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 Correctional.
On 2/27/2022 at 6:05 PM, faithinnursing said:

I'm starting in June as well

Hi! I will be starting in June as well!

On 3/17/2022 at 4:33 AM, Essy said:

Joining June 2022 Cohort here

I am joining June 2022 as well!

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Specializes in Correctional.
On 2/6/2022 at 12:01 PM, Trlyons_LVN said:

I am in Northern California 

HI! I was wondering if I can contact you and ask you a couple questions about the program. I will be starting in June.

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On 1/5/2022 at 7:21 PM, Christina Curto said:

I just submitted my application for February's class but I am soooo hesitant to actually go through with it.... Are the negative reviews troublesome to any one else? I really need an online / hybrid program, and I don't know of any others, but this program has been slaaaaaammed by so many students. Multiple people, including those I know personally, state that it is a highly disorganized program. They've stated that they change teachers mid class and change the testing format without any notice then tell you to be "adaptive" because you'll have to do that as a nurse. I don't know....I'm so nervous but I've been looking to do this program forever so I am truly unsure of what to do right now.

I wanted to come back and make notes my experience so far. 

Hi there! The group was getting overwhelmed with requests from prospective students so we had to close it off to our cohort's students BUT I did write a little summary of my experience so far. I hope this helps! Please feel free to PM me with any other questions you might have!  

 

-------------------

 

Please note: We are only a little over a month into the first semester and I am only in the Pharmacology portion since I took the APA and tested out of the Fundamentals portion. With this in mind, please know that I can only speak to my experience so far and relay information I've been told from former students or other students in my class. Things could change so please use this as general knowledge!

 

Regarding APA test; if you are an LVN/LPN/LPT DO IT! I thought it was pretty easy, I only spent a few weeks studying. I thought the Pharm questions were easy too so I was surprised! I studied using an ATI Fundamentals NCLEX Prep book and it definitely prepared me. I was glad I studied lab values and ABG disorders but I felt like most of the questions were really simple nursing concepts. I found that study book on Thriftbooks.com for like $8! I got my test results back via email the next day after I took it. Between the savings on tuition ($5k), the class materials fee ($4k) and the cost to fly out and attend clinicals, you're looking at over $10k in savings easily. Note: out of dozens I know to take the gap exam, only a few have passed Pharmacology. It's not difficult so I'm not sure why, but it's actually better that way! We cover IV meds and if that hasn't been in your scope of practice previous, you might have a harder time applying it/ figuring it out during future semesters. 

So far the advisors have been friendly, helpful, engaging, and quick to respond. I had heard negative reviews about them but I haven't found them to be accurate at all, at least in regards to our first semester instructors. I am really ENJOYING our live weekly sessions. That said, I have heard of staff turnover there and we did already have a faculty member leave us this semester. I don't know if this will impact the quality of education at all, just thought I'd note that. 

The live engagement sessions: in pharmacology you must attend 1 of the three live engagement sessions offered each week, at least 2.25 of the 3hrs OR submit makeup assignments (that would take you way longer!) You can choose which meeting to attend, they all review the same content. Fundamentals has two live engagement sessions for that portion and both must be attended(2.5hr on Tues, 1hr on Thurs). I also hear the classroom and clinical work you have to do for Fundamentals is time intensive too. Which leads me to my next note…

Hours required: Classes always have estimates on how long all the work will take and I've found them to be general guidelines I don't pay much attention to… not so much in this class! To do everything correctly, this will definitely require many dedicated hours every day. I have definitely already found shortcuts (I.e. skipping straight to the assessment on the lessons) BUT this obviously comes at the risk of not actually absorbing the material you need to know. Which leads me to my neeext point…

Work: I would say most of the students are working full-time right now, but from what I'm hearing in chat, many taking the full courseload (Fundamentals and Pharm) are struggling to find the time to complete it all, let alone absorb the material fully. I can imagine as I'vee even been busy just with the Pharm work. With this in mind, I'll be switching to only taking 3-4 shifts a week once I begin next semester. I would definitely consider going part time/ per diem at some point. 

