nursing school suggestions

striving2007 · Sep 22, 2006

I would strongly advise against Brown Mackie. I have heard terrible things about them. My best friend applied to get in and they just didn't seem to have it together. They even wanted her to put down $1,200.00 just to start (and then pay $234.00 a month).

I hate to break it to you but most nursing programs are quite expensive; unless you can get into one at a community college; which usually has a waiting list a mile long (hence the cheaper tuition). I currently attend Olympia College in Merrillville Indiana. Their program is pricy as well but I wasn't willing to wait on someone's waiting list for the next two years. I used my financial aid and took out some school loans. The program is 12 months long. I have only been in school for three weeks now but I absolutely love it. It was a little tough getting into the program (because everyone is trying to get into the program) but the determination paid off and I was accepted on my first try. I was #29 out of 31 students accepted (close huh?). Well I hope this helped you a little.

nalst · Sep 22, 2006

I also attended attended Olympia College in Merrillville, she's right it is costly but worth it. I graduated in April of this year (2006). The instructors are wonderful and they will work with you in every way they can. When I started the program my youngest was 2 mo old. I have 4 children. It was a lot of work but worth every minute. :nurse:

LPNMOM2B · Sep 22, 2006

thanks you guys!!!:wink2:

jennifers · Sep 23, 2006

LPNMOM2B I am in the same situation as you. I have two young children at home. This makes it hard to go to school. But I have to be a nurse! :) I too am hoping I dont take all my pre-req and not get in. I am looking at ivy tech in south bend. I did call them and they sent me an information pack. I also went and got a study guide for the teas test. I want to apply for the RN and LPN program. I really want to get in the RN program but will do the lpn first if i have to. Have you talked to anyone at the school yet?

Jen

LPNMOM2B · Sep 23, 2006

LPNMOM2B I am in the same situation as you. I have two young children at home. This makes it hard to go to school. But I have to be a nurse! :) I too am hoping I dont take all my pre-req and not get in. I am looking at ivy tech in south bend. I did call them and they sent me an information pack. I also went and got a study guide for the teas test. I want to apply for the RN and LPN program. I really want to get in the RN program but will do the lpn first if i have to. Have you talked to anyone at the school yet?
Jen

I have left 6 messages with 4 different people at Ivy Tech and only one has returned my call. I am starting to wonder if I need to know a secret password to get my call returned.:wink2: I have heard all wonderful things about their nursing programs the only negative is that everyone says it is SO difficult to get into. Right now I am thinking about there Medical Assisting program since I have heard from several people that it is much easier to get into. I first thought that I wanted to go for an RN but since I have never worked in the medical field I decided that I wanted to get me feet wet with the MA program. That way I will only have roughly 2 years invested instead of 4 or more if I decide that is wasn't what I thought it was going to be. Good luck to you and please let me know whats happening and how things work out.

jennifers · Sep 24, 2006

I find it best just to go down there...lol I made a phone call too and no one ever returned my call. They have nursing meetings every friday from 10-11. They are just informational meetings. It might be good just to attend one and see if nursing is for you. Maybeyou could shadow a nurse for a day and see if you liked it.

Jen

destiny5 · Sep 29, 2006

IVY tech is in the process of changing their curriculum. Starting in Jan or Aug 07 they are putting LPN & RN students together. The RN's will obviously go longer than the LPN's. They are requiring an additional English class, Sociology,and a few others. The computer science class is no longer required. They are still working out the bugs but the new list of pre-requisites is available at the school. My best advice---get the teas study guide and get cracking. The science portion was hard. Lots of competition. I hope you all accomplish your goals. Hard work but well worth it. I just finished the PN program and have applied for the transition class. p.s. if you find your program is not that challenging. PLEASE do supplemental work. You really want to be prepared when you take boards.

jennifers · Sep 30, 2006

Thanks Destiny,

How did you like the PN program?? Did you like the school? I just went there today to drop off my college transcripts.

Jen

going for RN · Oct 2, 2006

i'm new to allnurses. but here is my take. Ive been an lpn for 10 years and for the most part lpn's get a bad rap as far as what there limitations. For example I work in an acute care hospital and I do the same things that an rn does including critical care. but now i'm limited because of my lpn status. my suggestion to u is to just go for your RN the pay is better and you job opportunities are greater

going for RN · Oct 2, 2006

i'm new to allnurses. but here is my take. Ive been an lpn for 10 years and for the most part lpn's get a bad rap as far as what there limitations. For example I work in an acute care hospital and I do the same things that an rn does including critical care. but now i'm limited because of my lpn status. my suggestion to u is to just go for your RN the pay is better and you job opportunities are greater

good luck, going for RN:nurse:

LovesDisney · Oct 3, 2006

Have any of you thought about taking a CNA class first? I also have 2 young kids, I am just finishing a CNA class, it was 2 nights a week for 6 weeks and 75 hours of clinicals. It was cheap too, look into your local career education centers that are attached to your public high schools. I am in Indy, so I can't help with up north. I am doing my clinicals in LTC and love it, I don't know where I will end up working.

I also plan to do Ivy Tech, I only have to take 3 classes to apply for clinicals, and I plan to take them 1 at a time so that I can get an A! I am also in the same boat as there is no Plan "B" for me, this is a career change!