Okay here's my 2nd attempt to post this... a little background first.
Hi everyone. I am making the very scary step to leave my fairly secure and well paying corporate job that I am miserable in to pursue becoming a RN. I am in my late 20's, married, and have a 7 1/2 month old daughter who is my whole world. My income takes care of a large portion of our bills so for me to quit my job and go to school will be tough for my family but my husband is supportive. Right now I am just really trying to make the right decision in terms of my education.
I was going to go the community college route. I live in the Bay Area and was at first interested in going to Chabot or Ohlone nursing programs. But I have never taken any college courses so I would have to take 2-2 1/2 years of the pre-req classes before even being eligible for the nursing program. Since you all know, it is a lottery system, it could be 5+ years before I would finally graduate. I am not able to go that long without having a job.
I came across the Unitek website. I contacted their campus in Fremont (I live in Livermore, it would be only a 25-30 min drive on 680) and have a meeting with them on Monday. But I have never met anyone that has taken classes there. I have heard some good, some not so good. The positives of me going is that although it is CRAZY expensive, it is a 2 year program. They said that includes the pre-req's I would have to take. That means that my family would only need to cut back for 2 years. I could be working as a RN by the time I am 30 years old.
My question is... does anyone know how they get the pre req's done in those 2 years in the program? The program is first the LVN program and then LVN to RN. Then, how many of those grads actually get good hospital RN positions afterwards? Do hospitals seem to be receptive towards Unitek graduates? I don't want to get close to $80k in student loans to end up not being employable due to the college I attended. Also, I am hoping to become a Labor & Delivery RN or Pediatric Nurse, do they have any specialty courses?
Any advice or experience would be greatly appreciated. I am very nervous, anxious, but excited too to start this new chapter in my life. Thanks in advance!!!!!
@ OP... if you are willing to drive a little more distance over the "hill", Mountain House location for San Joaquin Delta college offers all the prereq science classes including lab. Daytime and evening classes available. I loved it there. Good luck!
I went to Unitek. You have to complete your prerequisites prior to the program. I can't say I would recommend it based on the education provided and my 450/month student loan payments. I was lucky though. I got a job right away in a bad new grad market, and managed to finish my BSN where I had started it (because I had done all my gen ed and pre reqs at a public university.) I'm lucky to work at awesome hospital that pays well. But I would not recommend Unitek. +
So you have heard the negative side of it. About approximately 10-15 people out of the thousands of students who have gone to Unitek. To be fair, you must also learn about the positive point view .
In Unitek,
The students are trained to be leaders.
How so? Most of the projects are presented by the students in front of the class. That teaches students the ability to communicate, present their ideas to a lot of people, develop confidence etc.
In the clinical especially the last semesters, the students take turn to be the team leader of the group. There is also the training on the concept of leadership.
They teach their students teamwork.
Lots of the projects are done as a team. Teamwork is also seen during clinical rotations. We almost always work in groups. When it comes to the skills, we have to perform them individually.
We learn the hands-on clinical skills in the skills lab before going to the clinical rotations.
Yes! Each of the students are given their complete individual packets and materials for their skills labs.
In the skills lab, we are given emergency scenarios using the sim mannequin that has a heart beat, respiratory rate; we can even insert IVs do blood transfusion on them. Don't you just love practicing on them? When you get to your clinical, at least you've had practice and it makes you more confident in your task.
We had clinical rotations in the acute hospitals - like the TCNU (a step-down from the ICU-CCU unit of the facility). We also had clinicals in the medical-surgical unit, burn unit of that facility. We had emergency room clinical rotation. We also had a clinical in the psyche unit and its psyche emergency unit of one of the hospitals in the bay area. We had a clinical in the pediatrics and maternity unit in another hospital. And every student is given the chance to apply almost all of the skills that are learned in the skills lab. We have a check-list. We are taught and encouraged to be critical thinkers. My clinical rotation experience is hands-on and robust.
Students are encouraged to volunteer in the trauma and emergency response scenarios as extra-curricular. It was fun and a very good learning experience.
From the start, we are train to use computerized exams thus, we get the results fast. This actually prepares you in taking NCLEX exams. But then this is probably common to all the schools.
