intehflames

I'm a current OTech LPN student. OTech is not fancy at all (and that's all I'm gonna say about that, lol) but it's a good bang for your buck.. I wouldn't spend a ton of money at a private school for an LPN degree. I looked up Centura's website and there's pretty much no information on there, you have to contact them if you want to know anything, which is a bad sign IMO (crappy school or CRAZY expensive).

I started on January 25. I am learning a lot but the program I'm in seems kind of disorganized. We start on our first nursing home clinicals in two weeks, and I don't feel prepared at all. We only have access to our skills lab on Fridays (the upper-level LPN classes use it the rest of the week) so I'm kind of worried I'm going to get to the nursing home and not know how to properly transfer a patient or even how to put the freaking footrests down on a wheelchair.

Thanks. :) That helps out a lot. I'll see y'all there tomorrow. Name is Gina and I have red hair, if that will help you recognize me, hah.

Does anyone know if Orlando Tech is open at all tomorrow (12/31, New Years' Eve)? I need to buy a parking garage sticker.. that lady at orientation said we're not allowed to park in the visitors' parking lot out front once we become students.. and I know the school will be closed on Friday since it's New Years' Day. Oh well.. if I don't get it by Monday.. hopefully they will not notice my car out in the parking lot.. lol. Anyone purchase their uniforms yet?

I was there at the orientation as well. I agree that the lady was a bit disorganized with her information. Do we have to wear our uniform the first day of school (January 5) or not? At least the program is only 10 months. Just think, we'll be graduating in a year.

Sometime this month. I'll let you guys know as soon as I receive mine.

Thanks for the info Onmyway. I've heard the same thing about new grad RN's having a tough time finding work in FL. Honestly, I think an LPN may have a better chance of getting a job and getting their foot in the door somewhere.. due to all of the retirees that migrate down here, there's TONS of LTC facilities. My uncle's wife was an LPN for like 10 years, and finally got her RN license in about 2005 and she's now the head nurse at a nearby LTC/assisted living facility. Makes pretty decent money too.

Has anyone received their orientation invitation letters in the mail yet? I'm pretty sure when I turned in my packet the receptionist said they'd be mailing out letters in October but I haven't received one yet.. and I'm kind of worried about it since orientation is supposed to be held sometime in November. Carolina, I'm not sure where you would go to test out of classes. Hopefully they will give us all that information during orientation.

I'm going to be attending a full-time LPN program in January. I can't get a pell grant because the government says my father makes too much money (I'm 22). My school, a technical school, does not accept federal Stafford loans. My school is not listed on Sallie Mae's website as an approved institution so I guess I can't take out a Sallie Mae loan. Are there any other good private loans out there for technical school students?

I e-mailed Central Florida WIA on Friday and still haven't received a response back. I wanted to know if I could get the job search requirement waived, seeing as I will be attending a full-time LPN program. If they haven't emailed me back tomorrow I'm going to give them a phone call and hopefully be able to set up some sort of appointment. It doesn't help that my school (Orlando Tech) doesn't really give a specific date that tuition is due. I'm guessing sometime in December. The financial aid lady didn't even seem to know specifics! But I need to know NOW so I can get my fin. aid situated. Argh.

LPN program in 10 1/2 weeks? I don't think that's possible anywhere.. lol. I do know you can test out of some of the basic classes if you hold a CNA license, or so I've heard. Are you planning on taking RN pre-reqs AND going to Orlando Tech full-time at the same time? I wouldn't recommend doing that.

Oh man. I don't think I could do that. That's going to be hell on you. I plan on trying to work only on the weekends to ensure I have enough time to study and focus on school during the week. Meaning I'll be even more dirt poor than I am now.. but I live with my parents and don't have any expenses other than car loan/insurance and a credit card bill. But I know a lot of people have households and children and can't afford to quit their jobs or cut back to part-time. State financial aid? I didn't realize there was such a thing.

My name is Gina. :) Yeah, I'm just worried about class time rolling around and not having the funds to pay for school. I asked the lady at financial aid when tuition is due and she said it wasn't due until you "register".. which is the first day of class. You really have to pry for information at this school, I've noticed.. I spoke with a girl who is already doing the LPN day program who was waiting to see financial aid as well.. she told me it's a very fast-paced program, really intense. Exams every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Anything below 80% is failing. Get ready to not have much of a life for the next year, lol. It'll be worth it in the end though. If anyone who's going to be in my class wants to add me to messenger, my MSN is [email protected]

Ah, that's good. I think I will call them up tomorrow and ask them about it. My financial aid advisor really didn't tell me much about the program.. just gave me a flier with the URL on it and told me to check it out. :/ I hope I can at least get a little tuition help out of it.

I'm curious if anyone has used Workforce Central Florida's WIA program to help pay tuition for their LPN. One part I don't understand is that they make you apply for 10 jobs as a part of the application process? I'm doing it because I want to try to get into the program but still.. I don't get it.. I already have a part-time job and I'm going to be starting school full-time in January so I really do not want another job, lol.