Advice on Seton Hall

cn2007rn · May 23, 2006

When I was looking into acclerated programs, Seton Hall only had a 77% pass rate on the NCLEX, which made me nervous. It was also really expensive because it's a private school. I ended up going to a community college, and I am very happy with the decision. It costs a lot less, I will not have a BSN but I don't really see the point of having 2 bachelor's degrees. I am going to bridge my RN to an MSN, a lot of schools have a program if you have a bachelor's in another area and you are an RN, you can go right into an MSN. I actually think Seton Hall has this program. Good luck with your decision.

trendz80 · May 23, 2006

Hi,

I am currently in Seton Hall's Accelerated program. I started in September of 05 and I finish October of this year. It is really an expensive school, but all of the private schools are expensive. I decided to go there because I wanted the BSN instead of the Associate degree. Many of the hospitals in NY are wanting BSN nurses such as Mount Siani, NYU, and some others. Don't get me wrong but you can get a job with the ADN. In my mind, I don't understand why some hospitals are requiring the BSN but that is what some of the hospitals want. Anyway, I knew about the 77% pass rate, but I don't know if that is for all students or accelerated. I feel that the program is fine. I have asked my other friends that are in accelerated programs and they are doing the same things as we are. The only difference is that the people I have spoken to they said that Seton Hall is the only school that you have all clinicals for a full semester.

My friend who goes to Pace said that it was broken up within the semester, like Psych 6 weeks and Med/surge 6 weeks where at SHU I had Psych and Maternity for the whole 15 weeks. I have Ped and Acute adult the whole semester too. The hardest semester is the first because you are taking six classes and I believe that this is to weed ppl out. The hardest was Pathophysiology for me. But in one semester I took Pathophysiology, Pharmacology, Into to nursing, Health Assessment, Adult Nursing, and Legal nursing. I passed Pathophysiology but many ppl did not pass patho or pharm. I finish in October but those ppl will finish in February 07. So they are behind one semester. Once you get through those classes, it is fine. It is alot of work but doable.

If you have any questions, please let me know.

Good Luck,

Lashawn

nurse_in_ny · May 24, 2006

Thanks trendz80 for advice. I figured pathophysiology and pharmocology would be the hardest. It doesn't sound too great when many people aren't passing. I guess I need to brush up on my A&P. Are the professors good? I know that makes a big difference. Also I am from across the country and I haven't visited yet, could you tell me if South Orange a good area? And a 77% passing rate! Now that is really scary!

trendz80 · May 24, 2006

Hi,

As with any college or universities, there are good professors and there are bad ones. I had my share of them at SHU. Don't get me wrong, they teach you what you need to know for nursing school, it is just that some think they are right all the time and it is their way or no way. I had a really excellent patho professor. She is a no nonsense type of person. She taught us advance patho like how she teaches the graduate students. She was really helpful and explained thoroughly. The only thing is that most of the students, myself included had to get used to the way she tested you. For example, she would tell you on an exam to pathophysiologically explain why ischemia of the heart occurs in 10 words or less. She did not want you bull crapping through the answer. She wanted you to get to the point and that was it. She would take off points if you went over 10 words too. She knew when you knew your stuff or if you were beating around the bush. I started doing better towards the middle of the semester. I am so glad I passed because ppl who failed her class were held back for one semester. You can't advance with the others. So instead of them finishing in October, they will finish in February. That is 4 months too long for me.

As far as the area, I am not too familiar with it. I just drive to school and I drive back home. I am taking an apartment for the month of June and July so I guess I will find out then. My clinicals for these two months are way too far for me to drive from NYC. My friends who live around there say it is ok. But I don't really know.

Anyway, I think I am doing well in the school. I have maintained a B average throughout the program while taking 5 and 6 courses at one time while driving out there everyday, and taking care of my husband and two kids. It is doable. I think it depends how ppl test on NCLEX as well. I have two other friends that go to programs where the pass rate is way higher than what SHU is and they are teaching us the same things as my friends are learning. In my opinion, I may be wrong, but you have to learn to think critically and learn how to answer the questions. Alot of ppl have to learn to do that and learn how to prioritze as well. The test that they give us at school is NCLEX style and while some of us do well with them, alot of other students don't do well. And that is just how it is. I have been practicing NCLEX questions and have been doing well with them.

I can't explain the low pass rate but all I know is that for me, I am aiming to take that test one time!!!!! That's IT!!!!

If you have any questions, please ask me.

Good luck

Lashawn

ColleenMommyOf4 · Jul 5, 2006

my friend has a friend that graduated from seton hall and id be careful going there only cuz she graduated *most of them didnt graduate cuz they failed the final in the last nursing class* and she couldnt pass the dosage calculations exam at 3 hospitals she applied to...id be leary of this school really although their reputation is awesome