Recent Articles of Interest

Nursing Schools are challenging, and with the nature of a nursing career and Medical Training, truly a trial by fire. I am enrolled in a nursing program and will graduate the LVN program in August 2007. I attend classes in the evening and on the weekend, to work around my current job. It is hard, tiring, sometimes frustrating, but sometimes magical! It would definitely be easier if you can attend school full-time and not work, but it's not impossible to survive. You WILL be sleep deprived, and forget about a life for up to 2 years.

Hands-on experience is vital to any type of Medical Training, and no training would be complete without it. My own experience and the observations I've made of fellow students proves that "book smarts" alone are not enough to be an effective doctor. Effective training simply has to include interaction with real patients. The mannequins we use to practice procedures like injections, insertion of NG tubes, catheters, and assessments are useful, but incomplete. Mannequins don't have the feel of a real body or give the feedback a real patient does (both positive and negative).

It is very important to research the Nursing Schools you are considering on attending, and to consider the various Nursing Careers that are available to you. Be sure you will be satisfied with the level you aim for. Will LVN allow you to do what you want? Are there other Nursing Careers that may be more suited to you?

You need to check that the private Nursing Schools you are considering are accredited to state and/or national standards if you may consider expanding your career into other nursing specialities later. What qualification does the program lead to, an AA or a BS? Will your license be for your state only? If you decide to move to a community college or university and do a Bachelor's or Master's degree, which credits from your private nursing school study will be able to be cross-credited?

One more thing to consider is cost. Private nurse schools are easier to get into, but they usually cost more than a public college. I was oblidged to choose this option since my local public college as a long waiting list for the RN program, lasting up to 2011! I had to spend more to be trained in an acceptable time limit.

I have one more suggestion: go on any tours offered, and sit in on a class or two, if you can. Talk to the staff and the teachers. Take note of what kind of students attend the school. You are going to spend up to two years with these people. You need to know what you will be dealing with, and make sure you find a good fit. Make sure you like the style of teaching: is it challenging enough? Too difficult? What is the staff like? Will you enjoy the teachers? These are all factors in your level of satsifaction.