Central Florida LPN programs?

luv4nursing · Jun 10, 2007

I went to Orlando Tech which was a fine program, and there is also TECO which would be closer to you I think. TECO's minimum passing grade is a few points lower than O Tech's, a lot of students from my class who failed went there and Im assuming transferred.

centralflorida · Jun 11, 2007

Thanks, luv4nursing! What does TECO stand for?

luv4nursing · Jun 11, 2007

Thanks, luv4nursing! What does TECO stand for?

Its technical education center of osceola county I believe

coadestone · Jun 11, 2007

I just got my acceptance card for the LPN program

at Erwin Techncial Center - It's in Tampa.

I'm so excited!!!!!

centralflorida · Jun 12, 2007

Congratulations, Coadestone! I hear it can take a while to get into Erwin because of their lottery - did you get in right away? I looked at their web site and it looks like they are full for this year but I may see if I can test and apply anyway - maybe people will drop off the waiting list.

I looked up TECO in Osceola - my only problem is, it's very far from me - a little over 50 miles. I could do it for a year if I had to, but it would be exhausting and a lot of wear and tear on my car. Tampa's only about 30 miles. And even that will be a ROYAL pain to do for a year, but I think it will be worth it.

luv4nursing · Jun 12, 2007

Congratulations, Coadestone! I hear it can take a while to get into Erwin because of their lottery - did you get in right away? I looked at their web site and it looks like they are full for this year but I may see if I can test and apply anyway - maybe people will drop off the waiting list.
I looked up TECO in Osceola - my only problem is, it's very far from me - a little over 50 miles. I could do it for a year if I had to, but it would be exhausting and a lot of wear and tear on my car. Tampa's only about 30 miles. And even that will be a ROYAL pain to do for a year, but I think it will be worth it.

Yeah you are right, I would apply to the schools closes to you if I were you. Then again Id probably apply to all of them just in case. I was willing to commute for the LPN to RN bridge program...I applied to DBCC and Valencia. DBCC was 50 miles from me when I lived in Orlando. I got accepted to both so I chose Valencia. Now that I just moved to Tampa, I have to commute to Valencia and its over 80 miles....but at least I only have to go up there once or twice a week. Im over halfway done (graduate at the beginning or mid December)....but its rough because we have to do a write up on our patients for clinicals so I have to get there at 5 or 5:30 in the morning to have time to look up my information. Which means I must leave around 4am. Its really difficult, but just once a week.

centralflorida · Jun 13, 2007

Wow, I am impressed. Thank God it's only one day a week you have to get up that early! It makes driving a mere 50 miles one day a week seem quite bearable. So it's your bridge program that you are taking now?

coadestone · Jun 19, 2007

I was on Erwin's waiting list for over a year centralflorida, but time

really does fly by. Hopefully the class will go by as fast.

I'm curious Luv4nursing, did you have to do any prerequisites for

the LPN to RN bridge program? You only have to go to class one

day a week? Do you like the class?

I'm only asking b/c this could be my next step if all goes well after

a year of being an LPN.

centralflorida · Jun 19, 2007

Hey, Coadastone - congrats on going to Erwin! As to the LPN to RN proigram - I probably didn't explain myself very well. First of all, as to prerequisites, yes, every bridge program that I have checked with has all the same prereqs you would need to get into the regular RN program - Anatomy & Physiology I and II, nutrition, human growth and development, etc. Even the online bridge program.

I have not checked extensively into the online option yet but as far as I can tell from the allnurses "distance learning" section, it's a difficult, challenging program just as a traditional college is. However, you don't have to finish all the courses within a year so I'm thinking, I could take less then a full-time course load and work a couple of days a week to support myself. Your best bet would be to check out the Excelsior web site to get all the specific details, and to check out the distance learning forum.

The other option is, many colleges in the area have lpn to rn programs. But yes, they all seem to have the requirement for prereqs.

luv4nursing · Jun 19, 2007

I was on Erwin's waiting list for over a year centralflorida, but time
really does fly by. Hopefully the class will go by as fast.
I'm curious Luv4nursing, did you have to do any prerequisites for
the LPN to RN bridge program? You only have to go to class one
day a week? Do you like the class?
I'm only asking b/c this could be my next step if all goes well after
a year of being an LPN.

Hey coadestone,

Yes there are pre reqs...Im taking the brigdge online at Valencia comm. college in Orlando...I just found out that St Petersburg college in Tampa/St Pete also offers an online option. Now isnt the best time to ask me about it because currently it sux big time lol. The main thing I hate is clinicals bc you are back in the "student nurse" role and its difficult to be treated like an idiot when you are doing the same things you currently do as an lpn (meds/dressing changes,etc) we arent allowed to do IVs for some reason. Only 6 more weeks and Ill have a month off...then the fall is my last semester. Its tough but doable. I constantly B*^&^ and moan about it, its a lot of work, but its worth it in the end. The main thing u will feel is that u arent learning anything new and its pointless...lol. Especially after this, I think that LPNs should be able to challenge the RN boards or at least only have to take a couple of classes (leadership/delegation,etc) to be eligible to take RN boards. I feel like Im in LPN school all over again.

If u are going to do the online route, Id go for a local school over Excelsior.

Oh yeah, the one day a week is a 12 hour clinical. Other than that we go on campus for midterms and finals. For the first 6 weeks we had skills check offs in place of clinicals once a week. We do our quizzes online and we have weekly group discussions/case studies.

furturenurse · Jun 20, 2007

I got my accepted card for Erwin Tech too!!!! I'm so happy and nervous. I will start this August. I didn't think I was going to get accepted so fast because is a lottery but I did. I applied this February. I moved from NY to Tampa to pursue my nursing degree and I love FL...Coadstone maybe we will be in the same class.