Brown Mackie College

RutterMama · Jan 12, 2009

I was bored and checked the Ohio BON website. It looks like Brown Mackie College is only under "provisional approval". Check it out: http://www.nursing.ohio.gov/PDFS/education/08updatedPNlist.pdf
That would make me a little leery about that school.

Actually, if the school is accredited, it is accredited by the National League for Nursing (and according to the NLN website, Brown Mackie is not accredited). The school is approved by the Ohio Board of Nursing. Approval by the board allows graduates to sit for the NCLEX. Accreditation is an honor above and beyond approval.

Hi... I am also looking at Brown Mackie College. I have learned this week that it may not be the wisest choice of school. I did check the state board of nursing (see website link above by KAT) and learned that the school in Findlay is on provisional approval. That means, in my understanding, that the board has approved the school, taken the approval away, then given it back temporarily. Based on this alone, I am looking into other programs.

The other reason I am looking into other programs (ie: 11-12 month programs) is the cost. They are a private school, thus VERY expensive. For the entire program it will be around $24K!!! There are some things that they REQUIRE you purchase through the school, power point packets, uniforms, nurse kit... things you could purchase for a much less cost elseware. Yes, there are benefits... 1 class per month, some-what part time hours... but is that worth the excessive cost or risk of not getting the education ie: not passing the NCLEX... It isn't for me.

Here is the site for the state board of nursing... http://www.nursing.ohio.gov/education.htm click that, then click on List Of Nursing LPN Programs. That will give you a list of all of the programs in Ohio, then you can mapquest the ones that seem close to you & start your research from there.

I am personally looking into the Akron School Of Nursing and Portage Lakes School of Nursing. Both have FULL Approval by the BON. Both are standard 11 month programs and neither have waiting lists.

All the best to you... keep me posted on your decision! God Bless!!

dannieyell01 · Jan 15, 2009

Hello, I attended the Brown Mackie College in Cincinnati for LPN last year and to be honest with you it is the worse school ever. I have a friend that also attended the one in NKY and she said the same. The pass rates are ridiculously low and the clinical sites are like an hour away. I started out with 60 people in my class and by the 4th month there was only 20 of us because they all transferred to other schools. I transferred as well. None of their credits transfer to anywhere no matter what they say. It was a huge waste of my time and now I am another $5,000 in the whole because of that crappy school. I wouldn't recommend this school to my worst enemy. Hope this helps! If you are in Cincinnati, try Bohecker College... I am starting there in April and from what I have seen and researched it is a great school. It is exspensive, but I hope it's worth it.

gabriella86 · Jan 28, 2009

Galen College of Nursing in Cinci...

I attend the program here in Louisville. I just started but everyone else I know that has attended before me really liked it and so far so do I.

It is expensive like Brown Mackie though.

buzinezzmom · Mar 28, 2009

I am currently a student at Brown Mackie College. I am in my last month and I would also have to say that it is the worst school I have ever been to. I would not send my dog there. If I knew back when I started what I know now I would have never went there. I can not wait to finish my last month. I have also heard excellent things about Bohecker. Brown Mackie raised their tuition in the middle of my time there. The program cost me 28,000 just for tuition and that did not include my books, uniforms, or my nursing kit. Yes they have been under provisional status so be sure to do your research before signing up there. I attend the AKron Brown Mackie and I have met students who have graduated from both AKron and from the Canton who would tell you to go somewhere else. It is not that bad when you first start but it does get worst. I hope this helps.

jennie128 · Jun 9, 2009

Hi my name is Jennie I also thought about Brown Mackie. I curreently go to Terra they have a wait list for nursing but all of there credits transfer. Brown Mackie will not transfer anywhere.so if you just want to be an lpn thats great go for it, but if you want to further your education go somewhere else becuase you will spend to much money at Brown Mackie and then have to start all over for your R.N.

ParkerBC,MSN,RN, PhD, RN · Jul 11, 2009

i am looking into brown mackie college. yes, the school is “initially accredited” with the indiana state board of nursing, but every new nursing program is required to start that way. ivy tech- fort wayne and greencastle are “initially accredited” and ivy tech is the community college flagship for asn degrees for the state of indiana. also, it is important to note that before a school can get “initially accredited”, the school has to present to the indiana state board of nursing their curriculum. that curriculum has to meet requirements set by the indiana state board of nursing. http://www.in.gov/pla/files/microsoft_word_-_asnweb.pdf

i must also mention that people on the forum say that the credits do not transfer. the only credits that doe not transfer are the pre-req, unless you did not complete the program. then none of your credits will transfer. most nursing schools do not accept transfer nursing courses from any university or college. it should also be noted that not every course from purdue university will transfer to indiana university. it is up to the receiving institution and that applies to all colleges.

someone else mentioned nln and ccne accreditation. there are a few facilities (mainly hospitals) who will not hire students who have graduated from a program that is not nln or ccne accredited. there are also some colleges and universities who will not allow a person to do an lpn to rn bridge program or lpn to bsn program unless the school is nln or ccne accredited. however, there are quite a few (here in indiana) that will accept the student. after completing that school’s program, you will have an nln or ccne accredited degree. problem solved.

in my meeting with a representative at brown mackie college, i was told how much the tuition was per hour. if i attend the university, i am aware of how much investment i will be making. also it should be mentioned that every year, colleges and universities have tuition increases. it is expected with the rising costs of doing business.

