Denver School of Nursing

DanaS · Jul 12, 2005

Hello Everyone! I went to my initial meeting today at DSON. Sick and tired of waiting to hear from Concorde as to when the Fall seat will be "unfrozen." I was pretty impressed with DSON. Much better path in my opinion to the RN. Concorde was impressive to me due to the "no wait lists" and the part-time program availability, but boy am I glad I had the time to do a little more research and think about what makes more sense. As I repeat in most every post, the LPN salary just won't cut it for me and I must be able to obtain my RN - and preferably within the few years. Concorde just doesn't offer that.

Anyway, back on DSON. Anyone with any feedback on obtaining the $$$$ for the tuition? Frankly, the PN course at DSON is no more expensive than Concorde, but as you know they are not Federally funded.

I have equity in my home and am thinking of a home equity line rather than a Sallie Mae loan. Any feedback?

Further, with regard to the background checks....I am currently a well-balanced, responsible, mother of three and work as a paralegal. However, I did have quite the wacky teenage years. Absolutely no convictions of any kind, but did have my run-ins with the law when I was a youngster (18 to 21). :uhoh21: What are they looking for? Only convictions I hope? I've done nothing that crazy but it concerns me about what this background check will look like with my crazy teenage escapades. :coollook:

Thanks for any input here.

Annesy · Jul 12, 2005

Hello Everyone! I went to my initial meeting today at DSON. Sick and tired of waiting to hear from Concorde as to when the Fall seat will be "unfrozen." I was pretty impressed with DSON. Much better path in my opinion to the RN. Concorde was impressive to me due to the "no wait lists" and the part-time program availability, but boy am I glad I had the time to do a little more research and think about what makes more sense. As I repeat in most every post, the LPN salary just won't cut it for me and I must be able to obtain my RN - and preferably within the few years. Concorde just doesn't offer that.
Anyway, back on DSON. Anyone with any feedback on obtaining the $$$$ for the tuition? Frankly, the PN course at DSON is no more expensive than Concorde, but as you know they are not Federally funded.
I have equity in my home and am thinking of a home equity line rather than a Sallie Mae loan. Any feedback?
Further, with regard to the background checks....I am currently a well-balanced, responsible, mother of three and work as a paralegal. However, I did have quite the wacky teenage years. Absolutely no convictions of any kind, but did have my run-ins with the law when I was a youngster (18 to 21). :uhoh21: What are they looking for? Only convictions I hope? I've done nothing that crazy but it concerns me about what this background check will look like with my crazy teenage escapades.
Thanks for any input here.

Hi Dana,

I just started the LPN program last week. I went with the Sallie Mae loan, as we just bought our house and don't have much equity yet. Home equity is probably better though, because the SM loan is to be paid back at "current market interest rates", which apparently can be as high as a credit card rate. Your mortagage and equity loans are probably at a much lower rate.

I don't know what exactly they are looking for in your background check, but I am sure you could find out through the board of nursing or even DSON. I think they are looking for big stuff, like abuse/felony, maybe drug stuff. I dunno. I am sure crazy teenager stuff isn't going to keep you out.

Good luck with all of your decisions.

Anne

DanaS · Jul 12, 2005

Thanks Anne. I am such a dork :rolleyes: I went ahead and ordered the background check DSON requires. There's a 72 hour turn around time and I just could not wait. So I went to another website and paid another $40 to get an instant one. Nothing is on my record (at least according to the more expensive and instant check) and now I have spent $65 because of my fear that there might be that minor with possession of alcohol charge that over 14 years old. Duhhh. Oh well, I guess I can sleep tonight. :chuckle

Thanks for your response. I think I will check out the home equity route. Boy, spending this kinda money makes my palms sweat though!! Good luck to you as well!! Hope to join you in October.

Hi Dana,
I just started the LPN program last week. I went with the Sallie Mae loan, as we just bought our house and don't have much equity yet. Home equity is probably better though, because the SM loan is to be paid back at "current market interest rates", which apparently can be as high as a credit card rate. Your mortagage and equity loans are probably at a much lower rate.
I don't know what exactly they are looking for in your background check, but I am sure you could find out through the board of nursing or even DSON. I think they are looking for big stuff, like abuse/felony, maybe drug stuff. I dunno. I am sure crazy teenager stuff isn't going to keep you out.
Good luck with all of your decisions.
Anne

adventuregirl, MSN, NP · Jul 12, 2005

Hi Dana,

I'm went the equity line of credit route. Only have to pay interest each month, then start paying off once I have an income. If you have equity in your house (which sounds like you do), I think it's the best option.

