1. CNI College
1610 E. St. Andrew Place, Suite 200, Santa Ana; 800-455-4700; cnicollege.edu
The campus of CNI College looks as much like a hospital as it does a school, and that’s exactly the idea. Every student should feel like they’re learning about nursing in a real environment.
For almost 30 years, the school has offered accredited vocational training in nursing and health services. Students can earn a Master of Science in Nursing, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, or a RN-to-BSN Degree Completion Program, as well as complete programs in AOS Magnetic Resonance Imaging (or MRIs), AOS Surgical Technology and Vocational Nursing Diplomas.
Though the college has shuffled around over the years between Santa Ana, Costa Mesa and Orange, it settled into its spacious 52,000-square foot permanent campus in 2019 that features classrooms along side fully equipped medical, pharmacy, personal training and computer labs, as well as a library, student union and other student support spaces.
The campus even has high-fidelity mannequins that can simulate childbirth. In this environment, students can safely practice the hands-on training needed in a realistic setting, then learn how to take their different skills to the next level before going into actual clinical settings.
Students at CNI are also eligible for FAFSA Federal Student Aid, Pell Grants, Cal Grants, Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grants, various Stafford Loans, Federal Parent Plus Loans and private loans.
2. American Career College
1200 N Magnolia Ave, Anaheim; 714-763-9066; americancareercollege.edu
American Career College lays out a timeline on its website for the different types of health service training it provides. For the person trying to make a decision about the future, it just a little easier.
An associate’s degree as a surgical technologist or respiratory therapist in 20 months sounds pretty doable. Or becoming a vocational nurse in 13 months, or medical assistant in nine months.
For more than 45 years, American Career College has been providing healthcare education, and with some accelerated programs and flexible class schedules — including some weekend classes — designed for realistic 2023 lifestyles.
The Anaheim location provides training in more than a dozen healthcare programs, including an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), Medical Assistant, Surgical Technology and Vocational Nursing programs as well as Pharmacy Technician, Dental Assistant programs, and two new programs offer hands-on training in medical billing as respiratory therapy.
3. Stanbridge University
2041 Business Center Dr, Irvine; 888-789-6208; stanbridge.edu
Founded in Irvine in 1996, Stanbridge has seen rapid success, already expanding to Alhambra and Riverside locations as well as offering a slate of online programs.
The flagship campus has more than 1,000 students enrolled in one of the four accredited nursing programs, or the accredited physical therapy, occupational therapy or healthcare administration programs.
Stanbridge students can complete degrees in Associate of Occupational Science (LVN), Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Bachelor of Science — RN to BSN, or Master of Science in Nursing, and the school has averaged a 98% NCLEX-RN and 96% NCLEX-PN licensure pass rate the last five years.
State-of-the-art resources are available, from cadaver labs to virtual reality, including the SynDaver Synthetic Cadaver Lab, an Anatomage Table anatomy visualization system allowing virtual human dissection and an Advanced Laerdal Haptic IV Trainer for intravenous techniques practice.
