No name nursing school OR one with minimal clinical time

Nurses General Nursing

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I have the opportunity to attend a "no name" school that is relatively new, or to attend a well known university that has minimal clinical time- which would you choose? I will have the GI Bill to pay, so I am not overly concerned with the cost. Both programs are accelerated, and should take about 15 months from start to finish.

I am going for my second bachelors degree. I have about 8 short years of medical experience, including time in the military and a Level I. My last Bachelors involved a lot of online classes and I did well in all of them. I believe a lot can be learned from clinicals, but not sure what the norm is. The "good" program will offer about 24 hours a week.

I would not pick the for-profit school. 24 hours a week sounds like a lot to me.

Specializes in IMC.

I had 20 hours a week for clinicals & that was for Practical Nursing. I believe we had to have 700 total hours of clinical time to be able to sit for the NCLEX-PN. I went to a public technical college in the SE United States. I would be leery of for-profit schools though. And since you have the GI Bill, check to see if the school is even covered by the GI Bill. Some schools are not recognized, so you may not be able to use your benefits.

Extremely irritated is not even the phrase..... Last night another advisor from the good school called me. She said in Nov I can sign up for courses. Perfect. Ummm no! From November to September 2014 pharmacology is the only course I can take. Umm no thanks. So now I really feel stuck. My advisor just kept telling me I could start in Nov with Pharm, and start everything in January.

I am working with a time limit, thank you US military. So now I can wait for this program, find another for next Summer admit, or go with the questionable program and be 1/3-1/2 done before I could start elsewhere. I do know they take the GI Bill so that is reassuring, like a teeny tiny bit. So on top of life, I have to thoroughly do my "homework" and investigate this questionable program- before I waste time and money.

Applying now for a January 2014 start date but taking a class in November doesn't sound bad to me, that's actually pretty fast turn around time. Most places I looked, you apply 10-12 months in advance with acceptance letters sent 8 months in advance of the start if the program.

Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
** From Nursing Program Accreditation Resources

CCNE American Association of Colleges of Nursing | CCNE Accreditation

American Association of Colleges of Nursing | CCNE Accreditation

NLNAC NLNAC Accredited Nursing Programs

http://www.nlnac.org/Forms/directory_search.htm

Accreditation–it’s a term that you have likely heard in the past, but do you know what it really means? If not, you’re not alone. Many people are unsure about what it means when a program or school is accredited, the different kinds of accreditation that exist, and how this elusive term affects your education and career. Here are some important things that you should understand about accreditation as you prepare to start your nursing education.

What Is Accreditation?

When you enroll in a degree program, you want to be confident that everything you are taught meets professional standards.; You want to know that the curriculum will prepare you to enter the healthcare industry with the most current skills and knowledge in that field.. This is where accreditation comes in. Accreditation is a process by which educational programs are evaluated by an outside body that determines if professional standards are being met. These organizations help ensure that the education you receive conforms to certain requirements,, allowing you to proceed knowing that the time and dedication that you put into your studies are a wise investment.

Accreditation is given at two important levels: institution and program. It is important to understand both, as each is important to your education plan.

University Regional vs. National Accreditation

Colleges and universities can earn 1 of 2 types of accreditation: regional or national.

In the United States there are 6 regional accrediting agencies:

  • Middle State Association of Colleges and Schools (Commission on Higher Education)
  • New England Association of Schools and Colleges (Commission on Technical and Career Institutions and Commission on Institutions of Higher Education)
  • North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (The Higher Learning Commission)
  • Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges
  • Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (Commission on Colleges)
  • Western Association of Schools and Colleges (Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges and Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities)

These accrediting bodies certify that schools in their region meet very specific standards of higher learning.

National accrediting agencies focus not on areas of the country, but rather associations of schools with common themes. These agencies tend to accredit post-secondary technical, career, and vocational programs. There are 52 of national agencies in the United States. Some examples are:

  • Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS)
  • Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology (ACCSCT)
  • Council on Occupational Education (COE)

What does this difference mean to you as a student? The biggest issue is the ability to transfer credits between different schools. eLearners.com points out that schools that are nationally accredited typically accept credit from both regionally and nationally accredited schools, but the opposite does not hold true; most regionally accredited schools do not accept transferred credits from nationally accredited schools. So if you began your higher education coursework at a nationally accredited school and then want to transfer to a regionally accredited school, your coursework at the nationally accredited school many not transfer.

This issue isn’t just limited to transferring credits; it can also have an effect on your ability to continue your education in advanced programs, which in turn can impact your ability to progress in your career. Many institutions of higher learning require you to have an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution in order to apply to their graduate programs.

Nursing Education Program Accrediting Bodies

The Department of Education sanctions two national organizations that accredit nursing education programs. The first is the National League of Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC). As detailed on the organization’s website, the NLNAC is responsible for the specialized accreditation of a wide variety of nursing education programs, including clinical doctorate, master’s, bachelor’s, associate, diploma, and practical programs.

