dara757

Thanks so much for your response! I actually had my interview today it went great and I also will be starting Jan 8th on 4w lol I guess well see each other. Did they tell u anything about the shift differential bc the pay I was offered is excellent for a new hospital LPN in this area, I want to work evenings bc of the shift differential. 17$ is what I was quoted and Ill take that with a big smile on my face- thats almost twice as much as I make at my current job(not nursing related). Are u starting orientation on the 8th? I am, Im still unsure of what it consists of though, I think she said something along the lines of 2 days of orientation and then 2 weeks of classes? Do i have that right? Thanks again for the response Im so excited!!!! See you at work =) >D

Hey everyone, I will be graduating next week as a PN and have been applying to jobs in the area. Im really interested in working in a hospital and applied to a LPN position at Sentara VB general on a med surg floor. I received a response today and my question to everyone is, have you worked for sentara hospitals and if so, how did you feel about the experience? What are the ups and downs of the company? what is the nurse to patient ratio? Any info would be greatly appreciated, im supposed to meet with someone at the hospital in a few days but want to be prepared :) >D

Thanks and youre welcome! I have lived in VA for about 6 years and I have heard both good and bad things about ALL the schools in the area, including MCI. So I would take peoples (negative) opinions very lightly. The only way you can truly know about the school is to do your own research. The worst complaint I can make about the LPN program is that at times it seems a bit disorganized. I cant speak for the RN program. I was actually originally in the RN program but decided to go the LPN route because you do have to take Pre Reqs and you are not gauranteed a spot right away, its a matter of how many students apply and GPA and stuff like that. Unlike other schools though, it is unlikely that you will be waiting very long to get in because they dont have an actual "waiting list". If I had to choose over again I would have just went ahead with the RN program and do the pre reqs and everything and I would actually be starting the nursing classes around this time. But im still young and plan to go back next year for my RN. Good luck in whatever you choose!

I am a current student at MCI in the LPN program and I have 3 months left until graduation. I cant speak for the Medical Assisting program but the nursing programs are fully accredited. I have already been offered a few jobs upon my graduation. My professors have never said they dont recommend the program, the only thing EVERYONE gets a little ticked at is the pricetag to attend the school (everyone accept the owners of MCI that is). I know a lot of the RN students at my campus and they are all pleased with the education thus far. In fact our first RN graduating class all passed their boards back in June, which allowed for the RN program to then become accredited (it is a new program at the Va Beach campus). Whatever you choose, good luck! I myself am enjoying my education for the most part. Im just not looking forward to paying back on my student loans lol.

Hey there, I go to MCI VB and I transferred some credits from TCC, it took money off my overall balance and theni just didnt attend class during those classes. I also was going in the evenings up until March and I can tell you the schedule will most likely be monday to thursday 5-10:00pm and some weekends. I didnt mind going at night its just that I dont wanna do the LPN program for 18 months when i can finish in 12 so I switched over. Good luck! >Dara

Hey everyone I will be a PN grad in 4 months and I was wondering if you can work without a license? I want to go right back into school for my RN but I still want to work as an LPN and if i dont have to spend the $300 on my state boards Id rather wait until I got my RN. I know a new grad who works as a grad nurse but she is an RN grad nurse. Any help appreciated. >D

Laura, I would do as the other user suggested and look into nexstep fpr tuition assistance. Im not sure if Sentara has a night program, I know u can take classes at TCC at night to work toward ur RN or PN whichever u choose first. And to back up MCI, Im currently a student there and my great experiences there far outweigh my bad experiences(i finish up in Nov). No matter what school you attend youre going to come across some bad days. Im not gonna complain because their PN nclex pass rate is high. Im finishing up my PN at MCI and then starting at Sentara in January for my RN. The only downside for me is the pricetag but because ur a navy wife u should be able to get help. Anyways, good luck with that! >D

Hey everyone Im doing well at MCI so far, I cant wait to switch to the day program in March. I just finished my first mod, our finals are on Monday night and then I start PN2 and Pharmacology next wednesday. Im happy with what Im doing so far and excited to move on, although I do find that we kind of drag on throughout the night. I wish we would just do whatever work we need to do and then get out of there, rather than take a dinner break and whatnot. But other than that, Im having a lot of fun :) ! Good luck to everyone else!

