rainbow

I worked LTC in a locked unit for Alzheimer/dementia patients. You never had to check the calendar for the moon! There is a total display of different behaviors, including streaking. It is an adventure in the unbelievable.

Testing to get into the program begins in November and one a month until February. I paid $6350.00 when I went. I don't remember having a lot of other expenses other than the commute and eating out. They have a kitchen at the school and a lot of the girls carried their lunches. There are other grants available, just check with the school. Some of the students were displaced workers from closed factories and the unemployment bureau footed all of their cost plus gave them living expenses while they attended. Marion General Hospital also gives students scholarships of $1000.00 half way through the school year. All you have to do is write a paper telling them why you need the money. They choose 6 students to award the year that I went. It is a full-time schedule. There were days that I had 5 tests in one day in 5 different subjects. I call that year my lost year, all I did was study!! Hope this helps and good luck with whatever you decide.:)

I'm not sure what the entrance exam was called. This program does not require any pre-reqs. No english, chemistry or math. I learned that I was accepted in Feb. after taking the test in Dec. They give tests through May or June. Since I have my LPN license, that is enough to get into a school to continue my education if I choose. Most of the programs that I have checked require a copy of your transcripts and allow you credit for the courses you have taken. Happy to answer any other questions.:)

I went to Marion Community School of Practical Nursing 3 years ago. I had to take an entrance exam at the school. Your entrance is based on your scores. No waiting list, but they do have an alternate list. There were 39 in my class. It is a very intense program. You will cover a lot of material in 1 year. I did 650 hours of clinicals. Any other questions?:)

I attended Tucker in Marion 3 years ago. It is full-time with no pre-reqs. I don't know anything about clinicals 24/7. The clinical hours were almost all days. I had a few evenings, but if you can't attend evenings they allow you to trade with classmates. It is an intense program. They cover a lot of material in 1 year. If you do not maintain an 80% average in all the classes, you are subject to dismissal. Drop out in my class was 3. They decided they didn't want to be nurses after they started. Anything else I can answer?

One thing that I found extremely helpful during clinicals was during the last weeks we took turns being in "charge". This meant that we had to review the charts of the patients that the students had and coordinate all the preps, procedures, labs, appts. etc. This was extremely challenging trying to keep track of all the things going on and to make sure that they were carried out. It gave me a sense of all the things a "charge" is responsible for and expected to do. It also meant learning some tactful ways to encourage your fellow students to do what needed to be done. Of course, the clinical instructor was the person I reported to and let know how things were going, but it still was a very educational experience for a student. Good luck to all the instructors out there, you have a difficult job at times, but it can also be very rewarding I'm sure.

I had an instructor that seemed to single me out also. No matter what procedure I did, it was never quite good enough. I later learned that she not only had medical problems, but her mental stability wasn't very good either. I tended to discount the attacks on my performance, but I did listen to her recommendations for my improvement. I didn't know if I would make it through the program or not. Study hard and review your procedures. Try to always be prepared and hang in there.:)