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I am also considering about joining the military as a 68WM6. Currently, I passed my NCLEX in California and waiting for the board of nursing to send my official license. I am a prior service member (active army for about 4 years) and hope this will be an advantage for me. I am willing to join the military because obtaining a job as an entry level LVN is difficult and I want to gain experience as a nurse. However, I don't know how to contact a health care recruiter here. I see a army recruiting offices but I do not want to deal with a "typical" recruiter who just want a simple "quota". I hope that someone will guide me to the right people. Does anyone have any suggestions?

I'm currently a student attending Hacienda La Puente Adult School VN program. I started the program in June 2009 and expected to graduate in June 2010. First, there is a test that you need to pass in order to be considered for the pre-vn class. It's your basic math and english test. You have to walk in and pay a certain fee. Call the office since I don't know if they changed the schedule of the test. Next, they choose 100 students to attend the pre-vn class. Then, they choose the top 35 students(including alternates) for the acutal VN class. I suggest that you check out other puclic sector VN programs near your area. Don't be only concentrating on one school. From what I'm hearing, there is a huge budget cut for the next school year and it's affecting all the ROP and adult schools. It means that they may cut certain programs, reduce the amount of students, or reduce the enrollment date of the program. Honestly, I am glad that I took the risk and enrolled into Hacienda La Puente VN program. Although I travel far (from Garden Grove), I can't complain about the amount of clinical experience that I'm getting from this program. I enjoy what I do!!! Good luck with your choice in VN programs out there!

For the first term in the VN program, I went to school from Monday through Thrusday. I worked in the NOC shift on Thursday and Friday, and Saturday and Sunday in the PM shift. However, in the second term...I attend school Monday through Friday and I'm scheduled to work on the NOC shift on Friday and PM shift on the weekend. It may seem overwhelming, but I thank my blessings for being single and being determined in completing the VN program in the next 2 1/2 months.

I prefer working with men because they get the job done in a efficient manner.

I would highly advise for you to choose a public sector such as North Orange County Regional Occupation Program, Long Beach City College, Downey Adult School, Rio Hondo Collge, or Hacienda La Puente Adult School. I suggest that you attend to the orientation classes that are offered at each school. It would give you a feeling whether you like the campus, teachers, and see their schdule format during the week. Currently, I am attending the VN Program at Hacienda La Puente Adult School. Although I live in Garden Grove, I don't mind having to commute a long distance...it's worth the sacrifice. Good Luck!

Keep your options open. There are a lot of different LVN programs that are government funded. For example, Long Beach City College, Downey Adult School, Hacienda La Puente Adult School, and Rio Hondo College. I'm letting you know that I was in the Fundamental I class of NOROP, but another public school (Hacienda La Puente Adult School) offered me to start sooner into their LVN program. I took the risk of enrolling into their program since I live in Garden Grove. Honestly, it's the best decision that I have made for myself. My advice for you, don't give up and go to the orientations of the schools that I mentioned earlier. Good Luck!

October 6, 2009 I am currently enrolled at Hacienda La Puente Vocational Nursing Program. I highly recommend this school even though it's an adult school. It offers a lot of support from staff and students. My teachers are awesome! They are knowledgable in a lot of nursing theories and practices. I already completed 3 1/2 months in the program and I am grateful that I chose this school. My clinical site is on a med/surg floor at Kaiser Permanente Hospital in Baldwin Park. I live in Garden Grove and travel more than majority of my classmates...it's worth the sacrifice! For those who are curious about this school...the monthly fee is $300.00 for 12 months. Hacienda La Puente Adult School is a branch out from Hacienda La Puente School District. This program is actually funded by the government. For those considering LVN option...consider this school before thinking of going to a private school.

I recommend that you check out this website: http://www.bvnpt.ca.gov. This website lists numerous accredited schools for those interested in vocational nursing or psychiatric techinican programs. There are both public and private schools that you could attend. I also live in Orange county, California. Listed is a bunch of schools that I checked out: North Orange County Regional Occupational Program offers VN program which costs an estimate $3,000.00. Downey Adult School VN program costs $5,000. Long Beach City College also has a VN program. I worked with people who graduated from private schools such as Concorde, Summit, and Coast Health College. Overall, I observed that the person who graduated from Concorde seem to get positive results. My other co-workers who graduated from Summit and Coast Health College seem very insecure in their performance. I suggest that you be very careful and keep your options open.