posted good luck!

trixiemunson · Jul 20, 2008

you have been sooo helpful. it does feel like it's way over priced, but as you said i think it's because they can. from what i can find (and it's not easy) there seems to be only 1 tech state school in ct that offers nite classes . also with limited college many years ago i felt this was the quickest way to get out of my currant field and into a path towards nursing. they tell me 18 credits will transfer towards nursing school, i guess that's good, right? how are you finding the homework and such? on a daily basis how much time do you spend on it? it seems like a hard enough accomplishment to achieve without a child! god bless you, and please keep an eye out for me, i'm full of questions.thanks again....

NycCutie · Jul 20, 2008

The work can be challenging at times but we as part timers have it much easier than the full time day class that is only one year.They have to learn about 4 chapters at one time for a single test every week, and we learn about one chapter per week then have a test the following week so I must admit we get a little extra study time.Here is the break down of the part time program.It is 2 years long with four quarters each quarter is 6 months long with 3 classes in each quarter.This is still our fisrt quarter and we have A&P,Nursing fundamentals(book is like a million pages long and it s our bible lol)and professinonal awareness which is just a class about nursing principles, issues, ethics etc...........it is a alot of critical thinking involved in that class but we don't have that class as often as we have A&P and fundamentals.A&P has been challenging but I have manage to stay on top by just studying the material that is required I read and outline the key points of the chapters and definitions and write them down on either looseleaf or index cards so that I can study anywhere, work, hair salon, the bus you know so we dont't have to lugg those big books everywhere we go.They also use powerpoint presentations for each chapter which is much better for us because powerpoint is all the important info from the chapter in one little booklet yeah!Nursing fundamentals is our basic nursing skills class vital signs, care plans, patient care, charting, assesments everthing we learn in that class the only thing is that the exams are NCLEX style questions so it also involves alot of critcal thinking but once your mind starts working you go along with it.We also have a lab that is set up like a hospital room with mannequins as our patients and there is everything you need in that room to learn what you have to learn I guarantee it from Just giving an injection to hanging and IV that lab has it.We go to school Tuesday,thrsday and every other weekend clinicals not too bad mon-wed-fri I get to study in the afternoons and when my daughter goes to sleep.so this program and it's schedule has really benefited me in many ways.We wear all white uniforms to class and clinical it;s annoying but looks really professional when they are cleaned and ironed.The instructors have been a blessing because they dont condone failing they try their best to make you learn you just have to want it as much as they want you to get it.It is tough but so worth it>I have been doing my research on top paying states for LPNs because i am looking to move when I am done my progam and so far CT,NY,NJ have top them all especially CT they are startng new grads with as much as $29 an hour in nusing homes or rehabs not too sure about hospitals but I heard it is somewhere in the middle $20s so it can be rewarding especially if you want to make good money while working on an RN but like i said sweetie weigh your options look at nursing homes in the area where you live see how much they will pay a new graduate if they are medical benefits and put 2 and 2 together and see if in the long run the 31,000 will benefit because you never know You can pay 31,000 but woking two jobs out of school at $29 bucks an hour you can make over 60,000 that year and that would be excellent pay that back in no time bt again you see what works for you just some ideas fo you. Any more question feel free

HeyHeyitsMaay · Jul 22, 2008

I used to work for Lincoln Tech. PM me if you need any info.

fashionista84 · Aug 5, 2008

hey nyc cutie

im also from brooklyn do u drive to clinicals is it possible to take public transportation thats what i plan to do is it going to br a problem gettin to and from

NycCutie · Aug 5, 2008

hey nyc cutie
im also from brooklyn do u drive to clinicals is it possible to take public transportation thats what i plan to do is it going to br a problem gettin to and from

Actually it is not a problem at all when it comes to getting to school>I take the A train to 175th street george washington bridge bus station and get the express NJ transit bus and it lets me of right across the street from my school but I am attending the paramus campus.A for clinicals that is a little harder but is shouldn't be a peoblem because they set you in groups and most people car pool we all meet each other at the school and car pool to clinical not bad at all!

fashionista84 · Aug 5, 2008

Actually it is not a problem at all when it comes to getting to school>I take the A train to 175th street george washington bridge bus station and get the express NJ transit bus and it lets me of right across the street from my school but I am attending the paramus campus.A for clinicals that is a little harder but is shouldn't be a peoblem because they set you in groups and most people car pool we all meet each other at the school and car pool to clinical not bad at all!

thanks

thats also how i get to the school but i was a lil worried about clinicals. you've been a big help thank u and good luck. hows the workload so far

NycCutie · Aug 5, 2008

thanks
thats also how i get to the school but i was a lil worried about clinicals. you've been a big help thank u and good luck. hows the workload so far

The workload is a bit crazy but so far i am been staying on top of everything .I realized that the key to staying on top is keeping up on your reading>read read read those chapters is the best advise I ca give you if you have to read a chapter more than once so that you get it it is perfectly ok.