Im really excited now...do you get your scrubs at orientation? Thanks for everything austeph!

Well that just cleared up that ugly rumor. I had heard they were discredited and that makes sense now. Theyre not really discredited, just uncredited...Im excited to see about tomorrow but Im nervous as to this whole physical/shots thing. The paperwork said to bring the documents with me however my representative told me not to worry about it and they will explain it then. I guess I will show up empty handed tomorrow, I hope I dont leave a bad impression....

Hey austeph I decided on the LPN program rather than the RN program because my MCI representative informed me that although I scored high on the TEAS tests and Ive taken some of the classes already at TCC, I am not gauranteed a spot in their program. I would have to take their prereq Chem and computer course and then the board would look over my transcripts and see how I did in those courses and then I would have an interview with the board and then, depending on my rank amongst the other RN applicants, they would pick the top 25 and let them in:confused: . So I might have gotten into their program as soon as January or I may not have gotten in until this time next year or later. The required prerequisites are not always available at the same time so I may have to take one at a time until God knows when. It was just some more waiting and Im tired of waiting, I could wait at TCC for a whole lot cheaper :).So I just decided on the LPN program because I would start this week. I do have a few qs for you: 1)Do I need to have all of the health tests (shots and bloodwork and whatnot) done by orientation? My representative said I didnt but the paperwork she gave me says I do. I will not get all of the results back by wednesday even if I go tomorrow to get it done. 2)Also, did u have to take a prerequisite math class? Ive taken math throughout HS and college and I really dont want to take a general math course here. I know a few ppl going here and they have to take a math course before they start LPN classes, however they are either straight outta HS or dont have any college courses. 3) We have until 10 days after classes start to get a full refund, am I correct? What do you think of MCI thus far? What classes are u taking now? Am i driving u crazy with questions? Haha Im just really curious!!!

OH GOSH I JUST REALIZED. I just signed up for LPN on Thursday, the orientation is next wednesday, and I have to have ALL of these tests done by then! I need to have a physical, a PPD, Titers, Hep B, Drug tests and tetorifice!!!! LADIES DO I NEED ALL OF THIS BY THE ORIENTATION???? I left my representatives office thinking I wouldnt need it by then. I looked over it vaguely and asked her "Do i need to have all of these tests done by orientation" and she said " no, they will explain it to you then" and now im sitting here reading over these papers and it says i need to bring results with me to orientation. How in the world am i gonna do that?!! Doesnt it take a few days to get results?! Help!

Hey mum im attending the va beach campus also in the evenings. My orientation is also next wednesday at 530. Im still feeling a little weird about the whole thing, I really wanted to go for RN straight through but now Ive taken this detour because Im tired of waiting. Anyways, I am looking forward to doing SOMETHING...I just wonder if I can get done before 18 months, Ive taken some of the courses already at Tidewater community college. Did u get a schedule yet? I didnt and Im unfamiliar as to how this is going to work. I dont have anything concrete to tell my boss about when I will be in school :)

Okay I signed up for their LPN program. Atleast Im doin something right?! For those of you who are in their LPN program, Im in the evening program so it is 18 mos but youre allowed to switch to the day program (for a fee i think ) so does that mean if I switch to the day program I will be able to graduate in less than 18 mos? Just curious...Im feeling excited and then a little sad because I am enrolled in TCC right now(i go thursday nights) and that means I will have to drop that class Im taking because I was told MCI is Mon-Thurs nights 5-1030. That really sucks. But Im still excited just hoping to get done in less than 18 mos... >Lise

One more thing, you ladies in the LPN program: Do you graduate with an AAS or just a certificate? I didnt have enough time to ask a lot of these questions when I was there today. Thanks again!