Brock University vs. Mohawk-McMaster Nursing Program

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  1. Should I go into the Nursing Program at Brock University or Mohawk-McMaster

    • 1
      Brock University
    • 2
      Mohawk-McMaster

3 members have participated

Hello everyone!

I just got accepted into the Nursing program at Brock Univeristy and Mohawk-McMaster. However, I really don't know which school should I go to. I want to save money and also I want to get the best quality of education that will prepare me to become a registered nurse. Here are my thoughts about Brock and Mohawk-McMaster:

Brock Univeristy has offered me a lot of scholarships already (and even offered me an ipad mini) and it's also closer to home. I have talked to one of their fourth year undergrad nursing students and they said that their program is unique because they strat clinical practices during the first year while other schools starts their clinical practice courses later. Also, I asked them about the percentage of students who passed the CRNE (Canadian Registered Nurse Examionation) and they said that more than 95% students passed.

Mohawk-McMaster: I went to the Mcmaster's Open House last year's fall and I was actually impressed on their presentation because they talked about the unique courses they offer like the problem base learning course and how they will prepare you for clinical experience. Since I am a Mohawk-McMaster student, I am considered as a McMaster Student and will be recieving nursing degree from McMaster. The only difference of being in the Mohawk-McMaster Nursing Program versus the 4-year honours degree at McMaster is that Mohawk will teach you their collaborative courses with McMaster during your first and second year and then McMaster teaches you during you 3rd and 4th year. Also, I booked a campus tour on Mohawk's IAHS campus and it's right on McMaster. The IAHS building was like a mini hospital and there was an apartment where they test your nursing abilities when it comes to real life situations and real life atmosphere (and that's is the unique part of the program that Mohawk-McMaster can offer) I really like the school because it seems to me that they prepare you more. Also, the IAHS building is combined with the McMaster 4 year nursing students so you don't actually know who is in the collaborative program or who is in the honours prohgram. Since it is a collaborative program, I think the advantage of going to the program is the hands-on learning. It's a college-university program where, I think, they prepare you for "university" courses. However, if I go to Mohawk-McMaster and want to save money (to avoid school debts in the future) I will be commuting 2 hours going there and 2 hours going back home. I really don't want to spend more money for rents so I decided to stay home and commute. The only thing I am not sure of about the program is if they give scholarships.Lastly, in my opinion, I think if I go into their program and eventually get a McMaster degree I think it would increase my chances of getting a job quickly because of McMaster's reputation.

Those are just my opinions about Brock and Mohawk-McMaster. Both schools are amazing and I wish there was only one of them. Please give me some opinions and some advice regarding to choosing the right or best school for Nursing. I would really appreciate it if you could! :)

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Wow, you have 2 tremendous options. No wonder you are having trouble choosing. Whichever you take, you can't make a "wrong" choice.

If it were me, I would choose Brock because it is easier on a day-to-day basis and means less debt Brock is a great school! Truly, I have never known the uni attended by a candidate to be the deciding factor during hiring (at least in Canada). Have a blast, whichever you choose!

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

I honestly don't think that the school you graduated from has that big of an influence on employers as most people think. When it all comes together, what matters is whether you pass the registration exam or not. I graduated from the most highly-regarded programme in my province 20 years ago this Tuesday, in the middle of the last huge decimation of nursing positions. It took me a year just to get an interview for a hospital-based job even though I graduated 5th in my class and had great references.

Problem-based learning isn't the great educational theory discovery many people perceive it to be. Unless you already have a solid, in-depth knowledge of basic nursing principles and skills, you're not going to get too far trying to teach yourself the rest. I'm not a fan of group work and never have been because the few hard working, keen and responsible people drag the less-motivated through without them actually contributing or learning much. And besides, are you sure you're interested in paying a butt-load of money to a university to basically learn everything through self-study? I work with and preceptor graduates from both streams. I don't see much of a shining-star-type result from the PBL learners; actually they need a lot more hand-holding than the collaborative programme grads do. A coworker who went through a post-basic baccalaureate programme heavy on PBL has said many times she felt she wasted time and money, coming out of the programme not having learned much of anything that made her a better nurse.

Nursing education isn't cheap or easy. I'd advise practical considerations be given the most weight.

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Specializes in Public Health.

Two hour commute to Hamilton? Are you going to be comfortable with that when you have to be at a placement for 6-630 am?

I love McMaster, but I'd say Brock might be better for you!

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Thank you for your opinion and advice. Also, I agree with what you said about working in groups. By the way, what school did you go to? And correct me if i'' wrong, are you a registered nurse now?

That's what I thought too.

As of now, I am thinking of going to Brock because i will save more time and money if I go there. And I am starting to realize that the school you go to will have much influence on employers.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

Were you speaking to me? I've been an RN since the fall of 1994 and have worked in critical care pediatrics since 1997. I attended a diploma programme through St Boniface General Hospital in Winnipeg.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

Saving time and money doesn't always pan out. True most employers don't care where you went but Mohawk has the better reputation.

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Specializes in NICU.

I graduated from Mohawk's RPN program last December and am beginning the RPN - BscN program at McMaster in September. it's true that they do have a very good reputation in the area for nursing, and it's also true that they go by the problem-based learning model which means it is very self-directed learning and you do much of your work online, in groups or on your own. This might be a big deterrant for some people. For me, I'm not really a fan of the PBL model but I live in Hamilton and don't want to commute anywhere so that's why I'm sticking with McMaster. I really don't know if employers care about where you went to school, I've never heard of anyone mentioning it but I'm also not in the hiring process...so you never know ;). I guess the decision should be based on your learning needs rather than convenience.

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Specializes in Hospital nursing.

As others have said, where you went to school rarely matters when applying for a job, unless the interviewer went to the same school you did and loved it, or something along those lines. If Brock is offering you scholarships, I think I'd go there! They're both great schools, but if one is cheaper and closer, take that one! For clinical, they can send you anywhere in a 250 km radius of the school. I had friends at Mac who were doing clinical in Brantford, Mississauga, Toronto, Scarborough, Barrie...would you really want to drive that far?

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Specializes in Medicine.

If I were you, I would personally choose Brock. They are both great schools, but one is not necessarily better than the other. They both have to meet the exact same standards set out by CNA/CNO. Since Brock is so much closer to your house, you can use the time saved from commuting to study more. (2 hours there = 2 hours back = 4 hours commute/day = very tiring). Also since they are offering you a bunch of scholarships, I would go with that since it will save you lots of money, which means less to pay off after you graduate. GOOD LUCK!

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So what school did you go with then?

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Hi there! I decided to go to Brock University because of the scholarship they offered, and I realized that staying in my hometown would be a great idea to save money.

So far, I did not regret going to Brock for nursing because I really like my courses right now (even though they are all required and no electives). The courses I have this fall are Professional and Therapeutic Communications in Nursing, Nursing and Health Promotion: The Canadian Context, Biology, Introduction to Pyschology, and Kinesiology. Next term, we will be starting clinicals, which I'm very excited about! :)

Overall, I really like Nursing at Brock not only because of saving money but the program and the school too. Such a great atmosphere! Also, my program has only less than 70 students in it and I feel like we are a family.

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