NE1 have any info on broward community college nursing program?

sayitaintso · Mar 11, 2006

I just recently learned that a friend and I have both been accepted to broward community college. I wont be attending because i'm already taking classes at Barry and have been accepted into their nursing program. but as for my friend she's torn between going to broward community college and keiser. the reason i ask about BCC is because i've heard terrible things about their program and this seems to be much more than just rumors.
I attended open sessions for other schools nursing programs such as keiser and city college and both programs brought up bcc's program and how they were under scrutiny because a large number of the students were either dropping out of the program or not passing the licensing test. when i asked an advisor about this he said they were changing the admission process because alot of students didnt deserve to be in the program. then during the summer i was taking a class with a rn who graduated from bcc and asked her what was going on with the school. she said the reason why bcc was changing up their admission process was b/c while she was there they were under federal investigation b/c someone who worked in the nursing department(receptionist) was selling papers to students. so far it seems all i'm hearing are negative things.in addition i've also heard they're understaffed, thus overcrowded classes.
Can anyone give any insight into this? my friend is contemplating bcc because it's public therefore alot cheaper while keiser is private.

now i'm not saying this to be rude but, if you or your friend think the private school is the better option dont just look at the cost (there are lots of financial assistants for nursing students), look at the outcome of the program are you gonna learn what you need to? this is just one of the few questions your friend should ask his/her self....IMHO its makes no sence to waste your time somewhere, where you are not gonna learn......just my opinion;)

BChapp3182 · Mar 11, 2006

STAY AS FAR AWAY FROM BCC AS POSSIBLE!!!!!!!

I graduated from there in 2004. I have a bachelor's in science, I was premed and graduated from a private university in 2000 with a gpa of 3.8. I decided to stick with nursing not go to med school so went to BCC. We started off with over 100 students in the class, many held BS degrees in engineering, physical therapy, marketing, etc. These are not your new young students. Very educated people. Well out of over 100 starting students the final graduating class was 8!!!

I myself FAILED 2 CLASSES. Not because I'm stupid or did not study. Because the instructors especially at central campus are setting you up to fail. They have a math test each semester, you review for it then take the test. Well, what they teach you in class is NOT what is on the test. If you miss 8 out of 10 questions you fail the entire semester.

That's the problem with BCC, they teach you one thing and test you on something not in the book, not discussed in class. Some instructors, especially the central campus ortho instructor plays word games to get you to fail. Like her interpretation of the word "always" does not mean "something that is done all the time" it might mean "something you might do". Instead of admitting she's interpreting the english language wrong she fails you. It's just silly things they do. We all complained to the dept head but she's best friends with the worst instructors there so always sides with them.

We even presented our test questions to doctors and they failed the test too!!!!

Run as far and as fast as you can from BCC. I would rather get into debt than to just make C's and have lost time from failed classes. Now I want to get my ARNP and having C's in nursing school is making it hard to get into the program, because they think if I got C's I must be a bad student. Try telling them, "oh it's not me it's the crazy school i went to" and that makes you look even worse!

breeqt · Mar 11, 2006

STAY AS FAR AWAY FROM BCC AS POSSIBLE!!!!!!!
. Well out of over 100 starting students the final graduating class was 8!!!
I.
Run as far and as fast as you can from BCC. I would rather get into debt than to just make C's and have lost time from failed classes.

The woman at the open house session from city college said something very similar to your numbers( i dont exactly remember). she jokingly said bcc is their best recruiter b/c most of their students transfered from bcc to city college. those numbers are astonishing , out of 100, only 8. and at keiser the admissions counselor said bcc was on probation because of all the grant money the state was putting into their program only to have a large number of the students dropping out, with dismal passing and graduation rates.that is unbeleivable. with numbers like that you must wonder what the heck is going on. it couldnt possibly be just the students' fault. i wonder what happened to bcc's program. i remember hearing that they once had one of the best nursing programs in florida.

breeqt · Mar 11, 2006

now i'm not saying this to be rude but, if you or your friend think the private school is the better option dont just look at the cost (there are lots of financial assistants for nursing students), look at the outcome of the program are you gonna learn what you need to? this is just one of the few questions your friend should ask his/her self....IMHO its makes no sence to waste your time somewhere, where you are not gonna learn......just my opinion;)

well at this point we dont really know if keiser is the better option b/c keiser's nursing program is very new. this is their second year , i believe, and still havent graduated a class. btw im referring to the ft.lauderdale campus. i think their other nursing program for their other campus has been around a little longer. which is why i wanted any input from those who have attended bcc. i was hoping just maybe the whole bcc bruhaha was just rumors that spun out of control.

