O.Nato

Thank you everyone for you helpful information. It has explained a lot to me about how to pursue this the correct way for my situation!

Excuse me ColleenRN2B, but I believe I can post anything on here if I have questions and am wanting opinions from other people. I dont know why you would take the time out of your day to seriously say something like that about what I am posting. People on here post things all the time. I am new to pursuing my nursing career and just want to get other opinions from people who are nurses already so I can make a better decision for my life. You are correct that times have changed and colleges are different in some aspects when it comes to all of this, and I would be asking these schools but it is the weekend so I am trying to do research on my own. If you dont want to read my posting because you believe they are "repetitive" then dont. Its that simple. JMO

But you are right..CC are WAY less expensive

Yes they are a bit on the expensive side, but I have looked at every CC in my area and some in surrounding cities, and most have waiting lists. Also, the class schedules that they have just wouldnt work too well. I want to do full time if Im going to go to school and with CC, Id have to work around the schedules..it would be kind of hard to determine what days and hours and how many classes in one day Id be able to take because they sometimes are the same time slots on the same days...

The school I have been looking into, I can take my prereqs there while Im doing the LVn program. And then once I complete that I can do the LVN-RN bridge and theres advanced placement. All of the community schools have waiting lists!! So I am feeling pretty stuck about chosing a private school over a community college

So it would take about 3 1/2 years?? Would it be faster to do the LVn program and then do an LVN-RN bridge program?

The only thing about going straight into the RN is there are waiting lists at the colleges in my area to get into the program.

Yes but I want to become an RN. So for me to get and Assoicates in Vocational Nursing which is a 16 month program, would be kind of a waste of time since I can to and get an Associates of Science in Nursing in like 2 years and be eligible to take the RN exam right???

Thats what I was confused about also because I thought you can only get a certificate in Vocational Nursing. And also I thought you have to become an LVN first in order to do become and RN????????

The school I am going to offers an LVN program in which you can achieve a Certification or an Assoicaites Degree in Vocational Nursing. What would be the better choice? With either the certificate or associates degree you will be able to take the NCLEX -PN exam. I plan on continuing and doing an RN bridge program afterwards so I just wanted to know what is a better choice the certificate or the Assoicates degree in vocational nursing?? :)

O man this makes my decision even harder!! I am looking at Carrington College(formally Western Career College) or Unitek. Both of these schools have good and bad reviews! I went to the Carrington College Campus in San Jose, and it was really nice. The admissions counselor was really nice and helpful and I felt like I got a nice vibe when I was there. I called Unitek college after seeing that their pogram is cheaper and shorter and they have the LVN-RN program at their Fremont office which is about 20-30 minutes from my house(same amount of time and distance as the Carrington College) So now, reading all these posts, I am even more in a runt on what to do..I want to finish quick which Im sure most people do, but I want to make sure I go to a good school where I wouldnt have a problem enrolling in a different RN bridge program at a different college if I had to. I guess Carrington College has whatever credidation to where that wouldnt be an issue, but Unitek does not BUT they do have their LVN-RN bridge program. IM CONFUSED even more now than I was on what to do...

See I am getting different answers..some say you can take the RN exams, others say that Ill need to do the RN bridge program. Yes I should just speak to a nursing department advisor...

Thats what I was thinking. Im just kind of confused because this school offer an associates or certificate option for the LVN program..and then also the Associate of Science degree in nursing for LVN-RN. SOooo I am sooo confused on the option for the associates in the LVN program and if I can just do the RN exams after competion.

What exactly is a non=science vocational nursing degree??? Is it a certification?

See Im trying to find out the same as you are..which path to take I have been researching CC colleges here in san jose as well as private colleges and I am so confused. I know the private colleges are way more expensive but they are faster! I am looking to do the LVN program and then continue to do the LVN-RN program and just have no clue which school to chose!!!

I have researched both and both have good and bad reviews.. Westmed college is literally down the street from my house and is M-Thursday 8:30-3:30 and a 13 month LVN program Carrington College is about 20-30 minutes from my house and is M-F 8-5 and is a 16 month LVN program Both offer pre-reqs to be done there. Westmed is about 10k cheaper than Carrington. I have an appointment to take a tour of Westmed today and I did the tour at Carrington yesterday and it was a really nice school. Nice equipement they used, very clean just a nice building in general. My concern with both of these schools is when I go into the LVN-RN programs at a different school, will I be accepted???? How can I find that out!! HELP Please i dont know what to do!!!

OK. I am looking into pursuing my nursing degree. I am so confused and getting pretty discouraged since I cant seem to find the right school. I though I did, but now looking into how expensive it is and the reviews of disatisfied people that have gone there, it is concerning me. Going to a community college is an option, but its going to take me twice as long!! I dont know what to do. I have looked at pretty much EVERY school here in San Jose, CA and I am feeling pretty bummed out at this point..

oh ok.. thank you :)

Thank you! So you can still do the exams when you just have the ADN?? Sorry Im new to this so I keep comming up with questions! :)

Is there a difference between and ADN and an ASN??? Meaning if you get either are you able to take RN boards exam?:confused:

Thats what I am trying to figure out. Im calling tomorrow to speak to the counselor again since I forgot to ask a few questions.

The school Im going to attend has a leave of absence that can amount up to 180 days (which I definently wouldnt be out that long) so I can use that for when I have my baby. I know it doesnt offer maternity leave I should have said that differently lol

Yes Ive seen that places to prefer BSN!! which makes me alittle nervous since I am going for ADN also, but I can always continue and get my BSN afterwards if I wanted!! :) I guess thats the good part

:) Thank you! Im only 24 and feel like i have already let too much time pass before actually starting nursing school! but I am deteremined to become a nurse!! it has been my dream and Ive put it off thinking it would be too hard but life is hard in general lol and I have gone on different school paths and ended up dropping the last courses I took since it wasnt interesting to me!!

I have thought about all of that!! Luckily I have had a great pregnancy with no issues!! And I feel energized but I know as I get further along that can change! I have 2 kids already! I just have held off on nursing school and am dissapointed in myself that I didnt do it right after high school and went for a different path instead. I could have been done already lol...so I almost just want to get it going!!