Is Sanford Brown really a bad school?

girlwoman78 · Mar 10, 2009

You and me both...I think that Sanford Brown is more urban legend at this point than anything else. I know only one person who went there for the LPN program, and she had no more problems getting a job than anyone else has. But I've heard everyone else that they either have heard of or know someone that went there and couldn't get a job, couldn't graduate, got killed by an axe murderer, or what have you. Just to see what would happen, I called around to a few hospitals, LTCs, ALFs, and whatever else I could think of and asked if, along with hiring LPNs, if they even bothered to see what school they attended. Dead silence. As far as LPNs went, as long as the license was legit, that was as far as they investigated besides a background check.

Now there's this rumor that sanford brown is not accredited...after finding out just what accreditation means, I did some more snooping...check this link out....http://www.ope.ed.gov/accreditation/SearchResult.aspx?6d6f64653d5365617263684279496e737469747574696f6e267264743d332f31302f3230303920333a33383a323920504d. if you go to page number nine, you will find sanford brown. On the bottom. Seven above Sanford Brown is SLU. And feel free to check out other websites on school accredidation; I sure did.

Bottom line; I don't know for sure if Sanford Brown is a waste of money or not. But for people like me, and a few others on this board, it might be an option to explore. And I'm tired of hearing ghost stories about it.

LADYLEX45 · Mar 11, 2009

The thing is with Sanford Brown is that not all their school's are accredited for each program, now there's nothing wrong with going to a school that's not accredited, its just that to be eligible to sit for the state board you will be required to have field experience in addition to your education, where as most schools once you've completed the course you can sit for the exam. Another downfall is there tution, it's very expensive. A lot of people start the program and don't complete it. If you don't complete it, you'll be stuck cause those credits won't transfer anywhere.

mama_d, BSN, RN · Mar 11, 2009

When people ask what school I went to, I tell them "Sanford Brown, but don't hold that against me."

When I went there ten years ago, they let any idiot into the nursing program (seriously, we had people in our class who couldn't add simple fractions or do long division, God forbid they had to figure out an IV drip rate on their own). Many of those people repeated classes endlessly and fell further and further behind where the rest of us were, only to not be able to get high enough scores on the exit exams to be eligible to sit for boards.

My program was about $18000 for the LPN, and NONE of the credits transfer to community colleges or four year universities. So instead of bridging taking three semesters, I had to start out all over again with my pre-reqs as if I had never attended nursing school to begin with. And I'm still not there yet, since my facility has suspended tuition reimbursement.

I think I'm a pretty good nurse, a lot of people I work with value my opinion and ask for my input on their patients. But it's not because I was well educated to begin with; it's because I realized the severe lack of training I had and worked my butt off on my own time to overcome it.

Bottom line is that it doesn't matter where you get your degree from when you go out to apply for jobs, true, as long as you are able to get your license. But it does make a difference when you start out in your career as far as what kind of training you receive and whether or not there is adequate preparation for you to be in the real world of nursing. As far as my personal opinion goes, nursing is rough enough in the "real world" that to start out behind everyone else due to going to a less than average school is doing yourself a disservice.

RNin10 · May 20, 2009

This is a long post, but I wanted to give you the background info!

I go to Sanford Brown in Jacksonville, FL. I graduated from there last year for medical assisting. I decided while in that program, that I want to be a nurse. I began taking my prereqs for community college (Sanford Brown did not have a nursing program at that time in Jax.) I took all but 2 classes -making all A's- and then I had to stop to work full time. My plan was to switch community colleges to the one that has a nights and weekends program, but they had so many prereqs for the 2 classes that I needed, I felt really overwhelmed. Anyway, Sanford Brown started their RN program in January 2009, I wanted to get into the night program that was to start this coming July, I signed up for it, took the NLN exam and a few days later I got a call...they had a person drop from the day class and I was highest in points, did I want it? I was happy enough with my education for medical assisting to trust that the RN program would be good. I also decided I was unhappy enough in my job to go for it. So far, so good. I am happy with the program. Since this is the first class they don't have a reputation in the community yet. I have called hospitals and they said as long as you have a license they don't really care where you went to school. Comparing notes to friends in the community college programs, it is about the same. We have the same books, etc. But, I will say, with any program...it is what the student makes of it. There were people in medical assisting who were slackers, took the maximum amount of absences and barely got by and it is the same with nursing. In nursing they won't last long. You get behind quickly. SO....Bottom line, as for SBI in Jacksonville, I give it a thumbs up:up:!

nursstud · May 19, 2010

This is a long post, but I wanted to give you the background info!
I go to Sanford Brown in Jacksonville, FL. I graduated from there last year for medical assisting. I decided while in that program, that I want to be a nurse. I began taking my prereqs for community college (Sanford Brown did not have a nursing program at that time in Jax.) I took all but 2 classes -making all A's- and then I had to stop to work full time. My plan was to switch community colleges to the one that has a nights and weekends program, but they had so many prereqs for the 2 classes that I needed, I felt really overwhelmed. Anyway, Sanford Brown started their RN program in January 2009, I wanted to get into the night program that was to start this coming July, I signed up for it, took the NLN exam and a few days later I got a call...they had a person drop from the day class and I was highest in points, did I want it? I was happy enough with my education for medical assisting to trust that the RN program would be good. I also decided I was unhappy enough in my job to go for it. So far, so good. I am happy with the program. Since this is the first class they don't have a reputation in the community yet. I have called hospitals and they said as long as you have a license they don't really care where you went to school. Comparing notes to friends in the community college programs, it is about the same. We have the same books, etc. But, I will say, with any program...it is what the student makes of it. There were people in medical assisting who were slackers, took the maximum amount of absences and barely got by and it is the same with nursing. In nursing they won't last long. You get behind quickly. SO....Bottom line, as for SBI in Jacksonville, I give it a thumbs up:up:!

