Unitek College LVN program... good or Bad??

Nursing Students LPN/LVN Students

Updated:   Published

I was just wondering if anyone has attended the LVN program at Unitek College in Fremont or Santa Clara California? and if you can answer a few questions for me:

How long is the program?

What is the cost of the program?

NCLEX-PN passing rate?

and lastly, would you recommend this school?

thanks!

Specializes in Knuckle Dragging Nurse aka MTA.

sounds like a soild plan. I have been an LVN for about a year and a half. I am looking to do the bridge program at unitek, hopefully within the next year or so.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
sounds like a soild plan. I have been an LVN for about a year and a half. I am looking to do the bridge program at unitek, hopefully within the next year or so.

You working Acute or LTC? Was it difficult to get a position as a new grad?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I would go with any school at this point, if I could do it quickly. I also think the 40k is really high, but at least it IS an option, and the money you would make as an RN, sooner than sitting on a wait list, you could pay back the loan faster, as you would get to the RN status faster, and the difference in pay from LVN to RN, might be worth it to make up the higher tuition....just a thought?? :)

I am having a meeting with the Indiana State U. admissions counselor next week, to evaluate my college credits and once I graduate the LVN program next June, I might have enough credits to roll right into the BSN program. That will give me the next 12 months to get a few more classes I need under my belt.

I still need a "math" class, and micro, and chem....and probably some electives. I can do these classes online while I am in the LVN program, and that will allow me to start immediately on the BSN program. Hmmm, sounds good, but I wonder if I can handle taking extra classes plus the nursing school, especially when its "at my pace".

What would you guys do??

I am not very good at algebra AT ALL!! I hate it, and it has been my downfall everytime I have tried to take it. I suppose I would do better if I could learn at my own pace, and have my hubby or son tutor me?? I am great at chemistry, geometry and all the sciences....but when it comes to algebra over the very basics, I am just thick as a plank!

The other option is to stay with the same school, Stanbridge, IF and when they get it up and running, but who knows when that will be??

Indiana said they will set up the preceptor and clinicals for me, and not to worry, as they have many hospitals around here, and surgery centers to choose from.

Has anyone done any classes with Indiana State?? If so, how is it going, and how long is it taking you to progress?? I just hope it is as good an option as I think it might be :)

Thanks in advance for all the advice, and support, you guys are a godsend, and this website has totally made my deciding on going into nursing school much easier.

:)

God Bless, and thanks!! Have a Great Mothers Day!!

Deborah

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Knuckle Dragging Nurse aka MTA.
You working Acute or LTC? Was it difficult to get a position as a new grad?

Well, I started in LTC and lasted only 3 months. I don't know how I even lasted that long to tell you the truth. I had 47 - 48 pateints that I was responsible for. I had a unit manager RN that was never on the unit and didn't manage anything. I had about 10 diabetics, two med passes that took 3 hours for the first, and 1.5 hours for the second. Needless to say I had no downtime and this experience has left me very bias against LTC. I will never do that again. My license was on the line everynight. I would have to deal with anger family members, answer the phone, etc all while passing pills. This was a nightmare.

Now, life is so much better. I work in an acute psych unit for the department of mental health. Half the work with much higher pay ($22/hr in LTC with crappy benefits and no retirment) to ($30 - $36/hr now with amazing benfits and the best retirment in the nation).

It is very easy to get a job in LTC. They only care about two things:1 a pulse and 2. a license.

Getting hired as an MTA/ LVN for the department of mental health was much harder. They do a complete background check, psych testing, you must pass a physical fitness test, and medical. The process takes 7 months but can be started while you are still in LVN school.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Knuckle Dragging Nurse aka MTA.

Update.. I talked to a unitek rep. He told me that the school did NOT have a LVN to RN program in Sacramento, CA. So I will have to cross them off my list.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Update.. I talked to a unitek rep. He told me that the school did NOT have a LVN to RN program in Sacramento, CA. So I will have to cross them off my list.

