Programs in my Area

[Ryan44]

Hello, my name is Ryan. I live near the Portland area, and have been doing tons of research on nursing programs near me. I currently work full-time, Monday through Friday. I am having a hard time making a decision. I really want to get started as soon as possible with my career in the health care field, but unfortunately I have to maintain my financial stability for my wife and daughter. I am looking into the "for profit" schools, because I know their acceptance rate is much higher and it is typically a faster program. Now, before anyone goes off and tells me how bad of programs they are, let me elaborate. I know they are fairly bad programs, between the massive price differences and the inability to transfer any credits afterwards. Both of those are big cons in my opinion, but here are some reasons I'm considering it. First, they generally offer a more flexible schedule that I could potentially manage while still working. Second, as long as it's an accredited school, they issue you a diploma, and allow you to sit for your NCLEX exam, I believe getting a entry level position is the same likelihood as if you got it through a community college, only with your lack of experience in consideration. I suppose those are the big perks, and for reference the programs I've been looking at are the Sumner colleges LPN, RN, the pioneer pacific LPN, the Concorde LPN. (As far as the career colleges go). I've also done a lot of research on community college programs, and it just seems as though there are too many pre-reqs and too little acceptance rates for me to bank on it. So with this information, here are a few options I've been considering. Please let me know what you think about these schools, options, other options I haven't found, etc.

The option I would like the most:

Getting into a semi-flexible LPN program at one of these colleges, getting my Certification and starting an LPN job, then either considering a LPN-RN bridge program, or working full-time while going to school for pre reqs to try to get into a university/community college BSN program.

Option number 2:

If I can't do that, I would have to shift my working to Part-time, and with a different company(because my company doesn't offer part time work). Then I'd have to do pre reqs, and wait an extra year to try and pray I get accepted into a community college LPN program, then start searching for bridge programs.

Thirdly, I could find a CNA training course, and get certified there first. Try to find a full-time CNA flexible schedule job, then pursue an LPN program, then to RN. Although the CNA job would be a pay cut, I'll do whatever I have to in order to get my career path going.

i apologize I didn't go too into detail for each scenario, and again I apologize for the long read. But thank you very much for any time, ideas, and other things you give me to consider. I am grateful for any advice, and look forward to reading any responses.

- Ryan

[LoveMyBugs, BSN, CNA, RN]

Is your goal to be an LPN or RN?

Can your wife work while you go to school?

Where do you want to end up working as a nurse?

There are other options out there for RN programs

If your goal is a hospital in Portland you need a BSN

If you want to work dr office, clinics, LTC/SNF then LPN would work

Either way nursing school is intense and you most likely would need to reduce your work schedule down from full time.

Sumner, ITT those programs have been around for a few years now.....where are those grads working now?

You know what will work for you, but I wouldn't count out the ADN or BSN programs if where you want to end up working is a hospital

I have known some great LPNs that wanted to, but never were able to make the leap to RN and felt stuck in LTC

[Ryan44]

Is your goal to be an LPN or RN?

Can your wife work while you go to school?

Where do you want to end up working as a nurse?

There are other options out there for RN programs

If your goal is a hospital in Portland you need a BSN

If you want to work dr office, clinics, LTC/SNF then LPN would work

Either way nursing school is intense and you most likely would need to reduce your work schedule down from full time.

Sumner, ITT those programs have been around for a few years now.....where are those grads working now?

You know what will work for you, but I wouldn't count out the ADN or BSN programs if where you want to end up working is a hospital

I have known some great LPNs that wanted to, but never were able to make the leap to RN and felt stuck in LTC

My end goal is to be an RN, and my wife could work part-time with me. I really want to end up working for Kaiser, or providence. And I'm aware the workload of any nursing program is intense, but I'm driven and determined, and that's the least of my worries. My bigger issue with it is whether or not I'll get any job after graduating private college. I'm just hoping to get my LPN, get a job somewhere for a decent wage, then be able to work a fairly flexible schedule and start knocking out pre reqs for a BSN program, or use an LPN to RN bridge program, then RN to BSN bridge. Why have the LPN's you've known gotten stuck? Was it lack of motivation to go back to school? Lack of time? Or both?

[Mbells.]

I work with a lot of LPNs that went to Concorde etc and they cannot bridge to RN through normal bridge programs. Because their credits dont transfer. They have had to start all over with pre-reqs and apply just like anyone else would to the RN programs. It really doesnt seem worth it if your end goal is to be an RN. Most I know wish they didnt do it that way. I say do pre-reqs, you can do a lot online, and just do that part time. Its going to save you a lot of time and money...

[bebbercorn]

Agreed with above... I have less beef with you going to a 'for profit' school than going for your LPN. Not because I don't respect LPNs, but because of school issues you will have later, and there not being as many jobs available...