New...need advice

Hi Sara,

I became a CNA and then went for my LVN in Calif. You can check with some of the Long Term Care Facilities in your area some of them offer CNA courses and pay you while you work and then after you graduate you can cont' to work for them.....That is how I got my CNA license...back in 1990....That was in Modesto CA...but I am sure there are still alot of faciliies in where ever you are...You can also call the state board for CNA Licensing and they can tell you also...I believe there are in Sacramento, CA or ask the State board of Nursing they are in Sacramento also...Well good luck with your search I now live in Idaho...and we can use more good nurses there is a real shortage all over...Take Care DJ

Welcome Sara. Are you still in the San Diego area? I am in Ohio so I am not up the programs in your neck of the woods. Good luck with whatever you decide though!

renerian

There is a short ADN program at Maric College in San Diego. Not classy, but it does the job of getting you RN status quickly. Not exactly what you were looking at, but getting into this sort of program is a great deal easier than getting on a waiting list (lottery system in many states) for a BSN/MSN program.

You can always do BSN/MSN thru somewhere like Uni. of Phoenix later when you are earning an RNs pay!

I cannot praise the accelerated BSN program at Mt. St. Marys in Los Angeles. It is intensive but the students are excellent! There may be a similar program in San Diego. Just some links to more information.

RN Programs:

http://www.rn.ca.gov/

http://www.rn.ca.gov/nursing/nursing.htm

http://www.rn.ca.gov/nursing/nursing.htm#Associate Degree

http://www.rn.ca.gov/nursing/nursing.htm#Baccalaureate Degree

Possible scholarship opportunities:

worth looking into.

http://www.healthprofessions.ca.gov/faq.htm#1

Thanks all of you for taking the time to respond to me. I appreciate all of your experienced insight!!! I'm in San Diego trying to get my stuff together. One of my mom's friends works for an elderly home health care company around here so I'm going to start with her (ask about CNA training) and then look at school options. I didn't realize that their were long waiting lists for some schools for accelerated programs...yikes. I'll let you know how it goes. Thanks again!!!

lilchoka:

There are waiting lists for nearly all RN programs these days; even community college ADN degrees, that is why I suggested Maric - expensive in the short run, but as you'll be in and out and earning before others have processed your application, it's usually worth it.