Bummer. :madface: I suppose they are just getting their sea-legs in NorCal. Their LVN program is up and running though...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I would go with any school at this point, if I could do it quickly. I also think the 40k is really high, but at least it IS an option, and the money you would make as an RN, sooner than sitting on a wait list, you could pay back the loan faster, as you would get to the RN status faster, and the difference in pay from LVN to RN, might be worth it to make up the higher tuition....just a thought?? :)

Uniteck's LVN program is $29,775. This includes tuition for the 11 month fast-track course, uniforms, books, prerequisite classes, LiveScan fees, BVNPT license fees, board exam fees and NCLEX-PN exam fees.

I am having a meeting with the Indiana State U. admissions counselor next week, to evaluate my college credits and once I graduate the LVN program next June, I might have enough credits to roll right into the BSN program. That will give me the next 12 months to get a few more classes I need under my belt.

I would take a little time to actually work in the field as a nurse before I'd "roll into" another program right away. My opinion, of course.

I still need a "math" class, and micro, and chem....and probably some electives. I can do these classes online while I am in the LVN program, and that will allow me to start immediately on the BSN program. Hmmm, sounds good, but I wonder if I can handle taking extra classes plus the nursing school, especially when its "at my pace". What would you guys do??

Micro online? YES. Chem and Math online. POSITIVELY NOT.

I am not very good at algebra AT ALL!! I hate it, and it has been my downfall everytime I have tried to take it.

And you want to take this online?! Think!

I suppose I would do better if I could learn at my own pace, and have my hubby or son tutor me?? I am great at chemistry, geometry and all the sciences....but when it comes to algebra over the very basics, I am just thick as a plank!

Wouldn't worry so much about algebra past passing the class. This is not used much in the everyday world. Know your fractions, decimals, proportions, etc., though.

The other option is to stay with the same school, Stanbridge, IF and when they get it up and running, but who knows when that will be??

Have you asked? Have you checked out OTHER schools in your area? There must be 5-10 schools within a 15-30 minute drive of me that have nursing programs. Check around, ask your friends and family, or post to your state's forum here on allnurses.com.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Surgical Nursing.

Hey All!

I noticed that Unitek claims to award its students with an ASN however, how can a school award this without all the other general ed classeS? Basically, is this ASN accredited by any organization?

I've looked every where and cant seem to find anything.

Thanks!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC.
Hey All!

I noticed that Unitek claims to award its students with an ASN however, how can a school award this without all the other general ed classeS? Basically, is this ASN accredited by any organization?

I've looked every where and cant seem to find anything.

Thanks!

You have to take your general ed and prereqs at a community college. They don't offer them at the school.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am enrolled in the LVN program at the San Diego campus (brand new) starting in Jan 08 and it is my understanding that you get a license, not a ASN. and the pre-reqs are offered at the program, if anyone knows any thing else please let me know I am new to this site and am in need of some guidence. thanks linda

Up Vote Up Vote ×

What Are The Requirements For Lvn Program In Unitek?

And What Time The Class Starts?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am a current student at a Unitek campus (I wont say which one, so I dont reveal myself)

Let me just say....be very cautious about which campus you choose.....and which "season"....each Unitek has 2 LVN programs in 1 year...the "fall" and the "spring"....at the particular one I am attending, I am a "fall" student....and I hate it. The instructors are TERRIBLE. However, the instructors for the "spring" are wonderful, very supportive and they actually teach.

My teachers do not. The main teacher is basically incapable of calculating simple addition, and they failed to even teach us the math needed for med administration, we have to teach ourselves. Yet the instructor claims they taught us.....wrong. The tests we are given by this instructor are a joke. And I seriously question this person's credentials, I know this individual has no experience as a teacher, and it shows. But I also wonder why this person is no longer an LVN.....if I had their license number I would investigate it.

The instructors I have love to take sides and to gossip, dividing our class. Its not a happy place to be...and it makes it even worse when I see how great the other nursing class is, and how the teachers actually teach and set guidelines for how the students should act....If I knew this was how these instructors taught, I would have waited for the "spring" session to start.....So just be wary...ask as many questions as possible and see if you can observe part of the lecture, that way you can see if you think you will mesh well with that teacher.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment