alihoff93

Hello! I am currently looking at Ambria college of nursing here in Hoffman Estates Illinois. Im finding it confusing on what to look for when it comes to it being accredited?! or approved?! I would hate to get my LPN and then have a hard time finding a job because of the school I went to. On the website it states "Ambria is accredited by North Central Association Commission Accreditation on School Improvement Post Secondary (NCACASI)." Is that what I should be looking for? It also says: Ambria College of Nursing is approved by the following state agencies: Illinois Board of Higher Education Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation Illinois Department of Public Health U.S Department of Education (code 041247)

Hello! I am 20 years old, currently finishing up my CNA class and plan on starting nursing school in the spring. I would love to get a job as a CNA but i'm wondering if it would be difficult to work as a CNA while going to school full time. Also, any tips on how to get a job as a CNA at a hospital instead of a nursing home? Everyone I ask pretty much says "its all about who you know" which is extremely frustrating.

I have been in the CNA course for 3 weeks now and I start clinicals at the nursing home tomorrow. I will be there from 7am-3pm and I am SO nervous. My anxiety is through the roof! I just want to get the first day over with. I have no idea what to expect. Will I be working with someone else? Am I going to have to do things alone right away or will someone help guide me? We have only practiced skills on our classmates and family members, I know it will be very different with the residents whom I am not familiar with. Please help!!!

Thanks so much! All these posts have been clearing up so many concerns. I have decided to finish up the semester at the university I am at and then go home to attend a nursing school while living at home. I have learned that nursing school is going to be much more intense than my previous major (elememntary ed) I am determined to do this and feel I would be able to concentrate more at home.

Those all sound like great ideas, thank you so much for taking the time to reply! I'm learning so much more about nursing and the more I learn the less overwhelmed I get. I need to just take it one step at a time and do the best I can!

My biggest struggle right now is that the nursing school at the university I am at only accepts 30 students a year. I am still finishing up my pre-reqs right now. I am also very homesick, it is causing horrible anxiety and even making me physically sick. Im thinking I want to go home after this semester and get my LPN instead of getting my BSN here.

The only thing I am still confused about is what an lpn does? I am finishing up my prereqs to get my bsn right now but I am overwhelmed and want to do something a step down from getting my bsn.

What is the difference between what they all do

Between a LPN and BSN? and a RN?

Its my first semester away from home and I am soooo homesick someone please tell me this will get better, because ive got a long way to go. Im only 4 hours away from home but I really dont want to get in the habit of going home too often.

Wow that is so awesome, props to you for sticking through it! So glad I found this website its just what I needed. Its good to know that no matter what pace I take it at I will eventually get there!

Thank you so much for the encouragement! It seems like anyone I tell I'm going to school for nursing tells me I'm crazy. It's nice to finally hear someone say that it is possible with determination! How long did it take you to complete the program? I am in my second year of college and I know I will be in for at least 3-4 more.

Thanks guys! I will look into retaking a couple classes.

Do you feel that the pre-reqs do a good job of preparing you for the actual bsn program? I am finishing up my prereqs and finding them manageable. I am afraid that once I am in actual nursing school it is going to be too hard.

I am currently working on my pre-reqs at community college and planning on starting the pre-licensure (basic BSN) program at Western Illinois University in the fall of 2014. After this semester I will only need 7 more classes and my GPA is currently 2.8. To get into the nursing program here they require a 3.0. I know I can get it up to a 3.0 but I feel that that will not be good enough. The thought of not getting accepted is giving me awful anxiety, there is nothing I want more in life than to become a nurse. I don't want to say that I feel like I'm not smart enough to complete nursing school but every time i tell someone I'm going for nursing they call me crazy because of how hard it is. So basically I would like to know how do-able the nursing program is.