Los Angeles County School of Nursing

willowita, ADN, RN · May 13, 2012

Wow, thanks for all the insight UnsungHero and CountyGeneral!

I'm definitely not interested in the fluff a pillow program! I'm quitting my job and putting my entire life on hold to become an RN so I want to go into a program where I will learn a lot and be ready to work afterward. That's one of the reasons I'm interested in County's program. So I'm glad to read that if you can survive it, you come out more prepared. That's exactly what I want.

I've been going to school full time and working full time too so I have a pretty tight handle on how to juggle it all. My hope is that by quitting my job and only focusing on school, I can devote everything I have to the program. I just hope I actually get into the program. If not, I have an acceptance at LA Harbor, which I'll be happy to go to if that's my only choice. Sometimes life just makes the choice for you.

But again, thanks for all the info. You've given me a lot to consider.

DarleneH · May 15, 2012

For all who applied to the generic ADN program- I was informed today by a secretary that letters would not be sent out until the first week of June. Sorry for the bad news... I too am waiting to hear from County.

lacishom · May 15, 2012

Aghhhhhhhhhhh!!!!! Thank you though DarleneH! And thank you too UnsungHero and CountyGeneral, I'm with Willowita- definitely don't want to be fluffing pillows- would SO much rather be toughing it out in the trenches getting to see all the more complicated cases!! I want to work in low-income clinics where cases are compounded so all that information made me even more excited to take my first big bite of LA County!! I think going back to school older can be hard yes, but I've also had a hunger for nursing and learning as a career change that has far surpassed any desire to learn I ever had at an earlier time. I have been chewing off semesters of 17-19 units to get through it and into nursing school as swiftly as possible, so my study and time management skills have gone from 0- pretty refined in the last two years of getting my AA. It sounds like I'm going to need them- God, I hope I get in- I can't wait!!!

willowita, ADN, RN · May 15, 2012

june sounds like a ways away but it's actually just a couple of weeks. i was about to freak out. but i'm okay again. hahaha.

gwendavis, i can totally relate to what you wrote! i'm going into this to make a difference. my grandma was schizophrenic and she ended up homeless and living on the street. her mental health problems were a huge factor in that. so it really made me reconsider my life and how i should be doing something useful with it. i definitely want to work with disenfranchised communities and play a role in their lives. it sounds like county will be tough but i also feel like what unsung hero and county general had to say makes me feel even more sure that tough is what i want.

good luck to you and to all the other adn applicants!

Mcfrito · May 18, 2012

congrats to everyone that got in!

im hoping to apply to this school too but my GPA isnt that great and i dont know what my chances of getting in are.

their website does say overall 2.o and i will have atleast a 3.0 or 3.1 by the end of this semester.

do you think i can get in with 57 pts?

once again congrats too all who got in, i cant even imagine how excited you guys must be.

lacishom · May 20, 2012

right... not too far away-- (i do stalk the mailwoman though!).

Willowita, I'm so sorry about your grandma!! That is really sad and I'm sure incredibly difficult for you and your family. I find the lack of care for our society's mentally ill a tragedy, (and a pervasive problem here in Los Angeles.)

Hopefully we will have the chance to work with these disregarded gems from a nursing angle.

I know you will get in and be able to help so many with your obvious caring.

Wherever your grandmother is now, I'm sure she feels your compassion, passion and is very proud of you!!! :nurse:

kosmic2003 · May 24, 2012

@Mcfrito Are you saying 57 points without the TEAS? If you were to score a 75% overall score or above on the first attempt on the TEAS test you will attain 20 points which would put you in a total of 77 points. Based on last year statistics, the cut-off was 82 points.

Ricdel · May 26, 2012

Anyone know if County only looks at lecture grades in the sciences? I took 2 Microbiology classes, a 4 unit lecture accompanied by a 2 unit lab. I got an A in lecture but a B in lab. Will they get the average, or only look at lecture?

willowita, ADN, RN · May 30, 2012

Hi Ricdel,

I would assume that they would use both grades to find your weighted grade (since lab is fewer units than lecture).

They want both a lab and lecture for the course, as do most schools. Depending where you take it, the grade is split into two like at your school or is just one lump grade (like at my school). But to be absolutely sure about how they'll calculate it, you could call them to find out.

Mcfrito · May 30, 2012

@Mcfrito Are you saying 57 points without the TEAS? If you were to score a 75% overall score or above on the first attempt on the TEAS test you will attain 20 points which would put you in a total of 77 points. Based on last year statistics, the cut-off was 82 points.

hey thanks for the response. well i actually havent taken the TEAS yet. but lets say i get a 75 and up, then i would get 20 points. those 20 i had already added them into the 57 points meaning im way low on points. :/

im hoping that after i get my CNA certificate if will help me out a bit.

willowita, ADN, RN · May 30, 2012

If you haven't taken all the GE classes (sociology, speech, humanities, etc) then you should do that. Getting A's in those classes should boost up your score. I think the points are always so high because most applicants already have all or most GE courses done. In fact, the school prefers you go in with those classes done so you can focus only on the core nursing classes. Plus, they don't offer the GE's at LA County, so you'll have to take them at another campus anyway.

willowita, ADN, RN · May 30, 2012

Sorry, one more thing. I'm not sure how much a CNA certificate by itself will help you out. Per their info, you get bonus points if you:

Have been employed a minimum of 6 months in an Acute Care Health Facility or performed a minimum of 100 hours of volunteer work (direct patient care) within the last five years.*

The max bonus points is only 3 points total (1 for applying a second time, 1 for being an employee of the county, and 1 for 6 months experience or 100 hours of volunteer work).