The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) also accredits nursing schools, but only those that solely offer master’s and bachelor’s nursing degrees. Similar to the accreditation process of the NLNAC, the CCNE offers a nongovernmental peer review process that operates in accordance with nationally recognized standards, according to the CCNE website. The organization’s mission statement outlines its intention to accomplish several purposes, including:

  • Holding nursing programs accountable to the community of interest,
  • Evaluating the success of a nursing program in achieving its own goals and meeting its expected outcomes,
  • Evaluating the extent to which a nursing program meets the standards for accreditation,
  • Implementing changes that can continue to improve nursing programs, and
  • Informing the public of the value that accreditation has, so that institutes that have such status are recognized for their merits.

Beyond the NLNAC and the CNNE national accrediting bodies, there are also other accrediting bodies for specific, advanced practice nursing fields. For instance, the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME) is responsible for accrediting midwifery education programs.

Why an Accredited Program is Important

If you will be seeking financial aid to pursue your nursing education, choosing an accredited program is vital. In many cases, you cannot qualify for federal and state financial aid, tuition reimbursement programs offered by employers, nor scholarship and grants unless the program is accredited by the NLNAC or the CCNE. Similar to the regional vs. national accreditation issue, you may face an admissions issue to a graduate nursing program if you earned your nursing degree in a non-accredited program.

Both the NLNAC and the CNNE list accredited nursing programs on their websites.

Your Future

There are many resources that you can utilize when trying to learn more about schools and where their accreditation positions them in relation to your career path. All universities and colleges have their accreditation information listed on their websites, and there are also countless resources available online to learn more about accreditation and how it affects your education. In the end, the more information and knowledge you possess as you make the decision about where you want to pursue your nursing education, the more confidently you can make a decision that will in turn help you to shape your career.

Sources:

National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, Inc., “About NLNAC,” About NLNAC (accessed November 3, 2011)

American Association of Colleges of Nursing, “Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education,” Mission, Values, & History. American Association of Colleges of Nursing | Mission, Values, & History (accessed November 2, 2011).

American College of Nurse-Midwives, “Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME).”Accreditation (accessed November 3, 2011).

eLearners.com, “Regional Accreditation vs. National Accreditation,” Issues to Consider. Regional Accreditation vs. National Accreditation (accessed November 3, 2011).

​Would a moderator please make this a sticky? This question comes up frequently, and this information would be useful for future posters with the same question.

Extremely irritated is not even the phrase..... Last night another advisor from the good school called me. She said in Nov I can sign up for courses. Perfect. Ummm no! From November to September 2014 pharmacology is the only course I can take. Umm no thanks. So now I really feel stuck. My advisor just kept telling me I could start in Nov with Pharm, and start everything in January.

I am working with a time limit, thank you US military. So now I can wait for this program, find another for next Summer admit, or go with the questionable program and be 1/3-1/2 done before I could start elsewhere. I do know they take the GI Bill so that is reassuring, like a teeny tiny bit. So on top of life, I have to thoroughly do my "homework" and investigate this questionable program- before I waste time and money.

The for-profit schools make absolutely obscene money on the GI Bill, and the graduation rate of the students is minuscule. It's one of the biggest boondoggles this side of Halliburton. They rake it in off the backs of GIs-- let us not think for a moment it's because they are patriotic.

Go to the real school. In ten years a few months delay will look totally negligible, and you will have a real education.

Specializes in NICU, PICU, PACU.

Go to the better known school, many of the bigger hospitals won't hire people from the ones no one has heard of. Just food for thought.

I am going to echo everyone else and say that 24 hours/week of clinical time is a lot more than I had. If you're concerned about experience, you could work as a nursing assistant once a week while you're in school. I know this is difficult to do in an accelerated program, but I was in an accelerated program and knew a few people who were able to manage this. It sounds like you do have medical experience already (which is awesome!). I've noticed time and again that new grads who have worked as nursing assistants are much better prepared than those who haven't. Good luck!

Specializes in Cardiac, ER.

I live in a town that has two nursing schools that are associated with two different hospitals, and a large state University that offers a BSN program. In my experience with precepting new grads, the graduates from the nursing programs that are hospital based are MUCH more prepared to work as a nurse. They have much more clinical time and more consistent (staying at the same hospital) clinical time.

oh no, I know most for profit schools are just that--for profit. When I referred to the GI Bill I meant that I know the program is supposed to hold the proper accreditation or it will not be covered by the GI Bill.

I am just concerned about the real school having all online courses. What is going to happen when I cannot understand something and the school is 300 miles away. I dont want to show up to my clinical and be completely lost when I should have grasped the concept days ago "in class".... ehhhh who am I kidding, I may "lost" no matter how close or far away my instructors are ;)

Specializes in CRNA, Finally retired.
I live in a town that has two nursing schools that are associated with two different hospitals, and a large state University that offers a BSN program. In my experience with precepting new grads, the graduates from the nursing programs that are hospital based are MUCH more prepared to work as a nurse. They have much more clinical time and more consistent (staying at the same hospital) clinical time.

You may be right that the hospital based programs have students with more clinical experience (didn't know there were any hospital programs still open) but having a BSN gives one a better opportunity of a job and job mobility in the future. BSN grads just have to get their experience on the job - makes the first year more stressful but most of us get through it.

Last night I was looking around some more and I could not find anything negative on the "bad" program. All the students said they felt very prepared, and the campus has state of the art labs and simulations.

I just didn't want to be labeled as a graduate of X, and their graduates are notoriously behind.

One can go to the best school and not receive a proper education while one can go to the worst school and graduate very knowledgeable.

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