Which RN program (full-time) to choose in the East Bay area

turbohound · Apr 17, 2004

Hi Vivi,

I'm an East Bay local also looking into RN programs. I'm looking at your list as well as Ohlone and Modesto. Chabot has expanded their program to allow for ten more students at the Las Positas campus. Also, the south bay programs are accessible via the ACE train. I'm volunteering at Valleycare to get a feel for nursing. Any idea what the wages are like? :)

Sheri257 · Apr 17, 2004

You might want to compare the different schools' NCLEX pass rates before you decide:

http://www.rn.ca.gov/passrates/passrates.htm

Vivi · Apr 17, 2004

Hi Vivi,
I'm an East Bay local also looking into RN programs. I'm looking at your list as well as Ohlone and Modesto. Chabot has expanded their program to allow for ten more students at the Las Positas campus. Also, the south bay programs are accessible via the ACE train. I'm volunteering at Valleycare to get a feel for nursing. Any idea what the wages are like? :)

Hi Lizz and "turbohound"!

Thanks for your messages.

You mention Ohlone college, which I visited. It's a beautiful campus, but a little far away for me. I don't know Modesto. Chabot college I heard is a very good college. I don't know what the wages are like unfortunately, but you may want to post a new thread asking that question.

I've just been admitted to San Francisco State University, so I've decided that's where I'm going to go. I'm excited! I was not sure whether to get a BSN or an ADN, because I'm already 46; but I think SFSU is a very attractive place, although a little far away. CAL-State Hayward is closer to my home, but they're only going to give their answers in mid-June or July, and students at my colleges (Peralta) mentioned that SFSU is a very neat place and that this is what I should choose.

I was thinking earlier that CAL-State Hayward might be better, because they have a higher passing rate at the NCLEX exam, but someone told me that the reason is that they require their students to have an exam at their university first, before trying the Board State exam. I think CAL-State Hayward is a very good university nevertheless. Contra Costa College seems to be pretty high on the list of success at NCLEX exam too. They did not admit me, because they had some prerequisites I did not meet like two courses in physical education and child development. I was admitted at Merritt college, but heard that their present ADN program is too tough. A student told me that only 17 students are now left in the second year of their ADN program.

Thanks for responding

Sylvie

turbohound · Apr 17, 2004

I got my MBA at Hayward, so I don't want to do another long program. I'm looking at ADN programs due to my age (38). That's so cool that you've been accepted. I'm so jealous. Maybe I'll see you at Valleycare in Livermore sometime.

Ryan

:rotfl:

Hi Lizz and "turbohound"!
Thanks for your messages.
You mention Ohlone college, which I visited. It's a beautiful campus, but a little far away for me. I don't know Modesto. Chabot college I heard is a very good college. I don't know what the wages are like unfortunately, but you may want to post a new thread asking that question.
I've just been admitted to San Francisco State University, so I've decided that's where I'm going to go. I'm excited! I was not sure whether to get a BSN or an ADN, because I'm already 46; but I think SFSU is a very attractive place, although a little far away. CAL-State Hayward is closer to my home, but they're only going to give their answers in mid-June or July, and students at my colleges (Peralta) mentioned that SFSU is a very neat place and that this is what I should choose.
I was thinking earlier that CAL-State Hayward might be better, because they have a higher passing rate at the NCLEX exam, but someone told me that the reason is that they require their students to have an exam at their university first, before trying the Board State exam. I think CAL-State Hayward is a very good university nevertheless. Contra Costa College seems to be pretty high on the list of success at NCLEX exam too. They did not admit me, because they had some prerequisites I did not meet like two courses in physical education and child development. I was admitted at Merritt college, but heard that their present ADN program is too tough. A student told me that only 17 students are now left in the second year of their ADN program.
Thanks for responding
Sylvie

Vivi · Apr 17, 2004

I got my MBA at Hayward, so I don't want to do another long program. I'm looking at ADN programs due to my age (38). That's so cool that you've been accepted. I'm so jealous. Maybe I'll see you at Valleycare in Livermore sometime.
Ryan
:rotfl:

Hey Ryan,

Yeah, I'm happy.

