delta college

*~RN~* · Apr 27, 2009

I have met many a LPN who graduated from the Delta program. I have oriented and trained these nurses after they obtained their license. The program is quick and generally easy and the clinical program is very flexible according to your schedule eg. nights and weekend hours for working adults. I have a few concerns though. The nurses that I have oriented after graduation, knew very little about acute care medical/surgical nursing and hands on practice. I assume this is because of the lack of clinical experience.

Now keep in mind that once the nurse was oriented for a longer period than say a nurse who graduated elsewhere, they worked out just fine. This may be the case for only the nurses who I have delt with but this can happen in any program.

My advice is get as much as you can out of your program and you'll be fine. Don't ever accept the least amount of education possible. Remember it is your education and deserve the right to it especially after all the money you will invest. Don't take the easy road out just to get through the program. You will be much more prepared for your career if you push yourself to the limit even if the instructors do not. If you really care about nursing and have a passion for it like the rest of us then you'll apply yourself and get the most of your education. Education is what you make of it.

Hope that helps a bit!!

REDBONE08 · Apr 27, 2009

Thanks very much. It helped very much. I am kind of nervous about starting the program. How much do LPN's start off at and what do you mean you oriented and trained the nurses?

*~RN~* · May 4, 2009

When a new nurse lands his/her first job, the new nurse is paired with a mentor. The mentor shows the nurse the ropes and gets them oriented to the unit. Most hospitals have an orientation program like that. Once you graduate and get a job, you will have a preceptor and will orient and train with one of your fellow co-workers.

LPNs pay varies upon location and where you work. Most hospitals in say the Lafayette area start LPNs off at 10 to 11 per hour. That might be different in other locations such as New Orleans or Baton Rouge which tend to have higher pay rates. There are nursing homes and LTACs that pay more money like anywhere from 17-20 per hour but usually they don't offer any benefits and please consider the fact that you may want to work in acute care to get the most experience you can get that way you are worth more to a hospital. LPNs with many years of experience are a true asset to hospitals and pay them very well with benefits.

Also consider agency nursing. Once you have a year of experience, you can earn a very good salary. Agency nurses usually start out at 24 an hour some make up to 28. I work for an agency that you might want to eventually consider after you graduate and work a year.

Thanks

REDBONE08 · May 4, 2009

Thank you so much. You have helped me a great bit

Lilbabyj · May 14, 2009

Which location are you planning to attend? I'm a recent graduate from the Delta College in Covington, I would be happy to answer any questions you might have! However, the answers may not be what you might want to hear.

REDBONE08 · May 14, 2009

I am going to attend the one in Baton Rouge.

Lilbabyj · May 16, 2009

Well, I've heard that the Baton Rouge and Covington locations are pretty different in the way things are done. So, I can't really offer you too much insight. But I will have to agree with the previous post from ~RN~ about the lack of hands on experience in med/surg! But I don't think it's due to lack of clinical experience, because we had a year of clinicals on a med/surg floor, but due to the type of teaching experiences throughout clinicals, which to me ,was very disappointing and frustrating! a few of my classmates brought these concerns to the administration but nothing changed. Honestly, when I started working just felt like a complete idiot due to this issue, thank god I had a good preceptor.

REDBONE08 · May 16, 2009

I can't wait until I start this program I am very excited and I am never excited about school. But I am kind of worried about my age because I am about to be 19. I am just ready for life out of school to begin!

futurenurse102 · Sep 13, 2009

Hi, I was wondering if you started the delta college lpn program? I applied to ololc - the lpn at the health career center? Please let me know if you guys have already started the program im out of state and have been wasting so much waiting. Please let me know.