I'm in Austin.....please read

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I am looking for a good school to go for my LVN in or around Austin. Let me tell you, I have been looking and searching all over the internet for weeks. The ONLY school I found IN Austin that I can get my LVN is Austin Community College (and correct me if I am Wrong PLEASE lol).

Although I respect this school I do not have my basics completed and I have heard that at most LVN schools they do not require prerecs. Only your entrance test and your CPR, and other things that do not require me to spend anything or cut out anymore time. The nice lady I spoke with informed me that I needed to apply and be accepted finish my basics and THEN apply for LVN. My friend that is an RN and took the LVN to RN route told me that I could find somewhere that I could go quicker.

So I have found Kaplan that has a LVN program in Ingram, TX which is 1 hr 30 mins away, and I have found a college in Temple that has a LVN program but this is also far at least 40 minutes away.

I need to start school asap, I have a son who is 16 months so being close is ideal but I will be willing to travel if I have to. I need to get my LVN so that I can start work immediately after my license, start pulling in money and then apply for schools that have LVN to RN courses. I don't really know what to do...all of my mother's co-workers and friends have done this in Northern Texas so they probably cannot help. :confused:

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Med/Surg, hospice.

I am starting ACCs LVN program in the Fall and it's true you do have to take three pre-req classes: Intro to A&P (or Anatomy and then Physiology), Medical Terminology and Pharmacology. You must take A&P or the seperate anat and phys classes to take Pharm, so even though it is only three classes it will take you two semesters to complete them. You must have at least a 2.9 GPA to apply and it's first come first serve, though there are only 40 spots. You also have to take the COMPASS test which is extremely simple and used for completion purposes only, they do not go by your score. Quicker is not always better and these classes help you to have a foundation in the human body, medicines, and medical terms. It also cuts out extra classes that you would probably normally take in an already busy and stressful program.

ACC has a really good program with a high NCLEX pass rate as well as student satifaction and they allow LVN applicants a year to apply and get priority to bridge into their RN program. I believe the LVN program in Temple college requires pre-reqs as well, but I could be wrong.

I don't know of any other LVN programs in the area so you might just have to look closer into ACCs program and see if it's worth it to sacrifice the time and money.

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That sounds like a good idea, are those the same classes you'd have to take for RN? It'd be nice to get those out of the way...and do you know if ACC has classes for LVN to RN?

I'll be honest...I think that I am nervous about the money because I already have a loan for school that is...can't find the word but basically they are holding off payments for a year. Anyway I just hope that I can get another loan. My friend found out about WIA and told me that they will help pay for short term programs...such as LVN. And since this is something that I would love to do then I thought it was worth a shot. I think you might have changed my mind I will have to look into it more. Thank you :)

Are you taking your classes now? How is the school?

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Med/Surg, hospice.

Pharmacology is an ADN pre-req and if you take the separate Anatomy and Physiology classes instead of the Intro combined class, they count towards the RN too. Medical Term is not required for the ADN (though, I don't know why, I found the class interesting and extremely helpful). There is also the option to take Microbiology before the LVN program because 1. they will substitute it for a LVN class if you have received a C or better and 2. it counts as an RN pre-req as well.

It sounds as if your loan is in deferment? Most loans, if you return to school at least half time, they will continue to defer your loans until you finish, drop below half time or drop out.

I have been at ACC as a general student since last summer and I am happy with the school. The counselors as usual dont know what I feel they should to push students towards the right direction but as far as teachers I have been VERY pleased. My Micro teacher was the best teacher I have ever had and he helped motivate me to get an A in a very hard class. I would suggest looking at ratemyprofessors.com since we can't name teachers here. They have a lot of teachers reviews, especially pre-req teachers. I do not start the LVN program until the 24th so I can't say anything about the program yet, but I have heard only good things.

Good luck :)

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The COMPASS test is the one that you take for general admission right? Well they should hire you instead of the lady I talked to, she made it sound so much harder than that.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Med/Surg, hospice.

For general admission to the college I believe you have to take a separate test called the THEA but I am not sure on that.

COMPASS test is the test for the LVN program itself. It tests math, reading, grammar etc. Like I said this test is not hard and they go by completion only, not scores.

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Specializes in Home Health Case Mgr.

Temple College @ Taylor has the one of the best if not the best LVN programs in the state with an unparalled nclex and hesi pass rate. No traffic as you are going away from Austin. Small classes and excellent clincial sites. Tuition is reasonable. Nursing Faculty to student ratio is about 4:22

Hope that helps...

ERDude7

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