lytexas

I am transferring to Prairie View for the fall semester to finish my RN. I am only 2 semesters away from attending the actual Nursing program. I know it would be cheaper and more convienient to just finish the 2 semesters at a community college, but I have heard many many good things about the University and in order to graduate from P.V. you have to attend at least a semester. I would really like to do that, but I am not too familiar with the school or its program, so I am looking for advise. Is it a good enough school to spend the extra year and money there, instead of at a community college? How competitive is the program? etc..

12-24 week assignment beginning November 2005 $500/month living expenses $34/hr +shift and weekend differentials $500-$1,500 bonus depending on length of assignment $250 travel allowance for RNs commuting over 100 miles 2 Years Exp This is St. Davids, (pulled directly off their website) now granted it is for seasonal RN's and the time frame is Nov-Apr, but you can still apply and they are really looking for RN's just within the hospitals on a regular basis. Now OF COURSE it is going to all depend on your level of experience and what type of position you are looking for and if you are able to do weekends, nights, quick assignments etc, that is with any job. If you choose to work Mon-Fri 7-3 than your pay is likely not going to be as high because that is the most sought after shift and schedule, but by working the shifts that NO ONE wants to work (i.e FRI SAT SUN 7p-7a or even the 11-7 shift) than you will make more. I have talked to several people throughout Seton and St Davids about the benifits of getting your RN compared to LVN and the number one reason from EVERY person I have talked to was the pay differential using the LVN pay around 20-25 (these are the highest possible pay rates that they were basing this on) all depending on what shift, what location, hospital, nursing home etc, and the RN pay being anywhere from 5-10 more an hour starting off (just in the hospitals, i have not looked further into nursing homes for RN's, just LVN), not including float pools (St Davids pays $10 more an hour for float pools alone), weekends or night shift differentials. Now the same will go for LVN, of course you might be lucky to get $20 it will all depend, in a nursing home yeah its very likely to make that much and more, because the LVN really does a majority of the patient care. Every person is different in their quest for a position and your pay will reflect your availability and experience, but there is not much wiggle room for an LVN to make much MORE than 20-25 especially with the hospitals trying to wean away from LVN's in general, which was really the point I was trying to make, regardless what the base pay is for the job she decided to take, she WILL make more as an RN and would be able to pay off loans and what not faster and have a guaranteed position.

oh...great thank you! and good luck with your hunt, wish I could help I am trying myself to move back to houston and find a hospital to work in and try to finish my RN, im working as a CNA now, but I feel I can make more in Houston than Austin and I have a WAY better chance of getting into a school! Well again good luck!

How do you like the 3 12's per week? Im looking to get a Fri Sat and Sun from 7p-7a but im not sure how it will affect my school during the week? Do you find yourself tired during your 4 off days, like playing catch up or anything?!

Yes this is very true, I just got hired on to St Davids and the DON there was telling me how the hospitals are trying to do away with hiring LVN because there is so much they are legally not able to do and the RN are having to go behind and do it, so it is making their jobs harder. I understand your position on not being able to finance the RN compared to the LVN I am going through the same dilema right now but thankfully the hospitals here have opened my eyes and explained it to me like this...An LVN is only 8 mo shy of an RN so for the first 16 mo or so she will be really limited on work anyways then if she stops after her LVN she will be LUCKY to find a job paying maybe $20-$25/hr (and full time is not guaranteed) BUT if she can tough out the last 8 mo and pull loans etc she can DEFFINATELY find a FULL-TIME job paying ATLEAST $30-$35 an hour and even more in the float pools etc, so in terms of money she would actually be able to pay off loans or what not faster AND have her dream job with a SECURE position and be happy!! Just a bit of advise that I have been given by professionals in the medical field, hope it helps, hope you can see the point I was trying to reach! Good Luck!

Well I just moved from Houston to Austin to finish school not to long ago and hope to move back once I get some nursing exp under MY belt. As far as level 1 trauma centers I can only tell you about Memorial Herman because it is one of the best hospitals in Houston and I am sure they would have a great Trauma unit, but to warn you Houston is a very BIG city if your not used to one (I wasn't) and it is a fast paced city, Traffic is horrible but there are TONS of side streets to ANYWHERE you want to go. All in all despite the influx of people due to Katrina and the traffic Houston is a great place to start a career and really excell there are so many opportunities everywhere you go and you dont usually have to go very far. The people for the most part are pretty friendly, but DON'T get in there way! It is all business, but PLENTY of time for fun!! Hope this helps and good luck!!

I just moved from houston but know of a couple good places. Have you tried the MD Anderson cancr center I know they were looking for some RN's not to long ago and even recruited my friend all the way in Killgore, also Memorial Herman south on Gessner is a good place to look, just some suggestions stray away from the medical center as much as you can initially because that is where EVERYONE goes at first, so the competiton is alot harder. Hope that helps

Thank you so much I had an interview with St. Davids today and the DON there told me that I should not even bother with my LVN also, I was in formed that quite a few hospitals are trying to do away with even hiring LVN because there is so much they are unable to do, and it makes the RN's job harder, so now i just need to do some research on what school to attend that will let me in the fastest, I hate to wait you know??!! But thank you very much!

Well thank you I thought it sounded a little fishy im like how is there a waiting list to get in to LVN but they are in such demand??!! Well I tried to call but of course its spring break and they didnt answer but I left a message so hopefully *keeping fingers crossed* ill get right in, I already have 3yrs of college for nursing so it should speed me up faster (I hope)!

HI, I am just about to apply to ACC for LPN. I started at UTSA 3 yrs ago and have almost all my prereqs so hopefully I can get in pretty quick I went ahead and obtained my CNA to see if it helps with the process, but only time will tell, I wish I would have just kept straight on for my RN, but maybe CNA-LPN-RN will work, how hard was it to get accepted and was there a waiting list?

Hi im not enrolled yet but maybe you can tell me a couple of things real quick. I have 3 years of pre-reqs for nursing but had to quit UTSA, I just finished my CNA and was told that there was a waiting list to get in to LPN at CTC and that maybe I would be moved to the top of the list, but that just sounds weird to me? Did you get right in for LPN or can you help, I am really interested in the school im coming from austin, but not if there is a 3 year waiting list.