I just finished LVN school here and was planning on applying to the bridge programs numerous community collegs here have. However, the requirements are different now, they require a transition course, where some only offer it once a year and you need that to apply to the program itself. Some prerequisites are different as well. I'm just worried because some of my prerequisites will expire next year and the application deadlines are near.
I honestly don't want to do online courses or go the private route because I've already taken out large loans.
I'm sure a lot of you are on the same boat. For those of you who have applied to community colleges, how long did you wait to enter the LVN-RN bridge programs? Specifically Saddleback, Goldenwest, Santa Ana, Cypress, and Cerritos.
im just curious if anyone has had any success with going to a private school in Southern California such as ACC, Concorde, Summit, or Four-D done your LVN and then done a RN bridge program? Has anyone had any success in finding a school where you dont have to do all your GE's? All the community colleges are so hard to get into so I find it hard to believe that you woul dhave to stop at a LVN and not have a RN bridge i just cant find one. I have seen west Coast but they are so expensive. Anyone? ONly other school I found that does RN is everest but from what I hear they are hard to get into also because of the requirements and they only have classes are only 40 per session thus making it very competative?
Whether you go to a community college, private or adult school for your LVN/LPN license, if you want to go forward you must take the required prerequisites to enter the program. An RN degree is based on either an associates degree (ADN) or a bachelors degree (BSN). You must take core graduation classes, the prerequieites for the nursing program, as well as the nursing classes to graduate. Many will obtain the prerequisites as well as graduation requirements while waiting to be admitted to the program. It would be unfortunate to get through the nursing program (ADN or BSN) but not be able to sit for the NCLEX because you still need classes to graduate with your ADN or BSN. Some think that they will take graduation classes along with the nursing classes. It is almost next to impossible to do this. When in the nursing program, concentrate on your nursing courses only--do not get sidetracked and put nursing studies at risk.
As far as private colleges and their high tuitions, I do not recommend this (West Coast is highway robbery). No one knows what the job market will be when you graduate. After graduation, you will have to start repaying those loans. Do your homework; get into the best program you can find for the least amount of money.
If anyone is interested in the LPN/LPN to BSN distant learning program offered through Indiana State University, I strongly suggest going to the AllNurses distant learning site. There you will learn of the various distant learning programs available and their pors/cons of those taking the program. Distant learning is not for everyone but it can be done. The cost for the program is neither inexpensive nor expensive--depending on whether you have an AA or Bachelors degree.
If you are interested in distant learning, do check out the site and hear what others have to say.
LadyinScrubs, ASN, RN
788 Posts
Whether you go to a community college, private or adult school for your LVN/LPN license, if you want to go forward you must take the required prerequisites to enter the program. An RN degree is based on either an associates degree (ADN) or a bachelors degree (BSN). You must take core graduation classes, the prerequieites for the nursing program, as well as the nursing classes to graduate. Many will obtain the prerequisites as well as graduation requirements while waiting to be admitted to the program. It would be unfortunate to get through the nursing program (ADN or BSN) but not be able to sit for the NCLEX because you still need classes to graduate with your ADN or BSN. Some think that they will take graduation classes along with the nursing classes. It is almost next to impossible to do this. When in the nursing program, concentrate on your nursing courses only--do not get sidetracked and put nursing studies at risk.
As far as private colleges and their high tuitions, I do not recommend this (West Coast is highway robbery). No one knows what the job market will be when you graduate. After graduation, you will have to start repaying those loans. Do your homework; get into the best program you can find for the least amount of money.