I WOULD NOT recommend Brookdale

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Just a head's up to prospective students. For years I coldn't wait to start the BCC program. Now I am not even finished with my nursing course and have had it out with my instructor/dept head and I am already looking into possibly transferring to Ocean County College. On top of th workload we have already, they expect us to test on math conversions, vitals, and med administration. Which is all fine and good but THEY DO NOT COUNT for any credit but we must still pass them or fail. We also had to do a one page paper wth citations which counted for zerfo credit. It only takes away from our study time. The math test, we get three attempts and MUST PASS WITH A 90 OR BETTER or we get kicked out. I failed my second attempt today with an 80. Years of hard work, time, sacrifice, frustration, all nighters, etc....to possibly have it allwhiped out by not getting a 90 or better on a test in which we don't even get any credit for. Are you serious? My email to my instructor today was not pretty and this week should a flirtatious dance with expulsion for calling out the college on their practice and politics. So in case anyone wanted any first hand feedback on BCC, there you have it.

Msn10.....get over yourself. Some of us haven't seen Algebra in twenty years. And why so long? Because we never use it. Moving on....

I agree with all of you. Except for a couple of things. You work, you get paid. You study, you get a grade (credit). That is my philosophy. You want us to test out? Great. Give us credit. Also, I I have to question why they keep all these non credit test outs from a students a secret. I for one would have never partaken in such a program. So not being told of these test outs, I just wasted two and a half years of my life.

Specializes in ICU.

Oh my...dear, not everything you do in life will give you "credit." Not everything you accomplish gets a trophy. Soon, you will be getting report from a nurse who did the bare minimum to get through shift, yet they just got PAID the same as you...and now you find yourself having to play catch-up, doing more work to get things done.

Life isn't fair, but we as nurses, all had to go through this same thing. Honestly, it's basic math...med calculations is all multiplying/dividing/adding/subtracting. It's not rocket-science, but it is a "right of passage" in nursing school world. YouTube it, talk to your professor about what you're having issues with (maybe they have some tips), and go see if your campus offers math tutoring.

If you think this is hard, wait until you become a nurse :/

Msn10.....get over yourself. Some of us haven't seen Algebra in twenty years. And why so long? Because we never use it. Moving on....

I agree with all of you. Except for a couple of things. You work, you get paid. You study, you get a grade (credit). That is my philosophy. You want us to test out? Great. Give us credit. Also, I I have to question why they keep all these non credit test outs from a students a secret. I for one would have never partaken in such a program. So not being told of these test outs, I just wasted two and a half years of my life.

OK,you're upset because you don't earn credit for these assignments? What I don't understand is even if you earned some kind of credit, you still wouldn't earn anything anyway because you FAILED. You credit or not, you don't earn anything when you fail. So, are you just throwing a tantrum by not doing what is expected of you because you don't get a prize at the end? This is just stupid. I'm sorry, you're high if you think any other nursing program is going to be any different. My last nursing program I had to pass my check-offs with a satisfactory. There were no points or any credit towards my final grade, I had to pass with a satisfactory on ALL check offs before the end of the semester or I wouldn't pass the class at all. Even if I earned A's on all of my assignments tests, etc.. I would not pass.

You haven't had math in 20 years? I haven't had math in a long time either, but I still had to perform well enough on an entrance test to even be a contender for my program. Most, if not all, programs have some sort of entrance exam that includes math with some kind of dimensional analysis.

For real, and they think us millennials cry over participation trophies..

Specializes in cardiac, ICU, education.
Msn10.....get over yourself. Some of us haven't seen Algebra in twenty years. And why so long? Because we never use it. Moving on....

Get over myself? I have a responsibility to make sure my students don't kill anyone.

You are missing the point. It is not about credit, it is about understanding simple algebra which I am sure you learned even if it was 20 years ago. It is not my responsibility to teach it to you again. You learned how to read in school, but I am not about to teach you how to do that if you don't remember either. Starting college, you should have a basic set of skills. I am not at all trying to sound snarky, but in the last few years that I have been teaching Foundations, not one student thought the testing was out of line. They didn't love the 'no calculator' rule, but since I worked in an ER and ICU, I know you must be able to do math in your head. The majority of schools I know do this. There is a lot of math in nursing, but we can't possibly test you on everything you need to know. As an adult learner, you will need to learn things on your own.

Besides, if you are not passing the test, then why would you want credit for it?

As I said, I agree with how important everything and how pertinent the information is. Still though, I stand by my conviction, if we work, study, put in time, and sacrifice to get a grade, I believe the student deserves credit. Most students have other classes, jobs, kids, husbands and wives, etc.....on top of the already difficult material AND clinicals. To add more for no credit doesn't fly with me. Thats what state boards are for. Want to increase frequency, give state tests AFTER each semester. To me it's like the mafia putting a gun to your head and saying give me $50. And saying well it's fair because we will let you live. This should all be info you learn at the information session. I am dropting out of the program. Thank you but no thank you. Now if they started nurses art $40 an hour, perhaps it would be worth considering.

