Orange county SCC or VCC?

luv4nursing · Dec 14, 2006

Valencia grads do tend to have a better reputation from what Ive heard around. Im an LPN and Im getting ready to start their bridge program (LPN to RN transition) in a few weeks. If u are just starting out, I will give you some advice. Others will tell you differently, but Im telling u the truth. I swear you will get your RN faster this way. The waiting list for the generic program is super long, but you can get into the LPN to RN bridge really easily without waiting.

I would suggest uApply to the LPN programs at Orlando Tech and/or SCC (SCC has a couple of pre reqs though). While you are waiting to start LPN school, take as many RN pre reqs as you can. When u finish LPN school, apply to the bridge program and u will only have another year to finish your RN plus you can work as an LPN making an income thats pretty good while you finish school. The bridge program is even online now at Valencia so it allows u to work while u finish. I couldnt have asked for a better deal. I am an LPN going into the advanced track with a year to go, versus had I not done this I would still be waiting to even start the Generic track and it would take two years from that point. Its the best thing I ever did.

Its actually funny bc LPNs make almost as much as new grad RN's around here, depending on the setting. When I heard the starting pay for RNs and figuring out its not much more than I make now, it kind of discouraged me from going back. But I worked hard to get thru the pre reqs so I will finish up. And of course RN will open up many more doors. BTW many dont want to be an LPN bc they think they have to work in a nursing home. You dont. You can get paid just as much to work in home health which is super easy. I really enjoy it and am happy with my decision. All is going as planned so far. Just something you may want to consider, but if anyone discourages you from going this route they will be eating their words when u are already an LPN and they are still waiting to even start RN school. I know ppl I had pre reqs with still waiting to get in the generic program so Ive skipped right over them to the advanced track. Life is good! God willing, Ill graduate December 07! Good luck to u!

PS this is the link to the bridge program at Valencia: Nursing - Advanced Standing Track Nursing Program - Valencia Community College

if u are interested in Orlando techs LPN program send me a pm and I can tell you how to go there for free. I only had to buy books and uniforms. they even paid for my State Boards and an NCLEX Review class.

paulinek34 · Dec 15, 2006

Thank you so much for replying. It really helps to know that others are out there and what works best. I have really thought about going to Orlando Tech. I almost completed all of my paper work. I was just looking for quicker way to finish. I just had a baby 7 months ago and I'm pregnant again. Wanted to complete my RN as quickly as possible. And it's funny that you mentioned not wanting to work in a nursing home. That's not what I want to do. :) I have already completed my AA at Valencia, so I only have a few pre-req's to complete. Thanks again for all the input. I know that it takes awhile to get into Valencia's nursing program, I just thought it wouldn't take that long to get into Seminole's. Oh well, just might take the LPN route at O-tech. Did you do well? I'm guessing so, because you recommended it!

I'd love to know how to go for free. I don't know how to "pm" you. Please give me more info. Thanks again!!!!

luv4nursing · Dec 15, 2006

Thank you so much for replying. It really helps to know that others are out there and what works best. I have really thought about going to Orlando Tech. I almost completed all of my paper work. I was just looking for quicker way to finish. I just had a baby 7 months ago and I'm pregnant again. Wanted to complete my RN as quickly as possible. And it's funny that you mentioned not wanting to work in a nursing home. That's not what I want to do. :) I have already completed my AA at Valencia, so I only have a few pre-req's to complete. Thanks again for all the input. I know that it takes awhile to get into Valencia's nursing program, I just thought it wouldn't take that long to get into Seminole's. Oh well, just might take the LPN route at O-tech. Did you do well? I'm guessing so, because you recommended it!
I'd love to know how to go for free. I don't know how to "pm" you. Please give me more info. Thanks again!!!!

hey again, just click on my name in the blue and click send private message.

