Temple College?

[Trophywife81]

Well I am five weeks away from starting nursing school, and am super excited! (Also super-nervous since I feel like I'm scrapping my BA degree and starting all over, but I digress...).

Do any of you have experience with the Temple College VN program? Any advice on what I can expect, both study-wise and clinical-wise? I guess I don't have any specific questions, but any comments anyone may have (negative or positive) would be very welcome.

Cheers y'all!:cheers:

[Pretty in Ink]

So totally believing we will make good grades and pass the NCLEX, are you going to stay an lvn? do the lvn-rn bridge or maybe do the lvn-bsn??? I know I will not be content being "just" an lvn...I want to keep learning and building my skills partly b/c I'm really all my family has and to support them in the way I want to I want to keep going. I'm thinking of skipping the lvn-rn bridge and go for my bsn. Your thoughts??

[Trophywife81]

I plan to work as an LVN for 1-2 years while I take the RN-prerequisites...then, since I already have a Bachelor's degree, I'm thinking I may enter the alternate-entry MSN program at UT.

A lot of people always ask me why I'm not going straight to the RN, since I have a degree and made really good grades...truth is, going LVN-to-RN is the fastest way from what I've seen--especially for someone like me who comes from a non-science background. Plus making a paycheck while pursuing a more advanced nursing education is more my cup of tea than being out of the workforce for 2+ years.

Anyway, yes, I am super-excited about starting nursing school--can't wait! Only a week away!!

[Trophywife81]

Oh, and more on the LVN-to-BSN issue...I think it totally depends on where you see yourself in nursing. If you are interested in moving into management or research, a BSN is definitely the way to go, IMHO. However, if you have no stomach for politics/management etc., and want to remain at the bedside, there is really no reason to spend the extra time/money for the BSN.

For myself, I am like you in that I am not content to remain "just" an LVN. I graduated summa cum laude from college with my first degree, and I know I am capable of achieving whatever level of education I decide to pursue...so going beyond the LVN level is something I want to do, just to prove to myself that I can do it. Plus, I am interested in ending up in research doing clinical trials, pharmaceutical testing, etc., and an MSN is good qualification for that.

So essentially, I think it just depends on where you want to end up. I believe LVNs will always be around, however possessing the RN license simply opens up so many additional doors and pays a fair amount more, that it is well worth the additional year or so of schooling. Like I said earlier, though, I think starting as an LVN is a great way to become a nurse quickly, begin earning some cash, and then have the opportunity to continue working and earning as a nurse while pursing further qualifications.

(sorry this was so long!)

[Pretty in Ink]

You so lucky to already have a degree and be moving forward at such a young age!!! I am very excited as well for next week! I can't believe it came so fast...seemed like forever! What I really want to do is get my CRNA. Not just for the money, (although that is a nice perk!), but I remember when I was starting to really think seriously about being a nurse I saw some news special on CRNA's and I was really interested/inspired...something inside me was like, "you could do that." I'm giving myself 10 years to get there. By 35 I want to have everything under my belt...10 years seems like a long time but when I broke down each program and what I have to do before getting into that program...it's really not. I have 8 more pre-reqs to do until I can apply for a BSN program... but I figure 2 years, 4 classes a year, 2 per semester... is not that bad. I may even cheat and go for summer semesters!

[CSLee3, ASN, BSN, LVN, EMT-P]

ATTN: TXLVNSTUDENT512: did you get your books yet? Tayor or Temple bookstore?

[Pretty in Ink]

I did get all my books but I bought them online I have a B&N Card so I got 10% off automatically, plus you get free shipping and I saved about 100.00 buying used instead of new. I think I got only 2 brand new books.

[CSLee3, ASN, BSN, LVN, EMT-P]

Thats awesome of you to do that! There is a big mark up in bookstores! I will see you next Monday...Ali right?

ERDude

[Pretty in Ink]

Alia...(close enough :) ) See u on Monday?? I thought u were a graduate by the sound of it! Especially since u have 5 years of experience...or are u a teacher???

[CSLee3, ASN, BSN, LVN, EMT-P]

Teach

ERDude

[Pretty in Ink]

Ohhhhhhhhh noooooooo...ur first impression of me is on the internet!!!!! Glad I havn't said anything dumb :))

[CSLee3, ASN, BSN, LVN, EMT-P]

Quite the contrary...you know your educational path, have your goals in place and that impresses me! Rock-on...

ERDude

[Trophywife81]

Regarding the books: I too purchased all of mine online, though I went through amazon.com. I purchased all NEW books for about $35 less than I would have paid for USED books from the TC bookstore...if there are any more soon-to-be TC students reading these posts (and who still need books), do check out online suppliers...there's money to be saved by doing so!