Help! OLOL or Southeastern nursing school??

Gottago · Jul 13, 2006

Look at all the postings from SLU students. Not very many on this site. That should tell you something.

I've experienced both OLOL & SLU. SLU a bunch of state workers (for the most part) just there to collect a check. When it comes to teaching you the nursing skills, here's the routine: instructor meets class in a designated room; puts in a video; leaves class to watch video; comes back; tells class what they will need for return demonstration; if you're lucky to get an instructor who gives a darn, they'll spend about 10 minutes with the class, demonstrating; if you get a gov worker just collecting a check, then you practice with the other students (the blind, leading the blind; which is what mostly happens).

OLOL, they don't leave you hanging; you learn the skills, and get plenty of practice.

Go to SLU if you want the theory of nursing, nursing research, documentation, etc. Then, when you get to the hospital, well, you may feel like you don't have a clue as to what you should be doing. Heard this complaint too many times. A common theme you hear from instructors at SLU, "Oh, you'll learn all that later...or you'll learn that when working in the hospital."

SLU is totally concerned with teaching for the NCLEX, and they'll tell you about their pass rates. What they fail to mention, is that if you need to review for NCLEX, you can pay for a review course. They are very concerned with keeping their pass rate high. Must look good on paper when they go before the state legislative review board.

But, if you do go to SLU, don't spend too much time reading all the garbage they tell you to read. 95% of the test material comes from the notes. Many people have said, "I didn't even open the book, and made A's".

Good luck with whatever path you take.

duncanRN · Jul 19, 2006

I agree. I attended SLU nursing school and did not have a pleasant experience. You learn nursing theory, which is mostly useless in the real world. I don't know anything about OLOL, but I know I was miserable at SLU. Good luck.

1studentnurse · Sep 23, 2007

But, if you do go to SLU, don't spend too much time reading all the garbage they tell you to read. 95% of the test material comes from the notes. Many people have said, "I didn't even open the book, and made A's".
Good luck with whatever path you take.

Not true. Every person is different. You have to know the material to pass the course. If you don't know it and own it, you won't pass. This is why SLU has a 10% attrition rate in their accelerated program. There are no freebie A's. I had people in my class with master's in harder things than nursing thank their lucky stars that they got B's and C's.

Every instructor is different, too. For the most part, I found that it was worth your while to talk to instructors after class or make an appointment and see what they recommend. Hearsay is a hell of a way to study. It doesn't work in the real world and doesn't really work at SLU.

I graduated from the accelerated program. BTW EVERY nursing program in MO has to get a certain percentage of graduates to pass the NCLEX on the first try or they will not be certified by the state BON.

Check your MO nurse practice act for more details. It will put you to sleep if you have insomnia.

Gottago · Sep 23, 2007

Not true. Every person is different. You have to know the material to pass the course. If you don't know it and own it, you won't pass. This is why SLU has a 10% attrition rate in their accelerated program. There are no freebie A's. I had people in my class with master's in harder things than nursing thank their lucky stars that they got B's and C's.
Every instructor is different, too. For the most part, I found that it was worth your while to talk to instructors after class or make an appointment and see what they recommend. Hearsay is a hell of a way to study. It doesn't work in the real world and doesn't really work at SLU.
I graduated from the accelerated program. BTW EVERY nursing program in MO has to get a certain percentage of graduates to pass the NCLEX on the first try or they will not be certified by the state BON.
Check your MO nurse practice act for more details. It will put you to sleep if you have insomnia.

"Not true." What did I write that wasn't true?

I've had several personal experiences when the book contradicted what was on the test, only to have the instructor say, "That's not what's in my notes."

I'm not advocating not doing the reading. I read everything assigned and more. I'd often go to their library and try to supplement my reading. Bad news was, the library, in Baton Rouge, didn't have much of a literary resource. Big library, many empty shelves, and many outdated books that filled the remainder of the spaces.

Also, try to find a journal article to reference in one of your writings. "An article from a nursing journal, not a medical journal", as the faculty would say...good luck searching. Many students complained about the lack of references at the school, and on their online database.

My whole point was to tell the person they should focus on their notes because 95% or more of the testing material came from the notes and NOT the textbooks.

My advice still stands. Read the textbooks, but read them quickly, almost skimming them. Focus on studying the notes. Once you feel comfortable with the notes, go back and reference them with the reading assignments, if you want to really put forth the effort; and, look compare them and see what was mentioned, and what was not mentioned in class. But, focus on studying the notes.

Think of it this way: who originally compiled the notes?...Your instructor. Who originally compiled your textbook?...The author(s). Sometimes, you'll find that the instructor hasn't even read the textbook, yet they require it for the class. If you see this to be true, big warning sign...focus on your instructor's notes.

The material in nursing school is NOT DIFFICULT. The instructors, who make the tests, make nursing school difficult. I've seen the majority of the class blow the bell-shaped curve, usually on the first test in some classes, with the majority getting B's and A's. Of course the next test, the grades were, "More evenly distributed," according to the instructor. What a crock.

I saw people get very upset and crying because they'd put all their effort into studying only to get screwed by the instructor's semantics.

But, there were some instructors who did try to teach so that the students learned the material; and more importantly, these instructors wanted students to learn the material. They wanted to teach students in the hopes of becoming good nurses. They enjoyed teaching. These were in the minority.

I'll never forget what one instructor told the class, "Unfortunately, you will find that most of your grades in nursing school is based upon subjective grading." How true.

Hey, I liked SLU and their accelerated program, and they've got some good people there.

Yep, every person is different. Take everyone's advice with a grain of salt, mine and yours, I would tell the original poster. I'd also tell the original poster, "Yea, there are no freebie A's...of course your tuition wasn't free either. And, if you're in the Alternate Program, then you paid for your education, so demand they teach. Get your money's worth. Make them work for their pay; that's what they are there for...not to have a cush job and hang out at the Mall of Louisiana."

Hospice Nurse LPN, BSN, RN · Sep 24, 2007

I picked SLU because, as far as I could tell, the NCLEX pass rate was about the same as OLOL and SLU is MUCH, MUCH less expensive.

CurlyGirlie · Sep 25, 2007

Does anyone know when SLU starts sending out acceptance letters for the Accelerated program?

SELUchic · Mar 25, 2008

they normally send them out about a week before registration. Most of the time they will call you and let you know that you need to pick it up. A little late but it could help someone now.