ICHS 2022

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Hello! Is there anybody who will be attending International College of Health Sciences (ICHS) in Florida in 2022?

Specializes in RN.
7 minutes ago, Khyron said:

I passed my HESI exit exam on 9/18/22 and became an official graduate 9/19/22.

Oh Boy it's been a journey, started in Feb 2021, took the GAP test which I passed but still ended up with the same cohort if I didn't take it. The only pro about taking the GAP is that it reduces your classes and the cost of the program. I did have to retake Med-Surge II and of course the nightmare of scheduling clinicals which put many people behind targeted graduating dates.

 

I have many classmates that passed the exit in July and are now RNs, most of us are from California, like 90%.

 

The school rules and policies are always changing, class structure and testing has been changing making it more difficult. Just be ready to "go with the flow". This program has given me the opportunity to get a ticket to take my NCLEX, which is all I hoped for the program. I knew it was going to be difficult, online schools/classes usually are. I went part time at my work when I started since I wanted to eliminate all possibilities of setting myself up for failure. It was a big sacrifice for my family since the program and also flying to florida back and forth (I went 4 times) is a big expense, I spent at least 10k for my trips. I know some people that were able to work fulltime the first few semesters but went part time or reduced their hours nearing the end of their programs. It's do-able you have to sacrifice if you want that RN License.

 

I used to think I could recommend this to more of my friends last year, but the way the school evolves and changes with little notice I have steered people away. California is VERY competitive and many of us this school gave us a chance to become RNs without waiting 2-3 years waitlist/lottery programs. 

 

Tip for people asking about clinicals, you have to be very quick when they open up the list for your cohort, spots disappear within a day. Don't think you have the leisure in selecting your days or have a lot of options like scheduling it around your vacation etc. It's FIRST come FIRST serve. I had to go to florida to complete 1 clinical day and return the next day just to complete all my days (I had to do 35 clinical days + 2 mandatory lab days + the 7 days of the CFPE exit exam review week which is mandatory to graduate after you pass. So be ready for the hurdles. 

 

You got this, get in the school, study HARD and PREPARE for those that are going to ICHS.

Thank you sooooo much for this. It really helped learn more about what to look forward too.

Were the exams super hard and did they prepare you for them as in the right materials, ppts, study guides?

So you did go the 4 times, once each semester.  Was the 10k for all 4 trips total or 10k each?? 

We were told we had to do 10 days, 14 days, 16 days and lastly 21 days for our semester clinicals.

Congratulations on Graduating! I know you will do great as a nurse.

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Comprehensive Final Program Examination (CFPE) - Exit exam week which you have 2 days to show proficiency in skills, 3 days of live review then the exit exam on Sunday.

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17 minutes ago, MrsDean2022 said:

Thank you sooooo much for this. It really helped learn more about what to look forward too.

Were the exams super hard and did they prepare you for them as in the right materials, ppts, study guides?

So you did go the 4 times, once each semester.  Was the 10k for all 4 trips total or 10k each?? 

We were told we had to do 10 days, 14 days, 16 days and lastly 21 days for our semester clinicals.

Congratulations on Graduating! I know you will do great as a nurse.

It was about 10k for all my 4 trips in florida, flight 2k, hotel or airbnb which cost 4-5k, car rental or uber, food, etc. A lot of people got roomates and split with uber or car rentals. So that is always a great option to save a lot!

 

It’s good you brought up the clinical day requirements. The school is always changing and I think I heard about them increasing the required days? I am not sure but from your list of days its seems so, but always ask the school directly for all that info. 

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59 minutes ago, Khyron said:

I passed my Exit exam on 9/18/22 and became an official graduate 9/19/22.

Oh Boy it's been a journey, started in Feb 2021, took the GAP test which I passed but still ended up with the same cohort if I didn't take it. The only pro about taking the GAP is that it reduces your classes and the cost of the program. I did have to retake Med-Surge II and of course the nightmare of scheduling clinicals which put many people behind targeted graduating dates.

 

I have many classmates that passed the exit in July and are now RNs, most of us are from California, like 90%.

