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Specializes in in home care, LTC, med-surg.

I have read so many things that say that the wait is so long for the program and all the bad things. Is there anyone who didn't wait forever????? I am taking the prereq. in the fall and a few gen ed classes and I have already put in my app. for the nursing program. I will be taking the net soon. I was very excited but now a little discouraged. I just don't want it to take forever!!!

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I have read so many things that say that the wait is so long for the program and all the bad things. Is there anyone who didn't wait forever????? I am taking the prereq. in the fall and a few gen ed classes and I have already put in my app. for the nursing program. I will be taking the net soon. I was very excited but now a little discouraged. I just don't want it to take forever!!!

Hi! Im in the LPN Program at Penn Valley right now. and yes the wait is HORRIBLE for the RN program at penn valley. i have actually heard people giving up and doing something else because of the wait. i decided to do the LPN route and got into the program REALLY fast. besides i wanted to make sure i want to be a nurse for the rest of my life. and i think theres more benefits to becoming an LPN first. its only a 1 year program and then just 1 more year after that for yuor RN so its the same amount of time, you are more prepared then the other RNs in the program, and most hospitals will pay for you to get your RN. not to mention you'll be makin pretty good money while you are getting your RN. well i hope this information helped ya!

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Specializes in in home care, LTC, med-surg.
What is the class schedule like for the lpn program? All day, Mon-Fri? Do classes start once or twice a year? I am already enrolled in the pre-reqs for this semester but I guess if I did the lpn then bridged over I would at least have them done already. I really had my heart set on the adn program, but I guess that I could still end up in the same place in the end. Thanks for the info. I really appreciate it.
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You can either do weekdays which is what i do and its mon-thurs from 7-4 and then i work on the weekends. then there is a night and evening weekend program but im not sure what the hours are like for the and i think its a 17 month program instead of 12. classes start twice a year, once in jan and once in august. i was the same way about getting my RN right off the bat... but i just didnt want to wait any longer... i look at it this way.. nursing is nursing.. u help people no matter what and it doesnt matter what way you take to get your RN.. just as long as u get it. and u might even get it faster doin it this way then waiting 3 years to get in the program. the only problem is theres a wait to get in the bridge program also... but a lot of girls are finishing their RN online at http://www.excelsior.edu ... which im all about!! good luck with your decison!!

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Specializes in LDRP.

The wait can be long, so you need to get right on getting your pre-reqs done and submitted, your NET, etc. I waited 1 semester back in 2004, now the wait time has gone up--but you could take more classes towards your BSN. Dont let the wait put you off-it exists at most schools around the country--trust me, I have checked. Keep your grades up, too!

GL!

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Specializes in in home care, LTC, med-surg.

Allthingsbright: How long did you wait to get into Penn Valley? Are you in the program now? :idea:

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Specializes in Geriatric and Corrections.

Hi fellow PV students! I'm starting next Tuesday 8/8 in the Part-time eve/wkend LPN program. We have class Tues, Thurs 5p-9p and e/o wknd 2 12 hour clinicals. My "personal wait" was long! (since summer 02). I had let go of the dream until the letter showed up in May. Talk about synchronicity. I'm switching careers after 10 years as an office manager. The part time class is filled quickly I believe and it does take 17 months so there are fewer start times as opposed to the full time program. I hear it is faster to get in on days full time. Either way, I have the same opinion as Iluvnursing 265 about becoming an LPN first. It's more experience in the trenches and it's not what you do that's important but HOW you do what you do that counts. You can touch lives no matter! It's an excellent school and I'm very excited. Sherry Lee is very helpful at Pioneer in the nursing office. Feel free to message me if you have any questions.

Kara

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Specializes in Emergency Dept.

Hi. From someone who's been there - PENN VALLEY IS NOT WORTH IT!!! They are unorganized and ineffective. You wouldn't believe some of the horrors they put their students through. When I was there the wait wasn't that long, but if the wait has gotten that bad - go ahead and get your Gen Eds and get a BSN at a better program. i.e. Missouri Western in St. Joseph has a wonderful program.

