Fortis College-Norfolk

lilprittynurse, BSN, MSN, DNP, RN · Jun 21, 2010

I once strongly considered this program as I am already an LPN , BUT I recently discovered that this program IS NOT ACCREDITED !!!! This is a real problem for me. They will tell you that they are "seeking" accreditation, but that does not mean much. So, I elected to not pursue this school any further. I had actually already taken and passed the HESI with an "A"....thus wasting $70. Oh well , better now than $26k later. :down:

Be very careful of programs that have yet to be fully accredited by the state board. I talked to the BON and they told me that Fortis had not been accredited by them yet and that they only had provisional approval .

sorry · Jun 22, 2010

Thank you for the important information.I to passed the entrance exam and now must do the financial aid package soon.The school is very quite about their accreditations. Do you know how many RN classes have graduated from Fortis? I have been trying to find this out also.

llg, PhD, RN · Jun 22, 2010

If you check the Virginia Board of Nursing website ... under the "education" section, you can find the NCLEX pass rates for all schools in Virginia. That will tell you how many graduates have taken the NCLEX-RN.

I'm sorry I don't have the link handy, but I know the information is there if you search for it.

Update: Here is the link:

Virginia Board of Nursing Education Programs

It looks as if they have provisional approval to open a program ... but none of its students has taken the NCLEX yet. They apparently just opened for business. I'd be hesitant to go to a program that new ... particulary one that is a "for profit" career college rather than a tradional institution of higher learning and academics.

Be sure to ask LOTS of questions before you commit to anything ... such as where they do their clinical rotations, how much time do they spend in each place. Check the credentials of their instructors, etc.

sorry · Jun 22, 2010

Thank you very much!!!!!!!!!!!

lilprittynurse, BSN, MSN, DNP, RN · Jun 22, 2010

Fortis has yet to appear on the results board for the VA BOA. Seems no one has taken there board yet.

Sorry, I did the financial piece already . Even with my hubby's GI bill , I STILL had quite a bit of excess out-of-pocket cost. AND they are not a participating Yellow Ribbon school, which as a military wife....is not cool.

sorry · Jun 23, 2010

lilprittynurse,I found out today that they just recently had a class to graduate from the RN program who sat :mad: for the boards.I was told that the BON will not give them accreditation until at least two or more classes had graduated and did good on the NCLEX. So I do not know where I will be heading next but as the saying goes all good things must come to and end..I had been searching every state for a program like Fortis. I guess I have to start over again..I to had passed the test and was planning to start in Oct. I still have time to watch the BON list...Good Luck with your future

llg, PhD, RN · Jun 23, 2010

lilprittynurse,I found out today that they just recently had a class to graduate from the RN program who sat for the boards.I was told that the BON will not give them accreditation until at least two or more classes had graduated and did good on the NCLEX. So I do not know where I will be heading next but as the saying goes all good things must come to and end..I had been searching every state for a program like Fortis. I guess I have to start over again..I to had passed the test and was planning to start in Oct. I still have time to watch the BON list...Good Luck with your future

What is so special about the program that it appealed to you over all the other schools in the country? I'm curious.

lilprittynurse, BSN, MSN, DNP, RN · Jun 23, 2010

I too had planned to begin in October. But, after speaking with the BON about them "seeking" accreditation , I decided it was too risky not knowing if they'd ever be accredited???

I found the 15 mth aspect of the program was very appealing and the fact that I wouldn't have to spend extra time re-taking out dated prequisites.Plus, the school was only 10 miles away from you (convenient). As they say, "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!"

sorry · Jun 23, 2010

What is so special about the program that it appealed to you over all the other schools in the country? I'm curious.

There is no waiting list to start your nursing classes. No pre-reqs are needed to start the program.I compared it to the community college and if you are a LPN already you can have your ADN in 15 months a opposed to the community college it will take 2-3 years and maybe longer.in the cc you take pre-reqs that you will never in your life need or use in the health field. This type of college has alot to offer a LPN who want to become a RN faster than going to the cc. I hope that I answered your question where you are no longer curious about the program.If not ask more questions.

llg, PhD, RN · Jun 23, 2010

Yes. That answers my question. Thank you.

Be careful about these "quickie" programs being offered by for-profit schools. I'm not saying they are all bad ... but many of them have opened up to meet the desires of people like you who want a quick route to an RN. Many of them ARE more interested in taking your money than in giving you a high quality education.

That segment of the "education business" is the segment that is most questionable. In fact, the federal government is looking very closely at a lot of such programs that have opened up in response to the economic recession. They draw people in who have lost their jobs (or fear losing their jobs) and want a quick route to a better future through education. It sounds great, but in some cases the people get drawn into programs that are either of dubious quality or outrageously expensive. A disproportionate number of them end up with exceptionally high student loans to pay back and either no degrees at the end ... or degrees that are not respected by the surrounding employers.

I'm not saying that Fortis College is such a bad school. I don't know anything about them in particular. I'm just advising you to be very careful and be sure to investigate the quality of a school carefully before making an investment. Sometimes, quick is OK ... but sometimes it means, "lesser quality."

sorry · Jun 24, 2010

Yes. That answers my question. Thank you.
Be careful about these "quickie" programs being offered by for-profit schools. I'm not saying they are all bad ... but many of them have opened up to meet the desires of people like you who want a quick route to an RN. Many of them ARE more interested in taking your money than in giving you a high quality education.
That segment of the "education business" is the segment that is most questionable. In fact, the federal government is looking very closely at a lot of such programs that have opened up in response to the economic recession. They draw people in who have lost their jobs (or fear losing their jobs) and want a quick route to a better future through education. It sounds great, but in some cases the people get drawn into programs that are either of dubious quality or outrageously expensive. A disproportionate number of them end up with exceptionally high student loans to pay back and either no degrees at the end ... or degrees that are not respected by the surrounding employers.
I'm not saying that Fortis College is such a bad school. I don't know anything about them in particular. I'm just advising you to be very careful and be sure to investigate the quality of a school carefully before making an investment. Sometimes, quick is OK ... but sometimes it means, "lesser quality."

I thank you very much for the information...and you are right about some school out there but a my age community college is just not for me.