 

The school rules and policies are always changing, class structure and testing has been changing making it more difficult. Just be ready to "go with the flow". This program has given me the opportunity to get a ticket to take my NCLEX, which is all I hoped for the program. I knew it was going to be difficult, online schools/classes usually are. I went part time at my work when I started since I wanted to eliminate all possibilities of setting myself up for failure. It was a big sacrifice for my family since the program and also flying to florida back and forth (I went 4 times) is a big expense, I spent at least 10k for my trips. I know some people that were able to work fulltime the first few semesters but went part time or reduced their hours nearing the end of their programs. It's do-able you have to sacrifice if you want that RN License.

 

I used to think I could recommend this to more of my friends last year, but the way the school evolves and changes with little notice I have steered people away. California is VERY competitive and many of us this school gave us a chance to become RNs without waiting 2-3 years waitlist/lottery programs. 

 

Tip for people asking about clinicals, you have to be very quick when they open up the list for your cohort, spots disappear within a day. Don't think you have the leisure in selecting your days or have a lot of options like scheduling it around your vacation etc. It's FIRST come FIRST serve. I had to go to florida to complete 1 clinical day and return the next day just to complete all my days (I had to do 35 clinical days + 2 mandatory lab days + the 7 days of the CFPE exit exam review week which is mandatory to graduate after you pass. So be ready for the hurdles. ( I also had to retake my RN Exit exam since I didn’t pass the first time and was very difficult, the stress was so intense  but the victory is so sweet ? )

 

You got this, get in the school, study HARD and PREPARE for those that are going to ICHS.

Congratulations on completing the program! For many of us this is the way for us to become RNs without completing two year program. Your story gives me hope I’m ready to try my hardest to get through to the promise land ♥️

1
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Specializes in RN.
48 minutes ago, Khyron said:

It was about 10k for all my 4 trips in florida, flight 2k, hotel or airbnb which cost 4-5k, car rental or uber, food, etc. A lot of people got roomates and split with uber or car rentals. So that is always a great option to save a lot!

 

It’s good you brought up the clinical day requirements. The school is always changing and I think I heard about them increasing the required days? I am not sure but from your list of days its seems so, but always ask the school directly for all that info. 

OK cool. So for all 4 trips you spent a total of 10k. That doesn't seem too bad. So roughly about 3 to 4k per semester.

Yeah, those are thedays I was guven

 Hope they don't increase them again.4I would have loved to have done everything at the end as well but it ended so we are going once a semester.

Did you fly from California also?

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Specializes in LVN.
10 hours ago, MrsDean2022 said:

OK cool. So for all 4 trips you spent a total of 10k. That doesn't seem too bad. So roughly about 3 to 4k per semester.

Yeah, those are thedays I was guven

 Hope they don't increase them again.4I would have loved to have done everything at the end as well but it ended so we are going once a semester.

Did you fly from California also?

Have you started the program? When I was signing up before June, I was told I would be going to clinicals prior to the end of the first semester. Im starting the 2nd and we have no date as of now for clinicals.

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Specializes in RN.
16 minutes ago, LVNnurse77 said:

Have you started the program? When I was signing up before June, I was told I would be going to clinicals prior to the end of the first semester. Im starting the 2nd and we have no date as of now for clinicals.

We start on the 3rd. I was told the same thing.  We had clinicals each semester and it had to be completed before the semester ends or we don’t progress to the next semester.

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13 hours ago, Khyron said:

I passed my Exit exam on 9/18/22 and became an official graduate 9/19/22.

Oh Boy it's been a journey, started in Feb 2021, took the GAP test which I passed but still ended up with the same cohort if I didn't take it. The only pro about taking the GAP is that it reduces your classes and the cost of the program. I did have to retake Med-Surge II and of course the nightmare of scheduling clinicals which put many people behind targeted graduating dates.

 

I have many classmates that passed the exit in July and are now RNs, most of us are from California, like 90%.

 

The school rules and policies are always changing, class structure and testing has been changing making it more difficult. Just be ready to "go with the flow". This program has given me the opportunity to get a ticket to take my NCLEX, which is all I hoped for the program. I knew it was going to be difficult, online schools/classes usually are. I went part time at my work when I started since I wanted to eliminate all possibilities of setting myself up for failure. It was a big sacrifice for my family since the program and also flying to florida back and forth (I went 4 times) is a big expense, I spent at least 10k for my trips. I know some people that were able to work fulltime the first few semesters but went part time or reduced their hours nearing the end of their programs. It's do-able you have to sacrifice if you want that RN License.

