I am currently enrolled in the Pace University RN4 program. I have to say this is not a good school. The professors often avoid answering questions, do not give you any room to learn, and overall feels like they don't care whether you pass or fail.
Let me give you some examples of what I am talking about.
1. This was the first semester so we are learning patient assessment skills and everything. This girl in my class passes all but one skill, something simple in the frequency hearing test where she said "tell me when you stop feeling this" rather than "tell me when you stop HEARING this". OK, no problem she gets another chance to retake the practical. She corrects the problem and fails again. The instructor said she did another part of the exam wrong when she did everything exactly as she did the first time with the once correction that was brought to her attention. This girl tried everything but none of the professors would do anything about it and she was not allowed to move on.
2. I often have have questions that I think of when I am home studying or something and if I can't figure it out I will email a professor. I have only had 1 professor who has actually answered my questions via email. Every other professor either did not respond or told me to speak with someone else. THis really annoyed me when an email was sent about applying for a nursing internship and I asked a simple question about the internship (Whether one year of Nursing school was required when applying or the year was needed to be completed before the start of the internship, as it starts in the summer it is a reasonable question). I wrote to the woman who sent the email and she told me to contact someone else.
3. I just got an email today, less than 2 weeks before the start of Spring semester saying "All friday clinicals have been canceled. Sorry for the inconvenience." WHat the hell is that? No explanation at all, no comments on saying they will accomodate us. Simply "Sorry for the inconvenience". I don't know about anyone else, but I schedule my school around my other priorities, in this case work. I was glad there was a Friday section because the other sections interfere with my work schedule. Now they expect me to change everything at the last minute with no explanation or anything.
I have found out so far that at least 20 people have failed out during this first semester, which is probably like 15% of those enrolled. Thankfully I grasp information easily so I was able to make it on my own, but anyone who needs some extra help or needs an instructor to learn well will most likely not fit into this environment. I suggest anyone looking at Pace University seriously reconsider.
hey KAtie thanks for ur help. i also sent u a private msg. let me know if u got it and replied bc i dont really know how to use all this. also since u seem u know more about the nursing field than I, what is the difference btw a student that attends a community college to be a nurse and a student that goes to a regular college. I will have my BA in May, just wondering if it would be a good idea to apply to community colleges too if they will eventually make me an RN. Will they? or just lpn?
I completely understand that the CDP program is different than the RN4 program and was not speaking about the CDP program at all because like you said I do not know anything about that; but there are people that are interested in the RN4 program so I would like to tell them about it. Also some people might not know there are two different programs so it is nice to clear that up for them.
Anyways, how you study and your attitude towards your work does affect your performance. I am giving my advice and the advice I have been given from professors about seeking help early. At Pace even though we are in different programs we do have the same professors and if you reach out to them, they will help you. Professors have told me all the time to seek help early and I am just giving my advice to those in the RN4 program specifically. Some of what I am saying may benefit other people as well. After we get tests back and go over them, especially when we do poorly on them compared to what we should be doing, our professors try to help us study in a different ways that my be more beneficial to our grades and our knowledge; the way in which you study does effectyour test taking performance. You not only need to understand the information when it is read or told to you, but you must be able to "teach" it as well. So like one of our professors says, "teach a friend, teach a famil member, or even teach your cat". But being able to explain the information back has alot to do with positive test taking results.
Please forgive me for my poorly written, bitter note. I have tried to delete it, but unfortunately I can't. I appreciate your giving feedback on your experience at Pace and agree that the more information that incoming students have, the better. I clearly misunderstood the intent of your first message. Thank you for the feedback.
Also, there is a huge difference between doing well, being happy, and being irriated. I have been irritated MANY of times throughout my four years at PACE University. It is a common feeling to be irritated when you work so hard at what you really want in life and somtimes you get let down. I have gotten bad grades, been frustratd with professors and clinicals, but in the end I have done well because I worked hard. If I was struggling with something I got help or tried a different way to study in order to better myself. Just because someone seems happy where they are does not mean they were never frustrated or irritated. There were plenty of times I thought I wasn't going to make it through this program or that I just wanted to quit because I was so stressed out. But like we all know no matter if you are in the CDP program or RN4 program, nursing is tough and requires alot of concentraton, dedication and motivation. Even through the times I felt like I couldn't do it, I surpassed those feelings because I knew I could. If you put your mind to it and think positively, that can make a huge difference. Beleive me, my group of friends and I cannot be happier to graduate because of all the hard work we have gone through. I am sorry your program is a little different and I wish you all the best and hope you find som support from someone who knows a lot more about the CDP program specifically.
