Trying to find the right school

Hi Amanda -

This is going to be a bit long... I hope they're able to provide you with the answers you're looking for.

Disclaimer: Please validate my statements with each of the schools mentioned below. They usually are the best source of information when it comes to their respective programs.

1. Do hospitals in Illinois still hire LPNs? It's not impossible to land jobs in hospitals as an LPN. However, it seems to be the exception rather than the rule now these days. As a matter of fact, hospitals and many critical-care oriented clinical sites are actually cutting back on PNs; and making sure only RNs get in the door. LPNs who are already in hospitals are being told to upgrade their skill-sets and become RNs.

2. If you and your sister live in the north side / suburb of Chicago, the closest RN programs are in the City Colleges (Wright/Truman). If you don't mind driving further west, Ambria is in Hoffman Estates (about 50min - 1.25hrs on I-90 depending on how far you live). Ambria has a fairly decent LPN-RN bridge. Their tuition is also at par (if not less) than most private degreed institutions. They also have a pretty good and stable NCLEX pass rate.

3. If you don't mind waiting a little, Northwestern Institute (NWIHT) is probably a year out from getting their RN program approved. Like Ambria, they, too, will have an LPN-to-RN bridge. Once approved by the Board of Nursing, you only need to pass their ATI TEAS V entrance exam and interview process to get in. You may have to take an "LPN-to-RN Step" course depending on how long ago you got licensed.

4. Northbrook College of Healthcare (NCOHC) is a good LPN school (based on the professionalism/level of experience of its founder/provost; the same can be said of their academic dean). It's a good candidate school for your sister to consider. As a newly approved LPN school, they're probably two to three years out before they are in the position to offer an RN (with an LPN bridge) program. They're also a few years out in terms of securing Federal Student Aid for their students (as Title IV requires a minimum of 2-solid years of operation) prior to a school being allowed to adminster FAFSA.

5. Another PN school that seems to be getting better is PCCTI. Their NCLEX pass rate last year went up to 83% (up from 77% in 2010). Make sure you get a list of clinical sites from them, though, before you have your sister sign the dotted line. Lack of decent clinical sites (and good instructors) seem to be the prevalent complaints of many of their existing students (and alums). They're doing their best, though, to offer a quality program. Read through their 'testimonial' page (and double-check for accuracy) so you can get a better feel of their program.

6. Lastly, try avoiding PN schools with: 1) no (or minimal) NCLEX pass rate history, 2) failing NCLEX pass rates, and 3) flat-out ground-level tuition fees (meaning they've pushed their tuition so low that no existing program in their right mind will dare match their prices). New PN schools push their matriculation down ONLY for one reason -- to survive the present year by getting desperate students from existing programs.

They also usually attract students with less than satisfactory performance (those who'd been terminated from other schools). Hence, the school's quarterly and yearly NCLEX pass-rates swings wildly due to non-standard curriculum delivery and are below the accepted level of 75%.

Let me know if you have any more questions. I'm no means an expert about Nursing programs in Illinois, but I've been watching the landscape change long enough to see which school is doing well, which ones are new to the scene and which ones are about to get yanked out. :)

BTW, welcome to Chicago-land...

Cheers.

Hanzo

I just got info from our Director of Nursing that a school named CMK is accepting LPN transfer students and giving them a discount of $5000. Which makes the lpn tuition to $10k. My fiance already registered with americare.They have an lpn class that will be done in less than a yearShe is transfering after fundamentals.

Very informative thanks.My fiance is enrolled in triton, but she is transfering to CMK. The cost is way lower and i just found out that they are adding a $5000 discount for transfer students.Plus they are very close to us here in streamwood.I see what your are saying about being careful. I have looked into CMK and met a few graduates that passed their first time. In the end, just got to help my fiance study. Im sure she can do it

Hey all,

i just recently chose Northbrook College of Health Care NCOHC - LPN Licensed Practical Nursing Schools Chicago, Allied Health, PN Prerequisites and will be starting at the end of June. Sgthanzo actually made me feel better about choosing a new school due to their excellent faculty/teaching staff. I have been to NWIHT and i really liked it but it was a little far for me to drive. One of the reasons i chose NCOHC is because they are located in Wheeling and are really close to 294 which is great considering im coming from gurnee and being stuck in rush hour would drive me crazy. I cant say anything in particular about classwork because i have not even begun class yet but the campus is brand new and clean and they put me on a great payment system. They offer scholarships and career assistance, so i guess it shows they care. I really like how close knit the nursing community is, it makes me feel better about choosing this profession. Good luck!

Sincerely,

Erika

i meant to put their website address, not a weird hyperlink.

ncohc.org

hi sgthan20 im was wondering would you the clincal sites offered at at nwiht because i attend the school now it is so hard to get information about anything