Orlando Tech (LPN Program)

tcbnurse1 · Jul 28, 2015

I was told if you already have a CNA, you could skip the first 6 weeks of class because that's what class would cover. But for those of us who weren't CNA's, we could take the test for it after that. So I was thinking that once I got licensed, I would get a job in the field but honestly CNA's make so much less per hour than what I do now so in terms of money it wouldn't make sense but in terms of experience, it would. Also the hours that the school gave me (745-245 on class days and 6-2 for clinicals) wouldn't work well with me being a cna because all of the hours I've seen are either 12 hour shifts from 7-7 or 8 hour shifts from 3-11pm or 11pm-7am. Both of those would conflict with my school schedule. I guess we'll see.

Nurse4Jesus, LPN · Jul 28, 2015

Who told you that cna's can by pass the first six weeks if you don't mind my asking? Maybe I should try server what hours do they do?

Nurse4Jesus, LPN · Jul 28, 2015

If you don't want to put it on this page please email me?

tcbnurse1 · Jul 28, 2015

I sent you the email.

tcbnurse1 · Jul 30, 2015

I went to my WIA appointment this morning. I think it went well but I may not qualify since I already have a bachelor's degree but I'm still hopeful. The lady whose working with me said I should know something by the end of next week. Thanks for the info. It really helped a lot.

Do you know if the program at Orlando Tech is 12 months straight through or do we get a summer breaK?

Nurse4Jesus, LPN · Jul 30, 2015

We get breaks in between I know we get two weeks off during Christmas break!! Bit I figured we would do around thirty hours a week which if that is correct we will have time off! What all dod they ask at the wia appointment? If anything email me!

empathy101 · Aug 5, 2015

Good luck...you'll need it! Unfortunately the PN program is runned by passive-aggressive staff. The assistant director actually taught her husband in her class AND her preteen child was able to sit in (on school property & with nursing students) and participated in a BLS CPR class when the child was NOT an Orlando Tech student. Can we say "conflict of interest" anyone??? Oh and the worst part is, is some test questions/answers are keeyed in wrong! Be sure to review your test results, and if something is incorrectly keeyed, then be sure to speak up for yourself. Some students were allowed to miss a horrendous amount of class and/or clinical time and do make up hours in the end. Unfortunately other students missed just a small amount and where let go. Remember the passive-aggressive part I mentioned? Unfortunately, if "they" want to get rid of a student, they will start a paper trail and make it happen...some students were let go due to missing what their handbook says for max missed class and clinical hours. Remember, other students and their chronic missed class and/or clinical hours were NOT held to the same standard. Also keep in mind that the classmates you start out with, will not all finish the program with you, & keep in mind that previous PN students that took a leave during their original progam, might jump into your class part way through your program. I'm not saying this to scare you, but to give you a heads up on some things to keep in mind, and things you might experience. Nursing school is the most stressful thing you may experience, but if you can finish, it's also the most rewarding. Orlando Tech is great for the price of the progam...that is my positive info for you. Communication...not so much. Good luck, and I wish I had a better idea of what I was really getting myself into, back-in-the-day. I wish you much luck, sleep, and success in your nursing career!

Nurse4Jesus, LPN · Aug 5, 2015

Did you finish the program empathy 101 if not might I ask why you didn't? When did you take the program? Who were the instructors at the time?

empathy101 · Aug 5, 2015

Yep, I did finish the program...but I know many students that did not. Sometimes it felt like things were set up so students would fail instead of flourish...which is unfortunate and really benefits no one in the long run. I don't know which teachers you will have, but when I just looked on the school's faculty list, all the ones I had are listed (& some are no longer there). I don't know if you'll have the same teacher throughout the program or will be switched for different sections of the program. Just keep in mind that things change and/or get poorly communicated at times. If you keep that in the back of your head and go with the flow, you could do fine. Now don't get me wrong, the nursing staff can be nice and fun at times...but there's always another side of the coin, and if you experience that not so great side, keep in mind whatever you feel and see and trust your gut. I hope you have a most excellent experience, but even when you go to graduate, the school has you use your private sign on info to complete a "anonymous survey" on how the school can improve. If they really cared about that, then it would be anonymous without your specific student ID info. Oh, & the paper "anonymous" evaluation, is collected individually by the school counselor that sees each student one at a time. She then takes your "anonymous" review and staples it to your paperwork. SMH. I hope things have changed for the better for you and your future classmates. Good luck!

Nurse4Jesus, LPN · Aug 5, 2015

Thanks for that is there anything else you can tell us? How did you manage not to get swept away by the negative aspects of the program?

tcbnurse1 · Aug 5, 2015

Thanks for the input. How long ago did you finish the program?

empathy101 · Aug 5, 2015

I don't want to say...but like I mentioned above, the same teachers are listed with a couple now gone. So unless they've changed, you might have some of the same dysfunctional crap to deal with. For your sake, I hope not. Anyway, just knowing some of what I mentioned should help you not feel blindsided like me & my classmates felt...nursing school is stressful by itself.