Please be advised... The 75%-80% of students who failed out of the CDP program were extremely dedicated, had no lives, were determined to be nurses and asked for help. Actually the professor of our Fundamnetals class and communications class (2 out of 3 of our classes) was not asked to return to being a professor at Pace. So that just goes to show you. The students that are still in the CDP program want out. It really is a mess of a program. I would strongly consider somewhere else if you already have a bachelors degree and are looking for a accelerated program. Anyway they shut down the CDP part time program, so there ya go. (on a side note, most of us in the program were not working so we could study full time)
I am very sorry to hear that and know that must be frustrating. I did not mean to be unclear to anyone with my advice. I am clearly speaking towards the RN4 program because that is the program I am in. Maybe I should have been more clear at first considering I was answering concerns of those in the CDP program, but many students in the RN4 have the same concerns (although of my knowledge the professors are there for their students and do what they can to help). Obviously these are two totally different programs and the CDP is condensed a lot more (and I thought 4 years was a struggle, I give you guys credit!) making it difficult for me to reach out to you guys in that program but I am just very surprised at that outcome from Pace and hope it gets better from here. My friend who is nursing with me, her sister just started the CDP program and seems to be doing well. She didn't have very many complaints as of what I knew so it jus really surprised me to hear all of this. I really do advise you to do all you can by reaching out to higher personnel such as the Dean of Nursing (if you have already gone to your professors and those more directly involved in the situation) and trying to get things settled. I just feel as though if everyone is having such a problem, something should be done. Obviously I have NO idea what specifically is wrong in the program and would need alot more information but it makes me a little concerned for future students as well. I know with a nursing program in general being so difficult, alot of support is needed especially from staff and professors. I am just curious if you would be kind enough to explain a little more about what is going on and how and why things are so bad? Maybe I can reach out to someone because it is concerning to me (even though I am not directly in your program)
Most of us have posted the long drawn out story on allnurses.com on another link about Pace. I think by searching Pace it comes up as the first link. We did reach out to the Dean of nursing as well as the Provost of the university who conducted an investigation into the program. And like I mentioned it was cancelled. I think the change in facutly really affected the CDP programs in NYC. I dont think any other year was like this and maybe this was an unfortunate one time thing, who knows. I actually did pretty well in my classes and ended up with a 2.78 GPA (my grades were 91%, 81% and 76%) and recieved the highest scores in my class in clinical. People are trying to get something done about what happened. We wrote up a petition signed by our entire program (including those who are still in it) and the day program people and we had a meeting with the Dean. 2 faculty members were also frustrated with the program and complained to the Dean as well (probably part of why one of them wasnt asked to come back...) We all continue to try to get some justice, but we arent getting very far. I also contacted professors several times (emails, multiple phone calls) and never heard back. Other students experienced this with other teachers as well. As a student it is our responsibility to do what we need to do to succeed, but without professors cooperation and dedication it is much more difficult. Oh well, I will be attending another program come fall and Im sure it will be far better (and wont get cancelled after 1 semester!!)
I am currently in my spring semester of my sophomore year in the RN4 program at Pace University on the Westchester Campus and I just wanted to share my experience with prospective nursing students. I will graduate from Pace in May 2012. When I graduated high school, I wanted to go straight into a bachelors program for nursing. I looked at over 10 schools and chose to come to Pace, and I love it here. Honestly, no program is perfect, but the few inconveniences that Pace students have to deal with don't even come close to outweighing the benefits.
Pace's nursing program is unique. It is one of the only schools in which students are attending hospitals for clinicals in their sophomore year, giving students one more year of clinical experience than most schools do. Pace's NCLEX pass rate is 90%. Nine out of ten students passed their licensure exam on their first try, which is outstanding! Furthermore, LSN (Lienhard School of Nursing) graduates exceeded both the New York State passing rate and the national average passing rate in 2009.
Someone posted, "The professors often avoid answering questions, do not give you any room to learn, and overall feels like they don't care whether you pass or fail." I'm not sure which professors you have come into contact with but I have never had this experience. Professors encourage students to ask questions and they ACTUALLY answer them on the spot, and if they don't know the answer, they will get back to you. I'm not sure what "they don't give you any room to learn" means but I have never felt this way. Professors do care if you pass or fail. Nursing is NOT an easy A. If you come into the program thinking that you can get an A in every class without trying, you will be disappointed. Professors always want people to ask questions, they email you with names, phone numbers, and email addresses of tutors for all your nursing classes and encourage you to go see tutors if you are having some difficulty. People need to realize that college students are adults. Professors aren't going to hold your hand through the entire program, make sure you are attending your classes, and doing your homework. They assume that you have enough self discipline and responsibility to handle the simple tasks of college life. If you put forth the effort, you will pass your classes.
