LeeLee87

wow, really? U found a place that will give u 5,000 a month? I've never even heard of that. Is this through your school? If I was getting that much a month I wouldn't even have to work. I can't find anything like that around here.

I just don't like owing all of that money back. I will be paying it back till the day I die but I guess it's worth it to make a better life for me & my son.

You can borrow more than you need to on your loans if you have to, as long as the funds are there. I know for the one loan you can borrow up to $9,500 & the other one I think it's $5,000. I was approved for a grant of $5500 as well but my tuition is already $12,000 & that doesn't include the cost of books or uniforms. My program is a yr so I could borrow $5,000 again throughout the yr. I just hate the thought of owing a **** ton of money back. I already owe $13,000 for getting my dental assisting diploma which was a total joke. Wish I would have just went to school to be an LPN in the first place.

I was supposed to start the lpn program this Jan but there was one huge road bump that stopped that from happening this. So I'm hoping next Jan I can make it happen BUT i'm really worried how we are going to survive financially. We are struggling so bad right now and me & my boyfriend both work as much as we possibly can. We don't qualify for any assistance since our state goes by gross income (what a bunch of bs). And we also have a 2 yr old to support. The program is M-F, 8 hrs a day so it's basically like working a full time job but in all actuality I won't be able to work full time cause I need time to study & spend time with my son. I'm going to over borrow as much as I can on my loans cause I have no other options. If u have or are in the same boat as me please tell me how u make it work!!!!

That's awesome! congrats! I decided to go ahead and order the ati teas study manual even though it's expensive & I will only use it once I think it's better to be safe than sorry especially since classes do fill up so quickly I don't wanna miss out on a spot because I have to re-take the test. I bet you're really anxious to start..I know I would be! Good luck =)

Thanks for the response! I'm terrible at math so I'm a little worried. I'm just gonna order the book from amazon & make sure I don't write in it that way I can send it back since I will only be using it once. I have to pass this test on the first try cause classes start in Jan. & as you know they fill up quickly.

I will be taking the TEAS exam on Sept 14th so I obviously don't have time to order a book to study from. I was wondering if any of you knew of any websites that has practice questions. I really want to brush up on the math part. I'm taking the test thru ati-testing. If any one you have taken this test can you please tell me what kind of math I should brush up on?

thanks for the info! where do they do their clinicals?

I just wanted to know if the students who have gone there like the program, how were the instructors, was the entrance exam hard? You may not be able to answer those questions though unless you've heard it from them. I'm just a little worried cause since it's a vo-tech my credits won't transfer in the future if I wanna go to be an RN

Hi! I was just wondering if anyone on this board has gone to Lenape for the lpn program or knows anyone who has? I'm taking their entrance exam soon & I'd like to know more about the program. Thanks.

really? which upmc location hired u if u dont mind me asking cause st.margarets is closest to me and im pretty sure they arent willing to train but it doesnt hurt to try

I took the LPN exam...from what I've heard the RN exam is a lot more difficult than the lpn exam.

Shaunta20-I'm from PA too. Where are u going to school?

I live in PA actually not too far from Pittsburgh & I've browsed lpn job listings to kind of figure out the realistic salary for lpn's because I went to school for Dental Assisting and we were lied to about the salary we would be making...the most I've been offered is $10 an hr which is a total joke. Anyway, when I visit upmc's website the least amount they pay an lpn per hr is 14.88 which is pretty good for only going to school for a yr. I only make 8.25 right now working at a gas station...that's about $7 more an hr. It could soooo change my life in a good way & eventually I'll go to be an RN...totally worth it for me.

Oh so u already took the exam? To be honest I don't think I passed the science part but I'm praying I did better than I think. I pretty much guessed on the whole section but I think I passed everything else. Being a nurse is my dream & I'm going crazy waiting for the results!

Thank You. I have checked out those sample questions before but they seemed too easy compared to the book that I bought to study from. Whenever u took your exam for the RN program how long did it take for you to receive your results?

Nothing. I applied and I called HR to see if I could get an interview..no one returned my call so I kept checking the application status online & shortly after I called the status was changed to "not selected" ***..they didn't even give me a chance to interview...I'm never gonna find a job =(

I see a lot of talk about the RN program at St.Margarets but nothing about the LPN program. I take my entrance exam on the 22nd and I'm so nervous cause I've never been good at math or science. Has anyone been through the program & can tell me what to expect and how the exam was? Thanks!

I'm also interested in a nursing aide or pta course. I applied at Forbes Hospital because they now offer a PCA program but they won't give me the time of day..not sure why since it's a pca trainee program and doesn't require any experience. I'm kinda bummed. =(

I have been trying to find somewhere to take a nursing assistant/pca course and have had no luck. While searching for jobs on a local hospital's website I came across a PCA program that they now offer but I'm nervous I won't get an interview cause I don't have a steady work history & I graduated from a dental assisting program this passed December..I did really well but there aren't a lot of job opportunities in my area for DA's. I've always wanted to be a nurse & I figured this is the perfect way to start..just worried I wont get the chance. Here are the program details..Any input or advice? PCA Trainee This is a new PCA training program on-site at Forbes Regional Hospital. This course will enable qualified individuals with no prior experience as a Patient Care Associate/Nursing Assistant to gain the skills to be successful in a PCA role once successfully completing the six week course. The course will consist of 4 weeks of classroom/skills lab and 2 weeks of supervised clinical training doing direct patient care. During this course students will be taught the basic skills of being a PCA such as communication skills, safety procedures, medical terminology, nutrition, anatomy, infection control, vital signs and equipment use. PCA students must be available to work full time for the 6 week training program and will be paid $9.32/hr. This 6 week training period will be considered as temporary employment with no eligibility for purchasing benefits. Upon successful completion of the program the student will be placed on a nursing unit in a regular employment status, at a rate of $10.60/hr. and with eligibility for benefits. Flexibility to work a variety of shifts is a must.

Really? I don't even know who to contact at west penn or upmc..i tried look on their website for more info but can't find anything.

I live in Western, PA & I'm trying to find a place besides a community college that offers a cna course..like maybe a hospital or something? Please let me know!

Yeah I heard it was more difficult than other schools..I take my entrance exam on July 22nd so I will have to update! Steel tech is way too far for me. thanks though

Does anyone have any feedback about this school? I read a post a while ago on here about St.Margaret that made me wonder if I should go there but everyone around here seems to think it's a great school. I would appreciate any feedback about the program,instructors,..or anything really.Oh my main concern..how was the entrance exam? I went to Sanford Brown a year ago & it was the worst mistake I've ever made..I don't want that to happen again!

I know how you feel. I have a young son to take care of along with rent & other pills to pay. So I plan on over borrowing on my school loans to have some extra money. Also, if I get accepted into the LPN program it's m-fri. so I was thinking I could maybe work 5 hrs on fri & 8 on sat & sun. good luck...you may find that you won't be able to work as much as you would have liked but you can still work...esp on the weekends!