Southwest Technical College Fennimore, WI LPN to RN

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Hi,

I was just wondering if anyone out there has done the LPN to RN program at Southwest Technical College in Fennimore, WI? I live in Madison, so it is a little bit of a drive and just wanted some Pros and Cons of the school before making any decisions. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
Hi,

I was just wondering if anyone out there has done the LPN to RN program at Southwest Technical College in Fennimore, WI? I live in Madison, so it is a little bit of a drive and just wanted some Pros and Cons of the school before making any decisions. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

*** I did their LPN to RN in two semesters. It was a good school, though with it's share of trivial drama. They do all their clinical in tiny, 25 bed rural hospitals. I went directly from there to a very large trauma / teaching / Magnet hospital's SICU without difficulty.

If you have any specific questions let me know.

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Thank you so much for your reply. I just got accepted into the part-time route there starting Aug. 2011. I won't be done until May of 2013..uuuggghhh! Oh well, I live in Madison so it's quite a hike there. Did you find the classes/clinicals to be hard? I've been out of school for awhile and for the last 5 years I've stayed home with my two children. Just nervous to start all over. How was the transition course you took over the Summer, what is that all about? Thanks for all your help!!

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.

Thank you so much for your reply. I just got accepted into the part-time route there starting Aug. 2011. I won't be done until May of 2013..uuuggghhh! Oh well, I live in Madison so it's quite a hike there. Did you find the classes/clinicals to be hard?

*** No, not at all. The only class I really had to study for was micro. I never went to college before, not even to nursing school for LPN (challenged the LPN NCLEX in Ca based on being a medic in the army. I didn't find it hard at all.

I've been out of school for awhile and for the last 5 years I've stayed home with my two children. Just nervous to start all over. How was the transition course you took over the Summer, what is that all about?

*** I was the first person to do the LPN to RN and there was no transition course required at the time. I never went to a summer classes, just two regular semesters, fall and spring.

I strongly recomend you get into Cynde Lorificen's clinical group. She does clinicals in Prairie Du Chene so it will be even farther for you but she is really a great instructor.

http://www.swtc.edu/gray.aspx?id=1146

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Hi PMFB-RN

I m an lvn here in california with 3yrs skilled nursing exp. I saw couple of ur posts and considering moving to WI for the lvn-rn program. out here in CA are so expensive. how is the housing and job market in fennimore,wi and surrounding cities? Did u work when u were doing ur Lvn-rn?

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
Hi PMFB-RN

I m an lvn here in california with 3yrs skilled nursing exp. I saw couple of ur posts and considering moving to WI for the lvn-rn program. out here in CA are so expensive. how is the housing and job market in fennimore,wi and surrounding cities? Did u work when u were doing ur Lvn-rn?

I know, I moved to Wisconsin to do the LPN to RN here. Use of the word "cities" to describe Fennimore isn't really appropriate. Fennimore is a very small rural town of (I would guess) 3,000. It is surrounded by other small rural towns. You have quite a drive to Madison, a little over and hour to the east, or an hour or so to the west to Dubuque IA. coming from California you will find housing VERY cheap. Plenty of apartments available but we don't really have the large apartment complexes you might be used to. usually just 1 or 2 apartments over stores in small towns. SWTC does have dorms available. I don't know how much they are or how available they are but lots of students live in them just like a regular college.

I think you wouldn't have much trouble finding an LPN job in a LTC within a reasonable drive. Yes I worked. I usually would do two 16 hours shifts on Friday and Saturday night and then another 8 hour PM shift during the week for a 40 hour week. I don't recommend working full time if you can avoid it. Most all of my classmates where working part time as LPNs while doing RN to LPN.

If you have more questions or need resources please let me know I will do what I can.

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PMFB-RN thanks for the info. I call the school on Thursday and was transferred to the admission counselor voicemail, I left her a msg. Believe she off for the MLK holiday. Awaiting a return call when she gets back Regarding the admission process and when is their next start date for lpn-rn. I can make the move for 8 or 9 months. was wondering how's the winter weather out here? I have never driven in snow! Kind of scary.

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
PMFB-RN thanks for the info. I call the school on Thursday and was transferred to the admission counselor voicemail, I left her a msg. Believe she off for the MLK holiday. Awaiting a return call when she gets back Regarding the admission process and when is their next start date for lpn-rn. I can make the move for 8 or 9 months. was wondering how's the winter weather out here? I have never driven in snow! Kind of scary.

Wisconsin is in the middle of one of the worst winter I haev ever seen since I moved here. Brutal cold and when it isn't cold it is snowing. A couple weeks ago it got down to 34 degrees below zero at my house. With wind chill it was 70 below zero! We have more snow that I have ever seen and driving has been rough.

Not going to lie, you don't move to Wisconsin for the nice weather! Summers are absolutly beautiful and in fall there is no place nicer to be than Wisconsin.

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Wow!!! Good heads up. Thx.

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Kkn-lvn did you do the lvn-rn program? I'm also in CA and very interested in this school.

Does this school require any prereqs? I did email them over the weekend and hoping to hear back. Ill call tomorrow to get more info about housing and etc. I'm willing to move for a 9 month program

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.

SWTC does not require any pre-reqs. They pretty much require the same classes and any ADN program but they are co-reqs and you can do them while in the nursing program. Most of the non nursing classed required are available online diretly from SWTC and they are very doable.

I would have them look at your transcripts, let them tell you what you still need, then do them online before starting the nursing program.

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PMFB-RN

Thanks for the response!!!!

I'm very interested and will call them and see if I can email a copy of my unofficial transcript. Ill post a update

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