I passed the math/English entrance exam. I hear what you are all saying. But my belief goes against the grain. Prospective students should know of all these test outs beforehand. I for one would have went a different route. It is all life and death info. But any "non credit requirements" should be done by the state or whoever after each semester not during. And clinical test outs as you are,physically working in do agree with.

I'll take an 80 which is what I got on my last attempt. Reading and math.....you are talking the sun and the moon. Most anyone can read. Not most anyone can do "simple algebra. " I get what you are saying to a point. But train and educate ppl for the required skills. A hand out and ten minutes after class does not give the student the skill set required. I went to lab and wasee brushed off. Given the problems I got wrong to redo. The instructor quickly went over how she solves the problems. Next math test was more in depth with double conversions before you could even guess how to set up an equation. D/H x V is not a real world solution to every problem. In any case. I am out. I do not agree with the practices. Not gonna spend my second college career. ********. I will find a new major and new career path. And btw I am an A and B student. Not to say I am smart. I always,hated school and had a very difficult time in my sciences but I busted my ass with hours upon hours of studying.

Msn10.....get over yourself. Some of us haven't seen Algebra in twenty years. And why so long? Because we never use it. Moving on....

Actually algebra is used frequently in real life...and ALL the time in nursing.

I agree with all of you. Except for a couple of things. You work, you get paid. You study, you get a grade (credit). That is my philosophy. You want us to test out? Great. Give us credit.

Also, I I have to question why they keep all these non credit test outs from a students a secret. I for one would have never partaken in such a program.

This is common in almost every college major. It's not elementary school anymore, where everyone gets a trophy or a gold star for every single thing you do. No more outside validation anymore to make you feel extra special. In most majors, there is even a class (or two) which are ENTIRELY pass/fail-which actually is "credit." You get credit for passing. Welcome to the real world.

So not being told of these test outs, I just wasted two and a half years of my life.

Guess it sucks to be you. Or maybe your fury is simply a cover for the fact that you are failing out of the program? It doesn't seem believable that you throw away a whole career because there are a couple of pass/fail test outs in a program that's more than halfway finished and in the long run, a mere blink in time in your whole professional life.

I'll take an 80 which is what I got on my last attempt. Reading and math.....you are talking the sun and the moon. Most anyone can read. Not most anyone can do "simple algebra. "

Every practicing nurse who is giving medications needs to be able to do "simple algebra" 100% correctly 100% of the time. It's a good thing you are dropping out if you are content to miscalculate your math 20% of the time. With that attitude, you will end up harming someone, if not killing them. Very small errors can result in huge tragedies when you are talking about medical math.

Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.
I'll take an 80 which is what I got on my last attempt. Reading and math.....you are talking the sun and the moon. Most anyone can read. Not most anyone can do "simple algebra. " I get what you are saying to a point. But train and educate ppl for the required skills. A hand out and ten minutes after class does not give the student the skill set required. I went to lab and wasee brushed off. Given the problems I got wrong to redo. The instructor quickly went over how she solves the problems. Next math test was more in depth with double conversions before you could even guess how to set up an equation. D/H x V is not a real world solution to every problem. In any case. I am out. I do not agree with the practices. Not gonna spend my second college career. ********. I will find a new major and new career path. And btw I am an A and B student. Not to say I am smart. I always,hated school and had a very difficult time in my sciences but I busted my ass with hours upon hours of studying.

I agree that finding a new major is a good idea for you. You were in over your head. The "non-credit" tests/requirements that so disturbed you would be a non-issue for a well-prepared nursing student.

I will just just say this: whatever major you choose to take up will likely carry the same requirements, in that some basic knowledge is a given. No fanfare, no credit. You just MUST have the basic grasp of material that you did not possess in nursing. Fortunately, in most other majors, a lack of basic knowledge will not endanger others' lives. You are doing the right thing.

Most anyone can read. Not most anyone can do "simple algebra. " I get what you are saying to a point. But train and educate ppl for the required skills.

Apparently Brookdale's nursing program does not require a math gen ed, which might be part of the problem.

Would OP be willing to take time off to remediate the math deficiencies? Perhaps he could take an algebra class, and work through some med calc exercises, before returning to the nursing program.

If OP hasn't already burnt his bridges, he may want to ask the nursing department what his options are. And then grovel a bit.

Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.

Oh geez please don't become a nurse with that attitude. I had to do the same work in my LVN program! You didn't pass the med dosage exam & are probably burning bridges with every email you send. So please, send more emails & get yourself black balled out of nursing school. I wouldn't want to work with you or have you be my/my family's nurse.

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