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Specializes in LDRP.
I have read so many things that say that the wait is so long for the program and all the bad things. Is there anyone who didn't wait forever????? I am taking the prereq. in the fall and a few gen ed classes and I have already put in my app. for the nursing program. I will be taking the net soon. I was very excited but now a little discouraged. I just don't want it to take forever!!!

I waited one semester, but that was before the (rumored) two year wait started happening--I guess I got in before all that (freshman in Fall 2004--moved for a year and and a half to florida, moved back and now am starting second semester and I hear the wait has doubled since I moved).

You can always take classes towrds your BSN while you wait! Good luck! ;)

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Specializes in LDRP.
Hi. From someone who's been there - PENN VALLEY IS NOT WORTH IT!!! They are unorganized and ineffective. You wouldn't believe some of the horrors they put their students through. When I was there the wait wasn't that long, but if the wait has gotten that bad - go ahead and get your Gen Eds and get a BSN at a better program. i.e. Missouri Western in St. Joseph has a wonderful program.

My 1st semester at PV was great--I have heard it is HARDER down the line, but I have not heard it is an awful program from anyone except those that flunked out (and I am not saying you flunked out--just what I have heard). Anyway, I hope the program continues to go ok for me! :)

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Specializes in Emergency Dept.

Didn't flunk out. And with the exception of the horrors of mental health (this was back in 2002 though), the classes themselves weren't that out there. It was the lack of organization. I was repeatedly told I was accepted to the program for the fall (on five different occassions I called / went in to check and see what I was suppose to do). They kept saying they would send me a schedule. Well, come first of August I called and they said I hadn't signed one of the forms (that I knew nothing about but had repeatedly called to see if there was anything I needed to do) so I wouldn't be allowed to start that semester. The second semester we were given schedules 2 1/2 weeks before the semester started, on the first day of classes they informed us that those schedules were no longer valid and here was our new schedules - REALLY through a wrench in the plans for those who had made work and child care arrangements. I could tell you story after story of examples like this. The office staff would get very upset if people came to ask questions. My final straw came with my Peds clinical instructor. She was the one and only person I really had MAJOR issues with instructor wise. I work in an area hospital and with several Penn Valley students / new grads and they say she is just as bad. Now, this is just a perspective of people being out of line. In general I think Missouri Western's teachers (in general - Penn Valley has a couple of high rating teachers) are of higher quality than those at PVCC. The teachers are MWSU care more about their students and are much more willing to assist you.

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Specializes in LDRP.
Didn't flunk out. And with the exception of the horrors of mental health (this was back in 2002 though), the classes themselves weren't that out there. It was the lack of organization. I was repeatedly told I was accepted to the program for the fall (on five different occassions I called / went in to check and see what I was suppose to do). They kept saying they would send me a schedule. Well, come first of August I called and they said I hadn't signed one of the forms (that I knew nothing about but had repeatedly called to see if there was anything I needed to do) so I wouldn't be allowed to start that semester. The second semester we were given schedules 2 1/2 weeks before the semester started, on the first day of classes they informed us that those schedules were no longer valid and here was our new schedules - REALLY through a wrench in the plans for those who had made work and child care arrangements. I could tell you story after story of examples like this. The office staff would get very upset if people came to ask questions. My final straw came with my Peds clinical instructor. She was the one and only person I really had MAJOR issues with instructor wise. I work in an area hospital and with several Penn Valley students / new grads and they say she is just as bad. Now, this is just a perspective of people being out of line. In general I think Missouri Western's teachers (in general - Penn Valley has a couple of high rating teachers) are of higher quality than those at PVCC. The teachers are MWSU care more about their students and are much more willing to assist you.

Well, I agree about the organization thing--yet they have fixed some of that in the last year (new office staff has helped). They have a new mental health teacher (the old one was wacky) but I have heard horrors about peds, too--so, I hope I make it! :)

Good luck at Missouri W.--I heard it is a good school!

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