BC3, Sewickley, UPMC Shadyside

U.S.A. Pennsylvania

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Hi everyone. Im looking at these 3 schools to go to for Nursing. I have heard a lot of good things about each of them.

Just looking for anyone who has attended or is currently attending any of these schools.

I would just like some insight from people who are attending them. Also I have two little boys at home, how hard are the programs? How much time did you or do you put in each week between classroom and clinicals.

Im going to take the pre-entrance exam at UPMC Shadyside next month. I have talked with the people at BC3 and Im going to both the Sewickley and UPMC Shadyside open houses. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks :)

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I am currently a student at BC3. I will be starting the nursing program in the fall, but have been attending for the last 2 semesters to get my coreqs and prereqs out of the way. I have a few friends currently in the nursing program there too. I currently only attend class 2 days a week and have 2 online classes. Once the nursing program starts I will be attending 4 days a week. I have been told that it is 2 days of clinicals and 2 days of classes, but I don't know that first hand.

I have also heard rumors that they are switching their curriculum starting next year, but I am not totally sure about that. Pharmacology used to be integrated into the program and now they are going to make it a class all its own. From what I have heard of the instructors they are all nice. You get the typical complaints, but nothing crazy. I do know that there was a 94% NCLEX pass rate last year, which is not too shabby.

I have 2 boys ages 2 and 3. If you need childcare, they offer it on campus and it is very reasonable. I think it is approx $2.50/hr/child. I don't use it yet because the child has to be 2yrs 8mts and my youngest isn't quite there yet, but he will be in the fall. Everyone that I have talked to that has their children in the program rave about it.

They also offer nice private study rooms in the library that you are allowed to use for up to 4 hrs per week. We usually use them for studying as a group before tests. It is a nice perk to have.

Overall I have been pleased with the school. There is a wide age range of students so a 18 yr old wouldn't feel out of place, nor would a 30 or 40 yr old. That was good for me going back to school at 30. If you have any further questions about BC3 let me know and I will answer them the best I can.

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I am currently a student at Shadyside. It is very challenging, but interesting. We are given clinical time from the start of the program, and the exams are all NCLEX style. Another plus about Shadyside is that they offer the Evening/Weekend program so you can do it part time if you need to. Shadyside's Board passage rates are and have been in the high 90s, so they are obviously doing a great job of preparing their students. Overall, I love the school, and have only good things to say about it. I feel that I am being very well prepared to become a nurse....they put you right into it from the start. Good luck with your decision!

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BC3 is Bucks County Community College?

I attend there currently for my pre-reqs but I don't plan to attend there for nursing

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I am thinking you mean Beaver County? I went there and I worked there for a couple of years. The credits transfer well which is a big plus if you want to go for a BSN someday. The program is intense, but thorough. We had 100% pass rate on boards. Tuition is a bargain if you are from Beaver County. Travel to clinicals is a snap- no city traffic, free parking at local hospitals. Plus, you get to do your home health rotation at Ellwood City Hospital Home Health, the best in the area! :yeah:

Sewickley, well they have a long history and a good reputation. I had some friends who left CCBC and went there instead. The program was not as condensed, but I think they have shortened the length since then. Sewickley hospital is smaller, friendly and clean. They probably do a lot more clinical at Heritage Valley Beaver now since they are together. Traffic is bad down towards Sewickley, and the hospital has a parking garage because it is right in town.

Shadyside has access to great clinical facilities, but you have to deal with the city. If you don't mind city life, you probably would get great learning opportunities.

Tough decision! Good luck to you.

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I was assuming that BC3 was Butler County Community College. That is where I attend.

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Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.

I graduated from Shadyside School of Nursing last year. I loved Shadyside, and feel it fully helped to prepare me to be the competent nurse I am today. It is a very intense program (22 months, year round full-time classes, only 4 weeks off per year), but I when I took NCLEX, I honestly thought it was a pieice of cake compared to any exam Shadyside ever threw my way. Thanks to being affiliated with UPMC, all of your clinicals are done at area UPMC facilities. I have no regrets about going to Shadyside. There pass rate for NCLEX is around 95% last I knew. I know in my class of 90ish less than 10 have failed boards. Feel free to ask me anything about the program.

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Good point! Which Community College are you looking at?

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For some reason this site wont let me read what you posted in my thread about the psb test. Honestly it wasnt as bad as I thought. I got the ARCO book and that really prepared me for the math portion. But the science in that book is way too hard. Get a biology book and just brush up on basic science. I was so nervous I didnt do well, but I just got my scores friday and I got a 99 in math, 99 in reading, 96 in vocab, and 89 in science. I was so happy and relieved! But like I said, get one of the books they mention on the shadyside website and study from it! Best of luck to you! Let me know if you have anymore questions.

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Thank you everyone for your replies.

I was asking about Butler County Community College. But thank you for everyone who has replied.

I got the Barrons book to study for the Shadyside exam. Im very nervous about the math and science part.

I went to Shadyside's open house on Saturday and I really liked the school.

The people on here who went to Shadyside did you sign on for the 2 year agreement to work for them afterwards? I have heard good and bad things about doing it. Would love to hear others opinions on it.

I have narrowed it down to either Butler County Community College or Shadyside.

If anyone else has an more experience or info on these two schools I would love to hear about it.

Thanks again for everyones responses so far they have been very helpfull.

:D

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Specializes in 6 Years Hematology and Oncology.

I am currently going for my LPN at Eastern and it is killing me because I want so much to start my pre-req's for the ASN at Bucks. Do you guys think that it's crazy and too much right now? I won't be finished until October 2010. It feels like such a long time!

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I am planning to sign my life away for 2 years; it's the only way I can go to school (I have maxed out on my undergrad aid with my first degree). I figure the worst thing that can happen is that I'd break my contract and have to repay the loan. No biggie.

Did you take the PSB yet? It's a lot easier than you're probably making it out to be. The science was definitely the hardest; you should focus on that most. The math was, like, jr. high school level. Fractions, percentages. . .all very easy. I got a 92 on the science and I haven't taken chemistry since 1992.

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