Anyone in Houston?

figure8 · Mar 11, 2004

Hello,
I am attempting to decide on a nursing school in the Houston area. Unfortunately, unless I win the lottery, I can not afford to go to school for 4 years to get a BSN. I will have to get the ADN first, then try to find a job and work a few years and then go back for a BSN. Does anyone have any experience with or know someone that has attended or is currently attending any nursing schools in Houston? Any information is greatly appreciated.
Thanks! :)

Delurking to say hi and welcome! I actually graduated from Alvin Community College which is about 40 miles south of Houston. Excellent school with high NCLEX passing rate (not sure of exact numbers...sorry) and also very affordable. If you have any specific questions you can PM me or post them here. I'm actually headed back to Houston this summer and I'm so excited! Good luck!

Honeybee · Mar 11, 2004

Delurking to say hi and welcome! I actually graduated from Alvin Community College which is about 40 miles south of Houston. Excellent school with high NCLEX passing rate (not sure of exact numbers...sorry) and also very affordable. If you have any specific questions you can PM me or post them here. I'm actually headed back to Houston this summer and I'm so excited! Good luck!

Thank you for the reply. Did you get an Associates Degree from Alvin Community College? I was debating between Houston Communitiy College (located in the medical center) or Houston Baptist University.

figure8 · Mar 12, 2004

Thank you for the reply. Did you get an Associates Degree from Alvin Community College? I was debating between Houston Communitiy College (located in the medical center) or Houston Baptist University.

I got an ADN from Alvin. I have heard great things about Houston Baptist and not so great things about HCC (this was a few years ago so they may have changed). Good luck and let me know if you have anymore questions.

Honeybee · Mar 12, 2004

I got an ADN from Alvin. I have heard great things about Houston Baptist and not so great things about HCC (this was a few years ago so they may have changed). Good luck and let me know if you have anymore questions.

I really didn't know where Alvin was until a few days ago. :-)

The one thing that is steering me away from HCC is the fact that they are not NLNAC accredited. I have heard that is a very important factor when choosing a school. Do you plan on getting a BSN from another school in the Houston area when you return? Are you currently working as an RN?

crankyasanoldma · Mar 12, 2004

I went to San Jacinto for my ADN, and took a 'fast track' that was 1 1/2 years. It was tough and a good education. My sister went to HCC for her ADN. She did well but didn't give the program a godd review. Alvin has a good rep, but Galveston CC (?) does not.

Honeybee · Mar 12, 2004

I went to San Jacinto for my ADN, and took a 'fast track' that was 1 1/2 years. It was tough and a good education. My sister went to HCC for her ADN. She did well but didn't give the program a godd review. Alvin has a good rep, but Galveston CC (?) does not.

Oh wow, that's the second negative thing I have heard about HCC. Well, like I said before they are not NLNAC accredited so that was my first clue. I was also thinking about San Jacinto but I have not gathered any information on their programs yet. Thank you so much for the information.

Are you currently working in Houston as an RN?

figure8 · Mar 12, 2004

I am currently job hunting in Houston. We are going to move back this summer (my husband is separating from the air force). I have worked in the past on a tele floor as an RN but am not working right now (hubby's schedule is too hard to work around with 3 little ones and inadequate childcare). UTMB in Galveston supposedly has a great flex-op program for ADN to BSN. I plan on working for awhile while hubby goes to school and then checking that out when he's finished. Take care!

Honeybee · Mar 12, 2004

I am currently job hunting in Houston. We are going to move back this summer (my husband is separating from the air force). I have worked in the past on a tele floor as an RN but am not working right now (hubby's schedule is too hard to work around with 3 little ones and inadequate childcare). UTMB in Galveston supposedly has a great flex-op program for ADN to BSN. I plan on working for awhile while hubby goes to school and then checking that out when he's finished. Take care!

I completely understand how you would not be able to work right now with 3 little ones. :) The general job market in Houston is slowly but surely turning around. I was out of work for 6 months last year (I was laid off from Worldcom) but I have a job now with what I believe is a stable company. I do know there are MANY medical opportunities in Houston and that is why I am pursuing a nursing career. I really wish I had the money to go to school full-time for a BSN (at a university) but I am not sure I can set aside 4 years of non-working time and all of the money for tuition. My fiance' would like to go to school to get a Masters Degree soon and I know that will be a challenge for both of us to be in school at the same time. I can only imagine adding children (we do not have any yet) to that equation would make it much more difficult. I believe it will all be worth it in the end.

I wish you well in your job search and I hope everything goes as planned with your move to Houston. As you know, it will be nice n' hot when you get here..LOL

Gotta love it though! I have lived in Texas all my life, originally from Austin.

figure8 · Mar 12, 2004

Thanks Honeybee! I love Austin! We toyed with the idea of moving there instead but I could make more money in Houston and we have more family around the Houston area. I love the music scene there...oh well, at least we will be close enough to catch some good shows!

Honeybee · Mar 12, 2004

Thanks Honeybee! I love Austin! We toyed with the idea of moving there instead but I could make more money in Houston and we have more family around the Houston area. I love the music scene there...oh well, at least we will be close enough to catch some good shows!

The cost of living is lower in Houston than in Austin. That is one reason I moved to Houston. Austin is a very nice place though. Yes, I believe you can make more money in Houston, especially in healthcare.

ejm99 · Mar 23, 2004

I went thru a year of the ADN program at HCC. I left due to a serious family illness but w/ good standing and a solid "B" gpa. I left because they are very much a cliquish and politic's type program....

I am FAR from a bad student....I can still write a care plan w/ one hand tied behind my back and I have NEVER had one come back looking like zoro got ahold of it w/ a red pen....but when I notified my clinical instructor that I did not feel I could SAFELY give med even under her guidence one day at clinical because the fact I had been in the ER ALL night, (LITERALLY and only drove home to get my uniform and actually dressed when I arrived at the hospital)..w/ my dh who had just been told he had a brain tumor and was told "suck it up".

Yet other classmates REPEATEDLY would call in and say she would be late because of car troubles, daycare issues etc and were always excused...yet me being in an er...w/ documentation to prove it..wasn't enough?? Burns my butt really.

It was the ONLY time I had ever not performed to standard..I went to my mentor nurse told her the situation and that I would not be taking charge of my patient and then left a message for the instructor on her ans service (she dissappeared HOURS at a time and wouldn't answer pages) that I was on my way back to campus for further counseling about my options.

Unfortunately they are all so busy being worried about stepping on each others toes that there was little choice....I was not in the hospital for my clinical and I would be kicked from the program OR I could leave on my own...as I had used my other 'absence' days the previous week taking my dh to the neurologist and for an MRI.

I made a decision that day....I cried and cried but HCC will NEVER EVER get a penny of my money ever again...not for my education (and it wasn't that great of a program either..mostly theory..very skills lacking) or that of my children's in the future.

I could have reapplied and returned w/in the next 3 yrs but if anything I'm a woman that stands by her principles even when it costs us time, money and effort....at least I can sleep knowing that I left a nice long resignation letter in my file that the instructor who was counseling me BEGGED me not to, but I call them as I see them and feel I 100% did the right thing.

and now.....all that is past...and I'm applying to NHCC (north harris) LVN program next week...a full 4yrs later and know that everything happens for a reason and I can be confident that I am being true to myself, my patients ~even if I'm just a student and my family.

:)

So...run....don't even THINK about HCC....