Considering UMD? Please read a review from a former student

[joyfullydancin]

I just graduated with honors from UMD this past December. I did pass my boards the first time and have been working as a nurse right out of school. After talking with several other unsatisfied UMD new grads and UMD experienced nurses, I feel I need to write a review.

My experience with Maryland was horrible from the beginning. I applied to the Baltimore campus but was placed at the Shady Grove Campus. Since the drive to Rockville was 3 times that of the drive to Baltimore, I inquired about them fixing their mistake. I was told I would have to wait until the following semester and apply again if I wasn't happy with being accepted to Shady Grove. Of course, I just went with it and stayed at Shady Grove.

This was my first sign that they are horribly unorganized! The next signs were in the coursework itself. Professors do not communicate with one another, despite them teaching the same class. Our first semester one of our classes had 4 teachers. Those 4 teachers would tell us conflicting information about exams, due dates, and the material itself. On more than one occasion we were told the exam would be open note by one teacher, only to arrive on exam day and discover it was in fact close book. No amount of discussion about how unfair this was resulted in them fixing their mistake.

Furthermore: The shady grove teachers would be forced to teach the class, but use the exam the Baltimore teach wrote. To top it off, our instructor would not get the exam until exam day! Leaving them in the dark as to what topics to lecture on. As a result, there were several questions that the baltimore teacher placed in there about discussions THEY only had in class. Shady Grove was not given access to the recordings, so it was very challenging to do well in this courses.

They had simulations in which we would interact with mannequins while our classmates watched. Two of our professors proceeded to berate the students doing the simulation IN FRONT OF the entire class while they were working. From everything about their nursing skills, the way they talked (lisp), and appearance. It is very disturbing to hear that when YOURE about to go up next and be graded on the same simulation.

The senior practicum situation was horrible. One of my classmates did not get a placement until early November. Thats right. They had to get 180 hours by early December. On top of exams and living. The school did not see an issue with the fact that she had to miss classes due to their mistake. Her grades suffered and the school was less than supportive. The school simply said they were not aware she didn't have a placement. Despite her emailing inquiring about her status all semester. Another student was placed in Urgent Care setting, where they were just passing tylenols. No real nursing skills or assessments. Whats the point of this clinical if skills will not be used?

Finally my final semester we both Shady Grove and Baltimore students were charged a $55 graduation fee. Baltimore had a beautifully decorated ceremony at the hippodrome. shady grove was placed in the auditorium at the Shady Grove campus with folding chairs. Many family members left standing. Graduates sat in whatever order they felt like, therefore names were called out of order. Very challenging for family to see when their student would be called. For us all to be charged the same fee, why was Shady Groves ceremony so lackluster? A few of my classmates names were not even in the program despite submitting materials on time.

We were also not given a lot of real world opportunities to learn skills. No IV skills, No IV push, very few assessments, and very few opportunities to use nursing judgement. Clinical groups were way to huge and poorly run to adequately learn.

For as much money they charge, I expected the program to be organized and to learn REAL world skills. Instead we were given the run around by professors and treated horribly.

If youre very interested in this program...PLEASE do not attend Shady Grove. If you have choices I would choose Towson.

While I did graduate near the top of my class and get a great job right away, the headache I endured to get there was not worth it. Nursing school is hard, your professors and schools disorganization shouldn't make it harder.

[Lulu Belle, RN, EMT-B]

This makes me very nervous... I just applied to shady grove. Can I ask what type of setting you were able to get a job in?

Can you speak more about clinicals? What types of facilities did you have them at? Were the clinical instructors and professors doing the best they could with what they had, or was the quality of the instructors themselves low?

I know this is just one post on the internet, but I have been having my doubts about choosing shady grove. I am wondering if it is too late to see if I can change my campus preference.

[joyfullydancin]

This makes me very nervous... I just applied to shady grove. Can I ask what type of setting you were able to get a job in?

Can you speak more about clinicals? What types of facilities did you have them at? Were the clinical instructors and professors doing the best they could with what they had, or was the quality of the instructors themselves low?

I know this is just one post on the internet, but I have been having my doubts about choosing shady grove. I am wondering if it is too late to see if I can change my campus preference.

I am in the ICU. I did scholars. I highly suggest you do that your senior year:

Shady grove is mostly in Montgomery county. Most people were at shady grove, Anne arundle medical center, suburban for med surg. Geriatric clinical was horrible. Most were placed at facilities that were unclean and patients treated poorly.

There are a few amazing teachers. Cornet, shumate, and Nicole REALLY know their stuff. Sadly MANY others don't know much. You can point out something in the book that's common knowledge and they act like it's fresh stuff.

I am am friends with a few girls from Baltimore and they had amazing experiences. Shady grove is just very unorganized and you seem like the red headed step child. I would really suggest changing if it's not too late. If it is...don't fret. Just do your best! You WILL pass NCLEX first time around and get a job. Everyone in my class has a job and only like 5 more people need to test. Haven't heard anyone who has failed

[hpark1278]

If it's any consolation, students rarely learn any useful skills in nursing school. Clinicals are not like real-life nursing at all. You will learn everything you need to know once you actually start working. If you get into a good nurse residency program, you will get the best one-to-one learning experience. Getting a BSN from UMD will definitely help you land a nurse residency spot. Sorry that Shady Grove was such a headache. Things can only get better!