Platt college?

ColoradoGrl: First of all, this is a question best answered by someone in financial aid. I can tell you a bit about my situation but it will probably not be the same as yours.

You pay as you go. The program lasts about 36 months, divided into four academic years. At the beginning of each academic year you sit down with the financial aid person (after you've filled out your FAFSA) who tells you what aid you're getting and what amount you need in loans/grants. I can't really speak to what your financial aid package would cover.

MyBSN: The first class graduated earlier this year, the second class will graduate in December. I'm not aware of any of the first class heading into grad school yet, and as far as I know most programs require a minimum of one years practice before they will consider your application.

My clinicals have been very good and have taken place at DH, Triumph, Spaulding, St. Joes, El Paso County Health Dept and Arapahoe House. I think you begin clinicals during your first or second quarter; that seems like a long time ago and I can't remember at this second. I'll have to ask a classmate and get back to you.

I'm not entirely objective, being in the program, but I've been told by more than one of my clinical preceptors that Platt students measure up well. I feel that I've received an excellent education and that my knowledge and skills measure up to those of students from other schools.

As you might imagine, accreditation is on my mind as well, and the more I learn about it the more I realize that it's a complicated subject. There are a whole lot of organizations that are in the business of accrediting schools and the organization that Platt chose twenty-five years ago has been a good fit for them up to now. Nursing programs have their own accreditation and I understand that Platt is working on NLNAC (and can't say a lot more than that about the process).

I didn't find the TEAS test all that hard, but I've heard that some people have trouble with it.

I know that the school accepts 15 students into each class and four classes per year, which means that ~60 people are accepted each year. I don't have any idea of the numbers that apply or are turned away.

Hope this answered your questions, I'm off to bed.

Thanks for taking the time to write back! Do you know if I will have a chance to talk with students while I am at Platt during one of the information sessions?

I guess that I am not as familiar with the hospitals in the area as I thought that I was. Are those that you listed hospitals/ Dr. office? About how far are they from the school (range)? I am happy to hear that you are enjoying your time at the school! That alone is a plus!

Did you have to take all of the courses at P or did you have courses that were able to transfer in?

One other thing, you mentioned to COgrl that it was divided up into four years, but it is only a 35 month program?

Thanks, AGAIN!

Hi MyBSN,

I hate to enter the controversy (again) but I was in exactly your shoes about 15 months ago. Do some searches in this board (and read all of this thread in particular) to get a better handle on making your decision.

To answer your question about going on to get a Master's after attending Platt: first, call the schools in which you are interested in pursuing a graduate degree. Tell them about Platt.

There are three accreditation statuses to look at: state nursing board accreditation, the school's accreditation as EITHER a career school or as an institute of higher learning, and through a national professional nursing association's accreditation. This last accreditation is either through NLN (primarily community college through Bachelor's degrees) or AACN (Bachelor's degrees, Master's and PhD/DNP programs). The universities are beginning to segue over to AACN instead or holding both association's accreditation.

Platt is accredited by the Colorado State Nursing Board which means its graduates can sit for the NCLEX. Platt's school accreditation is through the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology. I believe Concorde and the other technical school whose name escapes me now are accredited this way as well.

This means that Platt's accreditation is not as an academic college or university. In Colorado, this accreditation is through North Central Association and would include such schools as the entire Colorado community college system, the University of Colorado System (UCHSC and UCCS), UNC and Regis.

Platt is trying to get an accreditation through NLN. I have no reason to believe they will not eventually be successful in this. The problem you will probably encounter will be, again, is in its status as a vocational school. Again, as a consumer you should absolutely call the graduate schools in which you are interested directly. Be sure to specify that this Bachelor's would be from a vocational school, so that they don't just simply say yes they consider anyone with a BSN.

Another thing to consider is that the credits at Platt are non-transferable. This is because they created their program with a different time line than other schools, NOT necessarily because it's less of an education. This would make an unforeseen forced move to another state a disaster.

