Beckfield college

Beckfield College of Nursing in Florence Kentucky is absolutely ridiculous! Just because you sign your schedule does not mean that is the schedule you will get. I had an AM clinical and they changed it to an evening clinical several times throughout my academic year and tried to make it look like it was our fault. AND forget about knowing what clinical site you are going to because even if they know they wont tell you. One of the teachers reads verbatim off of the powerpoint and the other reads straight out of the book--EVERYDAY-- and has no general knowledge of what is being taught. I studied everyday for a class and had a 68 average on all my test, it was horrible. I left Cincinnati State with a 4.0 people! They will try to convince you to retake classes that you have already had at a previous college when you do not need to!! I would recommend any other college than this one. I have several peers having issues the same as mine. The assistant to the director of nursing is less than pleasant to say the least. She and the clinical coordinator will disturb your class to announce to the people who do not have their immunizations etc. up to date and talk to you like you are 3 years old even if the issue has no relation to you. I know of male students getting exceptions from instructors (ex. he did not pass and the instructor let him redo a 100% assignment) and not given to the female population on SEVERAL occasions. Do not, I repeat, DO NOT tell any of the faculty members of any personal circumstances. They will use them against you and judge you for it. I had the Director of Nursing trying to TELL me what to do with my realtionship and judging my morals, which I see unprofessional and borderline illegal to push on a student. When they said they give their students personal attention I did not see this as qualifying. Clinical instructors except 1 or 2 are hideously unprofessional. If you decide to go here I wish you the best.

Wow! Sounds like you had a horrible experience. I would agree with alot of what you said about Beckfield, but that isn't anything I haven't experienced at other schools, including NKU and Cincinnati State. Never tell people your personal business, never think an instructor is your friend, and there are good and bad instructors everywhere. We as students must take responsibility for our learning and if we aren't getting what we need we need to speak up. The buck doesn't stop with the Director of the program. The program wasn't meant to pass everbody, in fact they flat out tell you they weed 'em out. The reason is two-fold. One to keep NCLEX pass rates up so they can keep the doors open and the graduates hireable and two - they have to protect the profession by putting out competent RNs. That being said, I think the lecture portion of the program meets the requirements, but in clinical you will HAVE to be assertive to get what you need. There are some instructors who will be mindful of the skills and observations a student needs and others are just there. I was vocal during clinicals, offered assistance to the staff RNs and sought out opportunities and asked my instructor for permission. About repeating classes....if they make you retake the math class, do it. You must pass a math test before every clinical rotation and failure means you may fail clinical and may or may not be allowed to continue. The material on those tests is taught during the math class there. Could you pass the test without the class, probably, but if you don't take the class and fail they may use that against you when trying to decide to let you continue on or sit out. Those classes/clinicals were only offered every six months so it can make graduating on time hard if you fail a class.

Everyone in my class who wanted a job got one where they wanted to (almost anyway) and I was well prepared for NCLEX and my job.....

Yeah well the pass rates for the school say everything. I think it was an 83% last year on the NCLEX. You can check on kbn website.

So are you working as an RN now? If so, did you grad from Beckfield? Or end up going to another school?

I graduated from Beckfield. There is a lot of the drama she mentioned...but it's easy to stay out of it! It's a small school so don't tell anybody anything you wouldn't want them to know. I managed to get through the 2 years without failing, she mentioned it's difficult, and without getting mixed up in the faculty knowing my personal life. Leave that junk at the door.

I felt prepared when I left and passed my NCLEX easily the first time. Good luck.

Amen to that! I steer clear of the drama whenever possible---nooooo thank you!


That's what I like to hear!
I'm glad Beckfield worked out well for you.
Did you have any trouble getting a job as a new grad?

I didn't have trouble, but I took a job in Ohio and kinda wish I would have taken one in KY at St E. In KY you can start working before you take boards, in OH you can't....unless you go to one of the Mercy hospitals.

Just apply early, bug the crap out of recruiters who don't call back when they say they will, and get your interviews done early. I was interviewing as early as 4 months before I graduated. It may be easy to find a job but they're in no hurry to give it to you!!

Thanks for the tips!
I will definately keep that in mind!

Threads merged for continuity.

xoshellxo - please dont take this post like i am bashing you for anything, because i am not...i just love your post and feel like i need to vent at the rest about what they are saying.

Yes, I was part of that 83%, actually my class that graduated in March '08, 43 out of 45 passed boards on the first try. That was a 100% improvement from the classes that graduated ahead of us. Beckfield is a newer program. My class was just the 4th class that graduated. They are constantly making adjustments so that they can have that 85% pass rate they need in order to get accrediation. Accrediation is what all of us graduates need them to achieve so all of our credits we took at Beckfield transfer to other colleges and universities so we can continue our education to a BSN, MSN or further.

Nothing about nursing school is easy. Its hard as hell. let me give you guys a little bit of information, the local hospitals in Cincinnati/NKY love to hire Beckfield new grads because we come out of the program SHINING. We know what we are doing for being a Novice nurse.

I think i read in a previous post don't let your personal business out...that is so true...beckfield is a small school, and just like a small town, if you let your personal information out EVERYONE knows. So keep your personal business to yourself.

As far a favoritism, no one can be the teachers pet...what i noticed is that those who were achieving got along with the instructors much better than those who werent...and those who werent achieving were the ones complaining about the program all the time. There are very very few that go through the program with a 4.0. I think we had one (1) with a 3.95 and two (2) with a 3.5.

So YES i will stick up for Beckfield whenever I feel the need to stick up for them. I am a survivor, and if you aren't willing to work HARD for what you want, then you don't want to be a NURSE to begin with!!!!!