ABSN or Should I not go to nursing school?

Published

Hello,

I am currently considering ABSN program at Herzing University- Orlando campus. Are there any nursing students here who are currently attending Herzing or have attended in the past? I am concerned with the following:

  • Their NCLEX passing rates are lower than the national average. I visited their campus recently and was told that they provide ATI training to their students.
  • Accreditation- they are accredited by Florida Board of Nursing and CCNE however, they do not have accreditation from SACS. Should I be concerned? I do plan on pursuing MSN after completion.
  • Reputation- I have read a lot of negative reviews about the school online. Does the school actually care about their students?
  • Education- how are the professors and teaching method? Are they preparing students for NCLEX or is it all Self Learn?
  • Few things that I did like is that the semester is rotating every 8 weeks, therefore, you only take 2 classes at a time. Students don't feel cramped with classes. Also, ABSN students have the option to transfer to Traditional BSN program.

A little background story about me: I have BS degree from another university. Late last year, I attended ECPI University's ABSN program..however, due to the intensity of the first quarter, I failed 2 classes. Per school policy, I was not able to stay and continue. Hence why I am considering looking at other programs. It is unfortunate however, I am gathering the courage to get back up and try it one more time to pursue my passion.

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU.

Why are you only looking at expensive for-profit schools? There are many public ABSN programs that have very good NCLEX pass rates. My school (state university) had a near 100% pass rate for their ABSN program (15/30 of my cohort passed at 75 questions).

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Time and Location are the biggest factors. I am currently located in Orlando area and want to complete the BSN within 2 years. There are state and community colleges with BSN program however, I would have to wait 6 months or longer to start and there are no chances for me to get into those programs.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

You failed out of a for-profit ABSN in the first semester. Perhaps a slower pace would be more beneficial than another for-profit ABSN?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
You failed out of a for-profit ABSN in the first semester. Perhaps a slower pace would be more beneficial than another for-profit ABSN?

Agreed. Fast is no good if it ends in failure. On the other hand, failure from a past program might make it difficult to get accepted into a reasonably priced, reputable program.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Agreed. However, the odds of getting into a slower paced traditional BSN programs are slim. Any advice on which schools to look into?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Agreed. However, the odds of getting into a slower paced traditional BSN programs are slim. Any advice on which schools to look into?

You really just need to explore what's available in your area and what their requirements/restrictions are. Maybe even contact some program representatives, ask them what your chances are, and ask them how to improve your chances.

Some people have had luck getting accepted into LVN programs and then completing bridge programs to become RNs. That might be something else to consider.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Do you recommend ECPI? Did you have circumstances that made you not pass the courses? Do you know if this happens frequently to students? I am applying for July and now I am a bit concerned.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Moved to the Nursing Career forum

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Since you failed out of an ABSN program, I'm going to echo PP's suggestion to go with a traditional program. Have you considered a community college ADN program? You don't have to do BSN right off the bat. I had a bachelors and a masters in other subjects, and was seriously considering doing the CC ADN program near me because it was so inexpensive and had such a great reputation.

I have no idea what Florida schools are like, but I'm assuming a for-profit ABSN is not really your only option.

I would call around and see what's available. You can find out a lot from websites, and then call and talk with someone or make an appointment to discuss the program further. Start with public colleges and universities because they are usually the most affordable and tend to be solid programs. See what the requirements are, and what you might need to do to meet those requirements. The CC program here uses a very strict formula of grades and test results to rank applicants, and people are able to retake courses or TEAS to boost their chances. There might even be 4-year universities that would consider allowing you to transfer into the nursing program. Do some research and find out.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi,

Personally~ If you are determined, passionate, and committed to the nursing profession, you should definitely pursue it!

I totally get where you are coming from. I failed out of traditional BSN with one year before graduation. I was distraught and mortified. At first, I didn't want to go back to school, let alone wake up in the morning. However, I got back and worked as a CNA and knew I had to keep going. I am proud to say that I will be graduating this April 2018.

My old nursing school suggested that I go to community and get my AD for nursing. However, time and money was a big factor for me as well. I decided to attend an 16-month ABSN program. Technically, the school is not considered for-profit, but if you ask me~ it kinda is. Regardless, it ended up being a great fit for me. It was fast, but there was a ton of resources available to me.

My biggest advice is to do a self assessment of all the factors contributing to your success. You have a BS degree from another university, and a I feel that you the capacity to do nursing school. I think the big difference between nursing classes verses undergrad courses are the exams. A lot of questions have to do with priority and the best intervention. So learning how to study and finding what works for you can be a learning curve with plenty of trial and error.

In terms of NCLEX passing rates, I think that is an important factor, but it should not completely deter you from a school. In my opinion, if the pass rates are lower, it means that additional outside prep classes may be needed to ensure passing NCLEX. Accreditation is very important for some nursing jobs and grad school. CCNE is national and good enough for most university and hospitals nationwide. So if you are planning to practice/study in another state it is beneficial. Not sure about SACS since im from Chicago. Reputation~ same thing, I know students that hated going to my nursing school, but they passed and that was good enough for me. NO nursing school is perfect. Education~ sorry can't help you there xD. I will say though, having to classes for 8 weeks was WAY better than have 4-5 class for an entire semester. You can focus on one clinical at a time.

TL; DR. ABSN worked for me after failing out of a 4-year traditional BSN program. It took a lot of self-evaluation and self-esteem building, but if you believe you can, you will!

I feel if you do go back to school, make sure its at least BSN. It will help you out in the long run, esp. if you want to pursue a masters. I'm from Chicago, so nursing schools in Florida may be a totally different experience. I have family that have studied and currently work in Florida so I can update you on their opinions as well.

Good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

NCLEX pass rates do matter, but the ATI is also a very good vehicle of preparation. CCNE is the accreditation that is looked at most and I have never even heard of SACS.

I would pay more attention to WHY the students giving negative reviews are struggling than the fact that there are negative reviews. Look for patterns in their replies. Recognize that you won't be the first student who has no other option than to go for a for-profit institution and that many students in these schools are there because they either could not get accepted at less expensive schools or because they also already failed out before - meaning they already may not have the best study habits or demonstrated capacity for the material and therefore will be more likely to struggle with the requirements. These things will taint the review pool to some extent. All that really matters is whether YOU are ready to fix why you failed out the first time.

The questions of "good teaching method" and "do they really care about their students" is a moving target and impossible to answer and, honestly, doesn't matter that much. If they have a good product (ie teach what you need to know to pass licensure), the rest is really up to you. You will have good instructors and less good instructors. Your learning is largely up to your habits either way.

The advice to go for an ADN isn't bad advice. Not sure why the above poster feels you should "only" go for a BSN. Many find a way into the field with ADN and do so without going into debt (ie: me). I have my MSN now (in nursing education no less) and not a shred of student debt, so...yeah. Speaks for itself. HOWEVER...ADN programs do tend to be MORE competitive for entry than BSN programs, not less, due to the lower cost and less time needed to begin earning a living. Having failed out once, you are unlikely to get into a community college ADN program.

Proceed with caution and assiduous self assessment (a foundational trait of any good nurse) as to why you failed out before and what must be different in order for you to succeed this time around. Failing out again will mean you likely won't get another chance at this career, so weigh your personal challenges against what seem to be the challenges of this school along with your own fortitude and life circumstances and make a reasonable judgment whether this is do-able for you. If the school uses ATI and are CCNE accredited, they are not a bad option in terms of quality of education. The cost financially may be very high though. Only you can look at what a nurse generally earns and decide if those loan payments are worth it.

I wish you the best of luck.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion