[jenuineqt]

Hi all!

Anyone here starting the BSN program at DSON on April 10th??

I noticed in the past threaded discussions, there were some concerns about the accreditation of the school. In the Colorado Board of Nursing website, Denver School of Nursing was listed under approved schools of professional nursing (Baccalaureate degree programs). Of course it is still under Interim approval which according to the board of nursing means:

**Interim Approval - Interim approval is granted to new programs for the purpose of admitting students and allowing graduates to take the licensing examination. Programs remain on interim approval until after the first class has graduated. Within one year after the first class graduates, the program must request full program approval. A program will be granted full approval when the Board determines all requirements of Chapter II of the Rules and Regulations have been met.

http://www.dora.state.co.us/nursing/...RNprograms.pdf

I have faith that DSON will be granted full approval and that most hospitals aren't concern about where one gets their nursing education, but that one is able to attain a RN license.

[hope3456]

Has the first RN class graduated and taken the NCLEX? It seems that "approval" is somewhat contingent on how many students pass.

For example, the program that started 2 years ago at Aims CC in greeley is still on probation b/c they only had 60%-70%(I can't remember the exact percentage) pass rate on the NCLEX.

[jenuineqt]

I think the first RN class is scheduled to graduate this coming May or earlier. My friend, who is in the program right now said she will be taking the state boards in July. Yeah I agree that it seems like "approval" is based a lot on the percentage of students that passes the state boards. I guess it only makes sense that a new nursing program is placed on "interim approval" because they need to make sure that a decent percentage of students are passing, which would also mean that the school/teachers are doing a pretty good job in teaching/training and covering the required curriculum for the program. I am aware that there are some students from Denver School of Nursing that passed their LPN state boards. I hope to hear good news about the passing rate of the RN program soon!

[mingez]

If you go to the NLNAC website DSON is definitely on the site visit list for the LPN program.

http://nlnac.org/About%20NLNAC/sprin...__schedule.htm

[PDC]

Hello,
I just joined today, this is my first post. I will be starting the BSN/Upper Division program at DSON in October. I am very interested in hearing about the experiences of current and former students. I work currently work as a tech in a local hospital and talk to nursing students whenever I can. So far I have gotten positive feedback from DSON students. I also got a good feeling when I visited the shool, they seemed to be very upfront about the accredidation issue.

[tlackey]

Hi!

I currently attend DSON, I started the LPN program in July 2005, I'm just about to start the last quarter of the LPN portion, then I'll go right into the RN program (1+1) in July of this year, finishing up totally in March 2007. I really like it there..yes, they have their issues but so does any other nursing school. DSON is really trying to get accredited, so it's not like they're going to do anything to screw it up. Most of the teachers are really great, so I feel like I'm being challenged in my classes. I really like that the school is small, it's kind of an everybody knows everybody else thing, and when you run into a teacher from three quarters ago they still remember your name and ask how you're doing. It feels very personal. We just got some new administrators a few months ago, and they are really working hard to make the school a frontrunner. Of course, the first LPN class just started taking their boards a few months ago, but everyone who has reported back to the school passed and are getting jobs.

The really good thing is that we have good clinical sites: Children's hospital, St. Anthony's, etc. And the hospitals and LTC centers that we go to really like our students, so they are happy to hire and ask the school to post jobs. I have made great, great friends. There is no one in my 21-person class who I couldn't call for help. We always have a great time in class and hanging out outside of class (we go to lunch, go for a drink after school, etc.) We just went to 11-week quarters and two week breaks in between, so the quarters go really fast.

Yes, it is expensive. And they aren't accredited yet. But I never regret my decision to go to DSON, and I don't think anyone else in my class does either. I have found that the students who complain about the school are the ones who don't have good grades. The first quarter is the hardest, but don't give up!

Good luck!
Tracy

[ChloeyNurse123]

Hi All!
I am actually looking for a good program in the Denver area anyone have any advice? Denver school of Nursing is pretty close to me but I am trying to compare schools expense wise.

[winnie69]

This is the first time I have messaged on this board. I spent time browsing several topics,so hello. I am currently an LPN working in an Ortho Clinic and plan to attend DSON's RN program in July 2006. There is a lot of "noise" going around about showing up to clinicals and waiting for a instructor to show up and they end up never showing. One student mentioned that this happened to her 6 times! What gives here? What have you been hearing? I know all nursing schools have problems, but this seems a bit excessive. Is there some staff issuing going on that they are frantically working to address? I really want to get moving on my education,but am very concerned that if this is commonplace practice, I will have to seek my education elsewhere. And this could delay things for me. I love to hear more from you or anyone else on this. I understand DSON to have some great instructors and this is one reason why I want to attend -also that I did not have to get on a waiting list. Anyway, look forward to feedback.
Thanks so much

[nightingale]

Originally Posted by winnie69

This is the first time I have messaged on this board. I spent time browsing several topics,so hello.

Welcome to the Board. I hope you get the response you desire. I do not have an answer for you but I do hope you enjoy this site and let us know how you are doing.

Glad you decided to say hi!

[tlackey]

Hi!

Regarding winnie's post from yesterday, I haven't heard anything about instructors not showing up at clinicals. I'm in my fourth clinical site and all my teachers have been there. I think the person you heard who had this happen six times may have been exaggerating, or was an isolated incident. Maybe in the RN program it has happened, but not that I know about. Plus, there is a new RN program director who came last quarter, I believe around the first of the year in January, and I did hear that the old director had some "issues" (don't know exactly what that means) but the new one is really proactive. One thing you may hear is that the LPN program is having trouble getting clinical sites, but that will soon be a null issue because I am the last LPN class; they are going to strictly a 2-year RN program soon. Regardless of any trouble getting sites, I and my classmates have all had placements by the beginning of the quarter.

More importantly, all the clinical instructors I have had are very experienced. Most of them have been in nursing (a lot of travel nurses) for a long time, and have been teaching and like teaching students.

Good luck , let us know what you decide!

Tracy