Tony35NYC · Mar 16, 2006

I have three friends in Florida who graduated from BCCs nursing program on the central campus last year and I've heard from them about how tough that school is. I recently asked one of them about the issues the OP raised in his/her post and was told that some of these rumors about the school are true. She said it is true that some of the clinical instructors at this college fail students for the silliest reasons and make it extremely difficult for others to pass. It is not true that they are under any federal investigation. They changed up the admissions process because they want to get rid of most of the people on the waiting list. (They claimed to have had as many as 1,700 people on their waiting list in 2004/5.)

BCC used to admit students based on a first-come-first-served basis, no entrance exam, no criminal background or drug checks. Now admission is strictly based on GPA and a points system that makes it possible to get in only if you are among the brightest and the best. Also, they have begun to strictly enforce the criminal background checking and the drug screening, and if anything at all comes up you are automatically out. If you fail more than 2 nursing courses you are automatically out. And if you cannot pass the entrance exam you will not be considered at all. I also hear that they have a mandatory math test at the begining of each clinical and you are allowed to get only one question wrong. Any more than one wrong and you have to re-take the test. If you fail the test twice you are automatically withdrawn from the clinical.

BCC's nursing program has a very strong reputation among the area hospitals for putting out top notch graduates, and it is also not true that Barry's or Kaiser's programs is better. Barry is an expensive private school that graduates many nurses, but their performance on the state boards is typically below that of the public colleges. Kaiser's nursing program is relatively new (and also very expensive) and from what I've heard they have not yet graduated anyone so they don't even have a reputation as yet.

BCC does not have overcrowded classes. All nursing programs in Florida state colleges are mandated to accept only a very limited number of applicants each year. Because there are so many people applying for the few available spots, it is only logical that they would toughen the admission standards (which I'm told they have done considerably during the past year). Further, the program is so challenging that most people flunk out during the first two semesters anyway.

As for people selling exam papers. My friend says this is hardly likely because the instructors frequently make up thier own exams, and they do not give them to the department secretaries in advance to make copies. I've also been told that not having standard exams is a huge problem for the students because instructors can pick and choose whichever exam questions they want to from any source, and no matter how much students complain that the questions are unfair or that they test on material that was not covered in the syllabus, the dean does nothing about it. I've even heard that it is common practice now for them to reassign student seating just prior to each exam and also to give as many as 5 different exams with entirely different questions to the students in a class, so it makes no sense to even plan to cheat or buy papers because you just don't know which exam you are going to get.

What was said about gaining "C's" at BCC is true. My friend said that in many cases even traditional "A" students were happy to get a "C" just so they get to stay in the program. Sounds like a pretty rough environment to learn in if all you can get are Cs.

ajs08RN · Mar 17, 2006

This is a really scary post:uhoh3: !!!!!!!! I start BCCs ADN program in May 06. I ask anyone in the program about it and ofcourse they say it's tough. Some tell me you have no life but it's worth it in the end. I also had one guidance counselor tell me they purposely make Nursing Process I difficult to get rid of the weak. I consider myself strong but I must admit I'm really nervous:uhoh3: :uhoh21:

halo425 · Aug 17, 2007

This is a really scary post:uhoh3: !!!!!!!! I start BCCs ADN program in May 06. I ask anyone in the program about it and ofcourse they say it's tough. Some tell me you have no life but it's worth it in the end. I also had one guidance counselor tell me they purposely make Nursing Process I difficult to get rid of the weak. I consider myself strong but I must admit I'm really nervous:uhoh3: :uhoh21:

So how is everything going so far? I am terrified after reading that post.

labrador4122, RN · Dec 9, 2007

i just recently learned that a friend and i have both been accepted to broward community college. i wont be attending because i'm already taking classes at barry and have been accepted into their nursing program. but as for my friend she's torn between going to broward community college and keiser. the reason i ask about bcc is because i've heard terrible things about their program and this seems to be much more than just rumors.
i attended open sessions for other schools nursing programs such as keiser and city college and both programs brought up bcc's program and how they were under scrutiny because a large number of the students were either dropping out of the program or not passing the licensing test. when i asked an advisor about this he said they were changing the admission process because alot of students didnt deserve to be in the program. then during the summer i was taking a class with a rn who graduated from bcc and asked her what was going on with the school. she said the reason why bcc was changing up their admission process was b/c while she was there they were under federal investigation b/c someone who worked in the nursing department(receptionist) was selling papers to students. so far it seems all i'm hearing are negative things.in addition i've also heard they're understaffed, thus overcrowded classes.
can anyone give any insight into this? my friend is contemplating bcc because it's public therefore alot cheaper while keiser is private.

