Applying to Mountainside Hospital School of Nursing?

Lovelymo79 · Sep 17, 2009

I agree with my buddy, the above poster. Mountainside didn't ask about my SAT scores at all..didn't even ask about my high school! Actually, the only questions they asked were "Why do you want to be a nurse?" and "Which program do you want to enter..day or evening?" My grades were NOT the best in college (but I went to a really competitive school) and I still was accepted.

I think if you do well on the NET..ace the interview..and write a good essay..you're pretty much in there...

By the way, if you get in..you WILL be known as a well-prepared nurse. I love hearing how we are getting the best nursing education..from other Mountainside grads AND NON-Mountainside grads. On my floor where I'm doing my clinical, one of the nurses who wasn't a Mountainside grad (and had been a nurse for probably atleast a year..maybe even more) mentioned how one of the new grads knew more than her!

Nicolepelosi · Sep 18, 2009

Im a senior in high school, would you suggest i just apply to MHSOH instead of going to a 4 year college, are you confident i will find a job right after i graduate from the program? Also if i wanted to eventually work up to working in the delivery room what degree would i have to specialize in? Thanks guys!

emtb2rn, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Sep 18, 2009

Im a senior in high school, would you suggest i just apply to MHSOH instead of going to a 4 year college, are you confident i will find a job right after i graduate from the program? Also if i wanted to eventually work up to working in the delivery room what degree would i have to specialize in? Thanks guys!

If you have the option to get your BSN right off the bat, go for it. I already had a BS in another field and years of management experience when I entered nursing, so I was just looking to become an RN as quickly as possible. And MHSoN was perfect for that. You will most likely need the BSN to easily move beyond bedside nursing, so you might as well get it from the onset of your education.

You're going to be looking for a job at least 3 years out. Don't worry about it now.

RN is RN. No matter what type of program you go through, you will sit for the same NCLEX test and then start out as a new grad. Interestingly, you will meet many classmates who want to work L&D when they start school. That changes as they experience the other areas of nursing in clinicals. Babies are cute, no arguing that, but I'd rather work up anything and everything in the ER as my day-to-day job.

Good luck.

Lovelymo79 · Sep 18, 2009

Even though there are students in the program that just started that are fresh out of high school, me personally..I would go for my BSN. I have another degree so at this point..I'm fine with a diploma for now. MHSON is so on point with the clinicals and the hands-on approach..that's what I needed..not another class on theory. So, I wouldn't discourge you from going to MHSON out of school but I think overall, it would be best for you to go for your BSN now..

And like emt2brn says..a RN is a RN..when I take the NCLEX..I will be sitting with other diploma students..other Associates students...other BSN people..even direct-MSN people..we're all going to take the same text and become RNs. I personally do plan on going for my MSN (I also want to teach nursing) but I'm going to get my employer to pay for it ;-)

SquidSteve · Mar 5, 2011

Has anyone hear about this new class that they are trying to get together for Fall 2011?

nancy_s · Mar 21, 2011

SquidSteve,

I was shocked to see that as well on their site! I would love to go there and I actually called them and they are running!! One question though, would you know the version of the TEAS they administer and if the science portion is on it? The person I got on the phone had no idea. Good luck, I am printing out my application today.

Nancy:D

RNNewjersey · Mar 25, 2011

Use mountainside as your backup school and if no other school will accept you. The administration only cares about taking your money and has no concern for your success. One day they're closing the school because it doesn't reap in enough profit, the next day it reopens because a batch of their new nursing students from Caldwell College sunk like the titanic and the hospital needed to resurect the Mountainside nursing school to continue their cash flow. They charge you for EVERYTHING ($250 save the spot fee on top of the $50 application fee, id fee, parking fee, computer fee with BYO paper, graduation fee, sitting fee for your senior portrait, hideous graduation uniform charged 1 yr in advance before graduation, unwaivable $50 late tuition payment fee, tuition statement replacement fee, student activity fee, etc etc the list goes on and on) that's just the minor nuisance of the school. The real kicker is when they screw their own students with their RIDONKULOUS grading system. 80-86 is a C. 87-93 is a B Anything below 80 = F They don't have B+ or C+ so just when you think you've pulled a 3.5 GPA with your 86, think again...you really got a C which equates to a 2.0 GPA! Wow imagine how pathetic your transcript will look when you go on job interviews or apply to higher education. As if that isn't bad enough, your grade is based solely on your exams, if your final grade happens to be a 79.99 then guess what? You're **** out of luck because they don't round up, but if you're really unlucky then you won't even get to wait a whole year and repeat the same class because the hospital has decided to close Mountainside Hopsital School of Nursing because Caldwell is generating more money. Go at your own risk.

Lovelymo79 · Mar 26, 2011

Steve and Nancy -- do not take "RNNewjersey" tirade into account when applying to Mountainside. By reading her message, she (and I'm just assuming it's a she -- they have seemed to just join allnurses.com to type of this message and haven't provided any other information of whether they are female/male, status as far as school, etc.) sounds like someone who failed out of the school (or knows someone who did but just by the tone of her message, I'm once again assuming she's the one that failed out because of the strong personal attack against MHSON) and wants to badtalk the school. Let me break down her argument piece by piece and show you why you should consider MHSON.

The administration only cares about taking your money and has no concern for your success.

FACT: EVERY school cares about money..that's why they are still churning out graduates, regardless of the fact that there is no real nursing shortage, especially in Jersey. But, MHSON ONLY caring about money? Not at all. Because of the stringent grading system (which I'll touch on in a bit), they will cut you (as well as cut off your supplying them money) if you can't make the grade. Whereas other schools will let you slide by just so they can keep your funds. And the administration DOES care about your success. You can go to any of them at anytime for help and they are always there for you. MHSON was the ONLY school that from the beginning (before I even applied) was available and returned my calls/emails. You won't get that personal care from most of the county schools -- trust me. I know firsthand.

