So, I think I've found where I plan on going to school for my LPN, but I was wondering if anyone here knows anything about them.
It's a private college and it's gonna cost 1 Millllion dollars for me to go there, but if i have to wait another year or two to go/apply for a school I think I'll go CRAZY
I moved up to Vancouver from Texas for my (now) husband. Skipped out on going to Texas Tech for nursing school, and have been out of school for a little over a year now. I also have been out of work (due to immigration rules) and quite frankly i'm going a bit batty from being a.... *gulp* housewife!!!!!
Our plan was to move to Texas by this Dec., but now my husband landed an excellent job which has a business partner in Austin, Texas (which he can transfer to after a year). So now we are here still, and I'm schooless still.
All the public colleges have 1-2 year waitlists and I NEED to be in school. Plus I really, really, really want to be a nurse.
Ok, that wasn't a question, it was more of a vent . My question is really, am I crazy for paying 19,000.00 CA :eek:to get my LPN?????? YUCK just writing it make my belly do flops!!!!!!!!! but the program starts in jan., is 51 weeks, and is ligit (i'm 99.9% sure). i know it's a lot of money, but i think in the end i'll be happier. i mean, i was born to be a nurse, and i want this SO bad. and as for the money, i know that lpn's make pretty good money in texas so i could make it up pretty quickly.
Basically, I know what i'm gonna do, I just needed a little support from fellow nurses/future nurses.
Thank You for the reply.I checked out Okanagan College and they are just over $5,000 (for everything)for 254 hours. They told me they just teach the very basic curriculum.It would be a good course if I already had a history of working in an office.They also have a waiting list that I don't even have a chance of getting into until Nov 2012.Vancouver Career College offers an 800 hr full time course for $11,499. They offer a wide variety of office procedures and training.Sprott Shaw offers a 16 week program for people who have an office background, a 33 week course for people who need more education and a 45 week course to people who know absolutely nothing about working in an office.They also give lifetime upgrading/refresher courses, but I won't know their pricing until tomorrow. You have concerned me about the chance of getting a job. I was under the impression that there is lots of jobs in MOA out there. The hospital expansion will create jobs and so will the several health centers opening up within the next few months to years.As for the money, at $13 an hour does that have benefits etc? How are the hours for you working for a specialist? I will definately check out the other professions you suggested, but after recent physical health diagnosis I need to be careful I don't pick something that's too physical. ( heavy lifting etc) I have been a landscaper for years and had to leave that profession behind because I could no longer handle the extreme physical activity. Do you have any advice or comments on the particular private schools here in Kelowna? Like how the school is run,teaching styles,moral of the other students,overall impression?
Thank You for the reply.I checked out Okanagan College and they are just over $5,000 (for everything)for 254 hours. They told me they just teach the very basic curriculum.It would be a good course if I already had a history of working in an office.They also have a waiting list that I don't even have a chance of getting into until Nov 2012.Vancouver Career College offers an 800 hr full time course for $11,499. They offer a wide variety of office procedures and training.Sprott Shaw offers a 16 week program for people who have an office background, a 33 week course for people who need more education and a 45 week course to people who know absolutely nothing about working in an office.They also give lifetime upgrading/refresher courses, but I won't know their pricing until tomorrow. You have concerned me about the chance of getting a job. I was under the impression that there is lots of jobs in MOA out there. The hospital expansion will create jobs and so will the several health centers opening up within the next few months to years.As for the money, at $13 an hour does that have benefits etc? How are the hours for you working for a specialist? I will definately check out the other professions you suggested, but after recent physical health diagnosis I need to be careful I don't pick something that's too physical. ( heavy lifting etc) I have been a landscaper for years and had to leave that profession behind because I could no longer handle the extreme physical activity. Do you have any advice or comments on the particular private schools here in Kelowna? Like how the school is run,teaching styles,moral of the other students,overall impression?
Thanks so much for your input
I'm not sure where you got the idea that there are a lot of MOA jobs out there. There just arn't. I see maybe 2-5 adds per month for MOAs and in this economy, you can bet that there are dozens, if not over a hundred applicants. Your best chance at getting any job after finishing would be entry level in a walk in clinic, which you can expecpt maybe $10-$12 per hour, but again, all the new grads from all the schools will be competing for those jobs.
The hospital expansion-this will not benefit MOAs very much, if at all. You would have to apply as an external applicant to any clerical jobs. These are very, very hard to get into. You have to pass their typing and medical terminology tests. You then get interviewed and see if you get hired. If you do get hired, you are casual. Meaning you are now apart of the union and get casual calls in order of seniority. So, that could mean no work for 2 weeks, then a bunch of shifts, then no shifts for 10 days, etc. Being at the bottom of the seniority ladder is tough. Yes, this pay is MUCH better than private doctor's office, but there are no benefits unless you get a permanent position. The only way to get that is by applying internally. Which again, goes by seniorty. So, you could be the best secretary out there, but if someone with more hours than you applies, they get the position.
