JennMcK

Thanks, yeah I think I need to do that. All my life I have had problems with Math. I have always needed special tutoring for math.

I have yet to find an LVN program that does not require that you pass the TEAS exam. Here in San Diego, they all do. The Grossmont Health Occupations Center is where I wanted to get my LVN education since it's in the same town where I live. It's close by and not too expensive. I took the TEAS there and they said come back and try later on, which meant that I did not pass. I was so angry and frankly I felt stupid as well.

I tried once to take and pass the TEAS and I did not do well on the math part. That is not surprising since I'm terrible at math. I'm ok at Science and good at English/Spelling, etc. Anyhow it's just very frustrating not being able to have the career I want to have. I would try again with the TEAS, but I'm so afraid of failing again. My Aunt who spent 30 plus years as an RN said that nursing is not for everyone. And I agree with her. To be honest, it was easy for me to become a CNA and pass the state boards. But I guess becoming an LVN (or LPN) is a lot harder. Thoughts? Advice?

Thank you Stephalump (and everyone else). I think I will do that. :)

Yeah I think I'll need to do that (the tutoring), although I have spoken to other nurses and they told me that they were bad at math and still managed to do it. They told me, "You'll learn it as you go along in nursing school." They also told me that the teachers were very helpful as well when they were having issues.

I would probably have to as well. I think it varies from state to state. Where do you live? I live in California.

I'm actually thinking of becoming an LVN rather than an RN. But we'll see.

Oh I know all about that. I'm not bad at calculations and measurements. We learned about that in my CNA class. I'm just not good at advanced math like algebra, etc.

Oh really? Yeah I could probably do that. However if I go into any school, it will have to be when my son is in school full time (he's only 4 years old right now).

Forget it, I'm not going to even bother anymore. If I have to take and pass the TEAS test then I'd rather not even try to become an LVN or an RN. The reason why is that if I never pass the test, then I will never be admitted, right? I don't think they'll admit anyone who didn't do well on the test. Besides, here in San Diego a friend of mine was interested in becoming an RN a few years ago. However she was told at one of the community colleges that their RN Program had a three year wait list. In fact the school counselor said to her, "I wouldn't even bother with that." She eventually became a Pharmacist. I'm not even sure if the book for passing the TEAS test would help me. However I will take a look at it. If I didn't have such a severe learning disability with math, then it would be easier, I think.

I also think I did bad on the math section of the TEAS test because I wasn't prepared for it. I did not study for it or anything. I wasn't even aware that there was a test to take. I was very naive then. If I only knew then what I know now.

I'm not looking for an easy way out. It just seems like it's very hard just to get accepted into any nursing school, even LPN (which is what I'm aiming for).

Oh really? Well that's a relief, thank you for letting me know that. That's one obstacle out of the way.

Thank you. Unfortunately California makes it so much harder to get into Practical Nursing (or any Nursing) programs. I know each state is different. I'm not sure where you live, but out here it is really hard. They even have the TEAS for some CNA classes (depending on location within San Diego county), or they have a pre-req course. They did not have that when I signed up for my CNA course back in January of 1998. I just signed up and I was accepted with no problem. I wish our LPN programs would have no TEAS tests or pre-req's, but they do. At Southwestern College down in Chula Vista (about 25 min south of me) you have to take about four classes, be certified as a CNA, take the Healthcare Essentials course, and the TEAS before you can be admitted into their LPN program. And even if you do all of that, you still might have to wait on their wait list (which is pretty long). As far as I know, the only LPN programs which have no pre-req's are the expensive, private colleges like Kaplan (which used to be Maric), Concorde and UEI. Their LPN program tuitions are over $30k.

Thank you. Yeah I have a big fear of the TEAS exam for that reason (math) alone. I can't even comprehend pre-algebra without help. I would love to be able to get into the LVN program at the Grossmont Health Occupations Center in Santee, California. It is very close to my residence, and I have heard nothing but good things about it. However I would have to start all over again, as far as becoming a CNA and taking the Healthcare Essentials course because those two are prerequisites for admission into their program (even before taking the TEAS exam). In fact those two are prerequisites for admission into most of the LVN programs at the Community Colleges here in San Diego county (some even have more pre-req's). It's very annoying and discouraging.

Thank you. I'm just afraid of failing it again. I have a learning disability with math (I always have). Even in High School I had Special Education math because I was so bad at it. I'm afraid that if I never pass the TEAS (or I always do poorly in the math part) I will never get into Nursing school ever.

