Help me help my daughter get her LVN in Houston

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Specializes in L&D,surgery,med/surg,ER,alzheimers.

Hello! I am a retired RN (got my RN at San Jacinto back before the computer age so things are different now). Anyway, my 26 year old daughter wants to apply for LVN school, work, and transition to RN when she can. The issue is money and transportation. So she needs financial aid and the school needs to be in NW Houston if possible.

What steps should she go through? What papers does she need to get together? Please help us do this.

What nursing schools have LVN in that area (I have been googling and looking but perhaps yall have tips). HCC? Lone Star?

What about financial aid? FAFSA? Loans? Pell? what is there?

Also, can she find a job in Houston as an LVN? besides nursing homes?

ANY help would be wonderful. Thank you.

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Specializes in L&D,surgery,med/surg,ER,alzheimers.

ok...don't help me.

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I'm not from that area so I can't give you first hand knowledge. I would suggest she start with the local community colleges and adult schools (regional occupational centers) for LVN programs. These programs have the advantage (usually) of being better programs, lower costs, and college credit (in the case of community college programs). Look at for profit trade schools last because they cost way too much and often come with poor reputations. Hope she likes the LVN program she chooses.

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ok...don't help me.

ok first of all, why lvn vs adn? nw houston has a great set of nursing schools, check out lonestar.edu. After pre reqs she could have her RN in 4 semesters. Texas Workforce can provide full scholarships for RN program. (have her fill out her fafsa immediately at fafsa.gov she will need it asap) They have workforce counselors on campus even. School is tough to get in and job market is tight. At least give her a better chance by starting with RN. As you know nursing school is not easy, well; getting in has gotten even more competitive but it is doable even without a lot of resources. (ps I'm in Lonestar for this fall and workforce is paying the whole thing) good luck.

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Specializes in L&D,surgery,med/surg,ER,alzheimers.

Thank yall :)

EmBemap, we are looking at LoneStar. So my daughter can apply for fafsa now and if she can get into the ADN program, it would pay her living expenses as well? She is 26 years old and live on her own with a roommate. She would not be moving back home (I live somewhere else). So would her grants/loans cover her school expense and living expense if she went for her RN? The reason I had said LVN was because we were both thinking she would have to work as an LVN to afford finishing school and becoming an RN.

Please talk to me about this as if I am as dumb as a post because I want to get it straight. I graduated in 1990 and things may have changed (San Jacinto, which is the far side of Houston, in Pasadena, and just too far away).

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Specializes in L&D,surgery,med/surg,ER,alzheimers.

Me again.

So she applies for fafsa now and also applies to LoneStar, and a meeting with advisors there. Then she would have to take prerequisits, and maybe get in by fall of 2011? Can you give me some sort of timeline so I can picture it in my head and then talk to her about it? Her computer is down so she can't read this thread now.

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Specializes in MedSurg, Clinic, ER.
So would her grants/loans cover her school expense and living expense if she went for her RN?

While there may be special situations where a person can do this, it is the general rule that financial aid for college does not cover living expenses. Depending on program costs (tuition, books, etc), one may be able to obtain student loans that could cover a very modest set of living expenses, but it is not recommended to go too far above cost of program on loans because you have to pay those back once you finish.

Have her fill out the FAFSA asap because it takes time to process. Next step would be to meet with counseling staff at any prospective college she hopes to attend (don't limit yourself to one unless you have a very good reason like transportation issues)... counseling services staff will be able to advise your daughter on her options for that particular campus.

The following link is from the TXBON and lists all approved LVN programs in TX.

http://www.bon.state.tx.us/nursingeducation/edudocs/vnschools.pdf

This link is for the TXBON list of RN programs and does include notation regarding LVN to RN bridge programs where available.

http://www.bon.state.tx.us/nursingeducation/edudocs/rnschools.pdf

Just review those lists and find the ones in Houston that meet all of her geographic requirements and go from there.

Generally, you can email counseling services at any campus with questions regarding admission, requirements, etc... if they don't know the answer they can at least re-direct you to someone who does.

Good luck to your daughter! HTH

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Specializes in MedSurg, Clinic, ER.
Me again.

So she applies for fafsa now and also applies to LoneStar, and a meeting with advisors there. Then she would have to take prerequisits, and maybe get in by fall of 2011? Can you give me some sort of timeline so I can picture it in my head and then talk to her about it? Her computer is down so she can't read this thread now.

It is possible, but I believe it is very competitive. The link below is to a thread discussing Spring 2011 hopefuls for RN program... reading through it might give you a better idea of how to advise your daughter on preparing herself for application (grades, etc)...

Lone Star Spring 2011 - Nursing for Nurses

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Specializes in L&D,surgery,med/surg,ER,alzheimers.

ZiggysGal THANK YOU! That is so much help. I imagine that she needs to get started on prerequisites as soon as possible, like this fall 2010.

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Specializes in L&D,surgery,med/surg,ER,alzheimers.

This thread is now about another RN program (HCC) so I am starting a new one...I hope that is ok.