The job at the specialists office was the straw that broke the camel's back that pushed me to go into nursing. I had 8 years experience working for the same specialty, so they knew that I knew my stuff, and still $13/hour. What an insult. I stayed only for just over a year until I found a better paying and better job. And no, no benefits, EVER with a doctor's office. I worked for 7 different doctors in total, both here and Vancouver, and there were never, ever any benefits.
In terms of the schools you mentioned, I have nothing positive to say about any private colleges. I took my MOA course through a private college in the Lower Mainland 16 years ago. I paid MORE for my 9 month MOA course 16 years ago than I paid for my 1 year, Nursing course 3 years ago. (I went to Okanagan College). Do a google search on those colleges and you'll see plenty of message boards, forums etc that they are discussed. Many, many, many unhappy students. The general consensus is poor organization, high staff turn over, poor computers and equipment, a lot of the course be self-taught (even with paying the high tuition) and having to find your own practicums placements. That is a crock. For all the money paid, the school should 100% be finding practicum placements for all students, not expecting them to find their own.
So, no, I don't recommend any of those schools. They are for profit. They care more about their bottom line than their student's success. No matter how nice and accomodating they seem while you visit them. It seems like a red flag already that they won't tell you the cost of the MOA course until you go in to see them. They want to sell you the course. Schmooze you. Make you feel good and important and they will do wonderful things for you. Tell you how easy it will be to find a job afterwards. And most of what they are saying is either completely untrue or very, very liberal with the truth.
Just to give you an example, when I decided to do nursing, I said to myself that I will only apply to Okanagan College and if I don't get in, I will apply again. And again. I would never, ever apply to or go to Sprott Shaw or any other private college. Rediculously high, inflated tuition and lesser quality education.
Thank you so much for your input. I really need to find a career, but after what you've said I am not sure what to do now. I will investigate the other options you suggested.(unit nursing clerk etc) Although there is probably very few jobs available in those fields too. It's all very frustrating!
Thank you so much for your input. I really need to find a career, but after what you've said I am not sure what to do now. I will investigate the other options you suggested.(unit nursing clerk etc) Although there is probably very few jobs available in those fields too. It's all very frustrating!
I think your best bet would be to speak with a cousellor at Okanagan College and find out info on a lot of different programs including job prospects.
There is a program in Kelowna and I'm trying to think of the name... I think it's Global-something (I know, not very helpful). Anyways, it offers free career counselling, resume help, funding referrals, aptitude testing. Maybe try googling something like that and see what come up.
I know someone who is took the LPN course at Sprott Shaw in Kelowna and she loved it and says the instructors were awesome. They are more expensive than other colleges because they are not funded by the government like the others but then they do not have a one or two year waiting list either. I wouldn't take the opinions of others to decide what college you want to train at as everyone has their own personalities and opinions, you have to do your own due diligence.
Also as an LPN, if you decide to work in an under served area, 100% of your B.C. student loan will be forgiven which brings the portion you have to pay back down ALOT. Check into this yourself. Here's a link:
. My question is really, am I crazy for paying 19,000.00 CA :eek:to get my LPN?????? YUCK just writing it make my belly do flops!!!!!!!!! but the program starts in jan., is 51 weeks, and is ligit (i'm 99.9% sure). i know it's a lot of money, but i think in the end i'll be happier. i mean, i was born to be a nurse, and i want this SO bad. and as for the money, i know that lpn's make pretty good money in texas so i could make it up pretty quickly.
MOA2010
3 Posts
Hi,
Thank You for the reply.I checked out Okanagan College and they are just over $5,000 (for everything)for 254 hours. They told me they just teach the very basic curriculum.It would be a good course if I already had a history of working in an office.They also have a waiting list that I don't even have a chance of getting into until Nov 2012.Vancouver Career College offers an 800 hr full time course for $11,499. They offer a wide variety of office procedures and training.Sprott Shaw offers a 16 week program for people who have an office background, a 33 week course for people who need more education and a 45 week course to people who know absolutely nothing about working in an office.They also give lifetime upgrading/refresher courses, but I won't know their pricing until tomorrow. You have concerned me about the chance of getting a job. I was under the impression that there is lots of jobs in MOA out there. The hospital expansion will create jobs and so will the several health centers opening up within the next few months to years.As for the money, at $13 an hour does that have benefits etc? How are the hours for you working for a specialist? I will definately check out the other professions you suggested, but after recent physical health diagnosis I need to be careful I don't pick something that's too physical. ( heavy lifting etc) I have been a landscaper for years and had to leave that profession behind because I could no longer handle the extreme physical activity. Do you have any advice or comments on the particular private schools here in Kelowna? Like how the school is run,teaching styles,moral of the other students,overall impression?
Thanks so much for your input