Penn Valley / National American University????

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Specializes in Geriatric and Corrections.

I need advice please. I have my AA from Longview CC. I got an office job and left it at that. I'm still at that "office" job but I want to be a nurse. I have been busy raising my children to a more independent age etc. Now they are 13 and 9 so I'm inspired to hit the books again. Last week I inquired at NAU (and at $250 per credit hour OUCH!) I could get my Assoc RN in about 2.5 years for a whopping 20 grand plus or my BSN for 46 grand plus! It seems convenient that they have a part time schedule etc. Just very expensive and I'm a bit worried about the accreditation and a Sanford Brown nightmare as well.

Meanwhile, out of the blue, an acceptance letter for the LPN EVE/PT plan at Penn Valley came in the mail 3 days after that visit! If that's not a sign I don't know what is!

I took the LPN/Hobet test in 2001 for Penn Valley. I passed and couldn't attend FT days due to needing to work FT. I guess I asked to be put in line for the PT/Eve LPN and then forgot about it.

My dilema...I want to be an RN period. But...I don't want to pass this LPN thing up either unless I know I could do the RN at Penn Valley part time. And I don't want to wait 5 years like this! I took the Hobet in 2001!!!

I would again, I assume, take the compass test and the NET test to be accepted in the RN. I am enrolled in cell bio this summer just because I know I'm RN bound.

I've tried to get answers on the phone...ha ha. I'm making a trip to Penn Valley tomorrow to find out more on the Bridge program vs. RN part time.

It seems I would basically be taking 43 extra credit hours (LPN) if I did the bridge thing. I have all gen ed but psych 243, biol 109, and micro. I'm so close yet so far due to red tape.

I'm sure this is part of why I've been discouraged in the past :uhoh3:

Now I'm wiser and more persistant. My figuring seems like the time frame part time will be about 3 years no matter which way I go.

17 month pt LPN

1-1.5 years bridge/RN

It will just be more money and credits to do LPN first.

I pray I'll know more tomorrow. Any ideas/suggestions???

Thanks

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you may want to look into Graceland in Independence. I had my AA from maplewoods.. I originally started out at Mo West in St. Joe, but I am transferring to Graceland next semester. If you already have an AA degree you might as well go 2 years and get a bachelors. It is a 2+2 yr program and you graduate with a BSN.

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Specializes in Geriatric and Corrections.

Thank you! I will call for a packet. I may not have mentioned that my science classes are over 5 years old. I may have to retake them. Right now I'm not giving up the LPN spot but I will call Graceland today. I have heard good things about them. Sherry at Pioneer(the LPN location of Penn Valley) was soooo nice. I felt comfortable after talking to her.

Penn Valley told me there is a LONG wait for their part time RN also and that bridging would be faster. I've decided to look at it as more experience if I do go LPN first.

Thanks again!

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I am starting the Penn Valley RN program in the Fall. It has been a LONG wait. But now I am excited to start. I have a Bachelors degree in Physical Education/Exercise Physiology but I also had to retake all my science courses because they were too old. I have been taking those at Longview for the past year. I checked into most of the BSN programs in Kansas City, but after talking to the advisor at Penn Valley, it seemed like a better idea to do their ADN program. I have 3 kids, so the time requirements for the other programs kind of worried me. Plus, the cost of the other programs would have required me to take out a student loan. Good luck with the LPN program.

Wendy

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Specializes in Geriatric and Corrections.

I know what you mean! I am really excited to be starting the LPN in August. After my LPN class of 17 months I'm only 36 credit hours from ADN. I'll have 18 credit hours of pre-requisites with Cell Bio, Anat and Phys, Psych 243, and Micro to complete. Then just 18 more credits of RN classes. It may take me a few more credit hours to do it this way but time wise it will probably be less due to the wait factor on the part time program. I've heard with bridging there is no wait IF you have all of your pre reqs done.

Good luck on your class too and thanks!

How long did you wait and is it FT or PT?

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Since I have taken everything else-I will only need the nursing classes, so it will be part time. Except for the Fall, I will also be taking Microbiology. Also, Just a suggestion before you take your science classes--If you think you might be interested in getting your BSN in the future, you might want to take CHEM 105 instead of cellular biology AND the separate courses of Anatomy and Physiology. Thats what I did-it takes a little longer, but you will be much more prepared. AND you will find the chemistry will much better prepare you for Physiology.

One of my lab partners in physiology just finished the LPN program and is trying to do the bridge program in the fall. She loved it.

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Specializes in ER.
I need advice please. I have my AA from Longview CC. I got an office job and left it at that. I'm still at that "office" job but I want to be a nurse. I have been busy raising my children to a more independent age etc. Now they are 13 and 9 so I'm inspired to hit the books again. Last week I inquired at NAU (and at $250 per credit hour OUCH!) I could get my Assoc RN in about 2.5 years for a whopping 20 grand plus or my BSN for 46 grand plus! It seems convenient that they have a part time schedule etc. Just very expensive and I'm a bit worried about the accreditation and a Sanford Brown nightmare as well.

