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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.

To work in the medical field, you need a real experience since no Medical Training is complete if it misses the possibility of interacting with actual patients. I found out - both observing my learning curve and looking at my students, that regardless how literate you are, clinical practice is required to be a good nurse. The dummies we use to simulate procedures such as injections, insertion of NG tubes, catheters and tests neither can give you the sense of a real body nor give you good or bad feedback, depending on which procedure is concerned.

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?

If you want the flexibility to pursue other Nursing Careers later, it is important to make sure whether a private nursing school has the accreditation you will need. What degree will you receive -- an AA, or a BS? Will your license be limited to only one state? If you choose to go on to a community college or university for a Bachelor's or Master's degree, how many credits can you transfer in?

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.

There's one more consideration I am suggesting: experience the tours and even stay in a class or two. Speak to the staff and teachers. Observe which kind of students the school attracts. You will have to stay with these people for as long as two years so it's important to know exactly what to expect. You may or may not like it. Also find out if you like the teaching method. Is it sufficiently challenging? Too much? Do you like your teachers? And what about the staff. All of this will have a large impact on your level of satisfaction.