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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.

To be in the medical field, you must have hands-on experience, and no Medical Training would be complete without the opportunity to interact with real patients. I have discovered, both by my own learning curve and by watching my fellow students, that no matter how "book smart" you are, there must be clinical practice to be an effective nurse. The mannequins we use for procedures such as injections, insertion of NG tubes, catheters, and assessments just don't give you the feel of a real body, nor does it give you the feedback (both good or bad), depending on the procedure.

It's crucial and very much recommended for you to gather and analyze a list of Nursing Schools that you are interested in enrolling, as well as narrowing down fields of nursing you are considering. Make a note of your priorities and what you would like to accomplish. Will being a LVN be sufficient for what you're looking for? Are there other careers in nursing that you would do better in?

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?

Cost is another important consideration. It's easier to get into a private nursing school, but, they are also a lot more expensive than a community college program. I went with a private school because the waiting list for my local community college was too long. The next opening in the RN program was for 2011! I paid more so that I could get my education in a workable timeframe.

I would suggest one last consideration; take advantage of the tours and even sit in a class or two. Talk with the teachers and staff. Observe the caliber of students the school attracts. You will be trapped with these people for up to two years and it is important to understand what you will be facing. It may or may not be for you. Also see if you like the style of teaching. Is it challenging enough? Too challenging? Do you like the teachers? How is the staff? This will all make a big impact on your level of satisfaction.