I'm considering going to SB but I just want your advice on it seeing that you have been attending there for a while. Your input will be gladly appreciated. Thanks in advance!!!!! Hope to hear from you soon!

bird0611 · Aug 30, 2010

all sanford brown student and past students....i have read several disappointing reviews about the school. i could tell most of them were from the north, i would like to know how the jacksonville school compares. i would like to apply to the school but now very reluctant to do so. also, i would like to know how soon you were hired after completing the program?

any information would be greatful.

PacoUSA, BSN, RN · Aug 31, 2010

Flame me if you want :flmngmd: ... but I wouldn't get my nursing degree from any school that chooses to advertise during Maury or The Wendy Williams Show ... or advertise on TV at all for that matter.

ErinRN2B · Aug 31, 2010

I have to say that I agree with Paco69. Not for those particular reasons exactly (although he makes a fair point), but for some more serious ones.

The Department of Education is currently considering cutting off federal student loans to for-profit schools like Sanford Brown because their default rates are so high. This means that unless you really are paying for your degree 100% out of pocket, you may be unable to get financing for your education in the future. I would hate to be halfway through an ADN program and have to drop out because of financial issues.

The cuts they are proposing are mostly because "gainful employment rules." Many grads from for-profit schools have a hard time finding any job, let alone the high-paying jobs that they were promised. Nursing students aren't immune to this. As many on this board will tell you, new grads are having a pretty tough go of it right now. A staff nurse hospital position might have 30 or more applicants, and if you're up against someone with an BSN or even someone with an ASN from an accredited community college, your resume is likely going to go to the bottom of the pile.

The bottom line if that you will get a better education and much less debt if you go to a community college. I feel like maybe I'm luckier than a lot of the posters on here - I did not have to wait to get into the ASN program at my CC. I completed two semesters of pre-reqs and entrance was merit-based. Nursing schools are competitive right now and you might really have to bust your *** in pre-reqs to get that spot. Even if you're stuck on a waiting list for a year, in my opinion it would be a better choice than settling for a school like Sanford Brown.

Here's a link to an article that talks about the student loans debate:

Facing Cuts in Federal Aid, For-Profit Colleges Are in a Fight - NYTimes.com

I keep reading on here that employers "don't care where you got your degree, as long as you've got your license." That is simply not true. What department do you want to work in once you're a nurse? High-demand departments like ICU and OB/Peds are getting way more applicants than there are spots right now. The school you attended (and its accreditation) are becoming a factor in the hiring process. NLN accreditation is not that same thing as being approved by your state's BON. A state-approved program does not necessarily equal an accredited one.

ETA: Many schools like Sanford Brown are nationally accredited. If you're planning on bridging from LPN to RN or from RN to BSN at a local public college or university, your credits will likely not be accepted. Those schools are regionally accredited, but nationally accredited.

PacoUSA, BSN, RN · Aug 31, 2010

^^ A well-written response ErinRN2B ... and thanks for that article link. I was unaware that was even going on, I am actually glad it is because in the long run it protects future financial aid opportunities for those of us who elect to pursue degrees at legitimate institutions -- and by legitimate I mean schools that have long been established, that can demonstrate a history of stable licensure & accreditation, and that don't create a tendency to make employers smirk or question whether I got a good education there or not. When schools advertise on TV, they get branded in a very negative way. I rather avoid any association with that.

In this respect, more often than not one can't go wrong with a state school. I rather wait a couple of years on a CC waitlist before taking a shortcut with a Sanford Brown, Concorde or an Everest-type school .. that is, if waiting was ever my only option.

ETA: Many schools like Sanford Brown are nationally accredited. If you're planning on bridging from LPN to RN or from RN to BSN at a local public college or university, your credits will likely not be accepted. Those schools are regionally accredited, but nationally accredited.

I am sure you meant to say "Those schools are NOT regionally accredited, but nationally accredited." Just wanted to make sure for the benefit of the readers!

ErinRN2B · Aug 31, 2010

Yes, that's what I meant - sorry about the confusion.

Guest 360983 · Sep 1, 2010

What ErinRN2B said.

I heard a report on NPR about the federally acceptable student loan default rate vs. the student loan default rate at some for profit schools. I forget the exact figures but it's something like a 40% default rate is ok, but some for profit schools are above 70%. To be fair, going through a nursing program will help you find a better job than, say, going through a cooking program, but it's still a scary stat.

I'd also like to point out that where you graduate does matter right now. New grads are coming to my area from all over the country, since we are still hiring and their areas aren't. Not only are hospitals here asking where you graduated from, some are even asking for GPAs and exit HESI scores and using minimum scores as cutoffs before you even get to an interview.