J Sargeant Reynolds Spring 2019

Technicasualty · Oct 2, 2018

Thanks for the kind words, eao704. In some ways things have gotten better, in other ways they have not. The coordinator has yelled at the entire class numerous times and actually screamed in the face of one of my classmates. Two of our teachers were appalled at the coordinator's recent outburst and one of them told us today that she was going to talk to the coordinator and let her know that this behavior is not acceptable. I am currently thinking about transferring after the end of the Spring semester. I'll see how things pan out, but I'm preparing an exit in case I need it.

Our teacher, who taught at least two of the 8 sections, was either fired or quit, so our schedule has been moved around nearly halfway through the semester. That might be part of what they mean by "small transition." They literally don't have enough teachers right now. Two of our teachers have had to absorb 19 more students. Hopefully they will hire more teachers, otherwise the student body will need to be smaller, meaning less of you will be accepted.

Regarding CPR: you will need American Heart Association's Basic Life Support for Health Care Professionals. Clinicals require AHA. Red Cross will NOT be accepted. I can't comment on HLT-105, but doing it through any of the private instructors is super easy and you can get it knocked out in a single day.

Your confirmation will be sent by email. You will need to respond to this email within 10 days or else you will forfeit your seat. I recommend checking your email daily. Even if they say you won't get a notification until October 28th, still check it at least every week.

if you have not taken BIO 142, then take it during the summer. Otherwise, your first semester will be BRUTAL. BIO 142 is required before you can do 2nd semester, but you don't have to take it during the Spring. BIO 150 will be required for 3rd semester. Taking both BIO, ENG and elective early or during the off season will reduce 2nd, 3rd and 4th semester from 13 to 9,10 and 10 credits, respectively. Having BIO142 under your belt will reduce 1st semester from 14 to 10 credits.

Taking Ethics (PHI 220) as your elective will help for Professional Nursing Concepts (NSG 130), a first semester course. It's mostly just food for thought, but it helps when thinking about how Kant's formalism and John Stuart Mills' utilitarianism applies to nursing and its ethical codes of conduct. Either way, PHI 220 is pretty easy and I would recommend taking it online whether you do it during the summer or during the regular semester.

If you have not taken BIO 142, then I would take that and ENG 112 in Summer 2019 and possibly your elective, as well. You will need to decide if you want to take BIO 142 during your first semester and do BIO 150 during the Summer, or if you would rather take BIO 142 during the Summer and do BIO 150 during the semester. (personally, I would take Bio142 in the summer and do Bio150 during the semester)

If you have completed BIO 142, then take BIO 150, ENG 112 and your elective during the summer. This will allow you to better focus on your nursing classes. ENG 112 and PHI 220 are easy to take online. I would recommend BIO 150 in the classroom.

From a Stafford loan standpoint, there is no benefit to being a full-time (more than 12 credits) student. You are more likely to receive higher amounts for Pell Grant, but it might not be worth your sanity.

Chase123 · Oct 2, 2018

technicasualty, thanks for the update. The coordinator screaming at people, teachers quitting, schedules changing halfway through, looks like they are back to their old ways. This is not good. Seems like way to much added drama to something that is already tough to begin with. I'm seriously rethinking my plan now. Now that Elaine Beaupre is gone, does it seem like the new coordinator is in over her head and running it into the ground?

larkinbourne · Oct 3, 2018

I am currently thinking about transferring after the end of the Spring semester. I'll see how things pan out, but I'm preparing an exit in case I need it.

Yikes. I've heard bad things about the JSR program, but I'd hoped they'd gotten their act together. I'm going to start looking into my other options as a backup plan now. Thanks for the heads up.

Technicasualty · Oct 4, 2018

@Chase123, I feel that it is too early to tell. The new coordinator is obviously stressed out, which I totally understand and sympathize with. She is working on getting the program righted and the hiring of the teacher that was not properly prepared and trained is not her fault. She inherited a lot of problems and she has every right to be frustrated. However, taking out such frustration on students is not appropriate and especially not in the manner in which she has acted. If she is getting that frustrated, the best thing is for her to excuse herself and collect herself. To be fair, some of the students have been rather annoying and pestering; not that this excuses her actions, but it does add some appropriate context.

They have stated that we will receive our clinical credits needed to pass. Of that, I am certain and believe them. The main issue for many is that by not knowing when and where clinicals will be, they are having a hard time making appropriate changes to their work schedules. It doesn't help that management seems to be rather dismissive; a "suck it up" kind of attitude.

