Need advice on LPN program at Estrella Mountain Community College

U.S.A. Arizona

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Hello! I am new here and have a question. I want to get my RN but as you know there are 2 year waiting lists at MCCC. So I was thinking about getting my LPN at EMCC at their skills center and then apply for the RN program once I have my LPN. I read on their website that they have advanced placement for LPN students who are wanting to get into the RN program. Would this be a good idea or just do the RN program? Are there waiting list for the LPN programs? Sorry, I hope all that made sense! I just want to get my schooling done ASAP so that I can start working.

Thanks!!

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Hello! I am new here and have a question. I want to get my RN but as you know there are 2 year waiting lists at MCCC. So I was thinking about getting my LPN at EMCC at their skills center and then apply for the RN program once I have my LPN. I read on their website that they have advanced placement for LPN students who are wanting to get into the RN program. Would this be a good idea or just do the RN program? Are there waiting list for the LPN programs? Sorry, I hope all that made sense! I just want to get my schooling done ASAP so that I can start working.

Thanks!!

Yes, I would advise this strongly. You can come out of the PN program and once you are licensed can make up to $26 an hour. Then you can continue on with your pre-req's(if you haven't finished them) and you will be place into the 3rd block in the R.N program. I can't say how long you will have to wait as I'm not at that point yet either. I am going through the Maricopa Skills center PN program and then I plan to continue slowly to pursue my R.N.

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Yes, I would advise this strongly. You can come out of the PN program and once you are licensed can make up to $26 an hour. Then you can continue on with your pre-req's(if you haven't finished them) and you will be place into the 3rd block in the R.N program. I can't say how long you will have to wait as I'm not at that point yet either. I am going through the Maricopa Skills center PN program and then I plan to continue slowly to pursue my R.N.

$26/hr. :) That is the first time I ever heard that, but so happy to hear it. I've always heard it was anywhere from $16/18-$20 an hr.

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$26/hr. :) That is the first time I ever heard that, but so happy to hear it. I've always heard it was anywhere from $16/18-$20 an hr.

Yes, that is the high end. But, a friend of mine graduated last Aug. she works for a rehab facility in Sun City...nights and makes $26 an hour. They pay their day LPN's $24. She also the option to work "double weekends" which is like, Sat/Sun 16 hrs each day. You then get paid for 40hrs. I'd say the average for a LTC facility is $20 which I'd be fine with. Then if you work through an agency they usually say anywhere from $20-$24 an hour. The hospitals pay less..$16-$18 an hr.

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I, and my two other friends I've kept in touch with from LPN school, all make over $25/hr. One works nights but that's because she wants to. I make more because I work PRN with no benefits. People who take benefits make less.

As for estrella mountain, I got my LPN there at the skill ctr. The waiting list was 9 months back then and I finished prereqs during the wait and also while I was in school.

I just finished their advanced placement program for LPNs. I was in their first graduating RN class, we just finished a few weeks ago. There were good things and bad about the program. I do feel the instructors there are the kind that want to see students succeed though, which I hear is not the case at some of the other maricopa schools. They are adding more spots this fall too and I hear there is not a waiting list yet.

Becca

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There is a 9 month wait for Estrella's LPN program. I went to their info session this past Thursday and took their test. They told us our chances of starting in Nov 2007 is pretty much zero, the next class is in 9 months, April 2008.

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FYI......if you want to go to Southwest skills center for your LPN, you need to come up with around $2000 to put down. They require that before any financial aid is granted or anything. I opted to apply to another program because I cannot foresee that I will have that kind of money lying around in the next few months. Hey, that's one less person on the waitlist...

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Just to inform you the waitlist at Emcc for the LPN program is now 1-2 yrs for people that are just now turning in apps! I received a call yesterday that I could start August 6th because they had an opening. But, unfortunately cannot start until next APril 2008, because I'm pg and due Feb 1st so that sux. But yeah you have to have $2000 to start before financial aid.

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Specializes in LTC, Rehab, CCU, Alzheimers, Med-Surg.

Just an update to the update: The wait is no longer nearly that long. I applied in Nov '10 and got a guaranteed spot for July '11.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Progressive Tele.

Here is an update for people going into ADN programs. Hospitals are looking for BSN nurses. Most of the hospital web pages state "BSN perfered" I know more ADN nurses who haven't found jobs then BSN's. Time's have changed so just be prepared when you are finally done that a job might not be there for you with a ADN. This is just fact.

Just an update to the update: The wait is no longer nearly that long. I applied in Nov '10 and got a guaranteed spot for July '11.
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Specializes in LTC, Rehab, CCU, Alzheimers, Med-Surg.

This is true, most hospitals want BSNs due to Magnet status, or just due to the fact that there are more nurses in the job market right now. If an employer had a choice between a two degree nurse and a four year degree nurse, which one would they choose? Especially seeing as most hospitals only pay something like 50 cents an hour more for a nurse with a BSN.

However, ADN nurses are still being hired, especially if you already have an in at a hospital.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Progressive Tele.

I trully do not believe that it has to do with Magnet status any longer. I would have agreed with that statement 3-5 years ago. But research has shown that BSN's over all are better nurses. OK, please do not send hate mail or make a vodoo doll of me. It research that I read in my BSN program. This doesn't mean I don;t know some ADN nurses who aren't fantastic and some BSN nurse who are horrible. But the hospitals today (here in AZ) can be picky on the mini requirements, and for the most part in Hospitals it is a nurse with BSN. Doesn't mean a ADN with experience wont get hired.

This is true, most hospitals want BSNs due to Magnet status, or just due to the fact that there are more nurses in the job market right now. If an employer had a choice between a two degree nurse and a four year degree nurse, which one would they choose? Especially seeing as most hospitals only pay something like 50 cents an hour more for a nurse with a BSN.

However, ADN nurses are still being hired, especially if you already have an in at a hospital.

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