Unitek's LVN program in details

[eeksa]

I will be starting in the Unitek LVN program in Fremont this coming January. From what i've read in previous forums and from what I heard about the program is that you don't get paid while your doing your clinicals at the hospitals (or wherever they place you).

Now, from talking in the beginning with my admissions counselor, I came into understanding that we do get paid while working and doing the LVN program. But from the various entries, I don't get that impression.

I was wondering if any graduates of the program or anyone knows anything regarding how the LVN clinicals work as well as if the students get paid or not while working in the hospital.

Thanks!

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I will be starting in the Unitek LVN program in Fremont this coming January. From what i've read in previous forums and from what I heard about the program is that you don't get paid while your doing your clinicals at the hospitals (or wherever they place you).

Now, from talking in the beginning with my admissions counselor, I came into understanding that we do get paid while working and doing the LVN program. But from the various entries, I don't get that impression.

I was wondering if any graduates of the program or anyone knows anything regarding how the LVN clinicals work as well as if the students get paid or not while working in the hospital.

Thanks!

I don't know of any LVN program in existence that pays you for completing clinical rotations at hospitals and other healthcare facilities. Clinical rotations and practicum time are supposed to be learning experiences that are being funded with the tuition dollars that you pay to the school. No nursing program is going to pay you to attend clinical rotations.

Good luck to you!

[nursenow]

I never heard of anyone being paid for clinicals. You are not working at the facility, you are there as a student to observe, practice(under the supervision of your clinical instructor) what you learned in lecture and soak up as much real world knowledge and experience as possible.

When we are at the facilities it is at the pleasure of the facility and the school can be asked not to show up anymore on a whim. The DON at one facility told me they allow schools to come in with the hope that some of the nurses will want to eventually work there. It gives them the chance to observe you before hand. If you apply, they may ask some of the nurses you shadowed about your performance or attitude.

I know it is dissapointing but I think once you start clinicals you will see what I mean. Its great you are going to be starting school and I wish you luck!

[marge95050]

I will be starting in the Unitek LVN program in Fremont this coming January. From what i've read in previous forums and from what I heard about the program is that you don't get paid while your doing your clinicals at the hospitals (or wherever they place you).

Now, from talking in the beginning with my admissions counselor, I came into understanding that we do get paid while working and doing the LVN program. But from the various entries, I don't get that impression.

I was wondering if any graduates of the program or anyone knows anything regarding how the LVN clinicals work as well as if the students get paid or not while working in the hospital.

Thanks!

I graduated at Unitek College-Santa Clara campus last year June 2007. I was thankful i went to that school. It is NOT TRUE that you get paid while doing your clinicals. We went to several Skilled nursing facilities even to Hollister area ( Psych Facility in San Jose, Santa Clara Valley Med, we even had a little bit of homehealth nursing in Fremont Area.) You get IV Cert. too. A little bit expensive but worth it.

Study hard!!:typing

[bedside.manner]

I was wondering if any new students were finding any difficulties in getting financing for their loans. I just passed the cpat test and am now filling out applications for loans. I was just curious if I was going to have a hard time getting the money to go to Unitek.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I was wondering if any new students were finding any difficulties in getting financing for their loans. I just passed the cpat test and am now filling out applications for loans. I was just curious if I was going to have a hard time getting the money to go to Unitek.

Due to the slumping US economy and resulting credit crunch, banks have grown increasingly reluctant to lend money out of fear that they might never be repaid. A person with mediocre credit who easily got student loans last year might suddenly find himself unable to get approved to borrow money this year. If you have good credit, this should be less of a worry.

[tothepointeLVN, LVN]

Sorry you don't get paid while in clinicals. It feels like your doing a lot while your i clinicals but its only a fraction of what the paid staff do.

I would be more concerned that Unitek only sends you to SNF facilities as there are other programs in LA where you get to go to major hospitals such as County USC the VA etc.