Good luck with everything!

I just started my 2nd quarter of the BSN program, if you have any other questions, feel free to email me personally. So far, I'm loving it!

Thanks for your response. I think I will check out the home equity route. Boy, spending this kinda money makes my palms sweat though!! Good luck to you as well!! Hope to join you in October.

DanaS · Jul 13, 2005

Thanks, adventuregirl. I was approved today for the equity line (Had to get a much bigger line than I wanted cuz they make you pay off your 2nd and credit cards,etc.) and I agree that it makes more sense to go this route. Now just have to wait for the underwriting BS (appraisals, paperwork, etc.)

On a different note:

I'm curious of the working hours the average student at DSN has. Specifically, are there many students that continue working while attending? My boss knows and anticipates that I will probably cut back big-time, but I'm just curious as to how much I should plan on cutting back. It's been a LOOONG time since I've been in school. Part of me thinks I can do it and keep working at least 20 hours per week. The other part of me thinks I'm being naive and setting my self up for overload.

If I remember correctly, Jeff said that the day program is normally 3 days per week. I can't remember how many clinical hours are on top of that.

Any thoughts? Thanks.

Hi Dana,
I'm went the equity line of credit route. Only have to pay interest each month, then start paying off once I have an income. If you have equity in your house (which sounds like you do), I think it's the best option.
Good luck with everything!
I just started my 2nd quarter of the BSN program, if you have any other questions, feel free to email me personally. So far, I'm loving it!

tlackey · Jul 13, 2005

Hi Dana!

I started the day LPN program at DSON last week too. So far I really like it. My teachers are pretty nice and I like the people in my classes. You'll be with the same people every day that you have class, so it's like high school.

Right now in my first session, I have class Wednesday 1-4, Thursday 8-3, and Friday 8-4. In a few weeks, we start clinicals once a week for eight weeks. You can choose your clinical site, day and time. This session we had a choice between Monday day (6-2), Monday eve (2-10), or Tuesday day (6-2). I know a lot of people in the class who are still working, but part-time at the most. One guy is doing CNA work during the night shift. You can work for sure, but it won't be much. The only reason I say that is because your classes will change every twelve weeks, so the schedule is always changing. I'm only working weekends right now. There is also an evening program, which you probably already know, that is four nights a week starting at six plus clinicals.I like the day classes though; they're pretty flexible and I like being home in the evenings.

If you have any more questions, feel free to email me! Hope this helps -

Tracy

summer39 · Jul 13, 2005

Hi Dana!
I started the day LPN program at DSON last week too. So far I really like it. My teachers are pretty nice and I like the people in my classes. You'll be with the same people every day that you have class, so it's like high school.
Right now in my first session, I have class Wednesday 1-4, Thursday 8-3, and Friday 8-4. In a few weeks, we start clinicals once a week for eight weeks. You can choose your clinical site, day and time. This session we had a choice between Monday day (6-2), Monday eve (2-10), or Tuesday day (6-2). I know a lot of people in the class who are still working, but part-time at the most. One guy is doing CNA work during the night shift. You can work for sure, but it won't be much. The only reason I say that is because your classes will change every twelve weeks, so the schedule is always changing. I'm only working weekends right now. There is also an evening program, which you probably already know, that is four nights a week starting at six plus clinicals.I like the day classes though; they're pretty flexible and I like being home in the evenings.
If you have any more questions, feel free to email me! Hope this helps -
Tracy

hello! i am also going to start my LPN on October. I still need to take my prepreqs. I am glad that I am hearing pretty good things about DSON. Anyone starting here on October at DSON? Just curious. But I will be doing my PN on January during the day too. I prefer studying during the day since I will be quitting my job anyway. Hope to see you guys there. :)

DanaS · Jul 13, 2005

See you in October! I too have to take a couple of the pre-reqs at night and then will probably switch to the day program in January. So relieved to hear the positive comments about the school on this site. It really helps calm the nerves and stuff.

hello! i am also going to start my LPN on October. I still need to take my prepreqs. I am glad that I am hearing pretty good things about DSON. Anyone starting here on October at DSON? Just curious. But I will be doing my PN on January during the day too. I prefer studying during the day since I will be quitting my job anyway. Hope to see you guys there. :)

adventuregirl, MSN, NP · Jul 13, 2005

Hi Dana,

I'd say at least half the students in my class work (and another 1/4 take care of their kids instead of having a job outside the home) at least part-time. I know 2-3 people who work full-time (not sure how they do it though!). I myself work per diem as a CNA at a hospital, mainly becuase I love my job and I love the experience. I plan to take the NCLEX-PN half-way thru the program so I can get more experience as a nurse prior to working as an RN.

Classes are 3 days/week for the first 2 quarters. Then in the 3rd you begin clinicals and classtime turns to 2x/week with clinicals also 2x/wk (12 hr shifts).

I'm curious of the working hours the average student at DSN has. Specifically, are there many students that continue working while attending? My boss knows and anticipates that I will probably cut back big-time, but I'm just curious as to how much I should plan on cutting back. It's been a LOOONG time since I've been in school. Part of me thinks I can do it and keep working at least 20 hours per week. The other part of me thinks I'm being naive and setting my self up for overload.
If I remember correctly, Jeff said that the day program is normally 3 days per week. I can't remember how many clinical hours are on top of that.
Any thoughts? Thanks.

summer39 · Jul 13, 2005

See you in October! I too have to take a couple of the pre-reqs at night and then will probably switch to the day program in January. So relieved to hear the positive comments about the school on this site. It really helps calm the nerves and stuff.

Dana, so you'll be there in October too? Yeah, we'll see you then. What prereqs do you still need to take? I will be taking Med. Term. and Basic A&P. And that will be also at night. I am pretty much done with all the requirements except for the CPR cert. that i don't have yet. I still need to find out where i can take that. BTW, are you done with A&P 1 and 2 and Psych 235? Let me know. Thanks!

summer39 · Jul 13, 2005

Hi Dana,
I'd say at least half the students in my class work (and another 1/4 take care of their kids instead of having a job outside the home) at least part-time. I know 2-3 people who work full-time (not sure how they do it though!). I myself work per diem as a CNA at a hospital, mainly becuase I love my job and I love the experience. I plan to take the NCLEX-PN half-way thru the program so I can get more experience as a nurse prior to working as an RN.
Classes are 3 days/week for the first 2 quarters. Then in the 3rd you begin clinicals and classtime turns to 2x/week with clinicals also 2x/wk (12 hr shifts).

Hi Adventuregirl,

How do you like DSON so far? Are the classes hard? Do they give you a lot of tests already during the first week? Just curious. I am getting excited hearing all these stuffs. I will start there on October taking my prereqs first at night til Dec. Then come January that's where i will be studying during the day. Are you getting excited about the clinicals? What hospital did you pick? And what days?

adventuregirl, MSN, NP · Jul 13, 2005

Hi Dana,

I'm pretty happy with DSON thus far. Classes are challenging, classmates are great, and the instructors are helpful and encouraging. This quarter is shaping up to be even better than the first and I can't wait til clinicals. In Patho we had a quiz every week with a comprehensive final. In pharmacology this quarter is the same thing. In the other classes we either have a test every few weeks, a presentation, paper, etc.

We do not pick a hospital for clinicals. It actually sounds like we'll be jumping around to various hospitals for the different clincials rotations (med-surg, peds, psych, etc). We'll be given choices (1st, 2nd, etc) and I've heard we usually get our first, if not second. This is how it's working for the BSN program anyway, not sure if it's the same for the ADN one.

Hi Adventuregirl,
How do you like DSON so far? Are the classes hard? Do they give you a lot of tests already during the first week? Just curious. I am getting excited hearing all these stuffs. I will start there on October taking my prereqs first at night til Dec. Then come January that's where i will be studying during the day. Are you getting excited about the clinicals? What hospital did you pick? And what days?