It is fast-paced, true. But that teaches you to be on top of your game. You learn to prioritize, think fast, work-well under pressure. Basically, it prepares you to meet the rigorous demands of your future work as a nurse.
They are very strict about attendance and tardiness. So, students are taught early on how to become reliable nurses in their future jobs.
I heard this, they have to have at least 90% of their graduates to be employed in the nursing job in order to be accredited.
We are prepared to take the NCLEX. We had computerized practice quizzes. and the list goes on.
To be in their RN program, you have to fulfill the required prerequisites plus, you must have completed your LVN.
There is more to Unitek than one might think. We need to acknowledge all of them. There are more good things to be discuss about Unitek this page will not be enough.
I am actually in Oregon but am from the Bay Area originally. I work at the a prestigious teaching hospital here. We recently had a talk with our chief of nursing and she described how the hospital would not hire grads from for-profit institutions like yours because the education is task-based versus a critical thinking approach. I just believe in a market where new grads cat get hired I don't think those from for profits will be on an even playing field. I am sure there are exceptions but I wouldn't over pay for a degree to find out if I am the lucky duck that defied the odds.
I am going to Uniteck and i am an LVN for 9 years. i finished all my per-req and will start in jun 15 2015 for their transition course. I am worried about that part. is it easy? will they supply me with materials? is it based on ATI or they use different method? please let me know.
I went to Unitek. You have to complete your prerequisites prior to the program. I can't say I would recommend it based on the education provided and my 450/month student loan payments. I was lucky though. I got a job right away in a bad new grad market, and managed to finish my BSN where I had started it (because I had done all my gen ed and pre reqs at a public university.) I'm lucky to work at awesome hospital that pays well. But I would not recommend Unitek. +
Did the university accept your Unitek education or did you have to retake classes to complete your bsn? Which university was this?
Did the university accept your Unitek education or did you have to retake classes to complete your bsn? Which university was this?
Pre reqs classes taken @ Unitek College will only be accepted in Unitek. Better to take your pre reqs in community college that way you will have options later on. I just recently graduated LVN to RN program & reviewing for NCLEX (while waiting for ATT)
I was in a cal state nursing program originally and had completed all prerequisites at community college. I returned to the BSN program for their RN to BSN as I now had an RN license and no issues.
Expensive, still paying off loans, but it was what I had to do for me and my family.
I learned that University of Phoenix excepts Unitek College Pre-requisites. I am in the same boat now. Completed a majority of my Pre-requisites at Unitek, and now I am looking into other programs because Unitek is asking for a lot prior to entry to the program. They want you to pay for the transition course and pass, and be accepted to the Core RN course prior to being able to even speak with Financial aid. That just doesn't make any sense to me. How do you know if you can even afford the program? I was told off the record at the Info session that the program is $45,000 and that the school only utilizes Sallie Mae loans. She stated that they only usually give up to $25,000 and the rest is on the student.
I was highly considering this program but now I don't think I can afford it. I have a mortgage and bills and without enough loans to cover both the tuition and cost of living, I can't. Looks like selling my house is the only option in paying for my education.
I learned that University of Phoenix excepts Unitek College Pre-requisites. I am in the same boat now. Completed a majority of my Pre-requisites at Unitek, and now I am looking into other programs because Unitek is asking for a lot prior to entry to the program. They want you to pay for the transition course and pass, and be accepted to the Core RN course prior to being able to even speak with Financial aid. That just doesn't make any sense to me. How do you know if you can even afford the program? I was told off the record at the Info session that the program is $45,000 and that the school only utilizes Sallie Mae loans. She stated that they only usually give up to $25,000 and the rest is on the student.
I was highly considering this program but now I don't think I can afford it. I have a mortgage and bills and without enough loans to cover both the tuition and cost of living, I can't. Looks like selling my house is the only option in paying for my education.
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gamerchick209
67 Posts
@ OP... if you are willing to drive a little more distance over the "hill", Mountain House location for San Joaquin Delta college offers all the prereq science classes including lab. Daytime and evening classes available. I loved it there. Good luck!