Orlando tech is a good program and yes I did well (graduated with highest gpa and Im a previous college flunk out/drop out lol). They have a program where if u dont qualify for a pell its a financial need based scholarship according to available school funding, but basically it covers the entire cost of tuition....all u are responsible for is books and uniforms. I didnt get a pell bc I worked full time the year before and my FAFSA showed my EFC to be too high, but I started working part time shortly before school started. All they wanted was my check stub showing what I made and it qualified me for that program. There is also a great program through Workforce Central Florida where they will pay for your NCLEX and an NCLEX review course, and even your IV certification. This saved me over $1000! I am very thankful I was able to get the assistance bc otherwise I dont know how I would have paid for it.

busylady61 · Dec 16, 2006

And of course RN will open up many more doors. .

Hi Luv4Nursing, when you say that the RN degree opens up more doors, what exactly does that mean.... do you mean that RNs have more choices than LPNs in where they want to work? Different type of work settings?

Just curious... thanks!

luv4nursing · Dec 16, 2006

Hi Luv4Nursing, when you say that the RN degree opens up more doors, what exactly does that mean.... do you mean that RNs have more choices than LPNs in where they want to work? Different type of work settings?
Just curious... thanks!

busylady,

yeah thats pretty much what I mean. Basically, you have tons and tons of more employment options as an RN than u do as an LPN. I mean, even if u get tired of clinical nursing u can do administrative type work, u can even do phone triage! There are options for LPNs, but they are few and far between. I was just happy to find anything that didnt involve a nursing home! lol.

Also, once u get about a year of experience under your belt, and/or if u specialize...THATS when u start to make the big bucks. The new grad rate isnt so hot, but once u get some experience u will have the opportunity to make a lot more. And of course if u are willing to work nights and/or weekends, the differencials can be quite a bit more than the base rate. One other thing thats kind of cool is some hospitals will count LPN experience as nursing experience (like every 2 yrs as an lpn equals 1 yr as an RN, etc). I was expecting to make a LOT more than I make now, but from asking around, I see that it wont be that drastic of a pay increase as a new grad....but I can live with it, its still a step in the right direction. Lets face it, LPNs are underpaid since we do practically the same job as an RN. Which brings me to a dumb but kind of funny joke my friends stuck up jerk boyfriend had....when we graduated as Practical Nurses....he said to her....."so basically you are practically a nurse?"...... :nono:

busylady61 · Dec 17, 2006

LOL that is kind of funny...! But also irritating at the same time!:roll

I was reading the Holmes thread first and then I posted a comment about this general subject (how is it that RNs can make more money).... then I saw your post here, and you basically addressed all my questions and comments, so I went back to the Holmes thread and edited my comment back. :idea:

The thing that keeps me going is the median salary statistics for RN's in Orlando. According to salary.com, 80% of Orlando RN's make between $48k and $66k. I don't know what that means in terms of how much experience or what specialties they have, but hey, that is still a lot of money!

Anyway, I don't mind putting in a year or two of experience to start making more money. I agree with you... I would not want to work in a nursing home, LOL. After I get through the LPN program, bridge program here I come! This is going to be soooo exciting!

Cococure · Dec 20, 2006

hello. this is my first time posting. i just recently decided that i would like to become a nurse. i want to work in labor and delivery. well the question that i have is, is seminole or valencia considered better that the other? i eventually want to work in the new hosital-winnie palmer. i've heard that valencia graduates are preferred over seminole's. i just wanted to know if this is true and don't know who to ask. thanks in advance.

hey,

this is just my 2 cents ok...here goes...scc & vcc both have very good nursing programs. when it is all said and done no one cares where you graduated from as long as you have your rn license and you are a competent nurse. i know nurses that come from both scc & vcc that work at fl hosp and ormc/winnie palmer etc. right now just take it one day at a time and take your pre-reqs and get good grades...also you want to work in l&d some hospitals will not hire lpn's for l&d only rn w/ experience...this is a specialty area so you will have to pay your dues and get experience before you go there. as for the waiting list i know people who waited from one semester and others who waited a year...it all depends. but if you have very good grades and all the pre-reqs done at scc you have a better chance of getting in..but who knows;)

if you want to go the lpn route that is good too and i have heard good things about orlando tech's program...but please not that lpn's don't always get hired in hospitals esp in l&d and if they do they pay is not as much as asst. living or nursing homes but the experience is priceless...