Clinicals: I'm sure everyone has heard of the notorious clinical student backlog and how students were going to FL for one month(ish) at the end of the program to do ALL their clinicals…. Well, unfortunately for us out of state students (that's almost everyone), that is being phased out. They're saying for sure by next semester they will return to "clinical concurrency", as requested by the CBON so licenses will continue being endorsed in CA from this school. And the # of clinical dates required seems to have increased by a few days from what I was told a year and a half ago when I first inquired. Note, I know we do some VSim (virtually simulated) clinicals that will take care of some of the hours but they're scaling those back from 75% to 50% or less. This means we will be going out to Florida each semester for over a week each time. (Roughly 7-12 days each semester, plus an extra week in the last semester for final evaluations). 

Quality of education: I am really impressed by this so far, as I was most worried about this. As I said, the faculty have been really supportive and helpful so far and the actual software/ programs we are using are overall really helpful. One complaint I do have though is the organization of the information in the recorded videos and lessons, but it's an easy fix. If I take notes spaced out on different pages, I can cluster info together. It's overall a minor inconvenience but it does take just a little more of your time. 

The general format of the courseload in Pharmacology each week is:

   * Watch the prerecorded lectures (3 - 10, averaging 20 mins each)

   * Complete the interactive lessons and assessment on Sherpath (4 - 10, averaging 45 mins each) 

   * Take a short 5 question quiz

   * Attend 1 live session for Pharm.

   * Take the 100 Question EAQ exam (does not have to be completed in one sitting!)

*I'm not sure how much of each type of activity in Fundamentals, but it runs the same type of routine, just has the added vSim component.

I HOPE ANY OF THIS HELPS! I think it does take a certain level of comfort with uncertainty/ adaptability BUT this is a legitimate path for those of us tired of waiting to get into a CA program. I do know multiple coworkers who have graduated and are fully endorsed and working at acute care hospitals locally so I do know this can be done! 

7
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Specializes in oncology.
8 hours ago, Christina Curto said:

I wanted to come back and make notes my experience so far. 

Thank you so much for this posting. It gave me more insight into this program.

1
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Specializes in Correctional.
14 hours ago, Christina Curto said:

I wanted to come back and make notes my experience so far. 

Thank you! This was extremely helpful! I will be contacting you in the near future with some questions. I will be starting in June.

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Yes.  Thank you. 

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For those out-of-state students, already in the program or starting in the June cohort for ICHS,  would you please tell me about clinical?  On average, how many times throughout the RN program would one be flying to Florida?

I truly thank all for sharing and taking the time to respond.

 

 

 

 

 

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Specializes in LVN 12 years.
On 4/1/2022 at 7:21 AM, londonflo said:

Thank you so much for this posting. It gave me more insight into this program.

Thank you so much for the post!

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On 3/31/2022 at 10:21 PM, Christina Curto said:

I wanted to come back and make notes my experience so far. 

Hi there! The group was getting overwhelmed with requests from prospective students so we had to close it off to our cohort's students BUT I did write a little summary of my experience so far. I hope this helps! Please feel free to PM me with any other questions you might have!  

 

-------------------

 

Please note: We are only a little over a month into the first semester and I am only in the Pharmacology portion since I took the APA and tested out of the Fundamentals portion. With this in mind, please know that I can only speak to my experience so far and relay information I've been told from former students or other students in my class. Things could change so please use this as general knowledge!

 

Regarding APA test; if you are an LVN/LPN/LPT DO IT! I thought it was pretty easy, I only spent a few weeks studying. I thought the Pharm questions were easy too so I was surprised! I studied using an ATI Fundamentals NCLEX Prep book and it definitely prepared me. I was glad I studied lab values and ABG disorders but I felt like most of the questions were really simple nursing concepts. I found that study book on Thriftbooks.com for like $8! I got my test results back via email the next day after I took it. Between the savings on tuition ($5k), the class materials fee ($4k) and the cost to fly out and attend clinicals, you're looking at over $10k in savings easily. Note: out of dozens I know to take the gap exam, only a few have passed Pharmacology. It's not difficult so I'm not sure why, but it's actually better that way! We cover IV meds and if that hasn't been in your scope of practice previous, you might have a harder time applying it/ figuring it out during future semesters. 

So far the advisors have been friendly, helpful, engaging, and quick to respond. I had heard negative reviews about them but I haven't found them to be accurate at all, at least in regards to our first semester instructors. I am really ENJOYING our live weekly sessions. That said, I have heard of staff turnover there and we did already have a faculty member leave us this semester. I don't know if this will impact the quality of education at all, just thought I'd note that. 

