Tech school vs community college...

hospitalstaph · Sep 27, 2004

HI! I am presently at Maple Woods community college in Kansas City ,Mo taking my pre-req's for the ADN program. This ADN program could take forever to get into so I was thinking about changing routes and doing the LPN to RN route. Does the school your go to matter as much as how well you do in school? Has anyone heard of Northland Career Center LPN program or the Concorde Career College LPN program? Any advice or info would be great! Thanks, Tamela

Tamela,

I am also at Maple Woods right now with plans to transfer to Penn Valley in Spring 2006. I applied at Northland Career 6 years ago for LPN and got in but decided that I really did not want to leave my one year old for that many hours a day.

What have you heard about the waiting list at Penn Valley? I know that say that there is no waiting list (I think they call it your personal wait time) but it IS a waiting list.

About the choice between LPN or RN: My friend who is the LC at one of the local hospitals said that if you had the ability to finish the ADN now do it. If you are in need of work soon then you may want to consider LPN with the idea that you will go RN later. I am going part time so I am not away from my kids too much so the ADN is going to take me almost four years but I wouldn't go to work until then anyway since I still have a little one at home.

Also, I have been told that employer do not care where you went to school as long as you have a degree and of course a license:) The only exception to this that I have heard is that some recruiters do not go after Sanford Brown grads. I don't know why.

Good Luck

Tracy

TamelaRN2B · Sep 27, 2004

Tracy,

Thanks so much for posting! I was hoping there was someone in KC with my same problem!! I'm also taking pre-req's at Maple Woods but when I started to think about the time frame this 2 year ADN was going to take me..I'm a little worried! I have 4 little ones..the last one being a huge surprise!My plan was when the "baby" went to kindergarten I was going back to nursing school full time. Then I found out the day I enrolled the baby for kindergarten that I was pregnant. I was so upset. I decided not to start last year but this year I knew I wanted to atleast take some pre- req's. Right now Speech, history, and psyc. My big problem is that I scored 2 points 2 low on the compass test in the math so I have to take a math class. This math class has to be taken before I can take biology which is another pre-req you have to have to get into the ADN program. For me the pre-req's and the math class have to be done THEN sign up for the NET test..which by the way you have to sign up for by Dec if you want to take it in the next year.ie:if I want to take the NET next year I have to have all the stuff done and sign up for the NET by this Dec. which isn't going to happen. There are even time frames for getting your stuff completed according to which class you can get into. For example in order to get into the Spring class of 2006 all my stuff has to be complete by July 2005.

I guess my thing is I don't want my 2 yr ADN to end up taking 4 yrs. I am trying to take all the non-nursing classes to get those out of the way. But still at times it seems it would take less time to do the LPN to RN route. I did some research on the Northland Career Center and realized it was M-Th 7am-4pm and those hours are just not good for me either. I don't have childcare while my hubby works and I just don't think I could put my baby in daycare all day..not to mention how much it would cost!

Anyways, everyday I wonder how I'm going to get my RN. I wish it just wasn't so hard to just get into school!

I heard stuff about the Sanford Brown school also. I do know someone who went there and is now working at Children's Mercy. She said the school was fine..but too expensive. I considered it but I really don't want to spend that kind of money if I get blocked from getting some jobs because I went to school there

Sorry this is so long.... it was just nice to vent about something that you can understand too! Good luck ..keep in touch! Tamela :

hospitalstaph · Sep 27, 2004

Tamela,

I am also taking Speech and Psychology this semester. I am going to be really embarassed if you are in my class:)

I agree with the LPN thing being to long with a little one. I know that some women have to do it that way, but I just couldn't leave my little guy (or the last two either).

I had planned on going back to school full time after my youngest went to kindergarden but when I realized that I can get so many classes out of the way on a part time basis I figured why not? I am finding it hard enough to juggle my two classes with soccer, Tiger Cubs, and cleaning the house (failing miserably on the last one). A dear friend of mine has 6 children and she took one class everytime the youngest one weaned. It took her 20 years to get her ADN. Now doesn't that make 4 years seem quick?

