Starting Lorain County Community College RN - Fall 2012

Jwarnike · Apr 30, 2012

@NicuGal. Does that mean that employers look at BSNs differently based on whether or not you went for a straight 4 year degree or the ADN then RN-BSN route?

AgentBeast, MSN, RN · Apr 30, 2012

That isn't necessarily true about the BSN and BSN track, I am on a hiring and retention committee and if we have 5 positions and 20 people apply, and 5 of them already have their BSN then we will hire them. We just had 2 positions and over 40 applicants. Tough to get into NICU right now as most have a high retention rate.

I was speaking as far as the ANCC and Magnet Status were concerned. What folks do as far as hiring and firing I don't know.

NicuGal, MSN, RN · May 1, 2012

Usually not, the BSN is a BSN. As for the hiring, you have to have a percentage of people WITH the BSN behind their name, not working on it, to meet the percentage you need to have to keep your status.

wantccu · May 1, 2012

I'm starting LCCC in August as well! I'm getting excited and nervous as orientation is coming up. As far as reputation, LCCC has a VERY good one. I think we find out about clinical site selection at orientation. I think you rank your top 14 choices or something crazy like that.

The child care is the main reason that I was able to go back to school in the first place. It is excellent and very affordable and convenient. You may have to make other arrangements for your clinical day(s) if you can't have someone drop the kid(s) off a little bit later. If I remember correctly, they don't open until 7 (maybe 7:30 - was never an issue for me before, so I didn't pay too much attention to it!) but you should be just fine for your classroom and lab time.

As far as BSN vs. ADN vs. BSN track - I don't think it matters if you are on a BSN track. If there's BSNs applying for the job at the bigger hospitals, your application probably won't get far enough for someone to even notice you're working towards your BSN, unfortunately. (although I do know nurse managers who actually prefer ADN over BSN nurses!) ADNs are definitely still being hired, though. The best thing to do is get your foot in the door, even PRN at a place that you'd like to work after nursing school. It seems the market is picking up and the Clinic is hiring like crazy.

The waiting list at LCCC question - I finished my last support course last August and was accepted for the fall. You will not get a clinical spot until ALL of your support classes are finished. If you apply now for the application date and finish your support classes then you probably have a pretty good chance of making the following admission pool.

Jwarnike · May 1, 2012

Wantccu: congrats on getting into the program! And good luck. I too, have kids. Which is why LCCC is so appealing! And we want one more. So I'll have to try and squeeze that in somewhere. Lol. I'm starting my pre-Reqs this summer. And of everything goes well, I'll finish with them in the Spring of 2013. I also already have all of my BSN support classes done because of my previous degree. So there won't be any classes for me to take starting next summer until I get into the nursing program. I doubt I'll get in for the fall 2013 program. But I hope to be able to start 2014. Ugh 2 years from now! So I'll either take a break and hopefully plan for a child next summer, or apply for Tri-C fall start, if I don't get in at LCCC. So many decisions!!!

wantccu · May 1, 2012

Yeah, you'd most likely be looking at Jan 2014. Apply now! I know that it seems like forever, but for me - the benefits of the child care were worth the extra semester wait for Lorain. I'm enjoying my time off of school and spending it with my kids before they don't see me for the next year and a half... going to be a great summer! :)

Jwarnike · May 1, 2012

Well I can't apply until I complete Chemistry this summer. I'll be cutting it close. Last day of class is July 29. Deadline to apply is August 4th. Enjoy your summer off! And let us know how the program is going!

wantccu · May 1, 2012

Thanks, I will! As far as the deadline to apply - that's just for Jan 2013 (although, last year the review was September 4 not August so maybe double check) consideration, you can actually apply to the program at any time. Still apply as soon as grades are posted, your application date matters most.

snickers21 · May 2, 2012

I too am enjoying this summer off with my kids! :)

Yes, apply as soon as your chemistry grade posts if you need that. Have you talked to someone from the nursing program? Sometimes high school chemistry counts. I took a basic chemistry class at LCCC (which no longer exists due to restructuring) when I was a senior in high school and that counted for the application. The sooner you get on the list the better. From what I understand the list has gone down in size.

Good luck!

Jwarnike · May 3, 2012

No, I didn't take chemistry in high school. But even if I had that was 13 years ago, so I'm sure it would be outdated. LOL. Man I feel old!

Jwarnike · May 3, 2012

And the advisers told me the wait list is 461. Ouch! Then again, I wonder how many of those people have gotten accepted into other schools, or pursued other avenues and just never bothered to call and have their name taken off the list.

snickers21 · May 4, 2012

Yes and don't forget you don't even go into the "pool" of applicants until the support courses are completed. The list has gone down, when I got on the list in Dec 2010 it was 600 something! eek!