Since 1987, the City of Fremont has operated a very successful scholarship housing program. It allows rent scholarships for students that are completing job related coursework. I think this is a great option for upcoming students in Licensed Vocational Nurse to Registered Nurse (LVN to RN), Medical Assisting (MA), and Pharmacy Technician (PT) Training.
If a student meets ALL of the following conditions, they are eligible for the scholarship program:
Are you at least 18 years of age?
Are you supporting a family?
Do you have a good credit history?
Are you a full time student with a GPA of 2.8 or above?
Have you been enrolled for a minimum of one quarter or 12 weeks in an eligible training program and have 18 months or less remaining for your certification?
Are you committed to a better quality of life?
For more information, please contact Janis Carey at 510-494-4511 or housingandredevelopment@ci.fremont.ca.us
Unitek College’s LVN program is the accelerated, full-time, accredited LVN program available in the SF Bay Area today. Unlike Community Colleges and Universities, there aren’t a handful of pre-requisite courses necessary (such as Anatomy & Physiology, Microbiology, and Pathophysiology) just to apply, or even be considered, to their nursing program. Unitek College’s LVN program bypasses this lengthy step with its 3 week “crash course” in medical terminology. The crash course is plenty enough because it properly and adequately prepares the student for the 11 month long, three level, and accelerated nursing program.
Unitek College allows the eager nursing student to put his/her foot right in the door, without the uncertainty of the application process or the extra two year waiting list. But don’t be fooled by its easy admittance standards; the LVN program is really a tough and demanding curriculum! As a 33 year old with a Bachelor’s degree and several IT certifications, I can honestly say that this is the most challenging (and most rewarding) learning experience in my academic career. The course materials include topics such as the fundamentals of Medical-Surgery, Pharmacology, and practical nursing skills. Each level is increasing more difficult and more demanding than the previous. The program is condensed and moves at a high speed! And yes, you will be a critical thinker & learner!
Having said all this, I’d like to share with you my personal insights for the would-be Unitek College LVN student:Read the rest of this entry »
With a degree in nursing, Elsa Mendoza didn’t have to look far for a job. After receiving her degree in nursing from Unitek College in 2007, the 25-year-old Elsa applied for positions at four local hospitals in the San Francisco Bay Area; (Kaiser, Stanford Hospital, El Camino Hospital, and Good Samaritan). Elsa soon received four job offers from all four hospitals. Within a short period of time Elsa was earning an annual income of more than $65,000 and only working four days a week.
As the fears of recession build up, employees begin to worry about their future, fortunately nursing jobs are one of the five careers that are recession proof according to Yahoo.
“As long as people continue to get sick, there will be a need for nurses. Nurses perform perhaps the most critical role of all–they save lives and prevent illness. And with demographic shifts putting extra strain on the health care system, nurses are experiencing unprecedented demand. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts nearly 30 percent growth in nursing jobs through 2014, the second largest increase of any occupation.”
Did your profession make the top five recession proof careers?
I can’t seem to get the consistent urgent demand that’s going on for nursing and healthcare. By 2012, it’s quoted that over a million additional nurses will be needed for the emerging baby boomer generation. Several people are talking about this and reporting it online (view article). Then there’s the perks. Flexible hours, six figure salaries (once in senior management). It all seems too good to be true. My fiancé’s mom is a director of nursing at a hospital and gets to take one week off a month in vacation, and gets paid overtime! Not only that, she gets additional pay incentives for working the night shift.
There is obviously a need and a demand for what is obviously a great career path. How else would I know? I market it. I consistently see people who are looking to change their lives, and also to improve their quality of living. I see graduating students going to great jobs at Stanford, and other surrounding bay area schools (check out last year’s graduating class video, second video from the top). I also want to point out that we didn’t produce that student video. It was provided by our great class of students in 2006. I’m proud of the fact that we help people reach their dreams, and also improve their career opportunities. I ask you. Why not fill out a form? Speak to an educational advisor. There’s no risk. The only thing you have to lose is a chance at finding out what can be a great new life.
Unitek College staffers were amazed by a national Medicare study that revealed that Santa Cruz County hospitals have the highest labor costs in the country. I think most of us would have bet on San Francisco city, but it seems Santa Cruz nurses are paid even more.
The Medicare Wage Index study indicates that labor costs per patient in Santa Cruz County hospitals are 36 percent more than the national average. County health officials say that means higher medical costs and insurance premiums for patients (and more money for our grads, grin).