i graduated from bcc this past august and can tell you that what you heard about bcc is total b*s*

bcc is not a great school at all. they do treat the students horribly, some teachers during clinicals even made students cry... i never cried and i had horrible instructors.. but i always did what i was told, and i never talked back to any instructor.

bcc is not under any investigation, bcc has 93% passing rate in their nclex.

i don't know where you heard that they were selling papers... because at bcc we only write one 2pg paper on ethics at the end of the program that has to be apa style... that is the only only only paper we write.

at bcc we were never spoon fed, we were never babied... like at the private schools.

at bcc you have to study hard, you have to put in a lot of your time, to your books, practice clinical skills at the lab... and that is why out of 50 students that start only 15 graduate... because the school really puts a lot of pressure for you to pass, they make it hard for you to pass.

i know people from nova that were babied, they asked questions they got answers... at bcc you ask questions.. they tell you to look it up, or that you are wrong. bcc you have to stay quiet, do what you have to do to pass.. and don't ask for favors. if you have a family that dies (i know it's harsh) you don't get grievances, you have to keep going.... it's sad very sad.

but at the end you go thru hell and you become a good nurse. and you won't have #$ 40k in debt

halo425 · Dec 9, 2007

Well,

I am at the end of Nursing Process 2. I have had no life, but have two children and I am married so that contributes to it. It is very difficult. No one is babied. It almost feels like they want you to fail so they can have less students to focus on. There is one instructor that is a cut above the rest. She is very detailed and nurturing. She will not hold your hand, but she voices her confidence in you which is something you will need (eventually) to survive in this program. I am on my way to GI/GU in January. I have seen us cut down to half so far. What makes the program so hard is not really the material, but the delivery. The theory class is.... We read the powerpoints, read our Perry and Potter, then have the powerpoints read back to us at the lecture. Why not just teach us the information instead? As long as you read your Perry and Potter and know it word for word you will pass. There is no other way around it.

