Capital Area School of Practical Nursing, Springfield Illinois

meownsmile, BSN, RN · Jun 17, 2006

It's a pretty good program as far as i know. I dont think any of their classes count for college credit or are transferable to LLCC down the street though if you are considering going on to their RN bridge/RN program. Might want to check into that if you have further plans for anything. Good luck.

valifay · Jun 18, 2006

I work with one of the instructors. She says it is a really good program, but its pretty fast paced. Good luck to you!

hrslvr1970 · Jun 18, 2006

Thanks, I have a feeling it will be hard but worth it. I believe that after 1000 hours as a LPN you can bridge into your RN. Will look into a little better.

meownsmile, BSN, RN · Jun 20, 2006

LLCC LPN program goes straight into their RN program,, no bridging needed. Have you ruled that program out?

valifay · Jun 26, 2006

You can get into the RN program at LLCC out of CASPN if you have taken the required pre reqs for the program. I would suggest giving LLCC a call to start the process of getting in now. I hear there is a 2 year waitlist right now!

LPN Soon · Jun 30, 2006

Any graduates of this program? Start in the fall and curious about the school....they have no website, so word of mouth for the school is all I have. Thanks for any insight.

Hi, congrats on getting in to the program. I graduated 6/16/06 from that program. This is a very intense program and very fast pace, but it is doable. My advice to you would be to never miss class if you can help it, cause you really get behind. Keep your grades up because once they fall they are very hard to get back up. Unless they change things there was rarely any homework they just test you to death...LOL. 1st quarter (to me) was the hardest, for example it was not unusual to have 5 test in 4 days! 2nd quarter was more laid back not as many test, 3rd quarter rough because you start pharm. and 4th quarter not to bad probably the easiest. Good luck on your journey and if you have any questions just ask I will try my best to answer them for you.

Lisa

meownsmile, BSN, RN · Jul 1, 2006

Valifay,, i think there is as one of the RN's that i work with just finished the program and i know she had to wait a full year after finishing her pre-reqs to start her bridge and last year. So i know there is at least a year waiting time.

hrslvr1970 · Jul 21, 2006

LPNSOON- thanks for the advice...they say try not to work because of the class work you will have at night....i have four kids that will have to be put on hold during the next 9 months....how were clinicals...were they at memorial or st. johns or somewhere else? clinical hours different that class hours? Sure wish they had a website with more info. i have oreintation on wednesday, hope to get more info. Are you working as an lpn now? my husband hunts in winchester and is good friends with the sherrif. thanks for any info.

LPN Soon · Jul 22, 2006

LPNSOON- thanks for the advice...they say try not to work because of the class work you will have at night....i have four kids that will have to be put on hold during the next 9 months....how were clinicals...were they at memorial or st. johns or somewhere else? clinical hours different that class hours? Sure wish they had a website with more info. i have oreintation on wednesday, hope to get more info. Are you working as an lpn now? my husband hunts in winchester and is good friends with the sherrif. thanks for any info.

Clinicals to me were fun. I was lucky and got all day clinicals, which I had no say so in since the Instructors make the clinical rotation, but clinicals are days and evenings. I was also working in the evening but of course I don't have children and where I worked I could study at the same time. Clinicals are at St. Johns, Memorial, St. Johns North (which is a nursing home) and Heritage Manor (nursing home). By the time I finished clinicals I knew Springfield better then I wanted to...LOL. As for working if you don't have to don't, the only reason I was able to is because I had time to study at work.

Also Clinicals are Wednesday-Thursday. At the beginning of each quarter you have a few weeks in class before clinicals start, which I would much rather be in clinicals then sitting in that classroom. As for me working as an LPN, I just took the NCLEX and applied for my license this month. I found out Thursday that my license has been issued so I will be looking for a LPN job starting Monday..wooohooo I could have started looking sooner but I didn't want to work license pending, cause if for some reason you don't pass the NCLEX the first time I heard most employers will let you go.

Good Luck..You can do it!!!

Lisa

CNA_2000 · Jul 23, 2006

LPN SOON:

I HAVE a question about the CASPN do you have any other test booklets,

like the little blue one that you oder for when you take the test to see if you get in. sometime in august there suppose to send me the testing dates, was the test very hard to take i heard there was a lot of math on it.

CNA_2000

LPN Soon · Jul 25, 2006

LPN SOON:
I HAVE a question about the CASPN do you have any other test booklets,
like the little blue one that you oder for when you take the test to see if you get in. sometime in august there suppose to send me the testing dates, was the test very hard to take i heard there was a lot of math on it.
CNA_2000

CNA 2000 welcome to allnurses. Yes I ordered that book online (can't remember what web site maybe ebay). I would strongly recommend it because it's a lot like the test you have to take. There is a lot of math on it the other part is reading and picking out the main idea and critical thinking questions. But for me the reading test in the book was harder then the real test which I think is a good thing. If you can do well on the practice test in the book you should do fine on the real test. I would look online for a used one because you will never use it again and I think a new one can cause $30.00.

Good Luck...Lisa