LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — As many Brightwood College students are finding new schools to complete their courses, nursing students say they are left with a difficult decision because the program they enrolled in was the "only game in town" for their chosen path.
The now-shuttered Brightwood College offered courses in a variety of fields tied to medicine but practical nursing students say they are left scrambling because no other colleges in the Las Vegas area offer the program.
"Start fresh from the bottom and try to apply for debt forgiveness or suck it up and try to take a half a credit transfer," Juan Romero said.
The major problem for Romero and his classmates, because Brightwood College lost its accreditation, is none of the other nursing schools in the valley can give them a clear answer to how much of their work will count.
Another issue, Brightwood was the only school that offered a Licensed Practical Nurse program.
The LPN is essentially a step under the more common registered nurse, allowing students to get to work in about the half the time of the typical RN program.
"It is just not feasible for me at this time. That is why I chose this program," Weinmann said, of his choice of the Brightwood LPN program.
Weinman was planning to get his LPN and then work toward his RN license until that plan was derailed by the Brightwood closure last week.
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While both students appreciate the debt forgiveness option they are looking for a chance to accomplish their goal of becoming a nurse.
"Give us a chance to finish it," Weinmann said.
The College of Southern Nevada is working on a plan to do just that. It has launched a page just for Brightwood students and has an on-site orientation scheduled at the Charleston campus Saturday morning.
Due to the complicated nature of the transfers, the school says each student has to submit transcripts before determining how many credits will transfer.