good luck

coco:lol2:

luv4nursing · Dec 20, 2006

Hey,
this is just my 2 cents ok...here goes...SCC & VCC both have very good nursing programs. When it is all said and done no one cares where you graduated from as long as you have your RN license and you are a competent nurse. I know nurses that come from both SCC & VCC that work at FL Hosp and ORMC/Winnie Palmer etc. Right now just take it one day at a time and take your pre-reqs and get good grades...Also you want to work in L&D some hospitals will not hire lpn's for L&D only RN w/ experience...this is a specialty area so you will have to pay your dues and get experience before you go there. As for the waiting list i know people who waited from one semester and others who waited a year...it all depends. But if you have very good grades and all the pre-reqs done at SCC you have a better chance of getting in..but who knows;)
If you want to go the LPN route that is good too and i have heard good things about Orlando tech's program...but please not that LPN's don't always get hired in hospitals esp in L&D and if they do they pay is not as much as Asst. living or nursing homes but the experience is priceless...
good luck
coco:lol2:

This is a good point and you are right. It is difficult to get a job in the hospital as an LPN unless u have HOSPITAL experience which basically means you would have to have been an LPN since back in the day when the hospitals hired them a lot. This is mainly bc techs can be trained to do most of an LPNs job for less money. But it was a great way to get started on the career ladder in healthcare and it feels great to only be a year away from my RN now than 2 years. The year of LPN school flew by so I expect the same from the RN bridge.

I did notice a lot of LPNs on the mother/baby unit at Arnold Palmer and one of my classmates interviewed there and got offered the job, but she didnt take it because the pay was significantly less than she was making. Its hard to take a pay cut once u get used to making a certain amount. It would have been better if that was your first job out of school so it may not be the highest rate around, but u never knew what it was like to make the higher rates so u wouldnt miss it.

I would suggest going thru the application process to all the LPN and RN programs and just see where u get in first. Its also true that once you graduate, noone really cares where u got ur degree, they just want u to pass the boards and get ur license!

paulinek34 · Dec 20, 2006

Appreciate the advice again. I was always planning on getting my lpn license. I'm going for the 'real' money. I don't want to work in a nursing home-which is what I always assumed lpn's do. I will go to O-tech in Aug 07 and try to get into Valencia Jan 09. Hopefully everything works out. I'm taking my last pre-req's at Valencia this Jan-so things are looking good!

luv4nursing · Dec 20, 2006

Appreciate the advice again. I was always planning on getting my lpn license. I'm going for the 'real' money. I don't want to work in a nursing home-which is what I always assumed lpn's do. I will go to O-tech in Aug 07 and try to get into Valencia Jan 09. Hopefully everything works out. I'm taking my last pre-req's at Valencia this Jan-so things are looking good!

Sounds like a plan! Awesome! :idea: There are lots of home health agencies (pediatrics and adults) and they will hire you as a new grad LPN. I love working in home health, sometimes I feel like Im not really working and Im just babysitting lol. With only one patient to worry about,you have time to watch tv, study, etc. Not that I want to be lazy, but its a great job for students and you dont have to work yourself to the bone or put your license at risk like u do in LTC/ALF's.

Just so u make sure u get everything done on time, make sure u take an IV class as soon as possible after graduation. Also, take your boards as soon as possible even if it means traveling to another city (I went to Jacksonville). The deadline to Apply to Valencia's bridge program is Oct. 1 each year so try to have everything in line by then. If you pass boards and are only waiting for your license, Im sure Ms. Morrow (the program coordinator) would accept documentation of that in place of your license until it comes. You are definitely on the right track!

Best of luck!

paulinek34 · Dec 20, 2006

You've been a great help Luv4Nursing. I should have my pre-req's done by summer of this year. What does LTF/ALF's mean? I want a job like you for little while. What field of nursing do you plan on getting into? I want to work in Mother/Baby then move to L&D after some time. Funny, I went to school in Jacksonville (at UNF), I could do that drive with my eyes closed! )