Xavier College vs Healthcare College in Stockton Ca?

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Dec 1, 2010

If you've already got a previous BS degree with a decent undergrad grade point average, my suggestion is to attend a 12-to-15 month accelerated BSN program. In a little more than one year, you could be an RN with a bachelor of science in nursing.

The job market in CA is terrible for RNs, and even worse for new grad LVNs. Some graduates from the classes of 2008 and 2009 have not yet found jobs because there are too many nurses in the state, and not enough nursing positions to go around for everyone who wishes to work.

I earned my LVN license before getting my RN license, and the process probably consumed more time than if I would have directly pursued the RN license.

slrberry · Dec 1, 2010

I went to Healthcare College of California. We often did our clinicals along side some of the Xavier students and I know 1 Xavier student who is in one of my classes now and she was really happy with the program and passed the NClex her 1st time. From what I know of Xavier, I think it would be a good choice. I previously posted on my experience at Healthcare College and here is a copy of what I posted:

I graduated from Healthcare College of California in 2010. I already had a BS in a non nursing field, and was laid off from my previous job and didn't want to wait to take all the prerequisites and waiting lists of other programs so my goal was to complete the program quickly and be eligible for the NCLEX, so that I could get back to work. This was the story of many others in my class as well. I was aware of the challenges with private schools, and this school was no exception.

There were constant changes in our schedule; lack of communication between staff so we would show up at a clinical site only to find out that it had been switched and no one bothered to call us; our two week break between semesters was shorted to 7 days, and we were told this 1 week prior to our break (some students already made plans, which had to be changed), and our program was extended by 2 weeks (we were given about a months notice and some students had already made plans and had airline tickets to be out of town).

Not to scare anyone off, if you are like me and needed to finish school quickly, this program is accredited, it only takes 9 months (10 in our case due to extensions), It's $22,000 (half the cost of WCC), and after you complete the program you will be eligible to sit for the NCLEX, which is the main point. Just be prepared to have a "go with the flow" attitude, have patience, and don't let the negativity of others get you down. If you are the type of student that needs hand holding, or need to always be organized, and with a set schedule, you will have a hard time in this program, so this may not be the school for you.

Just to add, The first 10 students in my class, myself included, took the NCLEX and PASSED the 1st time. It's really all about how much time you are willing to put into learning.

Also, I found a job after about a month of seriously looking and I graduated in February 2010.

Hope this helps!

confused06 · May 4, 2011

I'm decided to go to Xavier but am looking for a loan to help cover some of the costs, but I tried sallie Mae and Wells Fargo and they don't work with either school for private schools, and BofA doesnt do loans anymore. So I have no idea of where to look... Did you get a loan for tuition? if so through who? or if anyone else know where I can can get a private loan would be greatly appreciated.

slrberry · May 4, 2011

Unfortunately, many of these companies and local banks do not offer loans for these programs. Many of my classmates borrowed money from their 401k plans, or borrowed money from friends and family. I have good credit, so for me, I refinanced my car and took cash out and I took advantage of the 0% offers on 3 of my credit cards, so that I did not have to pay enormous interest rates, and now that I am working as an LVN I am paying down those credit cards.

There were many other students who wanted to start the program but could not due to financial reasons, and decided to work and save up or apply at community colleges. Finding a loan for these 2 schools will be very difficult. You may want to look into Gernick Academy in Modesto or Carrington College. They are expensive but offer financial assistance. Good Luck!

nervouswreck2011 · Sep 10, 2012

I graduated from Healthcare college of california in stockton a couple weeks ago. I worked very very hard but my classmates just cheated their way thru and passed. The teachers saw them cheating and would just let them. This school will pass ANYBODY! and I mean ANYBODY! there was a girl in my class who asked me what sepsis was two weeks before grad... A guy who asked me what billirubin was... seriously... A stuffed teddy bear could pass if it could come up with 20000 dollars! I am studying for nclex and feel completely and udderly unprepared due to the incompetencies of this school...any advice?

chapara11 · Dec 31, 2013

HEy slrberry, did you go to Healthcare College as LVN or RN?

CommuterChick22 · Jan 3, 2014

I know a few nurses who went to Xavier and ended up doing their LVN to RN at Carrington. If you have a BS, did you consider doing an ABSN? If you go through a state school, it may be cheaper than LVN school and then bridging to RN. From my understanding, Xavier and Carrington are very expensive!