as for pass rates for nclex, everyone who enters nursing school is told about nclex and the type of questions on the exam. while the nursing instructors teach the material, it is the student’s responsibility to practice the questions and ask questions if material is not understood. i graduated from an ivy league university with my undergraduate degree and was never “spoon fed” what i needed to know in order to do well on my exams or certification. the students have to put forth some effort to be successful.

if there is someone here who has had a negative experience (with an instructor or administration) at brown mackie and it was unjust, please post it so that i can make up my mind if i am going to attend the school.

kat7ap · Jul 11, 2009

i am looking into brown mackie college. yes, the school is "initially accredited" with the indiana state board of nursing, but every new nursing program is required to start that way. ivy tech- fort wayne and greencastle are "initially accredited" and ivy tech is the community college flagship for asn degrees for the state of indiana. also, it is important to note that before a school can get "initially accredited", the school has to present to the indiana state board of nursing their curriculum. that curriculum has to meet requirements set by the indiana state board of nursing. http://www.in.gov/pla/files/microsoft_word_-_asnweb.pdf

just to clarify: the original poster was asking about brown mackie college in ohio, not indiana. the brown mackie in ohio does have a provisional approval status which means their full approval status was revoked at some point for not meeting requirements.

emrebeth3 · Apr 19, 2010

i am looking into brown mackie college. yes, the school is "initially accredited" with the indiana state board of nursing, but every new nursing program is required to start that way. ivy tech- fort wayne and greencastle are "initially accredited" and ivy tech is the community college flagship for asn degrees for the state of indiana. also, it is important to note that before a school can get "initially accredited", the school has to present to the indiana state board of nursing their curriculum. that curriculum has to meet requirements set by the indiana state board of nursing. http://www.in.gov/pla/files/microsoft_word_-_asnweb.pdf
i must also mention that people on the forum say that the credits do not transfer. the only credits that doe not transfer are the pre-req, unless you did not complete the program. then none of your credits will transfer. most nursing schools do not accept transfer nursing courses from any university or college. it should also be noted that not every course from purdue university will transfer to indiana university. it is up to the receiving institution and that applies to all colleges.
someone else mentioned nln and ccne accreditation. there are a few facilities (mainly hospitals) who will not hire students who have graduated from a program that is not nln or ccne accredited. there are also some colleges and universities who will not allow a person to do an lpn to rn bridge program or lpn to bsn program unless the school is nln or ccne accredited. however, there are quite a few (here in indiana) that will accept the student. after completing that school's program, you will have an nln or ccne accredited degree. problem solved.
in my meeting with a representative at brown mackie college, i was told how much the tuition was per hour. if i attend the university, i am aware of how much investment i will be making. also it should be mentioned that every year, colleges and universities have tuition increases. it is expected with the rising costs of doing business.
as for pass rates for nclex, everyone who enters nursing school is told about nclex and the type of questions on the exam. while the nursing instructors teach the material, it is the student's responsibility to practice the questions and ask questions if material is not understood. i graduated from an ivy league university with my undergraduate degree and was never "spoon fed" what i needed to know in order to do well on my exams or certification. the students have to put forth some effort to be successful.
if there is someone here who has had a negative experience (with an instructor or administration) at brown mackie and it was unjust, please post it so that i can make up my mind if i am going to attend the school.

may i ask which school you decided on??? thanks

emrebeth3 · Apr 19, 2010

i am currently attending brown mackie i graduate in october 2009.
the only thing that sucks about the school, is the tuition rate.
it is a very fast paced program, you have to be ready and focused to make it through.
they are very big on nclex preparation, we have to do 2 nclex practice test a week, to get us prepared for the real nclex. the nclex practice starts with fundamentals 1 class, i am now in fund. 2.
it is expensive, but if you want no waiting list, and want to get going with your career, then check it out, and after fund. 2 you can be a c.n.a. and if you are already a c.n.a. you can be a q.m.a. after fund. 3, which is what i will be doing.
i like the fact that after every month, you feel like your actually accomplishing something, and your one month closer to finishing, while students in other schools are still in the same class 2-3 months later.

hi can you tell me if the program at brown mackie that you went through was rn or lpn? the one here in kc offers both the lpn program and rn but im finding out that in the other states where brown mackie colleges are that alot of them only offer the lpn. thank for sharing

Chicarocks123 · May 4, 2011

I am currently enrolled in BMC and I don't love it or hate it, it's just school. LPN school is fast paced everyone knows that! Don't join if you can't grasp that concept, this school I must agree is not for everyone. I believe you get out what you put into it just like with any other program. I have 3 classes and preceptorship left and I'm so excited, BMC prepares you for the NCLEX by making you take the ATI almost every 3 months. Most of my classemates are bitter old CNA's who believe just because it's fast paced and we have a lot to learn, that we deserve breaks :confused: . They want clincal sites close to home but in case they didn't read the handbook it specifically says be available mon-sun 12-12 and be prepared to travel up to 100 miles away and that isn't because they want to be "evil". It's because RN students at universities take all the hospitals near us. :mad: That's no ones fault they have more potential to work there so I see the reasoning I don't agree but whatever. Thing is don't let all the negativity that "professional" students say about BMC encourage you not to join. I like it, the one class a month is perfect I can't focus on psych, math and english all at once, tuition is high ok so its not for "poor" people good education costs. Just my opinion. There might be better programs in your area check it out, I dont regret my decision. :)