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Specializes in L&D,surgery,med/surg,ER,alzheimers.

Ok, I am actually back here to ask another question about Lone Star LVN program. I have looked all over their website and cannot find the curriculum or pre-reqs or anything about an LVN program. Am I missing something? :uhoh3:We are mainly interested in the Cy-Fair location because of transportation. Thanks :)

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Specializes in MedSurg, Clinic, ER.

LSC-CyFair Nursing Department

The Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program and the Licensed Vocational Nursing (LVN) program are taught at Lone Star College-CyFair's Barker Cypress campus, 9191 Barker Cypress Road, Cypress, Texas in HSC 129.

For more information, please email [email protected] or call 281-290-3991

Students are required to complete clinical rotations, which require them to travel to sites off campus. Clinical affiliations are currently located in Houston and the Lone Star College-CyFair service area.

Accreditation

The Lone Star College-Cy Fair Associate Degree Nursing Program is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC). The program received its initial accreditation in 2005.

The next continuing accreditation visit is scheduled for October, 2010. Interested parties will be invited to attend a Public Forum as part of that visit.

The National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission may be contacted at:

NLNAC

3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 500

Atlanta, Georgia 30326

404-975-5000

[email protected]

The Lone Star College-Cy Fair Associate Degree Nursing Program is is fully approved with commendation by the Texas Board of Nursing (BON).The approval has been granted until 2012. The Texas BON can be contacted at:

Texas BON

333 Guadalupe #3-460

Austin, TX 78701

512-305-7400

[email protected]

Information Sessions

Students applying to the nursing program are STRONGLY ENCOURAGED to attend an information session.

Summer 2010 Information Sessions

June 16, Conference Center 152

Fall 2010 Information Sessions

September 29, Conference Center 151

October 27, Conference 151

Spring 2011 Information Sessions

January 26, Conference Center 151

February 23, Conference Center 151

March 30, Conference Center 151

April 27, Conference Center 151

All information sessions begin at 1:00 p.m. ***No admittance after 1:05 p.m. Please be prompt.***

News and Updates

***Change to Biology Requirement***

The Nursing Departments throughout Lone Star College System have eliminated the policy limiting the number of attempts on Biology courses (A & P I and II and Microbiology). If you have taken any of the required Biology courses more than two times in the last 5 years, you are still eligible to apply at any Lone Star College campus. The Biology courses must still be completed within 5 years of application (or updated via a refresher course). This applies to the Vocational Nursing programs also. Please check with the campus that offers that program for application deadlines.

BIOL 2404 Introduction to A & P I and II is now an acceptable refresher for both BIOL 2401 and BIOL 2402

***Application Period for Fall 2010 Enrollment***

Acceptance/Denial letters are being mailed the week ending June 12, 2010 for the Fall 2010 LVN program.

Paramedic/LVN Transition to RN program has been postponed until 2011. Please stay tuned for updates as they come.

Immunizations

please refer to LSCS Nursing Website for full details on required immunizations

CPR Certification

All students entering the Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) or Licensed Vocational Nursing (LVN) program must have a current CPR card. The following certifications are accepted:

American Heart Association: BLS for Health Care Providers

American Red Cross: CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer

NOTE: Adult, Child & Infant CPR is not accepted

Criminal Background Check & Drug Screening

Final acceptance into the Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program or the Licensed Vocational Nursing (LVN) program is contingent upon a satisfactory background check & drug screening (as required by clinical facilities), which will be completed by an approved agency at the student's expense.

If Tomball is an option, she may be able to qualify by the next available session at that campus... see below

VOCATIONAL NURSING ADMISSION CRITERIA - Student Code of Conduct

Next Application period is 8/2/10 -9/13/10 for LSC-Tomball Scoring Chart for LVN Admissions

In addition to the Lone Star College admission requirements and completion of the online LVN application, the following are required for the vocational nursing program:

1. Complete college-level reading, writing, and math pre-requisites or LSCS Student Success Initiative (SSI) requirements. All VN programs require completion of MATH 0308 or higher. To determine your SSI status, see a college advisor.

2. Complete BIOL 2404 with a grade of "C" or higher. (Completion of BIOL 2401 & 2402 is accepted in place of BIOL 2404, and is recommended for those students planning to transition into the ADN program.) Biology courses submitted for program credit must be completed no more than five (5) years prior to application to the nursing program.

3. Maintain a cumulative grade point of 2.0 in college level courses.

4. Complete a standardized nursing pre-entrance test. The cost of this test is the responsibility of the applicant. All applicants must take the nursing pre-entrance test. The entrance test may only be taken one (1) time each admission period.

5. Submit official transcripts from colleges attended other than LSCS.

6. Submit a completed application to the preferred college's nursing program. Application deadlines are posted on the colleges' Web sites. Separate applications to the college nursing programs are only required if the deadline submission dates differ.

7. Complete the American Heart Association Basic Life Support Provider of Care Certification.

8. If applicable accepted students and alternates to LSCS LVN program must show English proficiency.

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