Apollo College RN bridge program

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Anyone here attending Apollo's LPN to RN program or have any info/advice? I missed the ISU deadline and am looking at other options....I'd like to hear the good and the bad, and whether they are accredited.

Thanks!

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Specializes in LTC.

I am in my last semester for my LPN at Apollo and will return in September for my RN. The program and the instructors are great. The second class graduated in January and the n-clex pass rate has been in the 90%. Yes the program is accredited. As a matter of fact Apollo is receiving kudos for its nursing program. Clinical sites are very pleased with the performance of Apollo students. If you want your RN, I highly recommend Apollo...you wont be sorry. Hope this helps you decide. Give them a call and come in for a tour.

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Thanks for your reply! I'm studying now for the ATI entrance exam and will go from there. Alot of my pre-reqs are over 10 years old, except my science courses which I've taken more recently. Also, I live an hour from Boise, so I'll be driving alot, but I hope I can get in and get it started!

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Quick question on this same vein... Does Apollo offer both the LPN and RN? The website makes it sound like it's only the LPN program at the Boise campus.

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Yes, they offer both at Apollo now. I've been in contact with them this past week finally, getting some of my questions answered.

I'm studying for the ATI entrance exam and may go ahead and tour the place.

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Specializes in ICU.

I would suggest... and just a suggestion... that you check very carefully the accreditation of any nursing program. NLN, NLNAC or other national accrediting body. Not just accreditation as a technical school, but specifically NURSING. If you look at a lot of job postings they require "graduation from an accredited school of Nursing".

Best of luck!

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I am in my last semester for my LPN at Apollo and will return in September for my RN. The program and the instructors are great. The second class graduated in January and the n-clex pass rate has been in the 90%. Yes the program is accredited. As a matter of fact Apollo is receiving kudos for its nursing program. Clinical sites are very pleased with the performance of Apollo students. If you want your RN, I highly recommend Apollo...you wont be sorry. Hope this helps you decide. Give them a call and come in for a tour.

How long will it take you to finish the LPN and RN program at Apollo (total years)? I was looking to go there also. But I would be starting from the beginning. After you finish your LPN, is there any other classes you have to take before the RN courses start? Where you able to do them back to back?

Thanks and good luck on the RN program.

Stephanie

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Charmandar has a good point. Currently, Apollo is not a Nursing accredited program. Nor is CWI.

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Specializes in LTC.

Actually Apollo is accredited. As a matter of fact,it is the only nursing school in Idaho to recieve an 8 year accredidation. Both of the programs are 1 year long and other than being an LPN there aren't any pre-req's that you have to take. Apollo's nursing program has been accredited since it began. I am so tired of hearing how poor apollo's program is. 80% of the instructors here are from BSU and left due to the poor quality of the program at BSU. BSU is also being watched by the Idaho Board of Nursing because of poor performance on the nclex RN and LPN by their students. Clinical sites prefer Apollo students because they are eager to learn and are prepared, not the same of BSU students. That is not coming from me,that is coming from numerous clinical sites.

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Specializes in Hospice.

It's my understanding that Apollo is NOT NLN accredited. Not yet, but they're working on it. Am I wrong? I live in Mtn. Home, and I just can't make the drive to Boise back and forth every day in the winter time, so I'm looking at other options. It looks like Excelsior is it for me right now. ;/ The price of Apollo's ADN is crazy for me too.

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Specializes in ICU.

You are correct on Apollo... The Boise program is in the candidate phase of NLN accreditation for their Practical nurse offerings only and are not listed as an accredited school of nursing for any of their programs (http://www.nlnac.org), although in Arizona they are in the process for associates RN. CCNE accreditation would not apply as that is for BS and Graduate schools. Apollo is an accredited technical school, approved by the Idaho Board of Nursing for the Associates program (http://www.ibn.idaho.gov/publications.htm schools of nursing).

Just FYI on Excelsior, many states, Idaho included are looking to no longer allow graduates of the Excelsior program become licensed RN's. They have been talking about this for a while.... who knows if or when it will happen.

I don't mean to rain on your parade... but it would be terrible to do all the work and pay all the loads of money to not be allowed to become licensed in this state... I would suggest contacting the Board of Nursing to see when they plan on no longer accepting Excelsior, and if it's within your timeline, getting it done before??? Or apply to BSU, ISU, CWI, CSI though that doesn't help your drive....

best wishes to you in your nursing career...

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Specializes in Hospice.

I have a hard time w/Excelsior as well as I'm not comfortable w/what I know about their CPNE's. The bottom line is that I'm not willing to pay 19,000 for an associates degree, from ANYWHERE, to include Apollo.

I worked for a title iv "technical school" which is a nice way to say "proprietary school" which is a nice way to say "privately run business just like a store in the mall or anywhere else that has a product to push to make money." LOL. I'M VERY VERY wary of these places. I've heard nice things about Apollo, but I can't align myself w/any proprietary school after what I saw in my years in financial aid at that place.

They all have a very similar business model that just doesn't sit well with me. I'm not saying Apollo is bad, how could I? I know very little about it. But I know enough that I'm not desperate enough *yet* haha :D to pay 19k for an associates degree, that's just, not a sound financial decision for my life.

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