One day they're closing the school because it doesn't reap in enough profit, the next day it reopens because a batch of their new nursing students from Caldwell College sunk like the titanic and the hospital needed to resurect the Mountainside nursing school to continue their cash flow.

FACT: The school isn't reopening because of the new nursing students from Caldwell. Even if the students were doing well (and their success or failure is independent of MHSON -- 2 separate schools/programs), MHSON would have reopened anyway. The school is reopening because they would have lost the money donated by the alumni of MHSON. So, whether the Caldwell kids succeeded (and there are plenty that I know personally that have done well) or not, MHSON would have lost that money. And in this economy, any school would be stupid to lose all of that money.

They charge you for EVERYTHING ($250 save the spot fee on top of the $50 application fee, id fee, parking fee, computer fee with BYO paper, graduation fee, sitting fee for your senior portrait, hideous graduation uniform charged 1 yr in advance before graduation, unwaivable $50 late tuition payment fee, tuition statement replacement fee, student activity fee, etc etc the list goes on and on) that's just the minor nuisance of the school.

FACT: EVERY school has crazy school fees..EVERY school. When I did my pre-requisites at 2 different county schools, I got charged for most of those same fees. I even got charged a parking fee for a parking lot I didn't even use and for a computer lab I didn't even use. Student activity fees, graduation fees, sitting for senior protrait (which isn't even charged by MHSON, it's charged by the photography company), ID fee..ALL the schools charge these fees.

The real kicker is when they screw their own students with their RIDONKULOUS grading system. 80-86 is a C. 87-93 is a B Anything below 80 = F They don't have B+ or C+ so just when you think you've pulled a 3.5 GPA with your 86, think again...you really got a C which equates to a 2.0 GPA! Wow imagine how pathetic your transcript will look when you go on job interviews or apply to higher education.

FACT: Anything below an 80 is not an F. A 74-79 is a D, anything below a 73 is an F. This is PLAINLY stated on the school's website and on the back of the transcripts. Most schools have anything below a 78 as failing or a D, so there's only a 2 point difference. Having a stringent grading systems ensures that graduates from MHSON really know their stuff. As far as having your transcript looking pathetic, the grading system and a key is located on the back of the transcripts (which I have seen myself) and on the website. I know plenty of graduates who have applied to higher education and been accepted with NO problem. And at job interviews, I'm told no one even asks about your grades. There are many, MANY successful graduates from MHSON that have done well in a variety of nursing jobs. The most important fact is all of this is on the website so you KNOW what you're facing before you even apply. If you don't like the grading system or can't make the cut, don't blame the school. If you don't like it, don't apply. But, know that since you are held to a higher standard than most, if you graduate from here, you can go anywhere.

As if that isn't bad enough, your grade is based solely on your exams, if your final grade happens to be a 79.99 then guess what? You're **** out of luck because they don't round up,

FACT: This is common at all nursing schools. Rather, any school after high school. This isn't a MHSON thing but a post-high school thing.

but if you're really unlucky then you won't even get to wait a whole year and repeat the same class because the hospital has decided to close Mountainside Hopsital School of Nursing because Caldwell is generating more money. Go at your own risk.

Not sure if this is a fact but I'm pretty certain you were in my class (the class that will be graduating in 81 days:yeah:) and unfortunately didn't make it since my class was the presumed "last" class of MHSON and the only one that wouldn't get the chance to come back a year later. In that case, you aren't even an RN yet. My suggestion to you would be to instead of coming on here just to badtalk a school whose program you couldn't complete, find a better fitting school for you. And change your username because you're not even a nurse yet.

nancy_s · Mar 27, 2011

Lovelymo79,

Your name says it all! Thank you for posting light on the other post. Honestly, I was a tad discouraged because I was frightened and afraid I wouldn't make it. I know nursing schools are hard and you lose touch with all reality but geez luiz that message left me speechless! You really inspired me Lovely and I appreciate it very much [KUDOS] to you!! :yeah:

Lovelymo79 · Mar 28, 2011

No problem:D Listen, no school is perfect but I had to correct the misinformation given above. Wherever you go, make sure you do your research...talk to the CURRENT students and administration and go with your instinct.

Good luck wherever you decided to go!!

nancy_s · Mar 29, 2011

Thank you!! Do you have any pointers on the TEAS V? I spoke to Mrs. * yesterday at MSON and she just said they pick the most proficient.....

RnM21 · Mar 29, 2011

I am a graduate from mountainside SON (2005) and feel it is one of the best for getting a strong clinical perspective in nursing. Was it easy for me? no, matter of fact I failed Nursing 2 and went back the next year and kicked ass!! Will you get your butt handed to you there? I can only speak from my years there at the time with their staff(I heard a couple left) that YES you will be getting your butt handed to you, but the teachers taught very well and have high expectations from their students so of course you will be put through the test.

Looking back at it now the schools biggest selling point for me is their clinicals, from Med-surg to ICU we did a hell of a whole lot more than other schools who were more shadowing during clinicals than anything. That alone prepared me as a new grad starting at St. Barns. I feel it also helped pave the way for me to be where I am at now which is Trauma/Surgical ICU at Hackensack University/Jersey City University and UMDNJ.... and yes I still moonlight at Mountainside Hospital here and there..lol, and granted I never thought I could do ICU while I was at that school because it was all too technical!!.

Anywho, I hope you get into a good school, I guess the only downside for me was the fact that it was a diploma program and I still have to work on my BSN. GOOD LUCK!!!