Taking Deaconess as a Lead And Findng a Preceptor

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Okay I am up for two traditional LPN program where I live, but I still can't shake the feeling of wanting to have more control over my schooling by distance learning. So I found two programs that would let me do that for Practical Nursing, Deaconess, and Minnesota. But for Deaconess it it too hard to get into and the tuition is ridicoulas, pluss I don't want to travel up there, and for Minnesota, the tuition is okay, but I don't want to travel up there, and they have the program set up with pre-req's that I will have no choice but to take a year to a year and a half to finish. I want to be done in a year to 15 months at the most.

So..........Here is what I was thinking, I see many programs at Techs, and CC's that allow their PN students to take their theory courses online, an do normal clinicals. These programs are not set up, for a person in a different state, but hey distance is distance. So I thought that I might propose to one of these schools or maybe a few, to let me take my theory online and get a preceptor where I live to do my clinicals. I know it's a long shot, but I have to try. And I mean they could always give the preceptor their course objectives, and I think any experienced nurse could be a preceptor.So before I present my idea to these schools, I need to put together a professional proposal, and to do that I first need to find someone to be my preceptor. So my question for all of those who have had to do this, or is going to have to do this, is how do I do it? Do I just call up hospitals and ask if they have preceptors? Do I call up local schools and try to recruit their faculty? How?

And how do I get the hospitals or nursing homes to let me use their facility as a clinical site?

And as for the preceptor, I don't know how it is usually done if they are volunteers or what, but I was planning on offering my preceptor, a small fee. I want as many clinical hours as possible, and if I am distance learning I will not be confined to a strict schedule, so I will be able to get in more of those hours. I was thinking maybe 5 hours a day M-F, or whatever the schools, usual hours are, whatever they require.( I just looked it up, the school that I am looking at, has 4 clinical course for their PN program, and in each course they require 6 clinical hourse per week, for 16 weeks) And I would pay my preceptor maybe $10 and hour. A little steep,(I'll see) but if i get financial aid, I should be able to pay her/him with the money from my refund check.

So ya'll please tell me what I need to do.....:uhoh3::uhoh3::uhoh3::uhoh3::uhoh3::uhoh3::uhoh3:

Hey there!

I hope you plan works out...I like people who can think outside the box!

Here is a link to another thread where I explain how I set up my clinicals for DCN.

Hope it helps!

Cheri

https://allnurses.com/forums/showthread.php?t=93226&highlight=director+education

So I found two programs that would let me do that for Practical Nursing, Deaconess, and Minnesota.

do.....:uhoh3::uhoh3::uhoh3::uhoh3::uhoh3::uhoh3::uhoh3:

Just curious...which program in Minnesota?

Just curious...which program in Minnesota?

Is this nursing program just like Deaconess? I too am curious and would like to hear more about this program.

Kind of but you have to do ALL of you clinicals up there. They have two sets of clinicals. The first is 160 hours and the second 128, the way that they haveit set up, you would have to spend two months up there for each clinical. And you also have to got up there for IV therapy 4 days, and Nursing Skills 1 and 2, which are 10 days each.

distance.minnesota.com

Kind of but you have to do ALL of you clinicals up there. They have two sets of clinicals. The first is 160 hours and the second 128, the way that they haveit set up, you would have to spend two months up there for each clinical. And you also have to got up there for IV therapy 4 days, and Nursing Skills 1 and 2, which are 10 days each.

distance.minnesota.com

I read up on this program, and it sounds like a good one...except..the trips to Minnesota! The face to face meeting are per class and are spaced out over the semester approximately 2 days each trip, so a ten day eval on campus may equal 5 trips to Minne.. too much $$ and too much traveling from FL...Deaconess is still the best route for me...I was told that I sent my paperwork too late for the Sum class; however, if they get the additional spots (not looking good according to my advisor), I'd be one of the first on the list.. :p

Did you check with Deaconess recently about any possible summer spots that are still open? Yesterday was the deadline for summer deposits, so maybe someone didn't pay and there might be a spot?

--Marci

I read up on this program, and it sounds like a good one...except..the trips to Minnesota! The face to face meeting are per class and are spaced out over the semester approximately 2 days each trip, so a ten day eval on campus may equal 5 trips to Minne.. too much $$ and too much traveling from FL...Deaconess is still the best route for me...I was told that I sent my paperwork too late for the Sum class; however, if they get the additional spots (not looking good according to my advisor), I'd be one of the first on the list.. :p

I think you need to check with hospitals and local colleges on how preceptors are paid. I've done it and the hospital pays me (its written into my union's contract).

The way you have outlined your plan almost sounds like bribery. Clinicals are work experiences in a facility/hospital and the staff employed there have you there to work alongside them and evaluate them. In traditional schooling there is also an instructor present for part of the clinical experience or if you wind up with the preceptor from h*ll.

Nursing education can only be controlled by the student to a certain degree. I think you need to relax, and when you finally start school you will see how little control student nurses really have over their education...

Deaconess is a definate no for me. The clinical liason over there told be that there were having problems with the Louisiana BON. I called the BON today and they said that deaconess students can't do there clinicals at any hospital down here, even Tenet. So I don't know whats up. Onward with my search.

Deaconess is a definate no for me. The clinical liason over there told be that there were having problems with the Louisiana BON. I called the BON today and they said that deaconess students can't do there clinicals at any hospital down here, even Tenet. So I don't know whats up. Onward with my search.

New Mom LPN.

One of my current classmates (clinical validation travel buddy) is from Louisiana. She was not able to do her OB in LA (so she went to St Louis and did 2 or 3 days of clinical time there), but she was able to get a PEDS preceptor this semester and now has arrangements set up for her MED SURG in the Fall.

So there may still be hope for you in LA...

Cheri :)

New Mom LPN.

One of my current classmates (clinical validation travel buddy) is from Louisiana. She was not able to do her OB in LA (so she went to St Louis and did 2 or 3 days of clinical time there), but she was able to get a PEDS preceptor this semester and now has arrangements set up for her MED SURG in the Fall.

So there may still be hope for you in LA...

Cheri :)

Thanks so much. It seems like you just gave me all of my hope back. Is there any way you can contact her, to let here know that I wanted to talk to her and get more infor on what she is doing?

What is the name of the school in MN?

Is it an LPN program? RN? ADN? Any details?

Does anyone have a link? I tried the one posted, but it does not work...

Please help..

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