Good Luck!

Tracy

TamelaRN2B · Sep 28, 2004

Hey Tracy,

I'm in speech every other Monday evening..it is a web assisted class, and phys is an online class(which I love on line classes!) then I also take History 2 Weds evenings. I was talking with another girl in my speech class last night and she too is trying to get her ADN. A friend of hers went to Northand Career Center and loved it I think she is going to bridge to RN. I just wish they had evening hours! Another friend of hers put her application in for Penn Valley and was told she couldn't take the NET until next year and IF she passed the NET they only take the TOP 60 applicants for the program. Right now there are 190 applicants for next year! I just don't know what I'm going to do.... keep in touch Tamela

hospitalstaph · Sep 28, 2004

Tamela,

Wow, Penn Valley is popular but I did not realize the list was that long. I am fairly confident that I will get in during the semester that I want but maybe I shouldn't be. I included a few really good letters of recommendation with my application so maybe that will help. I am meeting with an advisor Friday morning so I will let you know what I find out.

If this helps, I really admire you for putting your family first:) I know that this is all too often not recognized. You already posses a trait that will make you an excellent nurse, whether LPN or RN.

Tracy

TamelaRN2B · Oct 1, 2004

Thanks Tracy..that is really sweet of you to say! Let me know what the advisor says it should be interesting! Maybe I'll have all my stuff complete and if I keep my fingers crossed by the Spring 2006 class..we could be in it together! Tamela :rotfl:

hospitalstaph · Oct 2, 2004

Hi Tamela and others!

Well I talked to the advisor today and she was very helpful:) The Fall 2005 class is already full (which is OK since I am hoping for Spring 2006 anyway). She said that the best thing to do right now is work on getting good grades and get my paperwork done.

Also, Penn Valley is starting a part time weekend RN program with the first semester starting in January 2005. While this schedule does not interest me, it will certainly lighten the list of applicants for the weekday program:))

Hope this brightens your outlook the way it did mine!

Tracy

PS I am in Psych and Speech on M, W, F during the day

Shell26 · Nov 6, 2004

Ok I am confused! I too am trying to find a school that fits into my life. I am looking into Penn Valley and thought that would be the best but now after reading these posts I am not so sure. I want to be an RN but only want to go 2 years to achieve that. I thought that is what Penn was offering, am I right? :uhoh3:

I am in my 30s, have a family and work full time and I need a program that will work with me. What else is out there? I looked into online programs but I am not sure about those, can I get the same RN degree in 2 years and then move up to a BSN or do employers look at an online program and think less than if I went to a college?? So many questions!

Please help:crying2:

hospitalstaph · Nov 7, 2004

Ok I am confused! I too am trying to find a school that fits into my life. I am looking into Penn Valley and thought that would be the best but now after reading these posts I am not so sure. I want to be an RN but only want to go 2 years to achieve that. I thought that is what Penn was offering, am I right?
I am in my 30s, have a family and work full time and I need a program that will work with me. What else is out there? I looked into online programs but I am not sure about those, can I get the same RN degree in 2 years and then move up to a BSN or do employers look at an online program and think less than if I went to a college?? So many questions!
Please help:crying2:

Hi there! I am honestly not aware of any ADN programs that are completely online. Once you have your ADN, you can get the BSN online at numerous different schools. If an ADN is available on line I cannot imagine that it would be very good. After all, how would clinicals be done online?

Honestly I really think that finishing the ADN in 2 years with a full time job and children would be extremely difficult. I have a family (three children 2, 5, and 7) and I am a stay at home mom. I am only going part time and the ADN will take me 3 1/2 years but it is managable. I have A's right now and I am still able to spend time with my family and have time to study. Believe me, I do know that my situation is far better than many students have it and I do feel very lucky. But if you could take a little longer to finish the program I really think you would be glad you did.