An MBA, that's pretty good! If I had one, I think I would go for the nurse practitioner program directly, which is two years like the ADN program. Because you already have a masters degree, I am afraid that SFSU or CAL-State Hayward (?) would not let you apply for another masters degree in nursing. You could always ask if you thought that was a good idea for you. You could apply to Samuel Merritt though. They are expensive, but I was told they're a very good school, and Kaiser and West Catholic Hospital (I'm not sure what the name is) would reimburse students for their loans.

If you're unsure, you could apply for both ADN and Master programs (have you thought of physician's assistant at Stanford/Foothill college, and Samuel Merritt). It's also a 2 years program.

I forgot to mention in my previous e-mail that Chabot college (ADN program) selects students through a lottery at the end of April (need to apply in January).

All the best to you in your endeavors!:balloons:

Sylvie

suzanne4, RN · Apr 17, 2004

Hey Ryan,
Yeah, I'm happy.
An MBA, that's pretty good! If I had one, I think I would go for the nurse practitioner program directly, which is two years like the ADN program. Because you already have a masters degree, I am afraid that SFSU or CAL-State Hayward (?) would not let you apply for another masters degree in nursing. You could always ask if you thought that was a good idea for you. You could apply to Samuel Merritt though. They are expensive, but I was told they're a very good school, and Kaiser and West Catholic Hospital (I'm not sure what the name is) would reimburse students for their loans.
If you're unsure, you could apply for both ADN and Master programs (have you thought of physician's assistant at Stanford/Foothill college, and Samuel Merritt). It's also a 2 years program.
I forgot to mention in my previous e-mail that Chabot college (ADN program) selects students through a lottery at the end of April (need to apply in January).
All the best to you in your endeavors!:balloons:
Sylvie

An MBA is not a Master's degree in nursing, so you would be able to get an MSN. They are not related to each other in any way...............Hope that this helps.................. :balloons:

chad75 · May 19, 2004

Sorry about resurecting this old thread but I'm considering moving to the SF area, I am an LPN wanting to fastrack. Are there long waiting list for the various fastrack or just general ASN/ADN programs in SF?

Vivi · May 19, 2004

sorry about resurecting this old thread but i'm considering moving to the sf area, i am an lpn wanting to fastrack. are there long waiting list for the various fastrack or just general asn/adn programs in sf?

the next rn adn program that starts the soonest for which you could apply is at the city college in san francisco. www.ccsf.edu/

you have to go there on the first day that you are allowed to apply (sometimes in august) - you could go now and get all the info. their 2 year program starts in january 2005. you most likely won't be able to get any info by phone or to register for nursing by mail either.

for other adn programs, i heard that college of marin is good www.marin.cc.ca.us/

, as well as chabot college in hayward chabotweb.clpccd.cc.ca.us/

chabot does a lottery however to select qualified applicants, and they rejected me, because i was not a in-district resident (i think they made a mistake); but they accepted someone else who leaves in alameda.

and contra costa college in san pablo www.contracosta.cc.ca.us

from all the things i heard, and their results at the nclex exams, i do not recommend merritt college in oakland (not to confuse with samuel merritt in oakland, which is a good program).

these may not be the fastest program in your situation, because you say you're already an lpn; so i don't know what programs are available in your situation. i believe that for bachelor degrees in nursing, there are faster programs for lpn, so it may be worth it to apply to bachelor programs.

samuel merritt in oakland www.samuelmerritt.edu may still accept applications for the fall 2004, and may have a special program for lpn, i don't know. samuel merritt is associated with holy names college in oakland, or st mary's college in moraga where you'd have to take some general education classes (you don't have to be catholic.) they're expensive, but good, and i heard that several employers, incl. kaiser and a hospital with a catholic name (catholic west or something like that) offer to reimburse education loans when they hire.

you may also want to check what kind of programs ucsf in san francisco has for lpns at nurseweb.ucsf.edu they're also expensive, but apparently very good.

the other bachelor in nursing programs that i know are at san francisco state university, where i have been accepted. www.sfsu.edu

and csu hayward www.csuhayward.edu (there is a pre-entrance nln exam to take).

when you apply, make sure to fill out two applications one for the school, and one for the nursing program.

if anyone studied nursing at hayward university or san francisco state university, i'd be interested to know if they liked it or not, and why.

for more info on nursing programs in california, you can go to:

http://www.rn.ca.gov/nursing/nursing.htm

chad75 · May 20, 2004

Thanks vivi, that was very helpful