"For-profit" schools... As bad as they say?

[eyesopen_mouthshut]

I was on another thread, and someone stated that they believe the reason someone hasn't passed their NCLEX was due to the fact that they must have gone to a for-profit school... Are they really as bad as they say?

The reason I'm asking is because I have applied to Galen College of Nursing, which is a for profit school... I applied knowing what they were, but also after doing my research.. They have a high pass rate, and offer job assistance, which could or could not be helpful. They are also going to be getting their NLN accreditation this June, but still...

Have any of you attended a for profit school, and if so, have you been able to find a job/ what was your experience on taking the NCLEX-RN?

Please, only people who have gone or who have second hand experience (ie, your friend, husband, wife, etc attended).

Also, please no negativity on this thread... I'm seeing more and more of it on AN

Thanks in advance guys and gals.

[eyesopen_mouthshut, CNA]

I attended an LVN program at a nonprofit trade school. A few years later I attended an RN completion program at a private for-profit trade school.

I passed the NCLEX-PN on my first attempt in 2005 and passed the NCLEX-RN on my very first attempt in the spring of 2010, so passing NCLEX was not an issue for me. However, a third of the classmates in my RN bridge cohort failed NCLEX on their first attempts.

I was able to secure employment very soon after receiving my temporary license, but this was due to my previous work experience in addition to having inside connections. There's a saying: it's not about what you know; it's about who you know.

In addition, I was not picky about where I wanted to work, so I was willing to start in LTC/nursing homes when other new grads would have turned their noses up at any job outside the hospital. If you refuse job offers in LTC, home health, hospice, clinics, or psych while waiting around for the exalted acute care hospital job, you might be unemployed for a year or longer in certain cities. Beggars cannot be choosers in a slow economy.

Commuter, thanks so much for your input. I attended a nonprofit CNA program, and have been getting experience since graduating, ie working in home health, hospitals, ltc and alf.... I appreciate your input very much.

[eyesopen_mouthshut, CNA]

I go to a for-profit. They had a good pass rate, then a dip and a total re-org. The last 2 grad classes all passed the NCLEX. Everyone but 2 on the first try.

I totally believe you get what you put in. Those who were not willing to put the time & effort in have failed out in the first 2 semesters. The rest put the time in, even if they aren't the brightest bulbs, and they get through. I think most of my class will make it through and pass the NCLEX, with the exception of one. I'd be really surprised and sad for the field if she gets a license.

Thank you.

[eyesopen_mouthshut, CNA]

Yeaaaah...ok aubgirl. Anyway I went to *insert for-pofit school here* and had no problem passing state boards or finding a job BEFORE I tested for LVN as well as RN. I now work for a major national hospital in the ER. I have previously held a plethora of other nursing jobs (psych, hospice, long-term care, etc) and HR's main concern was that I had a free and clear license and that my references checked out. It's tragic that you would make such a blanket statement about us being "not prepare (sic) at all" when I'm sure you could not have possibly met every nurse who has graduated from a for-profit school.[/quote']

I love your username, first of all!! Second, I appreciate you taking the time to post your exp. the hospitals around here that I've spoken with, except for one which is a huge magnet hospital, has said they also look for good licenses and references. They hire grads from the for profit school I've been accepted to, and your post has eased some of my anxieties. So thank you :)

[eyesopen_mouthshut, CNA]

I don't think any one was making a blanket statement.......I think many posters were just advising her to use caution and do her homework before making a decision.

California and several other states have found issue with some of these for profit school with concurrency issues, the science requirements (or lack thereof) and the lack of a formal pharmacology classes.

Schools I was referring to have nothing what so ever to do with the school the OP mentioned for I know nothing about Galen

Esme I love your posts... I follow you on threads lol (I'm not a stalker!) I appreciate your info re this issue. I looked into the advisors at Galen, and most have a BA in education, and the rest have masters degrees in counseling. I feel confident in the homework I've done, and after talking to SAC, they did say Galen would be receiving accreditation in June (I talked to a guy from the SAC who is in charge of Galen's accreditation, not just an advisor from the college, so I feel good about things). Again, thanks for the mother hen advice, I'm glad you decided to reply to my thread :)

[eyesopen_mouthshut, CNA]

Also, I might add Galen is NOT getting their accrediation-If a school is in candidacy status for NLNAC-it is required for the information to be on the NLNAC website-they are not and I'm sorry but they have sold that story for years-I was going to attend Galen-I called the NLNAC and they told me no Galen hasn't tried to obtain NLNAC status-they are members of the NLNAC but that's it.....

I called the NLNAC is Janaury.

I personally have never heard anything negative in regards to Galen but I do know employers are starting to weed applications out -stating that the applicant must have graduated from an accredited school//

Good luck

I spoke to someone from SAC, and they said that galen would be receiving the accreditation in June.

[eyesopen_mouthshut, CNA]

You get what "you" put into it. I did University of Phoenix and Walden and gained not only essential real world know how in terms of workplace success but also colleagues from all around the world. I was hesitant at first and many discouraged me but I had nothing to lose since I was raising 3 sons.

I have no regrets from my for profit education- just a "few" student loans. Was it worth it? A resounding yes.

GO for it. You only live once and no one can walk in your shoes except you!

