Nevada State College

Only a couple more weeks to go!!! I am so over school. I've heard the same thing from alot of recent grads who tested. They all say study Saunders for content and Kaplan for test taking strategies so that is what I'm doing too. Most say ATI, Hesi, and medspub are nothing like the actual NCLEX so I'm wondering why in the world we have to use them. I am hoping to test in the middle of september so I'll be able to give a first hand opinion then. I've heard alot of good things about USN from their recent grads. I had an opportunity to go there but I'm really poor so it was a state school for me.

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Hey thanks for posting DeefrmLV!!! helpful insights, thanks for inside scoop ... have a few questions for u though:

Just this past spring '08, NSC only accepted 20+ something students for regular term, w/c they should've accepted about 40, is it? the cutoff GPA was 3.5 and above, plus the teas results of course... Anyone who has below 3.5 received rejection letters. I suspect they would be doing the same thing for future semesters... why? well, budget cuts frankly, but they wouldn't admit this. Anyway.....

I really don't know what's up with the regular track. I didn't know about the gpa or cut off. The accelerated track is like its own little world. Different instructors, different class times, different clinicals. Maybe the are making the requirements more stringent for the regular track because of the poor showing on NCLEX from that group. As for budget cuts I'm sure they will make some but I hear they are going ahead with the new nursing building so who knows?????

You said, NSC does not prepare students for the NCLEX. Well, since NSC has had "provisional accreditation" from the state FOR A WHILE NOW... aren't they in danger of possibly losing that accreditation? I'm sure no one stays provisional that long, there is a time frame... they need to get those scores UP... isn't NSC's best interest to "prepare" their students to do well on NCLEX? at least score 80% and above?? ---- Instead of risking NSC to have to close their nursing program by the state? ... doesn't NSC admin/ faculty KNOW this?

The BON actually came to talk to us about the licensure process recently and said NSC was not in danger of losing it's provisional status. They said basically all programs have "growing pains" and that NSC is no exception. We've had audits done of the curriculum by outside experts who reported recommendations back to the BON and as long as NSC continues to work towards correcting problems we won't lose BON approval. They also said there is no time frame and that they realize NSC may take longer than others to make full approval because of staff turnover, budgeting constraints, etc. It was a very positive meeting.

Oh, yes.. is there a new dean of the school of nursing? just curious... maybe the new dean would see the "light" ---->> instead of making all these ridiculous changes and being a LOT more picky w/ accepting their students... what they really NEED to DO IS, they need to emphasize REVIEWING their students more effectively so NSC can stay in business... after all, don't they have the new liberal arts bldg next to the dawson bldg now?

I agree that they need to spend more time with us in class reviewing NCLEX style questions. I think we can stand to lose one or two group projects to go over more questions.


You also said that the ATI books/reviewer are harder than the NCLEX... if that's the case, shouldn't the NCLEX be a breeze to NSC students? As far as I know, CSN, UNLV, NSC and other private schools take the same NCLEX, right? or there's different levels to it? I dunno.... thanks again for the inside scoop... goodluck on ur NCLEX. Do u plan to stay in NV or move to a different state?.... just wonderin.

By the way, Deefromlv..... NSC is provisional and technically, u can only practice in nevada. But, there are OTHER states that'll allow u to practice there, are u interested in that? ..... 'coz I've heard that around vegas, hospitals here r not very friendly to new grads, I'm not sure up northern nevada though, since I don't know anyone from there. Maybe they're friendly to "new nurses"??? ..... A friend of mine graduated last year from NSC and she was able to work in TX. She took the nclex here, passed it, got a NV license and was able to get a license in TX (after filling out all the paperwork & paying the fees, of course).

Good luck with everything, Dee! I read your pros and cons post and I have had similar experiences with my school, especially the ever-changing syllabus and structure. It is so frustrating having things switched up at the drop of a dime...totally throws me off. The professors always say, "Take it all in stride, nurses need to learn to be flexible!" Geez...

Just this past spring '08, NSC only accepted 20+ something students for regular term, w/c they should've accepted about 40, is it? the cutoff GPA was 3.5 and above, plus the teas results of course... Anyone who has below 3.5 received rejection letters. I suspect they would be doing the same thing for future semesters... why? well, budget cuts frankly, but they wouldn't admit this. Anyway.....

By the way, Deefromlv..... NSC is provisional and technically, u can only practice in nevada. But, there are OTHER states that'll allow u to practice there, are u interested in that? ..... 'coz I've heard that around vegas, hospitals here r not very friendly to new grads, I'm not sure up northern nevada though, since I don't know anyone from there. Maybe they're friendly to "new nurses"??? ..... A friend of mine graduated last year from NSC and she was able to work in TX. She took the nclex here, passed it, got a NV license and was able to get a license in TX (after filling out all the paperwork & paying the fees, of course).

That is not true. I graduated from NSC last year and I work in TX. I did not get my license in NV first- I applied in TX. Rumors are just that...rumors.