LVN Programs today! Any evening/weekend in So Cal?

RNLife2025, CNA · Oct 4, 2017

I visited 2 schools yesterday that are within the area I was seeking.

First was Summit College in Santa Ana. They have not started an LVN program there yet and is projected to start their first class in Feb of 2018. Anyone who goes to the campus will not see anything worth touring. They will show you rooms that will be converted and other rooms were locked so they could not even show them. They gave a small packet and discussed the requirements to be a part. I was introduced to the Director who was trying to put the pressure on me about applying now because they are set to take 35 students but will take less than that for the first LVN start date. Their main campus is where the LVN program normally is but they are expanding to the Santa Ana campus which is currently the HVAC and Electronics campus. It is a very small building. Result was I was not impressed because of that fact that they ask for me to come a take a tour of a building under construction, and tell me there is all new equipment coming then to get placed in a position of trying to get rushed in applying. I am good.

Next I went to Stanbridge University and WOW! Very Friendly Staff, Got detailed information, straight up answers to my questions. Atmosphere was nice. Took the tour and I was very very impressed. Level 1 through I think 3 in the mannequins in a hospital like setting with the machines I am use to seeing and the laptop computer stations just like in the hospital. Talking life like mannequins that gave you a real like experience. A mother and baby that were operating as if they are really breathing, eyes blinking, baby moving around and they are talking and making noise, also a male who looks like its breating. It was so real like. Then a cadavier lab with a male and female synthetic body, different leg and arm parts plus actually bodies of a male and female in the freezer or fridge whatever it is, that was donated for dissection and study by the students. They have 3d imaging that is used with glasses to study the organs of the body, I was able to sample it. I was amazed at that. They also have a 2d image that showed a male who signed a contract to donate his body for study. A 2d image on a platform like a table. It was neat, All kind of other areas that was just keeping me interested. I was impressed. Also the fact that you can go from LVN all the way to Masters in Nursing in the same school was great. I was planning to attend UCLA but I figured, I would start at the bottom and work my way up. I have asked friends in the Healthcare field and other professionals and learned that prelicensing Masters of Nursing without actual nursing care outside of the school can be a disadvantage being that Hospitals and facilities want that experience in bed side care. Masters is geared towards management level nursing in which they also want to see that they have had bedside care for a certain amount of time. Being that I love caring for people and I do want to get into work quickly because I am not working full time at this time, I chose Stanbridge and will begin my process.

The start sate will be next month November 13th. LVN will be my first step after much research and prayer. Can't wait to get in school.