I think it would be a good idea to PM those who've had both good and bad experiences with Platt and weigh your information carefully before jumping in. Good luck in your endeavor to get into nursing school.

Hi there! I cannot figure out how to send a private message (email)!!!

Thank you for your information. It is different issues like this that concern me. It is so difficult to find concrete answers!

Are you at Platt now? Did you go?

I am really wanting to know, and I have read other posts... hypothetically, after graduating Platt can I endorse my license in CA? Will I still have a BA in CA? Do you know where I can find out? This is my primary concern...

Thank you so much for you info... I am looking into it and am quite sure I will have more questions for you!!


Thanks!

MISTER SN

Do you know anything about endorsing an RN license in a different state? Do you know if the BSN from CO Platt will be "honored" in CA?

Thank you!

You're welcome. As far as endorsement issues, you will need to call the California Board of Nursing. If you can pass NCLEX here in CO you shouldn't have any problems but again, check for yourself.

You will not have a BA but a BSN if you attend Platt. Whether or not it is recognized by the grad school you want to attend will be up to that grad school. Again, you will need to call the grad programs yourself for accurate information.

Just to remind you though -- Platt can still provide you with an RN whether or not their BSN will translate into a grad school situation for you.

Once you know whether or not the grad school you wish to attend accepts Platt as a university, your decision should be much easier.

And in answer to your question: no, I chose not to attend Platt and am in another BSN program.

To PM other members, click on their user name in their post. This will give you several choices, one of which is "Send a private message to..."


Good luck to you!

A few points:

Wildchipmunk raises good issues, but I'd like to make a small correction to this item:

Another thing to consider is that the credits at Platt are non-transferable. This is because they created their program with a different time line than other schools, NOT necessarily because it's less of an education. This would make an unforeseen forced move to another state a disaster.

This is not quite correct, and is a little misleading. A more correct way to say it is this: Platt credits are transferable at the discretion of the accepting school. This is true for my credits from Red Rocks as well. Once you leave the state of Colorado, schools decide to grant credit based on a review of the course description and (or so it seems to me) a quick check of what phase the moon is in. One current Platt student had their credits evaluated at a state school in PA when they applied for admission and received credit for them. They have since chosen to finish at Platt before they make the move, but not because their credits were not accepted.

Also, Platt currently has transfer agreements with several MSN programs, including the University of California at San Francisco--arguably the finest school of nursing in the country. The goal, as explained to me, is to make sure that every nursing specialty is available to us as graduates. This is, in fact, a requirement of the Colorado Board of Nursing--Platt students must be able to further their education.

Graduates of a state-approved nursing program in Colorado are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN and be granted a license to practice nursing in the state, which is a member of the Nursing Compact, a group of more than 20 states that recognize nursing licenses from member states.

California is not a member of the Nursing Compact, meaning that you must apply for a license in the state, but are not required to sit for the NCLEX again. As Wildchipmunk said, the best information on California will come from the state board of nursing. Information on the Nursing Compact can be found at: https://www.ncsbn.org/158.htm

In answer to your question about 35 months or 4 years--you attend school for 35 months, which is divided into 4 academic periods (freshman, sophomore, junior, senior) that we call academic years. Each academic year lasts about 36 weeks.

Hope this helps.

My apologies, I misspoke in my last post!

Platt is working on an agreement with UCSF (and others), and currently has articulation agreements with University of Phoenix and Grand Canyon (both regionally accredited universities offering in-residence and online MSN degrees.)

You seem to have an abundance of knowledge that I wish I had!!

Do you mind if I clarify? Several states (20+) will recognize a regional RN license. Is this received after one completes the RN program and passes the NCLEX Exam? And if the state does not recognize it that is when a licensed needs to be endorsed? Have you ever heard of a license being denied? ...Or generally speaking... if a current license is possessed (for example-a current license is held in CO) the individual must "simply" follow the states guidelines to have the current license endorsed?

Out of curiosity do you know why all states would not be a part of the compact?

I think that I understand the rest of the information... Thank you SOO much for all of it!

Double Post