twinsister1

I was accepted at Kennedy King's LPN program for this coming August. I know when I went to fill out the application, several LPN students came to speak with the nursing instructor adminstering the applications and told her how the majority of them passed their NCLEX. Anyway, she asked them did they apply for their RN program becuase you can not apply for the RN program without having your LPN licensure. So basically they ONLY accept LPN's for their RN program due to them seeking accreditation again. And I believe you can automatically bridge over if you pass the NCLEx because they only accepted 50 students for the LpN program this coming fall semester and the students who started their LPN program in January will be a year ahead of you anyway. Most of the community colleges have 60 to 80 seats for their RN program. You need to take your seat at KKC and you can also bridge over to Olive Harvey, Daley, Chicago State and even St. Xavier University. With St. Xavier, they have a LPN to BSN program and I hear rave reviews from my friends who are in their program.

Hey BabygirlChas, Oh No, no, no , will you feel like you made a mistake. You made the best choice that was best for you at the time. Pleease, do not feel bad or be scared about Daley College. I just gave some info about the city colleges so students would be more open minded when giving advice about the city colleges. If I had listened to what my fellow nurse co-workers told me about nursing programs, I would have never made it this far! They told me how hard it is, how the instructors were mean and so and so. They said Chemistry, Micro Anatomy, etc. was so hard. Whatever! I got all A's & B's out of those courses. Anyway, a little advice to you. You can do this! Fear = False, Evidence, Appearing, Real ! There is a reason why you are at Daley. It is part of a higher(God) plan. And you can not argue with that. Do you believe in yourself ? Are you determined to make it ? Is this something you really want ? Do you believe with God all things are possible ? If you said yes to amy of those questions, then this is something you can do. Do you hear me ? Do not give up or give into fear. I am scared and so are many others that are starting on this journey. Just like you made it through your pre reqs, you can make it with the program. I go to work tomorrow and I will post the answer to your question about how many students graduated, etc. Due to a percentage of my co workers graduated from Daley. Also, yes, it is great that you got all your general ed courses out the way. This way, all you have to be concern with is Nursing 101, that is, if you have taken Anatomy, Micro, etc.. In the mean time... stay calm, relax and be prayerful.

Hey BabygirlChas, It looks like you have a choice that needs to be made quick . I just wanted to give my opinion. IF Truman will not be a problem for you as far as commutting, then I say choose Truman. The only thing is, when you have clinicals in your second year, it might be a little hectic (due to clinicals being more than once a week in the 2nd yr.) as far as commute is concern. I read that you attended Truman and Daley orientations. Did you get any info on their clinical locations ? I believe this is your main concern regarding Truman. Also, will you do clinicals in the evening if you attend Truman? If so, you would not have to worry about rush hour traffic and being late. You should weigh your pros and cons in deciding which school to attend. For example, with Daley: can you handle the stress from the program, is it closer to your home/work, did their orientation impress you, etc. Truman: are you willing to travel that far for meetings, lab, tutoring, clinicals, are the hospitals they do clinicals further away from the school, do you mind traveling in the winter time on the el, etc... As far as 8 week lectures, Daley is the only CCC that utilize a non traditional method. This is why so many students dropped or failed the program, because most could not deal with retainig so much info at one time. And it is a lot of info. Did you know that when you start your nursing program you will be required to read 11-14 chapters in two days and take a quiz with 100 questions, and that is only the quiz I'm talking about. Most people I know that went to Daley's nursing program graduated, but stated it was tough due to so much info at once and then being tested on it. In the end it is your choice. You are the only one that know what you can deal with. Just like me, I have to choose between Olive Harvey, St. Xavier, Chicago State or Kennedy King (lpn). And most people will tell you to stay away from OH or KK. And my pro and cons have been weighed: St.Xavier-to expensive, but excellent program Chicago State- tries to make you stay in there forvever (too many classes) KK- LpN program, still have to go back to school OH- not NLNAC accreditied, but 6 minutes from home in car and classes are transferable to all universities. I chose OH because it is more convient, less expensive, clinical sites are not far and some of my friends were accepted. It may not be the best choice, but for now, it is the best choice for me! Good luck and God Bless

Hey Guys, New to the forum. I just wanted to speak my peace about the City Colleges and reputation. O.K. Well first of I am not aiming to offend anyone but give a little insight. I am a University of Chicago Hospital employee (15 years) and have seen the diversity in nurses from all walks of life ranging from A.D.N., B.S.N., NP, to CRNA. Not once have any of my co-workers asked what school did you go to during an emergent situation or crises regarding patient care. Every one must work as a team regardless of credentials, race, gender or dislikes. By the way I work on Labor & Delivery. I guess my point is this. Do not get caught up in what you think is consider the best school, better program or the most qualified. For example West Suburban College is accredited and look at all the mess going on there. Daley College is good-but they are on a conditional accredition basis until 2016. Truman , yes, great program, but Triton, Moraine Valley and Prarie State are excellent programs also. South Suburban was consider good before a time, but they have run into problems such as the whole 2009 graduating class took the HESI 3 times before passing. All the while, Olive Harvey 2009 class had 67 students take the HESI and 63 passed on the first try. The whole accreditation process is voluntarily by colleges submitting applications. Some schools do it for status, others for money and actually some do it because they know they have a good program that works. Believe me , the NlNAC does not come to a school by suprise and say "Your program failed" . It is all a voluntarily process. The real deal is the Illinois Higher Education of North Central and the Illinois Department of Profressional Regualtion-who by the way determines if your program is accreditied and the courses/classes are transferable. And ALL of the city colleges are approved by the IDPR. Kennedy King just got back on the list and only accept LPN's into their RN program due to them coming off of suspension. Olive Harvey stopped their program for 2 years back in the late 90's due to them foreseeing the same fate. However, I must say, Olive Harvey is back on track due to them retaining Dr. Terrell from Truman in 2008. She was the one responsible for Truman's success and she is responsible for the passing rate of the HeSI exam for the graduating 2009 Olive Harvey nursing class. Sure, some schools have a ways to go, but you can not brush them off entirely with out knowing the facts. Daley is an intense program that is non traditional-meaning: if you can withstand doing psych one week, ob/gyn 2 weeks and med-surg the next and be tested on all at one time than that school is for you. I have several co- workers who endured Daley and can tell you every meds there is to know. But I also have 3 co workers that graduated from Olive Harvey and one became a Family NP, the other a director of L&D and lastly, a CRNA. Nursing school is what you make of it. Of course go to the school you feel have the most to offer you as a nursing student. But please do not think for once, people who graduated from schools that you see as inferior to yours is less of a nurse than you. The majority of us attend the community colleges due to cost, finance and the convience of time and closeness to home. Oh, by the way, I transfered 76 credit hours from Olive Harvey to major universities across the Chicago area. ALL but one Math 099 was accepted by all of the univerisities. And St. Xavier accepted 72 hours which allowed me acceptance iinto their nursing program. As the saying goes "What is a doctor that get C's ? .... A doctor ! A ReaL nurse is one that goes the extra mile, pray when tears are not enough, hold the hand of death while knowing all was done to help, serving others with out feeling inferior and being the hand of God when others can not see him. :redbeathe