Cincinnati State Technical College-- Has anyone ever attended?

ShantheRN, BSN, RN · Nov 4, 2009

I'm a Cincy State student right now. Good news - tuition is cheap. Bad news - everyone wants to be a nurse nowadays so there's a wait list for the LPN and RN programs. There's no getting around that part. There are bad advisers, but there are some really good ones. You just need to sift through them.

That being said...find out some definite information re: Bohecker's accreditation. Don't make the decison based on a rumor! I'm not sure how other schools work, but there were LPNs in my classes this term. They have to do the same clinical rotation as the folks in the RN program. A few were quite miffed about that LOL

I have no idea about the LPN program so I can't offer words of wisdom about it. But....if you only have 2 terms left at your old school, finish and sit for boards. Otherwise it's a waste of money.

Heavenly4505 · Nov 10, 2009

Hello,

I will be beginning Cincinnati State's LPN program at Live Oaks (the Milford branch of Great Oaks) next Tuesday, November 17th. At this point in time, there is NOT a wait for the LPN program. In fact, they had trouble FILLING UP the LPN classes for the upcoming quarter. They are on a rotating schedule with the LPN program, in that different campuses of Oaks are starting the program at different times. Diamond Oaks started theirs in early Fall, whereas Scarlet and Live Oaks are starting theirs in Late Fall. I'm not sure about the other Oaks campuses.

There is a wait for the Cincy State RN program. I am not sure how long. I plan to do my LPN through Great Oaks/Cincy State and then do my RN online from a different school. I am not sure what prereqs you are referring to for the LPN program. It is an all-inclusive program, in that everything is included, such as A & P, communications, psych, etc. The only pre-req that I am aware of is the STNA certification. Also, if you do not have previous college credit, you have to take the COMPASS test and take any developmental courses that you test into based on that test. You could take the STNA class through ANYWHERE that offers it; it does not have to be from Cincy State. You just need to be on the state registry of Nurse Aides.

I, too, was planning to attend Bohecker and had, in fact, gone through the whole admissions process. However, I live in Milford and Live Oaks is super close for me, super cheap, and not having the same accreditation issues as Bohecker. Spending $21,000 for my LPN did not appeal to me when I can go to Cincy State/Live Oaks and spend $5000. The risk of Bohecker losing accreditation was a chance I am not willing to take--especially a $21,000 chance! If you have any questions, feel free to PM me. I will be happy to answer any that I can regarding the Cincy State/Great Oaks LPN program.

Lisa

foreverLaur · Dec 21, 2009

Anyone know if the state tested nurse aide requirement can be waived?

I took the class 2.5 years ago and I have worked both full time and part time as a nurse aide in a hospital over the past 2.5 years (I have about 4300 hours).

I'm obviously no longer eligible to take the state test, so will the requirement be waived or will I have to retake the class despite my work experience?

Heavenly4505 · Dec 21, 2009

You are required to be a STATE TESTED Nurse Aide for both the LPN and RN programs at Cincy State. Unfortunately, your work experience will not count. It's not the class they are interested in; it's your STNA card which shows that you passed the state. If you are already state-tested, you will be fine. It does not matter how long ago you took the test, only that you are state-tested. But if you are not state-tested and have just been working as a non-certified aide, you will not be able to attend the Cincy State programs. You will have to take a STNA class and then challenge the state test in order to be eligible.

Good luck.

foreverLaur · Dec 21, 2009

Ahh never seen a program require that. The test just seems like a silly waste of $100 for someone who took the class, plus an additional class that taught phlebotomy, EKGs, foleys, sterile technique, and wound dressing changes.

I took the class at a reputable place, slept through lectures, studied for other classes during labs, and still received a 100% in the class. YAWN.

I'd like to spend my time/money learning, not repeating. I'll look for another nursing school that does that.

Thanks for the info!

Heavenly4505 · Dec 22, 2009

Well, you could talk to an advisor at Cincy State and ask them about it. The reason behind the STNA requirement is that they want to make sure you have knowledge of bed baths, transfers, making beds, etc. Unlike a lot of other programs, the Cincy State program does NOT start out with a class that teaches those skills. You are expected to learn them in the STNA class. You could ask an advisor and see if they could let you use documented proof of your work experience instead of making you take the state test.

If you are interested in the name/e-mail of the program chair, please PM me. I can give it to you. It never hurts to ask someone. The worst they can do is say "no." It's my understanding that you MUST be state-tested, but since you've done it for years, maybe they will make an exception for you.

Good luck!

foreverLaur · Dec 22, 2009

So many programs have so many different requirements.

I know Columbus State requires you to take the nurse aid training course plus a patient care tech training course and your first clinical is still in a nursing home.

Cuyahoga Community College doesn't require any sort of work experience or nurse aide training before starting the program and your first clinical is med/surg in a hospital.

