Applying to a program in my city and the completion rate is 47% this year

Hello, Mav. I can understand how the pass rates can be concerning, but I think that you are not putting it into perspective.  I am a nursing program instructor and see mostly entry-level students.  On average, 50% of the students I see at the start do not make it through the first semester.  But, would you be surprised that, on average, only 2-3 students fail due to grades?  Most of the students who do not make it through the first semester are really not ready for nursing school.  

Being ready for nursing school has more to do with preparing for the time requirements and study skills rather than the difficulty of the courses.  Yes, they are challenging but not beyond reach.  May students realize this early on or something in their life changes that make barriers towards passing.  I have had students quit because they need to be the sole breadwinner for their family, get pregnant and have issues, realize what nursing is and don't want part of it, or even get relocated due to their spouse's job.  The reasons are seemingly endless but valid in their life.

In the position you mention, having a 100% entry would better describe the reason for the pass rate.  Most anyone off the street who one day said, "I would like to be a nurse," is not usually ready for the demands of nursing school.  You may counter that many have taken prerequisites for nursing school, but taking a class here or there does not prepare the average student for nursing programs.  Nursing school is a little different.

Yes, look at the information from your state board of nursing.  Make sure they are at least regionally accredited, if not nationally.  The 100% NCLEX pass rate is a plus, but make sure you get that number from the State Board of Nursing Reports, not for the schools provided information.  Ask about the number of students who eventually make it through the program after failing the first time.  Of the 50% that do not make it the first time, nearly 67% pass within 5 years at our program.  Understand what numbers you are reading and what the numbers really mean.  If you decide to do it, then get yourself ready.  Develop excellent time management and study skills.  Find a way to attend nursing school and work very little, if possible.  Participate in everything including labs, study sessions, lectures, and skills practice.  Those who participate usually pass the first time through.

I hope some of this helps.

rob4546 said:

Hello, Mav. I can understand how the pass rates can be concerning, but I think that you are not putting it into perspective.  I am a nursing program instructor and see mostly entry-level students.  On average, 50% of the students I see at the start do not make it through the first semester.  But, would you be surprised that, on average, only 2-3 students fail due to grades?  Most of the students who do not make it through the first semester are really not ready for nursing school.  

Being ready for nursing school has more to do with preparing for the time requirements and study skills rather than the difficulty of the courses.  Yes, they are challenging but not beyond reach.  May students realize this early on or something in their life changes that make barriers towards passing.  I have had students quit because they need to be the sole breadwinner for their family, get pregnant and have issues, realize what nursing is and don't want part of it, or even get relocated due to their spouse's job.  The reasons are seemingly endless but valid in their life.

In the position you mention, having a 100% entry would better describe the reason for the pass rate.  Most anyone off the street who one day said, "I would like to be a nurse," is not usually ready for the demands of nursing school.  You may counter that many have taken prerequisites for nursing school, but taking a class here or there does not prepare the average student for nursing programs.  Nursing school is a little different.

Yes, look at the information from your state board of nursing.  Make sure they are at least regionally accredited, if not nationally.  The 100% NCLEX pass rate is a plus, but make sure you get that number from the State Board of Nursing Reports, not for the schools provided information.  Ask about the number of students who eventually make it through the program after failing the first time.  Of the 50% that do not make it the first time, nearly 67% pass within 5 years at our program.  Understand what numbers you are reading and what the numbers really mean.  If you decide to do it, then get yourself ready.  Develop excellent time management and study skills.  Find a way to attend nursing school and work very little, if possible.  Participate in everything including labs, study sessions, lectures, and skills practice.  Those who participate usually pass the first time through.

I hope some of this helps.

Hi, Rob! Thank you for the comment. It definitely helped open my eyes regarding everything. I plan on going through with the program. 
For my undergrad degree, I utilized tutoring every chance I could. Sadly, they don't have tutoring here, so I think I'll be relying on practice questions throughout the program.

I also believe that I'm ready for nursing school because I already work at a hospital, and some of the nurses say that I'm ready for it. They say I have great patient care, but they said that's only part of school. You have to apply it to the exams too. I think that's what is making me nervous for the whole thing. Thanks again for the comment!

I would be vary of attending such school personally 

Wow, there's not a lot of the old school hospital operated diploma programs out there any more. The one we had in my area closed many years ago. It was so old school that students lived on site in a dormitory, I still have a desk upstairs that I bought when the program closed and they sold off everything, LOL.  That was sometime in the early 1980's so it's been a minute. 

 The few nurses in my career I've worked with that graduated from that program were excellent. They pretty obviously had a great education from that program.

As long as the school is accredited go for it. Please keep us updated on your journey if you take that path, those diploma programs are rare enough that I have zero familiarity with how they work.