PTEC St. Pete vs. Galen Tampa Bay...Driving myself crazy!

U.S.A. Florida

Published

Hi guys :)

Been lurking for awhile, but just now posting.

I am in the St. Petersburg area, and I am wanting to make a career change. I am 29, have two young kids, and I am going through a divorce right now. I work in a veterniarian's office, and I am also a Licensed Massage Therapist.

I want to make a career change and go into human medicine, as I feel that I have hit the "glass ceiling" of my veterinary medicine career.

I need to make more money to support myself and my kids, so I am thinking that I should go ahead and become an LPN and then just bridge to RN, so I can work as an LPN while becoming an RN and make twice what I am making now.

I am torn on whether to attend PTEC St. Pete or Galen. PTEC is cheaper (5,000) than Galen (17,000), but PTEC's pass rates are lower (60ish vs Galen's 90ish). I want to get a good education, but I also am POOR right now, and Galen's admin rep told me that there are several hundred dollars in upfront fees, and that books and uniforms are not included in any financial aid, so they come out of my pocket.

I am super stressing over this, so was hoping you all might have some insight into these two programs, and help me to make an informed decision.

PTEC's program doesn't start until June 9th, but Galen's is coming up on March 29th, and they are already half full according to admissions rep, so needing to "git 'er done," I guess! lol

Thanks in advance, all!

Manda :)

I have been weighing my Galen/PTech choices as well...Manda, have you started PTEC? What do you think? I live in Tampa and the trip would be long so I want to make sure its all worth it. Erwin is in Tampa but PTEC has a PCT program that I can take now and then use those credits for their nursing program when my little man starts school. So all in all, I can start my journey now and when the time comes, it will be a shorter ride to my LPN...any advice would be great!

@ Manda, how are you doing at PTech? A friend of mine started the program at thee clearwater campus in June... Her clinicals are at the same place I was doing mine, pretty cool!! program seems set up quite differently from Galen's, which I thought was interesting... she seems to like it!

@ SB - that is great to know.. how cool that you can start in PCT program then transition to the LPN program!! that is just fantastic!! my sis-in-law has been accepted and is slated to start at Erwin in March 2011, I am super excited for her... so many people seem to have nice things to say about Erwin!

just and update I started Galen in Feb and I love it!! It is tough.. but then that is nursing school, right? I am learning allot and really enjoying myself. Galen is a tough school, the teachers are great, I love my classmates but it sure require allot of study time!

I look forward to hearing about your experiences!!!

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I was weighing the same decision as well. After asking around, I found that people respected both programs and choose Ptech because of the cost. Plus I liked the fact I could work as an LPN while I do my RN bridge program.

I actually start the program tomorrow so I can let you know the makeup of the class.

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I think PTEC is a very good school. They have an excellent Practical Nursing program. A good friend went to Galen and it was quite expensive. It's all in what fits your needs. As other people noted you have to put in the work. Most public schools like PTEC allow you to transfer into Community Colleges for the LPN-RN transition program. Good luck and best wishes. :)

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Question for the original poster......why are you going for an LPN? I am not sure if you know this, but it is hard to find a place that will still hire LPN's. A lot of places aren't anymore because they have to have an RN double check everything they do! I was in a VERY similar situation just like you. I was a vet tech for 5 years and made the switch a year ago and am in my 3rd semester at SPC's RN program. I got all my pre reqs done and applied for the Earn as you Learn program ( which PTEC has also if that is the way you want to go). It is a program with Baycare hospital. They pay for your tuition, required books and give you a stipend every week while in school. In return they want a 3 year work contract at one of their hospitals and you have a work requirement while in school. Its a GREAT program! If you want the into go to www.baycare.org and it is under there somewhere.

I am serious about the LPN thing though. They make less money then RNs do. The starting for an RN is about $22/hr at baycare without shift differential. LPN start at $13/hr!!!! Think about it...its only an extra 6 months of school and most of the LPN's end up going a LPN-RN program anyways and spend an EXTRA year on top of that to complete the bridge program.

Good luck to ya! :)

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Most ASN programs are 3-4 years in length. You have to complete your pre-reqs first and then you are accepted into the Nursing Program. Pre-reqs take about 1 1/2-2 years to complete. The RN nursing program is about 1 1/2 years. If you have your pre -reqs complete of course you are looking at less time. The average student it takes 3-4 years. This is the generic program. Good luck ! ! !:)

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