FancyLexRN

Oh wow! Congratulations! ? Thank you for responding too! I agree, the benefits with HHC are wonderful. The retirement, medical and union packages are pretty comprehensive. I applied to Bellevue but haven’t heard back from anyone as of yet. However, I’ve already moved back home here in NYC & started as a nurse with HHC, specifically under Correctional Health Services on Rikers Island. It is a bit of a hike for me to get to Rikers, but I know the job stability is good. I also had an interview at Metropolitan hospital for their new express care clinic around the time I interviewed for Rikers, so I’m hoping they’ll eventually call me to start because that’s a more ideal work location for me commute to. Anyway, I wish you all the best at Bellevue, the neuro ICU sounds so exciting! ?

Hello! Can you shed some light on the working conditions & experiences @ Bellevue? I’m currently considering taking a position there & trying to figure out if it’s worth moving back home to NYC for. Thanks ?

If you don't mind me asking, how terrible is the starting pay?

Oh great! I'll see you then! Yes it was great, I hope you enjoy yours also!

Hello there! I forgot to respond, but I'm doing morning classes. I have fundamentals lab Wed mornings 8.5 hrs, then the lecture portion 2 hrs and 45mins on Thurs, along with intro to nursing for appx an hr and lifespan development for 2hrs and 45mins, then Friday mornings I have microbiology for about 5 hrs. Good luck to you guys in the program, it's rigorous but it can be done

Hello, I also am enrolled in their program to start in May! I actually have to head there in the morning for the nursing interview and to get my schedule. I am curious about their credits transferring also, I plan to ask tomorrow when I visit.

I agree with your statement. But do you plan to continue on for MSN, after completing BSN through ISU? Will the credits earned from TCN have to be re-earned once you're at the point where you are seeking furthering your education? That's the only concern I have with earning some credits through TCN, the fact that they might not be honored at some institutions later down the road while pursing MSN or higher degrees.

I wish you the best with pursuing the BSN through TCN! :) My main concern is with the TCN courses/exams, are those credits (the ones received upon passing the TCN issued courses/exams) transferrable for MSN after completion of the ISU LPN-BSN program all together? I'm just curious as to what value do those courses/credits have in terms of furthering your education, especially because TCN is not an official school or degree granting institution. I am also interested in ISU's LPN-BSN program, I just wish I could use all CLEP/DSST/Excelsior exams to satisfy the general ed requirements.

No waiting list. You just have to complete the 7 required prerequisites to apply to the nursing program. Heres a link to the program's summary. http://cms.indstate.edu/health/sites/health.indstate.edu/files/bnc-lpn-bs-program-summary.pdf

I too live in VA. VA BON recognizes the ISU LPN-BSN program. I am in the process of completing the prereqs (phase I of the program) to start with phase II. I plan to CLEP, DSST, Excelsior, or whatever online course I can take to earn these credits. I work fulltime and am a mom of 3, so its difficult to attend school the old fashioned way. I'd love to get some study buddies if possible Does anyone know if Edukan courses are accepted by ISU? Been trying to research this info.

I hope some answers come your way! I'm trying to prepare myself for the ISU program. Did you happen to complete any of the required prerequisite courses online?

Hi Augustrn1, I am currently in the same position as you were when you posted this, I am now waiting for my final offer. I was told by the recruiter that the salary review was the last component of my hiring process. I too, was interviewed in June and received the tentative offer in August. My VETPRO did take quite some time. I am curious, when exactly did you receive your employment offer? Hopefully you've started working by now! The anxiety of waiting is killing me lol! I just hope there isn't a last minute change of heart for me being chosen for the position.

Thank you all for this useful information

Hi there Purple Violet, I was wondering if you started to CLEP your pre-reqs for Excelsior? I am looking to do the same, but I too can't get a direct answer from the advisors? I just wanted to know how your experience with CLEP for Excelsior was going? TIA

Likewise!

I'd love to see the phase 2 & 3 as well!! Im also curious as to how you were able to sum this all up? When I contact ISU to see which courses can be tested out and with what specific exams and companies, they tell me a general answer like "Yes, all our courses can be tested out for credit". I'd hate to complete the wrong exam for a specific course, I am in need of all nursing prereqs!

