Best schools to go to compared to commercial type?

Published

I've taken quite a long brake do to some personal issues , but now I really want to get my LPN , and I don't want to wait around and want to know what's my correct starting point I've decided on a school but its a commercial type school for nursing and business but I like their teaching tactics and I wanted a different opinion on this matter, so please advise me well.

Thanks~~

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I would start by looking at their NCLEX pass rate and go from there.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU + 25 years as Nursing Faculty.
I would start by looking at their NCLEX pass rate and go from there.

Ugly Truth: NCLEX pass rate is easily manipulated by faculty.

Certainly, the quality of instruction has an impact on NCLEX pass rate... but there are other variables at work as well.

The key issue is what the faculty value most.

  • If the faculty values a high NCLEX pass rate above all, they simply flunk out any student who has the slightest test taking weakness.
  • If the faculty highly values serving both the community and the students, they can retain students who are clinically safe and have the potential to be good nurses, but have test taking weaknesses. By allowing these students to graduate and progress to NCLEX, the school risks a lower NCELX pass rate.
    • Flunking out of nursing school is often permanent. Flunking NCLEX is often resolved by taking the exam again. This, tolerating a higher NCLEX failure rate can actually be kinder to students.

    [*]Example: Years ago there was a new nursing program. Their first graduating class had a 100% pass rate... and many people were very impressed. However, taking a careful look at the numbers revealed the high price that their student body had paid for that outcome. Only one half of the admitted class graduated!

The other tool that schools use to manipulate the NCLEX pass rate is their admission policies.

  • If a school highly values NCLEX pass rate.... they may be willing to have a smaller student body. By having a smaller cohort size, they can be more selective in admissions. If a school only admits very highly qualified applicants, the NCLEX pass rate will likely be high.
  • If a school values looser admission ("opportunity") and or larger student body, they may have to tolerate looser admission policies to fill their classes. Less capable students can lead to lower NCLEX pass rate if the faculty value high retention (see above).

Before the hyperventilating replies begin, let me clarify a few things:

  • There are a great number of students who are safe at the bedside, who have the potential to be great nurses, but who have weak test taking skills. Their challenge may be emotional control, test taking techniques, or both. Flunking these students in order to protect the school's NCLEX pass rate is unwise because:
    • It is putting the needs of the school above the needs of the students. It is "throwing the student under the bus."
    • Our communities NEED nurses.

    [*]We tend to think of classroom testing as a reliable tool which sorts the "competent" from the "incompetent". However, the reality is MUCH fuzzier:

    • Many classroom tests are poorly constructed and have poor reliability.
      • Poor reliability can be thought of as how consistently will the same level of performance result in the same test score. If poorly reliable, that means that the results will have greater variability for the same level of performance.

      [*]The passing threshold for classroom tests is arbitrary and variable.

      • The passing threshold of "70%" or "75%" (or whatever) only has meaning if there is tight control of the difficulty of the examination. If the exam is easier or harder, the passing threshold will differ in how marginal students are classified (as "passing" or "failing").

    [*]Just because a school is "hard to get into" does not mean that it truly is admitting only very highly qualified applicants. If the applicant pool is weak or the local competition strong, the school may find that even when admitting the "top" applicants.... they aren't high quality. The best ones may have been scooped up by the competition, or there simply may not be many high quality applicants in the pool at all. "Hard to get into" simply means that there are many more applicants than than spaces for admission.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Grumpy offers some very valid points in his very cogent assertions. But the fact remains -

I'm not a huge fan of NCLEX because the current version (like previous ones) is not a true indicator of real life clinical reasoning skills. It still focuses on one's ability to regurgitate factoids. Maybe we'll get there eventually as technology becomes more affordable?

Most well-established traditional programs utilize QI processes to ensure that their tests are reliable and valid. This requires the skill set associated with qualified and competent educators -- not newly-minted MSNs or NPs who are plunked into an academic job without sufficient preparation or orientation. Unfortunately, with the current state of faculty salaries, this is a common scenario.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hmm.....

I guess ill do more research on both fact/ theories, then ill decide.

Thanks so much y'all.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion