Just Visited a NS: Impressions?

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Earlier today I visited a for profit school that has an LPN program. Here are some of the "highlights"

1. No tour: I was actually expecting some sort of tour of the school, but did not get it. Classes were in session, but I thought it would still be possible to see the facilities.

2. The program costs $20,000.

3. I did not get a straight answer as to whether my credits woudl transfer if, after becoming an LPN, I decide to become an RN. The admissions guy said that most LPNs don't become RNs and that if I wanted to become an RN, he recommended I go to such a program from day 1.

4. When his phone rang during the interview, for some reason, he yelled out the F word. I thought that was unprofessional.

5. I found the curriculum to be quite long. All together there are 18 classes. Included are 3 anatomy and physiology courses (most NS schoosl only have 2) and 3 medical terminology courses (most only have 1). There is also a medical law course, which I do not recall seeing at any other NS. There are also 2 pharamology courses, and most schools I researched only have 1 such course. Is it me, or does there seem to be a lot of extra classes?

Is this a school anyone here would attend?

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Specializes in Telemetry.

I wouldn't attend a for-profit school period, but especially not one with unprofessional admissions staff. And that sounds pretty unprofessional to me. He should have at least been able to give you clear information about transferring, that seems like a pretty basic question.

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I would trust your instinct and gut, which is telling you that this is not the place for you. I would instead go to a community college RN program . . . unless there is a reason why you really can't.

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I won't be able to start most, if not all, CC RN programs until Sept. 2011. I was hoping to get started earlier. It is too late to get admitted for Sept. 2010.

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Why do you gys think there are so many classes? Are the classes really necessary, or are they there to help the scool increase it's profit?

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Specializes in Telemetry.

It's worth it to wait an extra year to get a high-quality education that you feel confident about, and that will also save you a lot of money.

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Specializes in Telemetry.
Why do you gys think there are so many classes? Are the classes really necessary, or are they there to help the scool increase it's profit?

Do you know exactly how many hours go into each of these classes? For-profit schools often don't have the same schedule times as normal colleges. Their two classes of pharmacology could be the same amount of hours as a regular college's one class of pharmacology. I could guess that they make it look like you're taking more classes so it looks like you're getting a "more thorough education", but I don't know enough to say that, really.

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Why do you gys think there are so many classes? Are the classes really necessary, or are they there to help the scool increase it's profit?

Are they quarters or semesters?

Most of the schools (including where I did my prereqs) are on quarters in my area. So, I had three A&P classes, and two pharmacology classes.....this was for a BS program though.

In general though....I'm cynical to attribute most things to a for-profit school trying to increase profit. I heard to much from folks who had to retake A&P for an LPN program at a for-proffit school, even though they had taken a year of A&P with lab at the CC and other similar examples.

Follow your gut!

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Specializes in Geriatrics/Retirement Residence.
Earlier today I visited a for profit school that has an LPN program. Here are some of the "highlights"

...

Is this a school anyone here would attend?

I wouldn't attend this school because:

1. I prefer a CC instead of a for profit career college.

2.20k for an LPN program, are they serious?:eek: (I'm a bit shocked, it that a normal cost for an LPN program at a for profit college in your area?) I bet a CC will offer the same program at a fraction of the price.

3.I think they made a bunch of unnecessary classes to make more $$

4. Admission staff unprofessional + no tour, at all?

5.They wouldn't give you and answer about transferability... sounds a bit sketchy for my taste.:rolleyes:

And LPNs can and do become RNs, those who want it...

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Specializes in Emergency, Pre-Op, PACU, OR.

Check online if the school is regionally and nursing association accredited, that will give you an idea if classes will transfer at a later point. If the school is regionally accredited, they should, if not (e.g. national or other accreditation) you might run into problems. Is the school accredited by your State BON? You can also google the schools previous years' NCLEX pass rates and compare them to other schools in your area.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Keep looking. I would not touch that school. If the credits would transfer they would be putting it out there in the forefront proudly.

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To follow up with the questions that were asked:

1. Each term is 12 weeks long with the program being 12 months long.

2. The school has absolutely no accredidation from any regional or national accrediting body or from the NLN. They only have a license from the Board of Nursing.

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