Cheers

Lexi

Thanks Lexi! The money isn't an issue for me, and i already have a lot of the prerequisite for the ADN program at the comm college, but the 2 yr wait list isn't worth it for me, since ill have my ADN from Galen by that time. Thanks for the support!

[eyesopen_mouthshut, CNA]

I currently attend Galen in St. Petersburg. I was accepted to HCC but did not have time to spend 2 years on a waiting list so I opted for Galen. I am in semester 6 out of 8. Galen is what you make of it. Be prepared to read and study outside of class. I want to do pediatric nursing so I went out and found myself a Pediatric MA job which has helped me network tremendously! A ot of my classmates have CNA, OR tech, or MA jobs that will promote them when they graduate and pass the NCLEX. It isn't a cake walk but if you put the time and effort in you will pass.

Also, while we're just starting the process for NLNAC accreditation it is SACS accreditation that will be completed in June.

Yes!!!!! All of what you just said, thank you. This is the Galen campus I will be attending.

[eyesopen_mouthshut, CNA]

I used to teach at a for-profit. Now I teach at a CC. So I can speak to both sides (but only generally, Of course).

The sales pitch, the aptitude/assessment test, the boasting of job placement and NCLEX pass rates are all accurate. The shiny building with state of the art equipment... It was all there.

I echo those posters who speak about the expense of these programs. It is absolutely ridiculous. Especially since there really are no guarantees for jobs (despite the "job placement" the school offers you). . And even if you get a job, it may not be in a hospital, where the salaries are higher. And if your school doesn't have the best reputation, you may not get a job at all.

Generally, their standard are lower. They would have no one if their standards were as high as their competitors. In a nutshell, they tend to prey on those who cannot get into the other schools, and will do anything to get into nursing school (including take on a lifetime of debt). It doesn't mean they are not good schools, it just means you are paying a lot more money for potentially the same (or maybe a lesser quality) education.

One of the biggest issues I had as a professor was that the schools curriculum and policies are national. The school was not based in my state, and the powers that be just didn't get that state regulations vary, as well as the general culture of nursing, their clients and the students. What works in Nebraska is probably not going to work in California (I'm from neither of these states, btw).

To the OP: no one can tell you exactly what you want to hear. You want reassurance that everything will be ok at your school. There are plate of students who did well in my for-profit school, and there are ones who struggled (because they didn't belong in NS, and this was the only place they could get into). No matter where you go, you will have to work incredibly hard. Those who worked hard at my school did well. Those who do not work hard at my current CC do not do well.

Thanks so much for replying to this thread. I appreciate your honesty, and especially your point of view. As someone who doesn't really want to work in a hospital, the job placement in one isn't what I'm worried about. From the research I've done on the teachers, they all have MSN, and two have phd, in nursing education. I plan on working very hard on my education and on finding a job on my own, the main thing about the campus is the new library, which to me is very important. Thanks again ProfRN!

[eyesopen_mouthshut, CNA]

This...so much so, that I've bolded it.

You (OP as well as in general) need to do your research about the school before you drop the money and sign on. It doesn't matter if it's a for-profit, traditional, hospital program, whatever: it's your responsibility to check it out and know exactly what program you're getting into.

If you find out later that the program isn't accredited, the school has a poor rep, you're going to have a lot of money to repay, your credits won't transfer, you can't get licensed by some state's BON because of your school etc., you really can't blame anyone else for it.

Best of luck whatever you decide.

Thank you. I've done homework on them (which hospitals and other healthcare agencies will hire grads, what the academic advisors have degrees in, what the teaching staff have their degrees in, credit transfer policies at other schools in the area, licensure transferability to other states) and now feel confident in my decision.

[MathHatingNurse]

I wish! No, I graduate in 13 weeks. We are two weeks into the final semester. I graduate in mid-August and will do an NCLEX-RN review and then take the test. I had six semesters to complete, so I have been going strong for two years in nursing school (went during the summers).

[MathHatingNurse]

Absolutely...any school can have issues.......that is why those of us who have experience are cautioning to be careful and do your homework. Some of these for profit type schools have different accreditation in different states.

The other word of caution is that there are states that will not accept certain school and certain programs with concurrency issues. This means that even once you graduate....lets say you want to move to California...they may not accept your schooling and will not issue you a license by endorsement.....they may not even allow you to retest if your subjects are not concurrent.

As I posted earlier in the thread.......States with concurrency requirements......Excelsior College New York nursing graduates have had same issue recently.

see state board licensure requirements here]

These are states having concerns over concurrent theory and practicum:

Alabama

Arizona

California

Georgia

Illinois

Kansas

Louisiana

Maryland

north Dakota

Oklahoma

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

Other states are following suit for they are finding in this nursing program BOON that there are issues with the quality of the education.......It may never affect some....but one should be aware of all the facts to make the best decision.

I have a question.....you will be able to sit for NCLEX PN in 13 weeks???? Wow that seems quick.....I wish you the best!!!

Good Luck!

I wish! No, I graduate in 13 weeks. We are two weeks into the final semester. I graduate in mid-August, will do an NCLEX-RN review and then take the test. I had six semesters to complete, so I have been going strong for two years in nursing school (went during the summers). I plan to take the NXLEX at some point in the fall, like October or November.

[Red35]

Sorry.....Sac isn't the same as NLNAC