lpn or rn

I lived in West Brandywine Twp. for almost 8 years, and got to be well aquainted with Brandywine Hospital from a patient's perspective (outpatient services, ER visit, emergency surgery, high-risk pregnancy and delivery). I can't say enough for the care I received there. I also applied for a postiton on their maternity unit as a staff nurse/nursing instructor. Unfortunately. the hours were not compatible with my needs at the time, so I didn't pursue it beyond the first interview, but I was impressed with the people I met during the interview. That was several years ago, before they became part of the health system they belong to now, so it is possible that things have changed, but I certainly hope not.

I worked with a nurse at another area hospital who completed her degree at Immaculata and seemed pleased with the program. What schools are you considering other than Brandywine/Immaculata?

I live in West Brandywine too. I am thinking about going to Cat Brandywine for LPN. It takes 12 months with summers off and I plan on taking courses at DCCC to start working on my RN classes. I am going to DCCC open house at CHester County Hosptial too. But I am pretty sure I am going to go to CAT Brandywine so I can more along with becoming a nurse.

Thanks

Lee

I worked at a hospital in Delaware County where we had nursing students from DCCC and Weidner University. The students from both programs seemed well-prepared, and I enjoyed working with them and their instructors.

When I had my second baby, my insurance had changed, and I delivered at Chester County Hospital. The nursing care was excellent there as well, but my experience with the nursing students from West Chester was not at all positive. They seemed ill-prepared, and when I asked to talk to the instructor, I was equally unimpressed.

Good luck to you as you make your decision!

HI

I am 40 years old and just started as a NA working to become certified. I work at a nursing home my end goal is to become a RN. I do not particularly enjoy working at a nursing home but where I work has a scholorship and I can work on 2 12 hour shifts on the weekends and attend school full time. But I do not have any college credits so I would be starting from scratch. I went to Brandywine Hospital school of nursing open house last nite. I would have to take a year of classes at Immaculata University then apply for there school so it would take 3 years and I would have to work 1 year for the nursing home as part of the scholorship. Or I can go to LPN school for 12 months while working for the nursing home work 1 after LPN school and work 1 year for them and take college courses towards my RN. I am so confused? Please help

Lee

The difference in pay rate for LPNs vs. RNs is usually significant - you may want to factor this into your decision. Good luck to you. :)

I worked at a hospital in Delaware County where we had nursing students from DCCC and Weidner University. The students from both programs seemed well-prepared, and I enjoyed working with them and their instructors.

When I had my second baby, my insurance had changed, and I delivered at Chester County Hospital. The nursing care was excellent there as well, but my experience with the nursing students from West Chester was not at all positive. They seemed ill-prepared, and when I asked to talk to the instructor, I was equally unimpressed.

Good luck to you as you make your decision!

I went to West Chester University, and we DID NOT have OB clinical at Chester County Hospital. Chester County Hospital had diploma students there.

i would not advise LPN at all. being an LPN for 5 years, i was frustrated to see me doing the same type of work as the RN, but with FAR less pay. i attended an LPN program in washington DC that lasted one year. no pre-requisites were required. i moved back to georgia in 2000, and started on my pre-requisites for RN in january 2005. it took about 7 months to finish them all. then i "bridged over" with the RN students after finishing one semester on mobility concepts. so all in all, i only got 1 semester less of classtime than the generic RN students. i could just KICK myself!!! so whatever you decide, i hope you factor all of the above into your decision.... good luck! p.s. i graduate in 3 months :)

Sounds like you might be better off to just apply for an RN program. Many hospitals offer tuition forgiveness if you agree to work there for a certain amount of time after graduation.

I went to West Chester University, and we DID NOT have OB clinical at Chester County Hospital. Chester County Hospital had diploma students there.

Sorry if I upset you. I was not trying to diss anyone, just share my impressions of the students and instructors I encountered.

I delivered my baby over 8 years ago, so clinical placements may have changed since then, but I am quite certain that the student and instructor I referred to were from WCU.

I was there then... our OB rotation was at Phoenixville. I always thought it was weird that we didn't have rotations at Chester County - but like i said - they had diploma students there...

I'm sorry you had a negative experience at Chester County Hospital when you had your baby... i worked on that unit in 1994 as a unit clerk... it was nice then.

I'm sure every nursing program has it's incompetants... in the instructor seat and classroom - but West Chester has spit out some pretty good nurses... I like to think that I'm one of them.

WCU did their clinical rotation in OB in the Spring of 2005 and still does as far as I know. CCH does not have their nursing school anymore they have gone into an agreement with DCCC. Their nursing school graduated their last class in 1999 if I am right. I know that you didn't have the CCH/DCCC nursing instructor because it would have been the same instructor and she is a great instuctor. DCCC at CCH has their normal day program and they just started a nights/weekend program where they do clinicals at the hospital on the weekend. If I were you I would become an RN its just easier. I took A&P the year before I started nursing school so it took me three years but the time does fly.

I am currently in the DCCC/CCH program. I had thought about the LPN route as well. What changed my mind was my lab partner during Anatomy class. She had just graduated from CAT-Brandywine's LPN program. She said it was very intense. When I asked her why she was getting her RN (I met her August 2005, she graduated May 2005), she said the pay and job opportunities were better for an RN than an LPN.

Now I did call the CAT-Brandywine program director and got some brochures and cost of the program. I seem to recall the cost was $15,000. My RN will cost approximately half that or less. Even though it will take twice as long to finish. But then I will only have to bridge to BSN; not LPN to RN to BSN.

It is something worth thinking about.

Good luck.

HI

I am 40 years old and just started as a NA working to become certified. I work at a nursing home my end goal is to become a RN. I do not particularly enjoy working at a nursing home but where I work has a scholorship and I can work on 2 12 hour shifts on the weekends and attend school full time. But I do not have any college credits so I would be starting from scratch. I went to Brandywine Hospital school of nursing open house last nite. I would have to take a year of classes at Immaculata University then apply for there school so it would take 3 years and I would have to work 1 year for the nursing home as part of the scholorship. Or I can go to LPN school for 12 months while working for the nursing home work 1 after LPN school and work 1 year for them and take college courses towards my RN. I am so confused? Please help

Lee

I think you should get your LPN first because it's only one year still work on your preq for your RN, im doing excelsior you can make great money while you work on your RN, I've been a LPN for two years I will be done with my RN sometime next year I've met alot of RN's who wished they did it my way because Lpn is so hands on from the beginning.