thinking of startng at the Breckinridge School of nursing @ ITT Tech Lake mary Fl

liquid2 · Nov 30, 2011

they cost a lot of money, they are disorganized, they don't ever answer your questions directly, they raised the grade requirement on me when only two quarters away from graduation, they have a clause in their catalog stating they have the right to make changes are their discretion and you are bound by it, and if don't pass the class and you pass clinical you have to repeat it all over again the didactic and clinical portion.

livininthelou · Dec 5, 2011

Uh, yeah. Don't. ITT is pretty well respected around the country for their more technical/IT/criminal justice programs, but their nursing program is a real ****-show. I've been in the nursing program at Breckinridge for about a year, and have tried to give them the benefit of the doubt because they started up 26 nursing programs at the same time. But I have never, in my life, seen a more mismanaged, disorganized academic program as it is here. I'll finish the program here and will make the best of things til then, but for $54000 I would definitely recommend another option. Florida has an excellent community college system with lots of good nursing programs all up and down I-95. Good Luck

tkats2012 · Mar 18, 2012

Well I think any school has that clause about changing things. I am in my third quarter at ITT and I am really enjoying it so far. The only problem I have is some of the staff members are rude and disrespectful.

DMJackson · Apr 16, 2012

I recently GRADUATED from the Breckinridge School of Nursing @ ITT Tech in Norfolk, Virginia. I passed my Exit HESI on the first try and my NCLEX-RN the very first time in January and am a practicing RN. Although the school had it's flaws, and I felt my class was used as the guinea pigs, many of these flaws were ironed out before we successfully graduated 9 out of a class of 22. I believe it's all in what YOU are prepared to put into the program. If you are prepared to invest your time and efforts you will succeed. You cannot enter into the Nursing program without being ready to devote your time and energy. Trust me when I say "If I can do it after 18 yrs, then it can be done".

pjsmomster · May 5, 2012

Well that's good to know, you're the only person I can find on this forum that has taken the NCLEX. So, congrats! Are you continuing your education?

EM09 · May 12, 2012

I wanted to give a bit of information from the ITT Tech here in St. Petersburg, FL. I went to the information session this morning. Maybe the older program was 8 quarters, but it is now 9 and if you have no prior General Education classes it will take 27 months to complete. The director did say that it is possible to combine the last two quarters, but it is only for a select few of students who show they can handle it (which would make the program 24 months). The whole program is 109 credits.

Tuition is $493 per credit so take that x 109 = $53,737 (!!!)

You also need to pay for your background check which is $59.

As well as any immunizations you need and your physical, so that depends on your insurance/doctor. If you don't have insurance they said estimate $100.

You also need to buy your uniforms. You can wear any scrubs during lecture and lab on campus, but you must wear green bottoms and order their tops ($35 each - not in tuition) for clinicals and you order however many you'd like.

They require the HESI entrance exam, which is no cost to the student. It covers English, Reading and Math (so no science). The passing score is 75 (out of 100).

You start clinicals in your 4th quarter which is 9 months into the program.

They are also accredited by ACICS, which is nationally. I asked if they are going to try to get a regional accreditation and they couldn't give me an answer. It didn't seem like they were interested getting more accreditation's.

They have a contract with Kaplan if you'd like to continue to RN-BSN or RN-MSN.

Overall, I was expecting a lot more for paying $54k. The lab was rather small. It only had three beds with two adult size mannequins. One was 'interactive', the teacher would have to stand right next to the mannequin to control it. It also did not talk, just made various noises (breathing, heart beat, bowel noises, etc.). That was their only lab for up to 30 people at a time! I will say the Director was super personable and really did seem interested in the students, which is really nice.

Here at least (including the Tampa location) they have not had a graduating class yet. Therefore, they don't have a average NCLEX passing rate, which worries me.