I have never had a problem with professors not answering my emails. Every time I have emailed with a question, I always have gotten a response. I recently found out about a job position and needed 3 letters of recommendation within 3 days notice and I emailed my professors, they responded and each wrote me a letter of recommendation in time for me to meet the application deadline.
After every exam professors have a signup sheet on their door where you can sign up to meet with them one-on-one to go through every question on the test so students fully understand what they got wrong so they don't make the same mistake again. Professors are willing to set aside these hours to help their students.
I am halfway through this program and I have never once regretted coming to Pace. To anyone who is looking into nursing schools I highly encourage you to visit the schools, look at the nursing labs, speak to current students, and make appointments to speak with nursing professors. This is the best way for you to see which school is for you.
I did not realize there was a CDP program in NYC. I have only heard of the one on the Pleasantville campus (the program that my friend's sister is in) and they have the same professors we do who reach out to them. I am wondering if you have completely different professors than us? I couldn't imagine the same professors shutting you all out (as you are describing) in one program and being so helpful to all of us over in Pleasantville.
I am currently enrolled in Pace University's RN-4 nursing program and I will be graduating this May. I came across several posts here; I know some posts apply to the CDP program, but my response focuses on some of the earlier RN-4 comments. I was surprised at the negativity of some of those comments. I think that Pace's program has prepared me well. Pace is a tough school, but that is why it has such a great reputation in the community for preparing such great nurses. (And I'm not just saying this it really does happen to me all the time).
I am not going to lie; nursing is a tough major, especially as your first degree, BUT NO PROGRAM IS EASIER THAN ANOTHER!! I am serious in this statement; Pace is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, meaning it has to follow standards as all other programs that are accredited do. I have had good experiences with the teachers. If you have a problem in a class, meet with them (I used to meet with some of my professors weekly, they will help!) If I was not doing well in a class I would go meet the professor and go over the test. If there were questions that I thought were unfair, I would insist on going over them until I understood. The questions that the professors use are NCLEX style questions to help prepare you for your state boards. There are plenty of opportunities for study groups led by teaching assistants, classmates can form study groups and teachers will offer ideas for study help- certain study guides, one on one tutoring, etc.
The program is intense, I cannot deny that, but I really don't think that any other school's nursing program would be easier. All of my friends at other nursing schools for their BSN work equally as hard. It is important to be well prepared as a nurse; these are people's lives in our hands!! By far, junior year is the toughest. There were times that I was incredibly overwhelmed because of the course load. The nursing department re-vamped the nursing course work schedule. In my junior year I took med-surg, patho, pharm, psych, etc. and it was overwhelming. The new program from what I have heard from current students (who began the program from fall 2008 I believe) seem to be doing well.
You have to be an advocate for yourself. If you are not doing well or don't understand something, then ask!! And if they don't answer (an email or give you an indirect answer), then ask again. I know that I wouldn't want someone who was illegitimately prepared taking care of my family member or me. I came to Pace for nursing because of things like the 1:8 ratio for clinicals (many schools have 1 instructor to 10+ students), and the location for clincals: NY Presbyterian, Northern Westchester Hospital, Westchester Medical Center & MF Children's Hospital, Montefiore, Phelps, Hudson Valley, etc. Oh when I saw that the pass rate was posted on here around 60% I freaked, since I will be graduating soon, I looked into it. Pace's NCLEX pass rate is near 90%, it even says it on the website: http://www.pace.edu/pace/lienhard/lsn-news/nclex/)
As a senior, looking back I would do the program again. I love nursing and I think Pace gave me a great education. If you have any further questions let me know!
aspiring_nursing
206 Posts
hey KAtie thanks for ur help. i also sent u a private msg. let me know if u got it and replied bc i dont really know how to use all this. also since u seem u know more about the nursing field than I, what is the difference btw a student that attends a community college to be a nurse and a student that goes to a regular college. I will have my BA in May, just wondering if it would be a good idea to apply to community colleges too if they will eventually make me an RN. Will they? or just lpn?