Warning about Columbia State.

I am sorry you apparently have had a bad experience at Columbia State Community College. I graduated from there in 2004 and can honestly say that the majority of teachers had high expectations for us and held us to a high standard. At the time, I thought they were being unnecessarily tough but after passing boards on the 1st attempt, I realize they were preparing me for the NCLEX. I thank them for teaching me what I needed to know to pass NCLEX and in preparing me for my lifelong dream of being an RN.

Sure, I had some poor instructors who had such poor organization, created chaos in class and clinical, could not/did not answer questions, inconsistent with each other.

Other instructors were wonderful. They truly cared that we learned the content. They were patient and demonstrated professionalism in the way they talked to students - showed us respect. They always had a kind word to say as we came into the classroom and were very well prepared for class. Clinicals were awesome also. OB was the greatest at Maury Regional and Med-Surg with was also great. I can't say enough good about those instructors. I learned a lot that semester.

Other instructors were hard but were true to their word as to teaching us simple to complex content. Some instructors were wonderful to us in clinical --- hard? Yes... definitely but we sure learned a lot. I had Psych. instructors who were wonderful in teaching us how to interact and respond to clients experiencing mental health problems.

One semester was a piece of cake, and we didn't do much and didn't really learn a whole lot. These instructors were mostly interested in how much we liked them and if we thought their lecture was done well, and not much else.

If it had not been for the good instructors and courses I mentioned, I may have felt the same as you apparently do but they were my saving grace and I will never be able to thank them enough for their encouragement, help, and support. They taught me and guided me as I cared for patients in clinical and helped me to learn to critically think. I applaud them and hope they are appreciated by Columbia State as being superior teachers.

Columbia State is not a bad school but desperately in need of leadership. Maybe this is part of the reason you are not satisfied and happy with this school of nursing.

Hope things get better for you before you graduate.

has anyone been accepted in the lpn to bsn program at mtsu?

Wow, I am so shocked by your post. I'm so sorry for your bad experience. I just graduated from Columbia State tonight!! My experience was vastly different from yours. I have had significant, caring and superior teachers ...at least one of the 4 per semester...that were the glue holding me together. Dr. Young was amazing, Mrs. Hart was tough, but excellent, and Mrs. Lokey, priceless, just to name a few. I do have friends who had a half of semester with a clinical instructor who was extremely difficult, as well as a couple in Columbia (i attended Franklin) who were testy. All in all I feel extremely blessed to have attended there. I started out with a 4.0 and finished with a 3.8, and had a previous degree also. I really enjoyed my experience and I'm so sorry yours wasn't what you had hoped.
Good Luck.

Hello fellow TN residents. My G/f actually used to go to Columbia and was on the mile long waiting list. You should REALLY look in to the Motlow Nursing Program. I go there now and I am a pre nursing student. I just attended a seminar a couple weeks ago and this comes from two Motlow grads who hosted the seminar and got jobs right after graduation at Vandy, Hospitals are hiring Motlow nursing grads over any other program. Last time I read up on it we have the highest first time NCLEX pass rate in TN at 97%. That was almost 6 months ago so it could have changed by now. We have 5 Diff. campuses to attend which makes it convenient and we admit 70 nurses per year, no waiting list. Our program is small and from what ive heard our nursing profs. are VERY good!!! If you have any questions or if anyone does let me know and I will answer what I can. Im still taking pre-reqs so i cant answer much about the actual program because I am not there yet, but I will do what I can. I hope this is helpful. And good luck.

This last semester the 3rd Semester Nursing Students at Columbia State had 2 of 29 pass the final exam. This knocked 16 students into a D or below, effectivly removing them from the program.

On more than a few occasions, the director made comments about there 'not being this many' graduates, in reference to the 29 3rd Semester Students. One particular girl was 4th in her HS class, and maintained a 4.0 until she was accepted into the nursing program, she had a 28 on her ACT. She now has a 2.1 GPA, and had a 2.6 last semester (2.5 = C, in their eyes).

This is not indicative of her 'ability to study' or her desire to 'get out what she puts in', the girl studies 5 days a week with a study group, and listens to recorded lecture in the car. and studies alone on the 2 days off from studygroup. she also works at a hospital as a Student Nurse along with her clinicals and lectures.

On the chalkboard, immediately before the test the teacher wrote "I WILL BE IN MY OFFICE BEGINNING AT NOON ON FRIDAY FOR EXIT INTERVIEWS"

On multiple occasions, the students are repeatedly told that they must 'Put their families on hold' and they must 'make the CSCC Nursing Program Number One in their lives'

Aquinas has poor pass percentages. However they have more people passing and going through their programs.

CSCC has each year dropped their graduation rate, and nit-picked students for the NCLEX.

Instead of pushing you to succeed, they intentionally fail those that they might have to actually help (unheard of, help a student!?). To inflate their pass % and 'look' better. in 2005 CSCC was 129:92%, in 2006: 137:86%, in 2007 90:96%. and this year, it is no dout much less than 90 students.
as an added bonus in order to get back into the program a student must maintain their enrollement by taking classes (avg 150$ per credit hour) for as long as it takes to get re-admitted. of which they have only slots available that are opened by previous-semester failouts.

the percentages are indicative in the table with motlow state, they had 97% at 30 students 96% at 40 students, and 94% at 50 students.
with more people, obviously the percentage of failure will be higher.
The teachers failed the 3rd semester students at CSCC intentionally with a test that an APRN-BC took, and failed.
the director is unwilling, and rude to students and pre-admission students, and their demands are out of place for a school of LEARNING.
You become a good nurse because you get into the crap and have to wipe it off
If you think you are a good nurse walking off the podeium with your pin, you need to seek another profession.
I used to be a Firefighter, and we had a motto. When You Think You Cant Learn Anymore: Go Home.

I am planning to apply for Fall 2010 to Columbia. Does anyone know ....is it 5 days a week? What time does class actually start? I am coming from Shelbyville. Any info would be great.

I am in my 1st semester of Columbia State's nursing program. I love it! I have had no complaints and the instructors are great. I have an A average in the classes right now. It is hard but every nursing program is. My schedule this semester is Wed, Thurs, and Fri. Thursday is my longest day because of clinical and lab (3:00p.m.). Next semester my classes are on Mon., Wed, and Thurs., again my longest day will be on Mon. at 3:00 p.m. The other two days I am out my noon.

I don't think that you will regret applying to the school. If you have any other questions, just let me know!

So, they base it on your grade from A&P 1 ....and what else? I took A&P 1 over the summer, ONLINE - and made a C. I have 2 kids, work full time.....so I basically did what I could to pass.....that isn't going to be good enough is it?
What time does class start every day? So it's just 3 days a week?? What do they start you out doing in clinicals?

I cannot wait to get into Nursing school and be done - I've very anxious! I am currently taking my pre-reqs at Motlow - So I'm applying there, and Columbia. I am also applying for the LPN at the Tech Center in Shelbyville.

Thanks for all the info! I love talking nursing!

I don't know anything about Motlow. I found out that Columbia bases their admissions on a point system only. Eight points being the max. Usually only those with 6-8 pts are admitted, but when they go down to 5 points they look at grade point average as the deciding factor.

Bachelor degree
1pt.

A&P I grade
3pts. --- A
2pts. --- B
1pt. --- C

ACT
1pt. --- 19
2pts. --- 20-21
3pts. --- 22-23
4pts. --- 24+