Broward College Nursing Experiences

U.S.A. Florida

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So I've read all the horror stories and realize this program is not for the faint of heart, but nothing good ever comes easy. I will hopefully be attending North campus in May and I was wondering if anyone is currently in at North Campus or has graduated from the program. If you could give me a little review I'd greatly appreciate it. I'm super nervous about it but medicine in general has always been my passion. Not looking for people to slam the program but what were your humps and hurdles that you've had to pass through? How was the job market once you were close to graduating? Any topics in Fundamentals I should get ahold of? Also looking for the name of the book that teaches about critical thinking. If you have something that you think might be of use to this future male nurse please let me know.

I didn't go to north, but north has a higher pass rate. ..I had a great experience. ..teacher are tough but when you are done you will be prepared and you will see it on the floor. Many of the nurses you will work with are Broward grads! Don't listen to the horror stories. If you put in the work, you will be fine.

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Specializes in ICU.

I do know that they rotate the campus with each program start date - I inquired about the bridge program back in August 2015 and this was a part of the email that I received from Jason Dunne: The LPN-RN bridge is only offered once per year and it rotates campuses – it started on North Campus in May, Central campus in Davie May 2016 and South Campus Pembroke Pines in May 2017.

I have heard that Central campus is HORRIBLE and that North is the best but as you can see, it won't rotate back to the North Campus until 2018....

I am originally from Broward and I moved to North Florida after graduating the LPN program and I'm trying to move back there; I miss home. :sorry:

I had a friend that graduated from North campus RN program back in 2003 and she LOVED it. She did fail OB and had to retake that but she passed. I have a classmate from the LPN program that is currently in the bridge program at the North campus and she LOVES it. She also failed OB but I think it's due to her not studying enough. SOOOO, make sure you study OB. I have heard that med surg is ROUGH!!! A LOT of my classmates from the LPN program failed out of the RN program during med surg.

ALL I can say is study and you should be fine. Broward is TOUGH but they're trying to mold you into a damn GOOD nurse. Nursing is NOT for the faint of heart and it is NOT easy. It's a SERIOUS profession and it's a serious program not to be taken lightly.

I'm in the nursing program now at north campus and I heard from someone that was going through the LPN bridge program that it is much harder and expect a lot more from you. She dropped out and is now with us taking process 1. That's just what I heard.

Specializes in ICU.

Yes, they DO expect more from us because we, as LPNs, are expected to know certain things that the generic students don't BUT with that said, if you don't have the experience with certain things, you're not going to know it. I have a co-worker that is going through Santa Fe's bridge program, here in Gainesville, and they're tough like Broward College. They won't allow the bridge students to take part in the IV labs because they're expected to KNOW it, HOWEVER, here at the facility that I work at, we rarely ever get in any patients with IVs...so, in her case, being allowed to take part in that IV lab in the bridge program would be like a "refresher course" for her but they wouldn't allow it. We did have an RN program instructor come talk to us at the end of our LPN program (I graduated from Sheridan Technical College in April 2014) about Broward College's Bridge program VS their generic program and the bridge program is NO joke. I'd rather take the generic program just because it is offered online, whereas the bridge is not, AND I have to work, at least part time and I have heard that it is difficult having to work during the bridge program....

1 Votes

Both programs join. ..generic and lpn in your second semester. The only difference between the two is you are required less clinical hours as a lpn.

The lpns have less clinical hours to do in some of the classes, and don't do process 1+2. They have one class that combines those classes. After the first semester they are pretty much the same.

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Im pretty sure the last time they had nursing online was in 2014. The dean said it was a few students. They've not had one since Bc not many students apply for it and by sept or October almost everyone wanted to go on campus at least that's what she told us at our orientation.

People still work part time during the program but It all depends You and your job.

Hi there,

I'm currently in the program at North Campus, I just passed my second specialty (OB) and will be headed to peds after spring break before getting toward home stretch for December graduation (Gods willing). All of what you've heard of been told this far is true! This program is the hardest thing I've ever endured school wise in my life. The instructors so far have been great, just tough and know what they expect in their students/future nurses. So with high expectation, they expect high results so if you aren't willing to put in the hard work of studying, reading and critical thinking all while tying together your skills and rationale, then this isn't the program for you. Test taking will be a slap in the face at first due to different structuring so be sure to master your critical thinking skills. Classes go EXTREMELY fast running on an 8 week sometimes 6 week track so you MUST be ready to hit the ground running. Read everything twice-three times to fully get a beneficial understanding and practice NCLEX questions to make sure your reading can be applied to the scenario. Most of all, never give up! If I tell you the number that my class started with compared to what we have now you will get discouraged but please keep pushing no matter what! After your first test in process I you will see your class thin out, as well as the second test, don't freak out. Only the strong survive. You want it, keep pushing for it. Tears, anxiety and heart palpitations are all normal :) let me know if you have any other questions

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I too heard horror stories and I still do... Mostly about the other campuses. I'm at broward north and just started January. I just finished process 1 with a B while working 20 hours a week. It's tough but it is possible! I have professor fola and she is awesome and entertaining!

Recommendation is to get the fundamentals book and read ahead because the amount of reading is crazy. I posted the reading list in the January 2016 class thread:

https://allnurses.com/showpost.php?p=8923224

Read ahead and study it. The more you know before hand the better! I rented some nursing test success books from the library. They are great for explaining how to critically think.

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I was interested in attending Central because if the sim lab. Do you all that attend North find it that not having the simulation building makes a difference in your practical skills? Do you recommend applying to North?

Im very happy at north campus and the professors are great, At least for process. I cannot really comment on any of the other campuses. Re the simulation lab I don't think you can use It as you please, it is only for scheduled simulation with the professors but I may be wrong someone from central may clarify if they can use it wherever. I have my simulation tommo a bit nervous but hey I gotta get over that.

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I was interested in attending Central because if the sim lab. Do you all that attend North find it that not having the simulation building makes a difference in your practical skills? Do you recommend applying to North?

Something to keep in mind that came up at central campus orientation. Your clinicals will be in hospitals near central so you will get to know a lot of the nurse managers and that gives you a chance to network. When I graduate I plan on working close to home which is the central campus area so I went with central because it gives me a chance to get to know the hospitals that I will most likely be employed in. I don't know if that makes sense lol the fact that I make a good impression at clinicals will also help me land a job possibly. So for me I looked at it as long term.

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