Just to let you know, I too live in the NYC area, Staten Island to be specific, and as a new grad lpn on my first job (office setting) I was making 21.63 per hour In Manhattan. At my current job (LTC facility), here on SI, I am making 24.18 per hour. So as NamasteNurse said it varies on where you work; the city & type of facility. Good luck on your nursing journey!!! :)

Amybear, Hello, and congrats on pursuing your LPN! :) I would like to ask exactly what nursing homes or agencies in Richmond, Virginia hire new grad lpns? I too, like Greg, live in NY and want to move to VA, but specifically Richmond. I'm currently in the process of endorsing my license from NY to Va, (which is a hassle because of my school's clinical hours ) but I'd love to know which LTC facilities you're speaking of? Also, @ Greg, did you make the move to VA Beach Yet, and if you did, did you have any trouble endorsing your license to the state of VA? Any information from anyone would be greatly appreciated!!!! Thanks in advance!!!

Thanks MelleMel,!!! Well with the HHC program, it might be wise to go another route to become a LPN because it surely doesn't guarantee yoyu employment after. I am still seeking employment, and the most they've offered us all are volunteering positions to gain experience and then obtain employment with that. Don't get me wrong, the program itself is excellent, but its totally disappointing to not be able to finally practice as a LPN after all of that hard work. Perhaps BCC will offer you employment assistance after graduating, or even better, you can continue to work where you are currently working! I know of 1199 paying for your nursing education, or if I'm mistaken, the reimburse the costs. Is that what you would be doing, attending BCC through 1199? Now, with the prep, it was terrific. What borough will you be attending prep classes? Maybe at Goldwater, being that you took your TABE exam there. I attended in Manhattan, and it was tues, wed, and thurs 5-8 (if I'm not mistaken, if I am it was 6-9) OR you can choose the option of attending Monday and Saturday for I think 6 hours (10-2, or similiar times). I would attend the classes during the week because it was convenient for me to work then head straight there. If I missed days, I'd make it up on Mon or Sat. The teachers were great, especially Ms. ****. I'm not sure if she's still there teaching prep, but she was incredible! She taught on the tues, wed, thurs classes and alo on sat. Ms. ****, who was also excellent, taught on Monday. Ms. ***** was your Math mainly. Ms ***** was your language arts, reading comprehension. I feel if I didint attend those prep classes, I wouldn't be where I am now. Some people who attended last year's LPN program didn't attend the prep classes though. I commend them because I'm sure it took alot to be focused on studying for the CNET exam, along with working, having children, etc. I can say surely that prep definitely helped for me, and the others that attended. To sum it up, I personally wouldn't pick the option of attending HHC if it would cost you your job. Do what you feel is best, and I wish you luck!!!!! :)

agldragonRN and Jag815, could you both please tell me where the facilities you both are employed at are located?? Perhaps I can apply there being that they actually hire new grads and I live in Staten Island so traveling there wont be too hectic. Thanks in Advance!!!!

Hello MelleMel, Yes, you sure can apply to other hospitals, such as the one you work at. Its the same license you'd receive if you went to any other LPN program in New York, just no associates degree along with it. I have also applied with 1199, but no response yet. I figured I'll try applying in the Westchester area for employment. You can give me the 1199 site please, because I applied at one of their offices where I live, but not on the site. But thanks for wishing me luck, I wish you the same getting into the program! Its truly worth it!! :)

Thank you for the luck as well, I will surely need it!!!

LikeAStar, Your welcome. Yes you would think that the programed is based on job availability. Its a shame most of us are without employment. We signed the contract at the beginning of the program, but came to find out at the end, not even the hospital where the program is based (Goldwater) has LPN positions available, all because of the recession. Don't get me wrong, on a 1 to 10 scale, I'd rate the program about a 9. The teachers are awesome and you learn so much, but it is hard work. It was very intense for me being that I endured my whole pregnancy while there, and missed out on some of the clinical time, but I enjoyed the experience. As far as organization goes, the program is somewhat well organized, that's why I gave it a 9. Certain rules and guidelines that they have, for example, lateness and passing grades, should be more enforced. To get in, you have to pass two TABE exams as well as the CNET, and have to score above a certain percentile. It is a timely process. For example, if you were to apply for the program, you'd have to apply by Feb 2011, take and pass the two TABE exams and CNET (there is also a free CNET prep course you can take after passing the two TABE's), and then, if you're accepted, they give you two options: to pay for the program, you'd have to pay $1200 initially before starting classes, and another $1200 in Jan 2012 OR you won't have to pay, you just proceed with the steps they provide. There are also two other programs affiliated with this one, but are under the Board of Ed alone, not with HHC. They are held in Manhattan in Brooklyn.

Yes, there is an actual graduation ceremony upon completion, but you don't receive your diploma until you pass boards. I graduated of June this year 2010. Also, just to add, this year it wasn't all that great when it came to our guarantee to receive employment because of the recession. The majority of us all passed boards and are still unemployed, including myself. And to top it all off, none of the facilities or agencies want to hire a new grad!!