Sister Carol · Apr 29, 2014

The question is not really if private for profit schools such as Xavier College in Stockton is a poor quality school, or the fact that Xavier College is very expensive, or that the pass rate is declining, but whether or not you can get a job once you complete your LVN? Unless you know something I do not there are virtually no jobs for LVNs and you really need to be an RN or at least a psychiatric technician or psychiatric nurse to get a job. Almost a third of the LVN programs have shut down in California because there are essentially no jobs. San Joaquin Delta College cancelled its LVN program due to lack of jobs but is going great guns with their psychiatric technician program. These are high demand jobs in San Joaquin county at present.

The other issue is that "colleges" such as Kaplan or Xavier Nursing College in Stockton are actually just adult or trade schools. Xavier College in Stockton is not accredited by WASC as an institution of higher education but it is simply licensed as a trade tech or adult school. A place like Xavier College in Stockton is really no more a college than a "barber college." This is fine if you have the money and can not get into a community college nursing program and all you want is to pass the LVN board, but the classes taught at Xavier Nursing College in Stockton can not transfer to a college of higher education, even a community college such as Delta in Stockton, so if you want to later pursue a BSN, you will basically start all over again at the bottom.

My advice is get into the nursing program that leads to being an RN or psychiatric technician or psychiatric nurse program at someplace like San Joaquin Delta College. This will lead to a good paying job, or better yet get into a BSN program.

Take the $21,000.00 and enroll in real college and get a degree or credential that has a future, or instead of enrolling in Kaplan or Xavier College in Stockton, buy Lotto tickets, this is a lot more fun and you are far more likely to be making money!!!

Jack NP · Jul 22, 2014

I'm an employer in the area and have excellent nurses from Xavier, many of whom have already moved on to finish their RN, BSN, and a few are currently in their MSN programs. Many grads are in management positions already in the long term care field as well as those who have moved on to the RN having upper management positions in the area. It's how the program is tailored, to continue to excel in the field. There are over 20 Xavier graduates working the new Stockton Prison Hospital and also the county jail, numerous hospitals in the area and long term care facilities. It's not an entirely accurate statement, actually it borders lack of understanding of staffing at all to say to say that nobody is hiring LVNs or RNs. There was a slowdown in 2009, but that's completely withered and gone. The fact of the matter is most new grads think they're automatically going to get that unit or area of nursing that they want. Sorry, nursing doesn't work that way you start where you can get a job first regardless what it is, you have to put your time in. This is fact and if you don't like that fact, you're going to be waiting a while for employment maybe permanently. You have to put your time in. I think some school's graduates like Xavier graduates who have most of theirs working immediately after graduation understand this fact. It is also an unwritten rule these days that you're not going to get into an RN program (at least not in CA) unless you have your LVN license in hand first. You can go the community college/university route and PRAY that you get into a program, but most Xavier students went that route and waited, 2, 4, 5, sometimes 10 years having taken so many pre req courses (that expire after 5 years in most places) yet never to even get close on gaining entry to an RN or LVN program. For every 1 student admitted to a community college RN or LVN program there are over 500 who did not. That's a statistical fact. It is why the private programs like Xavier are growing. Most of the students realize that once the LVN is in had they're quick to gain admission to any community college program. They have the pre reqs in hand already and simply have to bridge LVN to RN which is not a lengthy bridge at all. Xavier is not an easy program. It's not for everyone. But their graduates excel everywhere they go, they're hired immediately in most cases and their aggressive clinical training makes them quickly an attractive candidate to employers such as myself. Don't waste time with Psychiatric Technician programs. Although there is a demand especially in the Stockton area, for psych, you are limited to just that area for life and those jobs aren't going to be around forever. As an LVN or RN you can take it anywhere. As an employer there are always slow downs but there are reasons and usually are very temporary. There is always a position open somewhere. I think too many new grads again simply aren't willing to take those jobs and they end up waiting around letting their license waste away waiting for that distinct unit they want to work in. That's a very shallow and very immature view and frankly those new grads with that attitude are not needed in this field. As for the post that said most LVN schools are closing. That's true but not for the reason posted. Most started closing when a few years ago the Board of Vocational Nursing started posting actual number of NCLEX candidates who took the test from the school vs who passed. Many schools were propping the numbers up and once a lot of them posted their actual taken vs actual passed, they lost students. When you lose students or interest you cannot function as any school. So either schools lost their accreditation or outright closed or both. Good luck, be careful listening to definitive sounding advice and do solid research on any program you look into.

Jack NP · Jul 23, 2014

Oh and for the record, Healthcare College is no longer accredited offering an LVN program.

Jack NP · Jul 23, 2014

Oh and Delta hasn't gotten rid of its LVN program. They scaled it back a few years ago due to Delta College budget issues..