The live engagement sessions: in pharmacology you must attend 1 of the three live engagement sessions offered each week, at least 2.25 of the 3hrs OR submit makeup assignments (that would take you way longer!) You can choose which meeting to attend, they all review the same content. Fundamentals has two live engagement sessions for that portion and both must be attended(2.5hr on Tues, 1hr on Thurs). I also hear the classroom and clinical work you have to do for Fundamentals is time intensive too. Which leads me to my next note…

Hours required: Classes always have estimates on how long all the work will take and I've found them to be general guidelines I don't pay much attention to… not so much in this class! To do everything correctly, this will definitely require many dedicated hours every day. I have definitely already found shortcuts (I.e. skipping straight to the assessment on the lessons) BUT this obviously comes at the risk of not actually absorbing the material you need to know. Which leads me to my neeext point…

Work: I would say most of the students are working full-time right now, but from what I'm hearing in chat, many taking the full courseload (Fundamentals and Pharm) are struggling to find the time to complete it all, let alone absorb the material fully. I can imagine as I'vee even been busy just with the Pharm work. With this in mind, I'll be switching to only taking 3-4 shifts a week once I begin next semester. I would definitely consider going part time/ per diem at some point. 

Clinicals: I'm sure everyone has heard of the notorious clinical student backlog and how students were going to FL for one month(ish) at the end of the program to do ALL their clinicals…. Well, unfortunately for us out of state students (that's almost everyone), that is being phased out. They're saying for sure by next semester they will return to "clinical concurrency", as requested by the CBON so licenses will continue being endorsed in CA from this school. And the # of clinical dates required seems to have increased by a few days from what I was told a year and a half ago when I first inquired. Note, I know we do some VSim (virtually simulated) clinicals that will take care of some of the hours but they're scaling those back from 75% to 50% or less. This means we will be going out to Florida each semester for over a week each time. (Roughly 7-12 days each semester, plus an extra week in the last semester for final evaluations). 

Quality of education: I am really impressed by this so far, as I was most worried about this. As I said, the faculty have been really supportive and helpful so far and the actual software/ programs we are using are overall really helpful. One complaint I do have though is the organization of the information in the recorded videos and lessons, but it's an easy fix. If I take notes spaced out on different pages, I can cluster info together. It's overall a minor inconvenience but it does take just a little more of your time. 

The general format of the courseload in Pharmacology each week is:

   * Watch the prerecorded lectures (3 - 10, averaging 20 mins each)

   * Complete the interactive lessons and assessment on Sherpath (4 - 10, averaging 45 mins each) 

   * Take a short 5 question quiz

   * Attend 1 live session for Pharm.

   * Take the 100 Question EAQ exam (does not have to be completed in one sitting!)

*I'm not sure how much of each type of activity in Fundamentals, but it runs the same type of routine, just has the added vSim component.

I HOPE ANY OF THIS HELPS! I think it does take a certain level of comfort with uncertainty/ adaptability BUT this is a legitimate path for those of us tired of waiting to get into a CA program. I do know multiple coworkers who have graduated and are fully endorsed and working at acute care hospitals locally so I do know this can be done! 

Thank you for sharing your experience. I am planning to attend in June.

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Specializes in Correctional.

Hi all! I will be starting in June. Feel free to email me so we can get a facebook group or some sort of group going. [email protected]

1
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Specializes in RETIRED Cath Lab/Cardiology/Radiology.

Just a reminder:  There are two approved ways to create a special place for your cohort.

One: create a facebook page. This link may be posted.

Two: create a "club" for your cohort by clicking on the Breakroom link in the yellow bar to the left of this page. Then click on “Create A New Club” in the green bar at the top of the page, and follow instructions.

References to other than these two avenues will be moved from view, to comply with the Terms of Service.

Thank you.

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Specializes in Correctional.
On 4/4/2022 at 9:12 PM, Nydia Diaz said:

For those out-of-state students, already in the program or starting in the June cohort for ICHS,  would you please tell me about clinical?  On average, how many times throughout the RN program would one be flying to Florida?

I truly thank all for sharing and taking the time to respond.

 

 

 

 

 

My coworker recently talked to somebody from the school and this is what she said, "I talked to the lady from the school yesterday they said they resumed all clinical rotations so we have to go more days. 1st semester 10days, second semester 14 days, 3 semester 16 days then at the end is 21days."

1
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