 

I used to think I could recommend this to more of my friends last year, but the way the school evolves and changes with little notice I have steered people away. California is VERY competitive and many of us this school gave us a chance to become RNs without waiting 2-3 years waitlist/lottery programs. 

 

Tip for people asking about clinicals, you have to be very quick when they open up the list for your cohort, spots disappear within a day. Don't think you have the leisure in selecting your days or have a lot of options like scheduling it around your vacation etc. It's FIRST come FIRST serve. I had to go to florida to complete 1 clinical day and return the next day just to complete all my days (I had to do 35 clinical days + 2 mandatory lab days + the 7 days of the CFPE exit exam review week which is mandatory to graduate after you pass. So be ready for the hurdles. ( I also had to retake my RN Exit exam since I didn’t pass the first time and was very difficult, the stress was so intense  but the victory is so sweet ? )

 

You got this, get in the school, study HARD and PREPARE for those that are going to ICHS.

Hello, 

Are you taking the NCLEX in California or Florida? How long was the endorsement process for your classmates? Are their licenses valid and active in both California and Florida? What did you use to study for the exit exam? How much did you study per day and per week? What was your theory schedule like? Do you feel as though the instructors prepared you well for exams? I am currently an LVN in CA, doing prerequisites at a CC, and plan to transfer to ICHS once I'm done with prerequisites. I know ICHS takes Straighterline credits, but I am concerned that ICHS online prerequisite or straighterline prereqs will not meet the CA Board of Nursing requirements/standards. Any advice or input would be appreciated. Thank you in advance!

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On 9/20/2022 at 3:54 AM, LVNnurse77 said:

Working during the program will definitely be something that is per individual. For the people I know that have done this program 1 worked PT, 1 per diem and the 1 working FT is struggling. Everyone is different. I felt the instructors I had gave us the information needed along with the books. I would read my chapters, do a set if practice questions then start doing my assignments. I as well purchased additional books to help me.  I bought lab values book, med surg book, peds book and you will need a drug book. We used our drug book for assignments. I heard all the same rumors about this school and I still chose to enroll. Everyone's experience is different. I have not had the bad experiences that others have talked about. The only thing I can't stress enough about is to study, read your chapters, take notes during zoom and do your practice questions. I wish you luck.

Got it, thank you so much for your response! I wish you success in your career.

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Specializes in RN.
1 hour ago, futurenursemae said:

Hello, 

Are you taking the NCLEX in California or Florida? How long was the endorsement process for your classmates? Are their licenses valid and active in both California and Florida? What did you use to study for the exit exam? How much did you study per day and per week? What was your theory schedule like? Do you feel as though the instructors prepared you well for exams? I am currently an LVN in CA, doing prerequisites at a CC, and plan to transfer to ICHS once I'm done with prerequisites. I know ICHS takes Straighterline credits, but I am concerned that ICHS online prerequisite or straighterline prereqs will not meet the CA Board of Nursing requirements/standards. Any advice or input would be appreciated. Thank you in advance!

I would like to know about the exit exam as well.

I do know from other Nurses who work with me that NCLEX is done through Florida then once we are licensed we go through California and apply for endorsement and pay the $500 fee. They said its fairly easy.

There are California Schools that use Straighterline with no problem. ICHS pre reqs are good as well.

I wonder if the instructors ensure that students are well prepared for exams with the appropriate instruction and materials or are we depending on ourselves to try and figure it out. I hear different stories about the exams.

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On 9/22/2022 at 8:51 PM, MrsDean2022 said:

OK cool. So for all 4 trips you spent a total of 10k. That doesn't seem too bad. So roughly about 3 to 4k per semester.

Yeah, those are thedays I was guven

 Hope they don't increase them again.4I would have loved to have done everything at the end as well but it ended so we are going once a semester.

Did you fly from California also?

Yes from California

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Specializes in RN.
2 hours ago, Khyron said:

Yes from California

Cool. Me too. Hooefully they will open up in a good time to start scheduling clinicals so we don't get those last minute prices.

I just noticed all those typos. Goodness. Sorry about that.

 

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