I also could not get a straight answer if a HESI exit exam was required to get your degree. (There have been people on various forums saying that ITT/Breckinridge required the HESI exit exam before they'd give you your diploma and were kind of holding it 'ransom')

I visited Galen the other day and was much more impressed, especially for it being $20k cheaper.

ladymeraud · May 20, 2012

Good afternoon,

i am a graduate of the Breckinridge School of nursing @ tampa fl. I was the first class and so far we have 100% pass rate on the NCLEX. i understand the concerns of many of you. i felt that we were the first child to a new parent and we all learned from each other and the did change the passing a class from an 70 % to an 80 %. i also felt that the school was flexiable with every student because life happens and they worked with you. other schools in the tampa, st petersburg fl area are not so flexiable.

if you are worrying about the money, just remember that most of the community college around this area have a two year waiting list and you have to have a 3.9 or better. so go to all of the info sessions and find what you like. if you get into a school and need any help email me [email protected]

katherine100, LPN · Mar 6, 2013

54000? Are you crazy? Why enroll?

Mhogue7 · Jun 7, 2013

I am currently a nursing student at Breckinridge School of Nursing in Youngstown, Ohio. It is a new program, so there are some things that they need to work on, but over all I have had a great experience with them. I transferred from Penn State University, and I don't know about any other state but here in Pennsylvania & Ohio the nursing minimum grade has been 80% (B) or higher for a very long time, and personally I think it should be that way...I don't want a C nursing student taking care of me or my family, just saying. Nursing is a profession, and you need to work hard and study to earn a degree/diploma. Good luck to everyone. I hope this helps!

feelsafern · Oct 24, 2013

People who have not enrolled or attended ITT Nursing program really needs to find something better to do with their time then sit on here and downgrade it. Out of the 105 students we have graduated from our campus so far 96% have passed their NCLEX ON THE FIRST TRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We sit for the same state boards everyone else does THANK YOU. We are just as competent if not more than any other student from any other nursing program. We have petitioned to get our NLN accreditation and are well on the way to receiving it. It has very high standards and a good curriculum. IT IS COSTLY...why because the campuses are small and do not have thousands of students attending to keep costs down for one thing and for another we are guaranteed to start nursing classes and touching patients after six months ...not having to wait on a list and get rejected when their are no slots for us in university programs. It is a new program and does have kinks that need to be worked out, but all in all it was and is a good program.

shanda317 · Feb 10, 2014

Two weeks ago I passed my Hesi and was accepted into the Lake mary Florida ITT Nursing Program. I have been shopping around for several months at the public and private colleges. ITT is the most expensive but right now they our offering The Opportunity Scholarship for 25,000. I have a BS degree so my financial aid is limited. I will have to pay some out of pocket cost plus federal loans. However, for me I am willing to pay the extra because my GPA is under a 3.0 in my pre-req classes so I know my chances at the public school would be very slim and a long wait. However, I have noticed that they are unorganized because the next class start date is March 17 and they still dont have a final orientation date. My recruiter told me around the middle of February and its already the 10th of the month. I also heard that they clinicasl are not done at any hospital which worries me. We all know that working in a nursing home or clinic is way different than the hospita settingl. I also heard from a current student you only go to class once a week, once you start taking core classes. Which I guess could be a good thing for those of us who has to work full time. Yes theyare nationally accredited but many job postings state for new nurses they have to graduate from an accrreditated nursing program. There are several accrediations, which one is a must? Has anyone who graduated got employment in a hospital setting? Well hopefully I will be attending orientation soon, and I will get more details into the program and I will decide then if I am going to attend. I have been in the medical field for 15 years and I have never heard of any license RN not able to find a job. Im not afraid of the class work or clinicals, I just want to be able to get a job once I graduate and pass my boards. Any current or pass students with more info? Thanks my email is [email protected] if anyone wants to chat.

katie26 · Mar 5, 2014

I am a graduate from ITT Lake Mary, FL. I passed my NCLEX on first try and have been hired to work at one of Orlando Health's hospitals. I had a great experience at ITT. I did get to do clinicals in a hospital. Be very thankful for the diverse clinical experience that ITT offers. Many schools only go to the hospital. There is so much more to learn/experience besides the hospital. I agree that hospital clinical experience is important and unless the sites have changed, you do get to go to the hospital. Best wishes.