I live in San Diego and I became a CNA in June of 1999 throught the ROP Program. I passed the state board exam test. I also took the Healthcare Essentials course at the Grossmont Health Occ Center in Santee (although I did not like my teacher). I knew that both programs were prerequisites for the Health Occ's LVN program. However, I was not aware of the TEAS test, nor was I prepared for it. I never knew I had to take a test for admission. I thought I had to just do the prerequisites, and maybe I could get in. How naive I was. Since I am awful at math, I failed that part of the exam very badly, so of course I never got in. I just gave up on Nursing altogether. And my fingerprints for my CNA certification kept being rejected (more than once) by the machine up in Sacramento. Apparently they were smudged. So I was (and I am) back to square one. Now in 2012, it's even harder to get into an LVN program. That's why Kaplan or UEI sound good. I know they're way too much money, but at least you don't have to deal with prerequisites or the TEAS test (unless I'm wrong?). I just don't know where to turn or go. I think I'll just forget about Nursing, although I really want to become one. Any advice? Is there any way to avoid the TEAS? Thank you all.

Is there anywhere in San Diego where I can take a CNA class without having to pass a test to get admitted? It seems like wherever I turn (in the ROP programs), most classes have a test of some sort. What happens if you don't do well? Do they tell you to get lost? I'm bad at anything to do with math. The Healthcare Essentials has a test as well. I can understand having the TEAS test for LVN and RN programs, but not for every single program. Does anybody know? Thanks. :)

I don't think there's very many Nursing courses online which are approved by every state. There is an online CNA program which California does not recognize or accept. I'll have to be honest, I've always been a little skeptical of the online LVN to BSN program's I've seen advertised.

Thank you all. I was beginning to think it would be almost impossible for me. We didn't learn much about dosages and such in my CNA training.

When I did my CNA training here in San Diego, I loved it. At first I was a little squeamish about changing residents diapers and giving them showers (during my clinicals). However I got over that real quick, I also felt happy that I was helping them. I mean, what if it was my grandparent in there? What about when I get old and they are uncomfortable about helping me? They're just as human as I am. My CNA teacher (who worked for 30 years as an RN) said, "If you feel uncomfortable about washing the private parts of a man or a woman, then you might not want to be a CNA or a RN. There will be many things that you might not feel comfortable with, but you still need to learn them." She was the best teacher, and she was so funny too.

Hi, I became a CNA/HHA in 1999 and I enjoyed the class and my teacher was great. I do want to become an LVN, but I'm not great at math. The math I have the biggest problem with is advanced math like algebra, Geometry, etc. I'm ok with the metric system and measuring, but not the advanced stuff. Now what kind of math does the LVN program in California entail? I would like to go to San Diego City College if I can. But I'm scared that I won't do well with the math section. I'm good in other subjects, but awful in mathematics.

Well I e-mailed Maric a few days ago. They told me that there is an 80 week program. It's a 4 hour evening class on M T W & Th nights (Theory). Their Clinicals are on weekends. Either that or the 52 week program, which is shorter, but probably more pressure. At this point I'm undecided whether I'm going to give any of the options a try or not.

Thank you. I did the prerequisites for that (ROP LVN Program) back in 1999. I did my CNA/HHA program (passed the state boards) and took the Healthcare Essentials class at the Grossmont Health Occupations Center in Santee (didn't like my teacher there). After that, I figured I'd be able to maybe be accepted into the LVN program. However I didn't know that I had to take (and pass) an entrance exam. Well since I'm not good at math, I failed that part of the exam, and failed the exam altogether. So I just said forget it. I was so angry I couldn't see straight. So like an idiot, I let my CNA Certificate expire. Now if I want to do it again, I'll have to start all over (which is ok). Now San Diego City College's LVN program has the same prereq's, but no entrance exam. However I did e-mail the lady who teaches the course there. She told me that there is no entrance exam to pass right now, but they're considering it for the future. So if they do require one, than my hard work would go to waste, as I want to be an LVN more than I want to be a CNA (no offense intended towards any CNA's). I did e-mail Maric College and they have an 80 week long program which has class sessions four nights a week (M-Th) for four hours. They have clinicals on weekends.

I would want to be able to take evening classes at Maric in San Diego (for LVN) so I don't have to be in class 5 days a week from 8 to 4 (or however long it is). If they have an 18 month option rather than 12 months, that would be great for me. Do they?