Meanwhile, out of the blue, an acceptance letter for the LPN EVE/PT plan at Penn Valley came in the mail 3 days after that visit! If that's not a sign I don't know what is!

I took the LPN/Hobet test in 2001 for Penn Valley. I passed and couldn't attend FT days due to needing to work FT. I guess I asked to be put in line for the PT/Eve LPN and then forgot about it.

My dilema...I want to be an RN period. But...I don't want to pass this LPN thing up either unless I know I could do the RN at Penn Valley part time. And I don't want to wait 5 years like this! I took the Hobet in 2001!!!

I would again, I assume, take the compass test and the NET test to be accepted in the RN. I am enrolled in cell bio this summer just because I know I'm RN bound.

I've tried to get answers on the phone...ha ha. I'm making a trip to Penn Valley tomorrow to find out more on the Bridge program vs. RN part time.

It seems I would basically be taking 43 extra credit hours (LPN) if I did the bridge thing. I have all gen ed but psych 243, biol 109, and micro. I'm so close yet so far due to red tape.

I'm sure this is part of why I've been discouraged in the past :uhoh3:

Now I'm wiser and more persistant. My figuring seems like the time frame part time will be about 3 years no matter which way I go.

17 month pt LPN

1-1.5 years bridge/RN

It will just be more money and credits to do LPN first.

I pray I'll know more tomorrow. Any ideas/suggestions???

Thanks

Good luck on whatever you choose. I start NAU in June. I was attending Penn Valley for two years, finished all my prereqs and then some and was still told that it would be Jan '09 (and with a 3.8 GPA no less). I know that NAU is soooo much more expensive but I will graduate in November '07, over a year before I would even have a chance of STARTING at Penn Valley. Heck, I can even do my RN-BSN before Jan '09:) BTW, I got into NAU on my first try. They don't have wait lists. The ones that didn't get in are mad that they don't get put on a wait list, but have to try all over again latter this year. I personally don't like the idea of a wait list. You should be admitted because you are one of the most qualified, not because you were the most patient. Hope this helps and good luck to you!

T

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Specializes in Geriatric and Corrections.

Man! How discouraging...I don't blame you for going to NAU. How are you juggling the financing? If you don't mind my asking. Unfortunately, I'm going mostly on "loans" so money is a factor. It seems at times, depending on how many credits I take, I may even have to come up with my own funds. If I take 12 or more credits then I'd have to come up with $400-$500. That's scary. I'm barely making ends meet now. I'm so torn. This is one of the most difficult decisions to make. They are so nice at NAU and there is so much red tape at PV. Not to mention the financial aid jungle. Grrrr. I went on full scholarship at LV so I only paid for books. This is a whole new ball of wax for me. I have a 3.8 GPA too.

I know there are pros and cons on both ends. I'm leaning toward PV just because I'm in baby! At least I can work as a nurse and complete the RN later. It's just time. I hear there isn't a wait for bridge if all prereqs are complete. I hope that's correct. I wouldn't consider going straight RN at PV because I'm not patient enough to wait again.

Speaking of financial jungle...I'm going to do some loan/aid research. Thanks for your reply!

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Specializes in ER.

I know there are pros and cons on both ends. I'm leaning toward PV just because I'm in baby! At least I can work as a nurse and complete the RN later. It's just time. I hear there isn't a wait for bridge if all prereqs are complete. I hope that's correct. I wouldn't consider going straight RN at PV because I'm not patient enough to wait again.

Speaking of financial jungle...I'm going to do some loan/aid research. Thanks for your reply!

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Hey butterfly88, I graduated from Penn Valley evening/weekend program in 2004. Dianne Beedle is one of the instuctors and she is awesome! Although the program is 17 months, it flies by. I passed my boards the first time and feel like they prepared me well.

I too, am looking to bridge to my ADN and eventually to my BSN - and I also have several hours at Missouri Western here in St. Joseph (I'm a junior as a matter of fact :) ). If you have any questions let me know as I kept most of my information from Penn Valley.

Aubrey

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Specializes in Geriatric and Corrections.

Aubrey,

Thanks so much! I did make the decision to go to Penn Valley. I went for orientation in May and after meeting Sharon Graves and Diane Beetle I knew it was where I'm supposed to be. I felt very comfortable with the enviroment. I'm so excited to begin Aug 8th! I haven't looked back at my decison. :nuke: Thank you again.

Kara

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Butterfly - I just graduated the eve/weekend LPN program in May, also had Dianne Beedle. I really liked the program, and about 1/2 of our class is going to bridge thru Excelsior, because Penn Valley RN program and the bridge program at Park is about 2 years wait. Good luck w/ the LPN program! Let me know if you have any questions about the program!

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