Harcum Evening Program 2011

Hi I got my letter in the early Feb! See you on April 8th!!!

Hi Danni,

Are you ready for this journey? What you think we are going to be doing or going over?

KC

I am very ready for this!! I can't wait. I have been thinking about going to school for nursing since I graduated from under Grad program almost 9 years ago!!

I am not sure what we will be going over but I imagine it will be what to expect, when we start, what nights and the policies and stuff. Two weeks from today!!!

See you then!!

I am a current student in harcum evening nursing program, and I remember being in this same position last year, preparing myself for orientation

Hey there, I will be attending orientation this friday! From what I hear, we will be getting our uniforms!! Yay! and some supplies but not our textbooks. Did everyone take care of their vaccines and financial aid???

Got my medical stuff all done and submitted. Financial finally got done and sent off. I had issues with that, but finally done. Haven't heard from harcum yet about loans. Hopefully I get that info soon. See everyone on Friday!!!

I was accepted into the STARS program a few years ago but for cost reasons, did not enter it and got my ADN from DCCC instead. It's obvious that you are all very excited about starting the program and I don't want to rain on your parade but . . .

Consider your decision very carefully. There is nothing wrong with the Harcum program but the job market in the Phila area for new nurses is quite bleak. While this is true for BSNs, the situation is even worse for ADNs. Both the Main Line and Crozer systems are seeking magnet status and, with few exceptions, will be hiring only BSNs. Most other hospitals usually list their open jobs as "BSN preferred" which doesn't automatically disqualify ADNs but does make it more difficult. By the way, the "BSN required" trend seems to be one that's growing - just look at the postings on this web site. I don't have the official numbers but something on the order of 50% of the 2009 graduating class from DCCC have not been able to find jobs. For the 2010 class (mine), that number is closer to 80%. My understanding is that the numbers drop quite a bit over time but waiting years for nursing job may be very tough both psychologically and economically.

It would be wise to ask Harcum to provide you with their employment figures and for you to consider them carefully. I think I'd also want to know what kind of job hunting assistance the college provides. The cost of your education at Harcum will be quite substantial - you need to consider how long it will take you to get a return on that investment. If you borrow $25k to get through the program, can you afford to wait 2 or 3 years to find a job?

I'd also urge you to seriously consider getting a BSN rather than an associates degree. The cost for a 4 year BSN at West Chester is not much greater than that for your associates at Harcum and you will improve your chances for employment substantially. Since, like most of my fellow RNs from the DCCC 2010 class, I have not been successful in finding a nursing job. As a direct reaction to the job market here in Philly, I'm returning for my BSN. I plan to enter an on-line RN-BSN program this summer - there are several that cost under $8k. While I hope the BSN will improve my chances of finding a job, even if that's not the case, I will have shelled out only a relatively modest sum to get the degree.

Like I said, I'm not trying to rain on your parade, just giving you some food for thought. Nursing is a very rewarding career but you still need to consider carefully what's going on in the real world.

Well said Chuckster, your completely right. I was a student at Harcum...and had a bad experiance. Their tuition is rediculasly high, and all to not be able to find a job when graduating. And Im not sure if anyone at Harcum told you this, but they are on Provisional Status...meaning, less than 60% of their graduates are even passing the NClex exam. Its sad. Google "NClex pass rates pennsylvania" and the first link is the commonwealth portal with all nursing schools in PA. Harcum is the top 5 worse schools in the state.

Im not trying to ruin your parade either,trust me. Nursing school is tough, and with the right dedication you will succeed. Keep your options high though and dont take the first choice thrown at you like I did. Waste of money thats for sure!

Well not to rain on anyones parade but I have a friend at UMDNJ (BSN Program) and Fairleigh Dickinson who just graduated this past august 2010 and neither one has landed a job. NJ is saturated with nurses who wont retire due to the economy and hospital closings. Google closed hospitals in NJ and see how many there are. Also one graduated with 35 other people in the accelerated program the other 28 and honey they dont have a job either, to me its who you know. Drexel graduates arent much better either its just half of their students dont survive the ACE program. So all I can say to my fellow harcum students is to do your best and go for your bsn as soon as you can. I have a bachelors and a masters and will be bridging into an NP program as soon as I am done with harcum. Just because you had a bad experience dont mean we will and personally I dont mind the provisional status that means they are gonna work their ass off to make sure I pass my boards. They have a lot invested in this program to and I doubt they are gonna let it go without a fight and i think they got rid of people in the nursing dept as well. So thanks for the heads up I plan to further my education but there arent too many programs that are in the evening in PA you can get into without taking all these extra prereqs like lasalle. I dont want to be in school for 30 months either pursuing a bsn. I can be done at harcum in 18 and be working and pursing a bsn online or in my case NP online and in the classroom. Either way good luck ladies and to everyone else do what is best for you because I sure am. See you May 17th.

KC

^^^ Thats nice, still a bad reputation if the past 3 years the school hasnt passed more than 60% of their graduates. So that just tells you a little something on the program.