Nursing school is highly demanding. It reflects the reality of a career in nursing: those who can survive the program can make it in the workplace. I'm a nursing student, set to graduate from the LVN program in August 2007. I go to class evenings and weekends to accomodate my current working hours. It's frustrating, difficult and tiring, but it's magical, too. If you can afford to go to school full-time and not work, that is definitely easier. However, you can survive doing both. You'll be deprived of both sleep and social life for two years, but it can be done.

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'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 must check whether the private Nursing Schools have the accreditations you require if you wish to get into different Nursing Careers later on. Can that program give you an AA or BS? Or cat it give you a state-limited licence only? Which credits may be transferred to a public college or university, shoud you choose to continue to a Bachelor's or Master's degree?

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 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.