@larkinbourne, I would say to definitely give the program a chance. You have worked hard enough to get into the program, so you might as well get credits for your classes while you are there and hopefully the program will right itself. The new coordinator has talked about coming in to troubled programs numerous times before. I cannot vouch for how well she handled them, but she does claim to have extensive experience in dealing with problematic programs. However, my ideology has always been "hope for the best, prepare for the worst." Hence my making a backup plan.

@everyone - To be absolutely clear: I am not saying any of this to scare any of you off nor to discourage any of you. I sincerely hope that the program rights itself under the new coordinator's management. The teachers that are there are wonderful and really want to see all of us succeed. They are sincerely dedicated and knowledgeable. The program, when it is working, works well and is comprehensive. They will give you the knowledge and skills needed to succeed and to pass the NCLEX to be fully licensed.

All of you that make it into the program have proven that you are dedicated and willing to work hard to achieve your goals. That is why I wanted to let you know about the current problems within the program. Not to scare you, not to discourage you, not to make you doubt your choices, but to give you all a realistic understanding and expectation. Many within the affected sections have been very discouraged. They expected it to be difficult, but the levels of confusion and resulting frustration has caused some to become very jaded, depressed and doubt their choices. Myself included, which I know to be to my own detriment.

As I said, you all have worked hard to get into the program and I have no doubt that such dedication can help you surmount any problems within the program. However, do realize that if you are having a difficult time within the program, that there are other options. There is no need to give up. John Tyler's program is an exact copycat of Reynolds and your credits will be honored if you transfer. This should hold true for any and all of the various VCC nursing programs, as they are all unified under a single curriculum across all VCC campuses. Even if Reynolds does wind up still being a total mess, which it hopefully will not be, please do not give up on your goal of becoming a nurse.

bwitt239 · Oct 17, 2018

I was on here seeing whats new with Reynolds and thought could give you guys some information

I'm in semester 3 right now. We're the first cohort going through the new curriculum. Yes the program is a mess. It's been hardest on our cohort because professors are getting used to "concept-based" teaching and organization has been a mess. It's bad for us (lack of instructors, lack of clinicals, forced to do clinicals over summer and winter break, etc.) Professors who have been here for years are refusing to change their curriculum. I'm not sure why Reynolds can't seem to find or keep clinical instructors.

The new coordinator was brought in to fix the program. That's what she does for failing schools. It doesn't seem to be working so far.

Word through the gossip mill is that there may not be a new cohort in the spring. Joy (new coordinator) wants to focus on fixing the current cohorts before accepting new students. A fresh start I suppose.

This clearly shows the severity of the current situation, as the nursing program is Reynolds' biggest money maker. So to stop it indefinitely, things are very serious. To the point that the board of nursing is now involved so I've heard. I assume that is why they told you it would be another month; they are trying to figure out if this is a viable option.

I'm not trying to discourage anyone or cause mayhem. I just figured if I was in your position, I would want to know.

sford5006 · Oct 17, 2018

Thanks for the info bwitt239. It's crazy what is going on. I'm a "fixer" by nature. I get sh... done. It's sad to see a program as popular and needed as the nursing program constantly faltering. I just don't get it. There seriously needs to be better leadership in nursing education. There's just no reason for a program this in demand not to be air tight and rock solid. It's just nuts.

larkinbourne · Oct 17, 2018

Thank you for the heads up! I will be incredibly sad if they end up not having a cohort next semester. If that ends up being the case, I'm just going to try to transfer into a BSN program.

MikaRN2019 · Oct 23, 2018

Hey everyone I hope we hear some back soon this week! They said the week of 10/28, not quite sure if they consider the 28th as being part of this week or the first day of next week. I hope this week because the anticipation is real.

larkinbourne · Oct 23, 2018

Yeah I'm really over waiting and would love to just know already.

Bryzgolden2627 · Oct 24, 2018

Hey, you guys I'm a first semester student in the program. I'm here to provide you some positivity. They posted the registration schedule for current students and Semester 1 Nursing Program classes are listed. I would also like to add that my first semester has gone by seamlessly.

sford5006 · Oct 24, 2018

Thanks, good to hear some good news!

dogmumoftwo · Oct 26, 2018

What is even going on? Thought we'd hear something back at least by today, since the 28th is on Sunday.