Looking for LPN school in Colorado

katie_c_s · May 10, 2009

Yep I was at the orientation. I'm Katie from Salida. I got my apartment today so I'm really excited. I'll be moving up there tomorrow and I'll see you at class on Monday!

Burnenup · May 11, 2009

oops, this should be a private message but I cant figure out how to delete!

CBsMommy · May 19, 2009

Did anyone apply to PPCC? I applied for the Fall/Spring semesters and the wait is killing me! Anyone else here in the same boat? Would you rather do Fall or Spring semester?

SunRose7 · May 19, 2009

I know PPCC just cut their waitlist recently, and I was finishing pre-reqs there last year until I found out that NJC in Sterling, CO had a semester wait! (Probably because no one wants to live out in the BFE of the Colorado plains!) I will be in the LPN program this fall for sure, they require that you only have AP106, Dietary, and English 121 I think (even though I already finished ALL my pre-reqs because of PPCC). You also have to have your LPN license here before you enter the RN program though! Good luck with that waitlist, hopefully youll be more patient than me! :icon_roll Are you actually on the list? Did they tell you how long you have to wait?

CBsMommy · May 20, 2009

Hi DandyAndi - I love the name btw!!! They are no longer doing the waitlist at PPCC and everyone that was on the waitlist is now competing for positions for the upcoming fall and spring semesters. They stated that 190 letters went out and I think that about 120 people have applied. They put 45 in each starting class so that would be 90 people getting accepted out of 120. They go by a points system now so a 4.0 would be 40 points, a previous degree would be an additional 10 points and 2 years hands on healthcare would be an additional 10 points for a possible 60 points possible. They did state that they didn't have very many 4.0 students and stated that the average GPA was 2.9. We finished applying April 13th but had until May 5th to take the TEAS and turn in the results.

That being said, I am going crazy waiting for the letters to go out! I just want to know if I'm in and when so I can start making plans! I know, just be patient, but it's getting really hard!!!

Good luck at NJC! I love the Colorado BFE plains! It's so quiet at night! I love it but can't move!

SunRose7 · May 20, 2009

Holy moly! That makes me pretty glad that I didnt wait there! Strange, didnt Bethel get rid of their list too? I have family that still lives in the Springs sayin they did way with it too. It seems a little unfair though because when I worked at Memorial I knew some CNAs that had been on the waitlist for PPCC for almost 2 1/2years! Ill say a prayer for you though, good luck getting in the program -I know its stressful!

bekindtokittens · May 25, 2009

As a recent PPCC graduate, I just wanted to wish you luck too!

CBsMommy · May 25, 2009

Thanks DandyAndi and Be Kind To Kittens! Be Kind To Kittens - Did you like the program? They seem a little disorganized but I hear they have a good program. I'm just down Powers too, so I can't beat the location!

bekindtokittens · May 26, 2009

Oh yes, they are very disorganized, and their mantra to us students is "be flexible". Other than that, I do feel like I got a good education and I liked almost all my instructors.

My only gripe is that the program is not nationally accredited. Of course, I only found this out in my last semester. Hell, I didn't even know there was a difference between being accredited by the state and nationally! PPCC is working on the national accreditation though, and they will probably be official by the time you graduate. But me, I'm finding my job opportunities, and the universities I can transfer to, are being slightly limited.

CBsMommy · May 26, 2009

Thanks for the info. I know they are working on getting nationally accredited and will hopefully be there by the time I graduate. I will keep my fingers crossed. I'm hoping they will make some changes so they are not as disorganized. I took a CNA class there and loved our class instructor but the clinical instructor was off her rocker! In fact, not one person in our class signed up for clinicals with her (which was really sad because she was really nice, but I didn't feel that I could learn anything from her)!

Congrats on your graduation and good luck in moving on with your studies and getting a job. Is Memorial still doing the new grad program or is that only for UCCS students?

bekindtokittens · May 26, 2009

Thanks for the congrats! Now I just need to get in gear and study for the NCLEX. As for PPCC getting organized...I guess anything is possible! My only gripe was that they would wait until we started class before we found out when our clinicals were, and where. It made it hard to plan anything. And I liked 99% of my instructors. There were only two, one classroom, and one clinical, out of them all, that I ever butted heads with.

As of now, both Penrose and Memorial has suspended their new grad programs. Memorial's "Bethel Scholar" program is still there because those students got scholarships from Memorial, so of course Memorial wants to get their money's worth and they will hire them first before any other new grads. I know of at least one classmate who got a scholarship from Penrose, so she will be hired before any other new grads too. Both hospitals are still accepting applications, as in you can apply for jobs online, but most of them say they want a year experience.

A nurse recruiter from Penrose even came to talk to us in class one day. He said with the economy, it only made sense for them to get rid of the new grad program. For every job they post, they get at least 50 experienced applicants. So what I got from that is, new grads are screwed right now, heh. Especially ones like me who haven't been working in a hospital already. It's okay though, now that I know what's going on, I've just stopped applying for jobs until I take my NCLEX. And I am not too proud to work in an LTC; I like the geriatric population and I think it's a place to get good experience, especially on a skilled unit.

CBsMommy · May 26, 2009

In my CNA class, we didn't know who was doing what clinical and where until the week before. And then we had to battle it out for position. It was crazy!

I'm sorry to hear about the Memorial and Penrose new grad program. That's too bad. I'm like you though, I don't care if I work in geriatrics for a while to get my foot in the door. I actually had a blast working with the geriatric population. There was one guy there who had 6 girlfriends in different parts of the building. It was hilarious!

Anyway, are you going on to get your BSN? I was curious too, if you continue on with your BSN, for instance, at Beth-El, and they are nationally accredited, I wonder if you can go anywhere after getting your BSN? I wouldn't mind moving. I like Colorado but I'm willing to go where the jobs are after I graduate. I may not have to worry about that depending on what the economy is doing but I was just curious!