I want to take the LPN route first as I just see it fitting my life at this point. I just want to know a little bit more about these centers I keep hearing about.
Do you have to have any pre req's for them?
How long is the LPN program?
If you went there, Do you have any advice?
cost of LPN program?
Is financial aid offered?
Hours of class?
Do they offer the LPN program at different center's or just one & if so which one?
Times of year the program is offered?
Any feedback from you all would be great as we all know getting info. from future, present or alumni students is SO much more helpful;)
Yeah you can go into block two without it, but you have to score a 800 to get into block three with your LPN license. Its funny because the school I initially applied to made me take the hesi for entrance into the program and I did better on it than I did on the NETs (the time thing got me on the reading comp section)! But yah it saves us a lot of time on the waitlist, assuming you have your prequesites done within 6 months of graduation, I only have A&P and BIO left so I'm hoping to take it through correspondence during MSC.
I'm in Block B. From my understanding they will give us the HESI before we are allowed to graduate. It's part of the program here so don't worry. Things are not as frustrating once you get past the admission and financial aid stuff. The program is good, the director and teachers are good. You will learn the material and pass the Boards. I was really frustrated going into Block A but it all works itself out. Stick with the positive people and stay focused. The things we complained about in Block A, we wouldn't change now.(well maybe a couple things) We had our first day of Block B today and attitudes have changed already. How excited we are to be this far along and closer to our goals! We actually made it through Block A (and it really sucked at times!) Ask questions from your Block B and C folks. We are all in this together and they helped me get through some tough times. Think also how much closer you are to getting through the program than your friends who are on waiting lists! Once you solve all the "front office" stuff, it is sooooo much easier.
Thank you so much for your post. I am soooo glad to hear from someone who is in the program and get their opinion. You are so right about what you said. I think that I should try to be more positive and I thank you for letting me know that thinkgs will get better. Good luck on Block B!!! It would be nice to talk to you after I get in to Block A.
Not to rain on anyone's parade, but I am finding more and more reasons not to go back in September. Yesterday I spoke with a former classmate and they said that they pushed their grad date up a month because people weren't passing the NCLEX. This really isn't surprising to me after my short experience in Block A. I am getting pretty discouraged with things and I am definitely looking in other directions. Do you really want to spend nearly $8000 and have to teach yourself for the most part and then have the chance of not passing your state boards because of the lack of education you've rec'd? I actually was considering coming back May 22nd~and not waiting till September...but, now I am not sure I even want to go back to that school. Anyone else have any thoughts??
I was able to work FT for the time that I was in Block A but I had a very flexible job as a caregiver. My client went to bed at 7-8pm and I had permission to do homework till 11pm when I left. If I didn't have that situation, I would not have been able to get the homework done. I highly recommend that you work PT or just on the weekends if you can.
There are a couple students who work nights and come right from work to school. Sometimes they fall asleep and other times we are only there for a couple hours. There is so much homework and it took me a good month to get organized but we were allowed to work together and helped each other out. I had to cut my work to Saturday's and Sundays and extra days we got off, (teacher illness, rearrange schedule, etc) I can pick up shifts at work. We had a lot of Fridays off near the end so I was able to pick up extras but you won't know this for a while. We got out of most classes by 12:00-12:30. Like hopefulfutureLPN said, flexibility is the key to any program.
hopefulfutureLPN, I would suggest you talk with scheduling staff personally. Someone from the program came in to class today and discussed what happened with to cause the changes in the schedule. No one was happy with the changes we were given yesterday. Our graduation is not going to be December 18 but now into January. Even though our commencement exercise will be later, staff will be working with those students that need their grades posted earlier who are transferring into Block 3 to complete their RN. From my understanding, any Arizona schools would have to complete an "action plan" in similar situation when student failure of NCLEX drops. Changes that were made, (including removal of an instructor) brought the next graduating class to 100% passing. One of the classes is being placed online which will limit the amount of time the staff has to be here and will require our Block to attend two more hours. This school is hourly remember. It takes some time to get use too but all I know is that it is not costing me any more money, will do online work, and show for two hours to demonstrate "hands on knowledge". I would suggest you check out ALL your options and talk to as many people as you can. There is so much involved in the nursing programs that I made a spreadsheet out to compare them. All this feed back you get you have to remember it is based on individual perceptions. Some of the staff are approachable and will answer your concerns. This program was the best for me - no prereqs, no cna required, I can make more than the RN's at my hospital (depending on where I go), no waiting lists for this program or getting into an rn. If you go back in May, you will be that much closer to your goal. Oh, they are only charging you for 5 hrs a day of classes. Those Fridays we didn't go or left early, we will get our money refunded. Your hours are tracked. I'm a self pay. I also didn't get all the books. That alone will save you 700.00. I am using books from previous student two years ago. There are ways.
Okay, so can someone please explain why exactly they are changing the dates? Is it due to NCLEX passage rates? Is it due to a professor? I'm planning on going there for the september admissions class, but that is all dependent on what's the problem over there? Many of us students want to think that any issue with this school is of an individual basis, but its not clear. If anyone has a clear answer to my question, please do share with the rest of us. Thanx
Oh my, I really got edited because I used names. Sorry about that. Long story short, talk to the director of the nursing program. She and other instructors are great.
blkcind, I cannot be specific on this forum however, you can talked to staff in person. They are aware of the issue and are open to discussion. Yes the scores went down. I cannot remember what was said today but the pass rate was somewhere around 88%. That was down from somewhere around 98%. The numbers are probably published on State web site. All Arizona nursing schools are held accountable the same. It is really awesome what is being done to better the program. Once I got past the anger and frustration I could look at things differently. They do provide a forum to air out problems and this one was taken care of in less than 24 hrs. I have been to other schools where I feel like they don't even know I exist. I feel very supported by staff and classmates. You bet there are some problems but I feel they are dealt with very quickly. You are not just another student here. The staff in the nursing program really want to be here and it shows. Yes it is individuals who are creating problems. What has happened in various blocks trickle down and affect the next block. They are not letting things slip by or allowing bad nurses out there. What is happening is a good thing. The unforturnate part is that I am feeling the changes, which sucks, but it only betters my skills so good in the long run and for a couple more weeks delayed in graduation...........I'm just trying to keep positive. When you get there in September I will have tested out the new changes taking place for you!
kiki_sharp
26 Posts
Yeah you can go into block two without it, but you have to score a 800 to get into block three with your LPN license. Its funny because the school I initially applied to made me take the hesi for entrance into the program and I did better on it than I did on the NETs (the time thing got me on the reading comp section)! But yah it saves us a lot of time on the waitlist, assuming you have your prequesites done within 6 months of graduation, I only have A&P and BIO left so I'm hoping to take it through correspondence during MSC.