labrador4122, RN · Dec 9, 2007

I graduated from BCC august/07

I have three friends in Florida who graduated from BCCs nursing program on the central campus last year and I've heard from them about how tough that school is. I recently asked one of them about the issues the OP raised in his/her post and was told that some of these rumors about the school are true. She said it is true that some of the clinical instructors at this college fail students for the silliest reasons and make it extremely difficult for others to pass.That is true. It is very biased. One girl who is very pretty passed because the instructor gave her 1pt to pass the class, while others who are average looking donot get points even if they are missing just one point... talk about unfair. It is not true that they are under any federal investigation. that is right, they are not under any investigation. They changed up the admissions process because they want to get rid of most of the people on the waiting list. (They claimed to have had as many as 1,700 people on their waiting list in 2004/5.) that is true. they got rid of the waiting list.
BCC used to admit students based on a first-come-first-served basis, no entrance exam, no criminal background or drug checks. true. that is how I got in. Now admission is strictly based on GPA and a points system that makes it possible to get in only if you are among the brightest and the best. Also, they have begun to strictly enforce the criminal background checking and the drug screening, and if anything at all comes up you are automatically out. If you fail more than 2 nursing courses you are automatically out. that is true. And if you cannot pass the entrance exam you will not be considered at all. I also hear that they have a mandatory math test at the begining of each clinical and you are allowed to get only one question wrong. that is true. I failed one clinical because of that. the peds clinical, I missed the 2nd exam by one point. the math test was ridiculously harder than the first one. Any more than one wrong and you have to re-take the test. If you fail the test twice you are automatically withdrawn from the clinical. I was supposed to graduate in may07 but because of one point on a math test.. that they don't even alow us calculators... I messed up. Peds math take a lot of time. They want us to be accurate without math calculators!! they are crazy. only school in south florida that does that!
BCC's nursing program has a very strong reputation among the area hospitals for putting out top notch graduates, that is true. when I tell people I went to BCC, they always say that the nurses from BCC are great, and that it is a good school. and it is also not true that Barry's or Kaiser's programs is better. Barry is an expensive private school that graduates many nurses, but their performance on the state boards is typically below that of the public colleges.I did not know that.... I know Keiser had only a 50% passing rate on the NCLEX, you can check on myflorida.com and search nclex passing rates. Kaiser's nursing program is relatively new (and also very expensive) and from what I've heard they have not yet graduated anyone so they don't even have a reputation as yet. They have graduated at least 4 classes so far. And also City college in Ft. Lauderdale, has had at least 4 classes. Nova has had 3 classes graduate so far. Nova by far has a 100% pass rate on the NCLEX
BCC does not have overcrowded classes. All nursing programs in Florida state colleges are mandated to accept only a very limited number of applicants each year.that is true. Only 12 people per clinical group. NO overcrowded classrooms. Because there are so many people applying for the few available spots, it is only logical that they would toughen the admission standards (which I'm told they have done considerably during the past year). Further, the program is so challenging that most people flunk out during the first two semesters anyway.That is true!!!! I started out with 50 students, I failed because of the math, and went behind one semester and graduated with a class of 45 students, the majority of the students in my class had gotten behind because of a failure.. like me with the math test. and others who failed a class.
As for people selling exam papers. My friend says this is hardly likely because the instructors frequently make up thier own exams, and they do not give them to the department secretaries in advance to make copies. Exactly. I've also been told that not having standard exams is a huge problem for the students because instructors can pick and choose whichever exam questions they want to from any source, and no matter how much students complain that the questions are unfair or that they test on material that was not covered in the syllabus, the dean does nothing about it. that is very true!! no matter what your concern is, the dean does not care. You get tested on things that are not in the book, but maybe lets say in an NCLEX book. I used the saunders book along with reviews and rationales series thru the program to help me... and I always had extra points at the end, so I never failed a lecture class. I've even heard that it is common practice now for them to reassign student seating just prior to each exam and also to give as many as 5 different exams with entirely different questions to the students in a class, so it makes no sense to even plan to cheat or buy papers because you just don't know which exam you are going to get. that is true, we had 4 versions of exams when we took our tests.
What was said about gaining "C's" at BCC is true. YES that is trues... we always joked in nursing school that "C" stands for "continuing".... I am so glad I am out of that school. My friend said that in many cases even traditional "A" students were happy to get a "C" just so they get to stay in the program. Sounds like a pretty rough environment to learn in if all you can get are Cs.that is very true!!! the former "A" students were very happy to pass with C's... I was one of them!!![/quote]
BCC is a very hard school, the dean and teachers don't care about you at all... you may find one clinical instructor that is nice.. but those seats are taken up very fast.
prof. G**** in the south campus is horrible... but if you just follow whatever she says she leaves you alone.. so if she tells you "you are a poor student" (that is the clean version) you have to answer her "yes prof g****, I am a poor student, but I will do my best to improve"... never talk back to her, if you do then she will pick on you untill she fails you at the last day of clinical.

labrador4122, RN · Dec 9, 2007

STAY AS FAR AWAY FROM BCC AS POSSIBLE!!!!!!!
I graduated from there in 2004. I have a bachelor's in science, I was premed and graduated from a private university in 2000 with a gpa of 3.8. I decided to stick with nursing not go to med school so went to BCC. We started off with over 100 students in the class, many held BS degrees in engineering, physical therapy, marketing, etc. These are not your new young students. Very educated people. Well out of over 100 starting students the final graduating class was 8!!!
I myself FAILED 2 CLASSES. Not because I'm stupid or did not study. Because the instructors especially at central campus are setting you up to fail. They have a math test each semester, you review for it then take the test. Well, what they teach you in class is NOT what is on the test. If you miss 8 out of 10 questions you fail the entire semester.
That's the problem with BCC, they teach you one thing and test you on something not in the book, not discussed in class. Some instructors, especially the central campus ortho instructor plays word games to get you to fail. Like her interpretation of the word "always" does not mean "something that is done all the time" it might mean "something you might do". Instead of admitting she's interpreting the english language wrong she fails you. It's just silly things they do. We all complained to the dept head but she's best friends with the worst instructors there so always sides with them.
We even presented our test questions to doctors and they failed the test too!!!!
Run as far and as fast as you can from BCC. I would rather get into debt than to just make C's and have lost time from failed classes. Now I want to get my ARNP and having C's in nursing school is making it hard to get into the program, because they think if I got C's I must be a bad student. Try telling them, "oh it's not me it's the crazy school i went to" and that makes you look even worse!

I agree with you.

I wish I would of taken a chance with Keiser.... but ended up going the cheap way.