RickyA

I am currently enrolled to become an LVN through Galen college. I do understand the cost is a little high, but I will be able to at least support myself once the year program is completed AND continue my education. I was looking at the SAC website and I guess I am a little confused. (http://mysaccatalog.alamo.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=4&poid=531&returnto=1063) BIOL 2401 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I PSYC 2301 - General Psychology PHIL 2306 - Introduction to Ethics ENGL 1301 - Composition I CHEM 1305 - Introductory Chemistry Lecture I CHEM 1105 - Introductory Chemistry Laboratory I Or CHEM 1405 - Introductory Chemistry I BIOL 2402 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II PSYC 2314 - Lifespan Growth and Development BIOL 2420 - Microbiology for Allied Health Majors ENGL 1302 - Composition II Do I need to complete ALL of these classes BEFORE applying to the nursing program?? What should be my 1st step in this process??

hi lauren, i am currently enrolled at galen college to get my lvn ... i know this isn't the best option as far as schools go, but it was the only one that i could get in to at the time. i am a little confused what the pre-reqs for the nursing program @ sac are. is there any way you can point me in the right direction as to where this information might be?

I am literally making myself sick with my situation ... Any help/advise is greatly appreciated. I was living in Seattle the past 8 years working dead-end job after dead-end job when I finally realized that I needed to make a change for the better regarding my career choice. I was working full-time and decided to take one class at Seattle Central Community College just to feel it out since I haven't been in a school setting for 18 years now (I am 31) and I was a little scared about overwhelming myself and not doing well. Regardless to say, I did a thousand times better than I thought I would and exceeded my own expectations and was really excited, which was a great feeling. Working full-time (7-5:30) and just taking the one class (6:00-9:00) pretty much took up all my time. After taking one class a quarter I felt like a hamster in a never-ending wheel and a degree that would take me 2-3 years would turn into something that would take me 6-7 years. And once my basics were out of the way, every other class was only offered during the day, which would mean looking for another job that would pay less than the one I already had and I was already just scraping by week to week. I am originally from Texas so I thought it was high-time I go back to my roots (even though I really didn't want to - I have grown very fond of "city living") to be closer to family and have the opportunity to go to school full-time. I am currently enrolled and ready to start Galen College to obtain my LVN/LPN license in April. The program is a year and at first I couldn't be more excited about it. My sister is an LVN in Corpus Christi and is making 20-25/hr. So, the thought of me making that kind of money for something that I WANTED to do really excited me and I thought I would be able to finally get somewhere. After looking at the job market in Seattle it seems as though LVNs/LPNs are not getting hired at local hospitals. I was aware that I would more than likely be working in a nursing home setting with a LVN/LPN license, but it looks as though all jobs are in the Tacoma/Burien area (somewhere I don't want to live). After realizing I would not get a job in the area I would like to live as an LVN made me rethink my options. Galen College offers an LVN-RN bridge program that is an additional 18 months. So, I figured I would work in Texas as an LVN, get some experience under my belt, continue with the bridge program and then head back to Seattle (the place where my heart calls home). The problem I am now having is that Galen College is not accredited and every job posting for Seattle RNs requires degrees from an accredited institution (mainly requiring a BSN), even though I will sit and pass the same NCLEX. I am a really confused as to what this "diploma" of nursing is and if I would be able to work in Seattle with this certification. Once I obtain my LVN certification and possibly complete the bridge program the only option where my "credits" would transfer to obtain my BSN is University of Phoenix. Is this a good option? It seems like it's the only way to work full-time and continue with my BSN. I would complete my BSN through UoP before my "number" would come up to get into a nursing program at a community college. I know people in both Seattle and San Antonio that have been waiting YEARS to be accepted! Looking at job postings in San Antonio seem more promising and it seems as though I would be able to get a job with my RN diploma, no problem. The thing is, I don't want to live in Texas. Is my dream of becoming a RN in Seattle completely unobtainable? I have tried contacting the HR dept. in a few Seattle hospitals and even calling the BON in both Texas and Washington and just keep getting, "That's a good question!" with no real answers. I left Texas for a reason and REALLY don't want to be here longer than I have to. Seattle is looking further and further away and I am getting a little discouraged. Any advice or information is greatly appreciated.

I am literally making myself sick with my situation ... Any help/advise is greatly appreciated. I was living in Seattle the past 8 years working dead-end job after dead-end job when I finally realized that I needed to make a change for the better regarding my career choice. I was working full-time and decided to take one class at Seattle Central Community College just to feel it out since I haven't been in a school setting for 18 years now (I am 31) and I was a little scared about overwhelming myself and not doing well. Regardless to say, I did a thousand times better than I thought I would and exceeded my own expectations and was really excited, which was a great feeling. Working full-time (7-5:30) and just taking the one class (6:00-9:00) pretty much took up all my time. After taking one class a quarter I felt like a hamster in a never-ending wheel and a degree that would take me 2-3 years would turn into something that would take me 6-7 years. And once my basics were out of the way, every other class was only offered during the day, which would mean looking for another job that would pay less than the one I already had and I was already just scraping by week to week. I am originally from Texas so I thought it was high-time I go back to my roots (even though I really didn't want to - I have grown very fond of "city living") to be closer to family and have the opportunity to go to school full-time. I am currently enrolled and ready to start Galen College to obtain my LVN/LPN license in April. The program is a year and at first I couldn't be more excited about it. My sister is an LVN in Corpus Christi and is making 20-25/hr. So, the thought of me making that kind of money for something that I WANTED to do really excited me and I thought I would be able to finally get somewhere. After looking at the job market in Seattle it seems as though LVNs/LPNs are not getting hired at local hospitals. I was aware that I would more than likely be working in a nursing home setting with a LVN/LPN license, but it looks as though all jobs are in the Tacoma/Burien area (somewhere I don't want to live). After realizing I would not get a job in the area I would like to live as an LVN made me rethink my options. Galen College offers an LVN-RN bridge program that is an additional 18 months. So, I figured I would work in Texas as an LVN, get some experience under my belt, continue with the bridge program and then head back to Seattle (the place where my heart calls home). The problem I am now having is that Galen College is not accredited and every job posting for Seattle RNs requires degrees from an accredited institution (mainly requiring a BSN), even though I will sit and pass the same NCLEX. I am a really confused as to what this "diploma" of nursing is and if I would be able to work in Seattle with this certification. Once I obtain my LVN certification and possibly complete the bridge program the only option where my "credits" would transfer to obtain my BSN is University of Phoenix. Is this a good option? It seems like it's the only way to work full-time and continue with my BSN. I would complete my BSN through UoP before my "number" would come up to get into a nursing program at a community college. I know people in both Seattle and San Antonio that have been waiting YEARS to be accepted! Looking at job postings in San Antonio seem more promising and it seems as though I would be able to get a job with my RN diploma, no problem. The thing is, I don't want to live in Texas. Is my dream of becoming a RN in Seattle completely unobtainable? I have tried contacting the HR dept. in a few Seattle hospitals and even calling the BON in both Texas and Washington and just keep getting, "That's a good question!" with no real answers. I left Texas for a reason and REALLY don't want to be here longer than I have to. Seattle is looking further and further away and I am getting a little discouraged. Any advice or information is greatly appreciated.