Good luck!

Tracy

VizslaMom · Nov 23, 2004

Ok I am confused! I too am trying to find a school that fits into my life. I am looking into Penn Valley and thought that would be the best but now after reading these posts I am not so sure. I want to be an RN but only want to go 2 years to achieve that. I thought that is what Penn was offering, am I right?
I am in my 30s, have a family and work full time and I need a program that will work with me. What else is out there? I looked into online programs but I am not sure about those, can I get the same RN degree in 2 years and then move up to a BSN or do employers look at an online program and think less than if I went to a college?? So many questions!
Please help:crying2:

Yes, it can be a two year program...if you take a full-time schedule. I graduated from Penn Valley's program 3.5 years ago. It took me two years to complete, but I went full-time. For example, I took 18 credit hours in my first semester and 15 credit hours the second semester. I was taking pre/co-requisites with my core nursing classes even though I was HIGHLY discouraged from doing so from the nursing department (I'm pretty determined once I set my mind on something..hehe). I also took a couple classes during the summer in-between school years.

I wasn't married and had no children. I credit the ability for me to do this kind of schedule to having limited obligations at home. I also worked part-time 20 hrs per week and used student loans to pay living expenses. My employer at the time reimbursed 100% for my educational expenses.

I hope you find a program that "works with you". However, it's been my experience that you have to be flexible and find ways to work with the program and not the other way around. In fact, the saying by a few instructors was, "A good nurse is a flexible nurse". You have to restructure your life routine around going back to school. Any nursing program you enter into, be it the LPN or RN program, WILL be labor and time intensive. Most have classes and clinicals during the weekdays. My mom, who is a physical therapist, decided to go through the LPN program because it interested her. It was just as time consuming as the RN program...so don't do that if you think it will be easier because it won't be.

Where there is a will, there is a way. Don't give up.

I made it through and feel that Penn Valley's program prepared me well for my career. I am now working in an ICU and couldn't imagine doing anything else. I also never thought I would ever make the kind of salary I am making either.

It is all very much worth the struggle in the end.

I have since completed my BSN through the online program at MU. Even now that I'm done with my Bachelor's, I am very glad that I went through the ADN program first.

hospitalstaph · Nov 23, 2004

Yes, it can be a two year program...if you take a full-time schedule. I graduated from Penn Valley's program 3.5 years ago. It took me two years to complete, but I went full-time. For example, I took 18 credit hours in my first semester because I was taking pre/co-requisites with my core nursing classes. I also took a couple classes during the summer in-between school years.
I wasn't married and had no children. I credit the ability for me to do this kind of schedule to having limited obligations at home. I also worked part-time 20 hrs per week and used student loans to pay living expenses. My employer at the time reimbursed 100% for my educational expenses.
I hope you find a program that "works with you". However, it's been my experience that you have to be flexible and find ways to work with the program and not the other way around. You have to restructure your life routine around going back to school. Any nursing program you enter into, be it the LPN or RN program, WILL be labor and time intensive. Most have classes and clinicals during the weekdays. My mom, who is a physical therapist, decided to go through the LPN program because it interested her. It was just as time consuming as the RN program...so don't do that if you think it will be easier because it won't be.
Where there is a will, there is a way. Don't give up.
I made it through and feel that Penn Valley's program prepared me well for my career. I am now working in an ICU and couldn't imagine doing anything else. I also never thought I would ever make the kind of salary I am making either.
It is all very much worth the struggle in the end.

Would you mind sharing how long it took you to be accepted into the program? I turned my app in two weeks ago and currently have a 4.0 (although it appears that as long as you have a minimum 2.5 this would only come into play in cases of a tie). I will have all general and science course work finished, except for Micro, by December 2005. So, I am hoping that I can start clinincals in January '06. Does this sound possible? I am worried about 2-3 year waits that I have heard others talk about. What did you experience?

Thanks so much

Tracy