bad Samuel Merritt College experience?

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Specializes in ED, Cardiac-step down, tele, med surg.

Just wondering if any one out there has had a primarily negative experience with SMC, specifically in the ABSN program (I'm at one of the extension campuses). I feel very disappointed with my experience thus far considering the amount of money I've spent, and am now worried that I may not even be able to find a job. I was talking to one of my classmates and she made the point that there are lots of new grads being churned out in the Bay Area, and that we may not be able to find a job in the area. Before going to SMC, I asked people about the school, and most of the people had a neutral or positive experience, but that's definitely not how I feel and there are many other students who feel the same in my cohort. Should I be worried that my money and time were wasted?

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I graduated last year from SMC's ABSN prog and FULLY know the frustration you are feeling!!! The best thing for you to do is relax, its not worth getting caught up in all the bu****it. Just remind yourself you are there to learn and keep that goal of graduation and preparing for the boards in your immediate sights. It comes MUCH faster than you will ever imagine! As for the job situation, you have NOTHING to worry about. Yes, nurses are being turned out in large numbers in the bay, but nurses are retiring or taking desk jobs everyday. You may not be able to go directly into your specialty of choice, but a year or med surg (as painful as it may be) will allow you skills otherwise not perfected... Good luck! Contact me personally if you have more questions or just need to vent...

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i graduated last year from smc's absn prog and fully know the frustration you are feeling!!! the best thing for you to do is relax, its not worth getting caught up in all the bu****it. just remind yourself you are there to learn and keep that goal of graduation and preparing for the boards in your immediate sights. it comes much faster than you will ever imagine! as for the job situation, you have nothing to worry about. yes, nurses are being turned out in large numbers in the bay, but nurses are retiring or taking desk jobs everyday. you may not be able to go directly into your specialty of choice, but a year or med surg (as painful as it may be) will allow you skills otherwise not perfected... good luck! contact me personally if you have more questions or just need to vent...

i would love you on my side! excellent advice :-)

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What campus were you at if you don't mind me asking?

I'm planning on applying to SMC's ELMSN-FNP program & their Accelerated BSN too. I'm hoping you are not at their Sacramento Campus as I'm applying there in July. What location were you at if you don't mind me asking.

Hope things are well with you!

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jzzy88- you do need to worry about getting a job when you graduate. Try to make as many contacts as you can while you are in school. Meet as many managers and try to get contact info of the floors that you like (like their fax numbers so you can send your applications directly to the floor). I graduated 7 months ago from and accelerated BSN program and still don't have a job. If you want a job when you graduate you need to work for it now. I wish someone had given me this advice before I graduated.

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I was in the Sacramento program - poorly administered, unprepared instructors, bottom of the barrel clinical instructors, and very expensive! Get used to hearing things like "be flexible" and "get your big girl panties on".....don't expect to learn much from your instructors or labs, and everything costs lots of $$. They don't have any special "ins" with hospitals so you won't get any preference when it comes to getting a job. Do Sutter instead and save yourself $50,000 if you want a job in nursing or do Sac State and save yourself $40,000 if you want the BS.

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I was in the Sacramento program - poorly administered, unprepared instructors, bottom of the barrel clinical instructors, and very expensive! Get used to hearing things like "be flexible" and "get your big girl panties on".....don't expect to learn much from your instructors or labs, and everything costs lots of $$. They don't have any special "ins" with hospitals so you won't get any preference when it comes to getting a job. Do Sutter instead and save yourself $50,000 if you want a job in nursing or do Sac State and save yourself $40,000 if you want the BS.

Well, what about their FNP program? Have you heard students complaining about that program. It's a 3 year committment and a lot, i mean, a lot of money. However, I've heard SMC has a great reputation and anything is better than the RN program I was once in. Too many distractions, no support for the students, and a high instructor turn over rate. Anyways, have you heard of complaints from FNP students?

Thanks!

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Have you heard anything positive or negative about the SF ABSN program?

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