Ebeyan29 · Mar 20, 2010

Hello,
I will be beginning Cincinnati State's LPN program at Live Oaks (the Milford branch of Great Oaks) next Tuesday, November 17th. At this point in time, there is NOT a wait for the LPN program. In fact, they had trouble FILLING UP the LPN classes for the upcoming quarter. They are on a rotating schedule with the LPN program, in that different campuses of Oaks are starting the program at different times. Diamond Oaks started theirs in early Fall, whereas Scarlet and Live Oaks are starting theirs in Late Fall. I'm not sure about the other Oaks campuses.
There is a wait for the Cincy State RN program. I am not sure how long. I plan to do my LPN through Great Oaks/Cincy State and then do my RN online from a different school. I am not sure what prereqs you are referring to for the LPN program. It is an all-inclusive program, in that everything is included, such as A & P, communications, psych, etc. The only pre-req that I am aware of is the STNA certification. Also, if you do not have previous college credit, you have to take the COMPASS test and take any developmental courses that you test into based on that test. You could take the STNA class through ANYWHERE that offers it; it does not have to be from Cincy State. You just need to be on the state registry of Nurse Aides.
I, too, was planning to attend Bohecker and had, in fact, gone through the whole admissions process. However, I live in Milford and Live Oaks is super close for me, super cheap, and not having the same accreditation issues as Bohecker. Spending $21,000 for my LPN did not appeal to me when I can go to Cincy State/Live Oaks and spend $5000. The risk of Bohecker losing accreditation was a chance I am not willing to take--especially a $21,000 chance! If you have any questions, feel free to PM me. I will be happy to answer any that I can regarding the Cincy State/Great Oaks LPN program.
Lisa

Hi! i know you posted this a while back, so hopefully you still use this website and can respond. I plan on starting cincinnati state this april for the lpn but since i dont have my STNA certification i know i have to take that class. So my question to you is while im taking the STNA class will i be able to take some of the other class that is on the quarter plan for the LPN? i know im not going to be able to take the PN classes but will they allow me to take some other courses on the layout such as the communication and biology 3?And if you are famililar with the quarter layout they have is there any additional classes they did not include on there that needs to be taken? And last question is, how are you liking the program so far? Thank you in advance so much if you can reply.

Heavenly4505 · Mar 22, 2010

Hi Ebeyan 29,

I started the Cincy State/Great Oaks LPN program in November 2009 at the Live Oaks campus. To answer your first question, yes, you can take the Biology, Communications, Health Informatics, Lifespan Psychology, any GENERAL education course, prior to beginning the program. You can even take them online if they are offered that way. You could certainly take them while completing your STNA course, as several of my classmates did that. I, personally, did not take them beforehand because I had originally planned on attending Xavier for Radiology Technology and was just doing the STNA to get my "foot in the door" in healthcare. But I ended up switching my focus to Nursing and enrolling in Cincy State/Great Oaks program at the last minute. The only general ed. course I did not have to take was the Biology, because I had already taken the whole sequence of Anatomy & Physiology courses at a different school and transferred them in. I do know, however, that once the program starts, you are not allowed to take any of the general ed. courses out of sequence. For example, if you do not take Lifespan Psych before your program starts, you would not be allowed to take it online after you start your PN courses. You would then be required to take it at your Oaks campus with the rest of your classmates in the term it is listed on the course layout. But you can take all of them beforehand and get them out of the way. Several of my classmates did that. It's better that way because then you can just focus on your PN courses. I wish I would have done it that way!

There are no additional courses hidden in the program. What you see in the layout is what you take. The only things are the STNA, which is a preqrequisite, and any deveopmental courses that you "test into" with the Compass test. Also, if you've never had college level Biology or it's been longer than three years since you've had high school Biology, you must take Biology 1 before you can take Biology 3.

I actually really like the program so far. I think the instructors are knowledgeable, and I really like the hands-on lab component. I won't say it's easy by any means; it's a lot of work and studying, especially first term, but I'm learning so much. There's been a little disorganization, mostly with class scheduling and such, because the program is new to Cincy State, but I definitely think it's worth the price. I'm doing the 16-month evening program. I've heard the day program is a lot harder. Good luck to you, and if you need to know anything else, please feel free to ask any questions.

Ebeyan29 · Mar 22, 2010

Hi Ebeyan 29,
I started the Cincy State/Great Oaks LPN program in November 2009 at the Live Oaks campus. To answer your first question, quote]
Heavenly Thank you so much!!! You really helped me so much!!!!! You were able to help me with all my concerns when the people in the admissions office could not. I go to the general information session tomorrow but i have already send in my college transcript and changed my fafsa. So the only thing left to do is to contact my high school for that transcript. Thank You Thank You Thank You!!!!!

Heavenly4505 · Mar 22, 2010

You are most welcome! I highly recommend the program. I think I'm getting a great education, especially for the price. You are welcome to ask me anything you need to. I know how hard it is to try and get information from the admissions office at Cincy State. They have a lot of students and it is easy to get lost in the shuffle sometimes. The information session should answer most of your questions.

Also, by the time you start, most of the "bugs" should be worked out of the program. The Great Oaks program has been around for a long time, but they just partnered with Cincy State last year. It's all still relatively new. But the Oaks program has a great reputation, as does Cincy State. It will be easy to go on for your RN once you graduate from the program. Good luck!