CapeLPN

Just got off the phone with Admissions again - the next day LPN to RN program starts this fall, and the next evening one starts in FAll of 2012! One is starting this month but I'm too late to apply (and don't have my pre-reqs done anyway). I signed up for an informational session for this Friday (mandatory).

I just found this post as well - I"m interested in the evening LPN to RN program. I have a call into a woman in admissions now but haven't heard back yet. Ericad85 - I think your questions about A&P should be directed to admissions. You'll have to have your transcripts sent over and I think they'd decide from there. I'm wondering if my TEAS from my LPN program taken in March 2007 will suffice for Massasoit as well so I don't have to take it again. I don't have any of the pre-reqs done yet but am hoping to get into Biological Principles, so I can then take A&P1 and go from there. I wonder if I can take A&P1 at the same time as the first evening nursing course...

I live in MA - and had a hard time finding a job not in a long-term care facility. I knew it would be a challenge though, b/c hospitals here are not hiring LPNs anymore (ones that have been there a long time are 'grand-fathered' in), but some of the rehab hospitals and drug rehab facilities hire LPNs. I got a job with my local hospice in a 10-bed facility and I love it! My aunt lives in FL though and works as an RN and she told me that they hire LPNs in her hospital (but not all) - so I'm sure it's different everywhere you go. I want to go on to at least get my RN but most likely to get my NP and instead of waiting for the wait list for my local community college to do the RN I opted for LPN so I could gain experience and get paid to work in the field. From what I've heard LPNs who go on to do the local LPN -> RN program do exceptionally well b/c they have so much hands-on experience. Hope this helps! Good luck!

Hi - just seeing this thread now and wondering which route you ended up going? I was in the same boat last year and decided to do a 10-month LPN program with Upper Cape Tech out of Bourne, instead of spending the time taking the pre-reqs I needed to get into the RN program at my local community college, and then dealing with the waiting list there. Now I'm working as an LPN and can take my pre-reqs while working in the field and gaining experience, and will do the LPN-to-RN program in the future (and have heard that the LPNs who have done this really excel at it b/c they have so much hands-on experience). There were several women in my class that have their GEDs and they did well. So, did you go the Surgical Tech or LPN route?

Oooh, that's a tough one... it doesn't sound like your complaints would do any good anyway... I'm still a new grad and don't remember all of the guidelines for lodging complaints (although I'm sure it's in my piles of papers from school)... If I were in the same situation I'd look elsewhere - is it really worth the trouble? I'm all about enjoying where I work and who I work with - how can you work as a healthcare team if no one else is on-board? Just my two cents... I'd be concerned that my license could be on the line too... Best of luck to you!

Hey Hopeslayer - I'm a new LPN grad on the Cape, can you suggest a good SNF to start at while taking classes to go back to get my RN? Feel free to PM me with any suggestions - I'd really appreciate it! Thanks!

Hi, I went to UCT's Harwich campus this past year - have you found everything you need? Did your loan go through? I can't remember when I heard about mine... Just so you know, everyone I know of passed NClex on the first try! Feel free to PM with any ?s.

Hi - I know I'm chiming in a bit late - but I worked as an ophthalmic assistant for a year before I started my LPN program (took NClex and passed at the end of July, then went on vaca for a bit and am now in the process of looking for a job). I may be able to give you some info about your new position if you can give me an idea of what your job description will be like. I also worked with all older women, but overall we got along really well and they kind of lived vicariously through me since all of their kids were grown and out of the house etc. If this would help ease any stress about your new job feel free to PM me with any questions. :)

This is kind of a side-bar to those that already have a bachelors: I just graduated from my PN program and have my BA in Psych. Instead of going on for one more year for the LPN to RN program I'm going to apply to join a two year Master's Entry program - where I'll complete my RN in the first 11 months and then get my NP in the next 13 months. This is an option only for those who have a bachelors in anything OTHER than nursing. It usually requires a few more prerequisites, but for me it seems worth it. This is just in case those with a bachelors haven't heard about these programs. I live in MA and there are several schools in my state that offer a program like this. KGARD7777 - if you are interested in Health Care Admin go for it! From talking to the advisor at my local community college you can still do a lot with that degree and will have many career choices, especially if you're interested in community health. Best of luck to you.

What do you think about the Exam Cram? Is it only downloadable? I'm taking my NClex-PN on 7/21... :behindpc: - Ellyn

Well, congrats on getting it over with! I haven't taken the exam yet, but graduate on June 18th and hope to take NClex by the end of June/early July... would you mind sending along any info about what book you studied from and how closely the questions were to the ones on the exam? How many hours/questions do you think you did before taking it? Did you have a lot of questions from a certain area? Did you take a predictor exam, and if so, how did you do? I have mine on the 16th. Everyone I've talked to so far that graduated from the program I'm in said they all failed the predictor exam miserably, but passed NClex on the first try. Also, did you take a prep course? Any info to share with my classmates is greatly appreciated (I'm the class rep for my campus). I'm sure the waiting sucks - just try to stay positive though! I'm sure you passed! Did you check out this website https://www.ncsbn.org ? It has a ton of info about how the test is graded etc... in case you didn't get the website in school. I thought the section called Exam Psychometrics was interesting. Best of luck! Look forward to hearing any info you may want to share. Ellyn

Thanks Pagandeva, Because I already have a Bachelors I could go on to get my NP in a "master's-entry program". They require more pre-reqs than RN, but would take 2 years instead of the 1-yr LPN to RN transition - there are several programs in Boston... hence the desire to work somewhere where I could get as much clinical experience as possible, and also be happy to go to work everyday b/c I'd be doing pre-reqs for a couple of years. I've heard that if you start working as a CNA before getting the PN cert it can be a difficult transition as far as pay-rate change, and possible relationship struggles with fellow employees. In your experience is this true? In my clinical experiences so far I've only been in contact with a few LPNs so have not been able to REALLY talk to them about their experiences. Thanks for any insight...

Hi everyone, I'm graduating from my LPN program this June and was just curious if I should start looking for work now? Also, does anyone have any advice as to the best places I should look --- since I already have a BA in Psych I'm thinking about going on to get my NP in the future instead of my RN. Thank you! Ellyn :)

I like it, the first semester courses were A&P, Fundamentals, Nutrition, Growth and Development, and Vocational Trends. I got 3 A's and two B+'s, but it's a lot of work! Now we're doing Med/Surg combined with pharmacology (which is nice, we learn about the drugs as we learn about the diseases), but I'm nervous - it's going to be even tougher than the first semester. Definitely keep up on your reading, and if you have time before the program begins, try to get ahead even. Good luck!!!

I'm new here also, and just started the second half of my LPN program. The program I'm in used the TEAS which I bought a study guide for online, which was helpful. The vocational school I go to also offered a 6-week study course for it. I only sat in on a couple of them but the other women in my class who took it really benefited from it. A few math related tidbits that I found helpful: know the difference between the perimeter of a shape and the area of a shape, also, you shouldn't be asked any med calculations but more general algebra and some geometry questions. The study guide I bought had lots of practice tests in the back, which will give you a good idea of where you should focus your studying. If you're really nervous about not passing that test (especially if it's the last one you can take) try taking one earlier than your planned date, so that you can take it again if you need to, and aren't "putting all of your eggs in one basket". Good luck! - Ellyn :)