daisymay07

Sorry-should have said, I am not an LPN. However, when I called the CO Board of nursing, they said I had to do 350 hours of extra preceptorship (is that the right term?) if I was already an LPN, and 750 if I did the full 2 year program to become an RN (no prior LPN), with Excelsior. If they don't have that program-if you need to be an LPN to even start, the woman must have been confused... how odd... Oh well-I will recheck Exelsior's site and see what it says. Thanks

I'm in a rural area of CO, and am too far away from any brick and mortar nursing programs. The nearest LPN program is over 2 hours away, and to get an RN would require at least a 3 hour drive...With 2 small kids and a self employed husband who works crazy hours, I cannot drive 2-3 hours each way to attend school (or stay overnight...). It would compromise my family's income, risk my dh's business, be way too stressful for everyone, etc... So, that leads me to Excelsior. I called the CO Board of Nursing, and the woman seemed kind of lukewarm on the program. Said that CO considers it "nontraditional" and that I would need to do an additional 750 hours of preceptorship (?) & get signed off on all those skills, to show that I had actually learned everything. I had talked to the DON at our local hospital 2 years ago, about the program, and she said that several local people were doing it, but again-seemed kind of lukewarm and vague on the program. I don't mind doing the extra hours, but don't want to waste time and $$ doing a sketchy program, kwim? Would I still be as employable? This is basically my only chance to do nursing school. Any advice?? I've asked about this before in a general way, but am wondering if anyone from CO, specifically, has advice.

I'm 35 and just got serious about finding nursing programs to apply to. I've got a bachelors in Biology and a MS in Env. Sci, and have been a SAHM for the last 5 years. I don't think my former field is a great fit for me now, as a parent (the workload kicks up in the summer, when kids are out of school). I did get certified as a CNA a few years ago, just to get my feet wet (haven't worked as one, but anyways), and took 1 other prereq online. I'm calling the nearest LPN program on Wednesday, when everything opens up again from the holidays, and I'm hoping to get good info from them. I'd be 37 or 38 when completing that program, most likely (it's a 2 year, slower track program which is good for me b/c it's 2 hours away, and what with the kids and all, it fits my needs). The time passes whether or not you go to school, kwim? In 5 years, you'll be 5 years older, whether or not you do school. Might as well say you did it, right? Sounds like a lot women (in particular) go to nursing school later in life. Personally, I think I'm much better off doing it *now* as opposed to when I was college aged, and going to frat parties was my thing... I am sure my judgement & maturity level is far better, now.

Thanks for the replies. I am going to call the technical college to get more info about the slower track 2 year LPN program (I'd prefer to do the faster track year program, instead, but family obligations & the distance make it pretty much impossible for me to commit to traveling to the program 5 days a week). Cost is the same, same classes, they're just spread out over 2 years instead of 1. I will also call the CO Board of Nursing to find out more about Excelsior, and whether or not they accept it. And yeah-ideally, I'd be attending an accelerated BSN program at a good school (I had considered some good state schools in the Denver/Boulder area, when we lived nearer to there...), or something like that... but geographically, it is just not possible at this time, so I will take what I can get! I don't plan on doing a nurse practicioner type thing at this time... it's going to be all I can do to get an RN... Should I change my mind at some point, I'd hope that my previous educational background might make me a better candidate for an advanced program...

I live in western CO, in a fairly far flung town... I have a degree in Biology and a MS in Env. Science and have been considering nursing off and on, for the past few years. I did get certified as a CNA (to see if nursing was at all a fit, and I enjoyed the course & clinicals). I never worked as one, b/c the pay wasn't worth it to me, with 2 small kids and a self employed husband who is pretty busy. Anyways, one kid has started school, and the other one will start in 2 years... and I am trying to get prepared to go back to work, possibly in nursing. I have located a LPN program at a technical college, and can even do a 2 year track for it, so that it's easier for me and my family (it's almost 2 hours away...ugh). The closest RN program is in Grand Junction (3 hours away), or there's another one that's about 90 min away but has a terrible drive involved (over a crazy mountain pass-don't want to do it daily all winter long!). So, are there any decent online LPN to RN programs? Or, while I'm asking, are there any decent 2 year RN programs online? I've read about Excelsior (sp?) but have heard varying things-that it's very expensive and, more importantly, that the CO Board of Nursing may not continue to accept it, so I'm leery of going that route... Thanks for any advice!