Medical Careers Institute RN Program

shiloblues · Mar 6, 2008

I graduated from MCI's ASN program a little over a year ago. I got a great education and passed my NCLEX on the first try because they really prepared me for the test. I am going to MCI today to apply for their new BSN program that they offer.

The clinicals I attended were at Sentara Careplex most of the time. Psych was at the Pines in VA Beach, OB at Mary Immaculate and ICU at the Veterans Hospital in Hampton. It just depends on what campus you attend, I went to the one in Newport News. The school is very fast paced but once you get the hang of it its great. Good luck!

c-stal24RN · Apr 20, 2008

I graduated the RN program in VA Beach in December. I also passed my NCLEX on the first try, but I wouldn't chalk it up to my wonderful education that I recieved from MCI. I did it for myself, by myself. They can only teach you so much during the 15 months they have you, the rest is on you. You have to take responsibility for your own education. My clinicals were great at several different hospitals on the south side. Med/surg is incredibly tough. I think med/surg is used as a filter to weed out people that won't be able to make it. Anyone can suceed at this program with enough money and determination. I would say that it was worth it. I am a RN now with a good job and a promising future.

Good luck to you.

my3kiddos · Sep 14, 2010

I am an RN student at the VB campus now. It is intense! The semesters are 5 weeks long, yet we cover the same amount of material as other schools with 8-16 week semesters. It is A LOT of self teaching. There are some great instructors and there are others who are awful. It is all a matter of the luck of the draw as to which instructors you get. I'm not too fond of that aspect. In my opinion (and that of many others) MCI is more of a business than a school. It is all about the money and the students and their needs tend to take backseat. Last I heard, the cost of the program was over $40,000. It tends to go up every time a new class of RN students begin the program. From experience, I must say that the representatives will tell you whatever they think you want to hear to get you to sign up and inflate their commission check. Be very cautious when sitting down with them and don't believe every thing you hear. Do lots of research before you go in and, if you want to hear the real story, hang out in the back of the building and talk to the RN students (navy blue uniforms) while they are on break. Most of us are more than willing to give prospective students the real scoop and answer questions honestly. Day students go to class on various days (depends on the mod) M-F. They also do clinicals during the week. Night students have class various nights M-F (usually 2-3 days a week) and go to clinical on Sat and Sun.

You need no previous medical experience to begin the RN program without a wait. I got in the first time I applied and I have only been a stay at home mom for the last 11 years. Entrance into the program mostly depends on your TEAS test scores that you take when you first go in to see a representative. It is kind of a stupid test because a lot of the questions don't really relate to the medical field, it is just general knowledge stuff and, to my knowledge, there is really no way to prepare for it. If your TEAS scores aren't good enough to get into the RN program, they most often won't tell you that. They will tell you that there is a waiting list or try to sway you toward the LPN program. If you stand your ground, they will let you continue on to pre-requisites, but you will be disappointed months later when you find out that you didn't make it into the program and wasted your time. Ask the rep. directly if your TEAS scores are competative enough to go RN with no problems.

I STRONGLY suggest not working during the program! It has been done before, but very few succeed at passing the classes and working. There is generally a test or quiz every night covering 4-8 chapters each. Expect to spend 10 or so hours a day studying once the more challenging classes begin (esp. Med-Surg and Acute Care). Each clinical day requires a care plan that will take 8 plus hours and must be turned in 48 hours (or less) from leaving clinical. Then there are other assignments like papers, homework, case studies, drug cards, etc. that can take many hours to complete.

Bottom line, if you have the time, I would suggest looking elsewhere. If you are in a hurry and can do a 15 month program, then give it a shot. It's not bad, it's just not great.

microkate · Sep 14, 2010

I'm glad to hear the responses too, since I'm starting at the MCI-VB campus in January. I already have a BS, and would have preferred to do a second degree BSN, but my husband is in the Navy and this is the only program that will get me in and out before we move again! The cost is kind of high, but this way we don't have live apart for a year while I finish a program. When you consider the cost of an additional apartment, all of a sudden the program doesn't seem that expensive! Not to mention, when we live apart we spend ~$800/mo on plane tickets :uhoh3: .

I also checked with ODU about their online RN-BSN program, and as long as you have an RN license, they don't care where you got it, so I'll probably follow up with that.

Those of you who have gone - did you feel your clinicals were adequate? That's mostly what I'm worried about. I'm used to doing a lot of studying and can pick up info from books quickly. I just want to make certain that I'll learn what I need during clinicals.

swilliams · Dec 31, 2010

My name is Shaunelle and I am looking into the RN program at MCI in Virginia Beach. I recently passed my TEAS exam this week with fairly low math and science scores, and was under the impression that as long as you passed you'd be in the clear? After reading some posts, it seems like that may not be the case at all. And considering I would be relocating from Florida, this is making me second guess myself entirely.

Nonetheless, I going for my first interview next week to see how things go. The admissions counselor also says there is housing available that can be incorporated into your loan, which can really help out students who do not opt to work full time to cover living expenses.

I wish everyone luck with their route to becoming an RN! Would love to chat with any current MCI-RN students near Virginia Beach!

Shaunelle- :clown:

TheCareerStudent · Jan 20, 2011

My name is Shaunelle and I am looking into the RN program at MCI in Virginia Beach. I recently passed my TEAS exam this week with fairly low math and science scores, and was under the impression that as long as you passed you'd be in the clear? After reading some posts, it seems like that may not be the case at all. And considering I would be relocating from Florida, this is making me second guess myself entirely.
Nonetheless, I going for my first interview next week to see how things go. The admissions counselor also says there is housing available that can be incorporated into your loan, which can really help out students who do not opt to work full time to cover living expenses.
I wish everyone luck with their route to becoming an RN! Would love to chat with any current MCI-RN students near Virginia Beach!
Shaunelle-

Hi Shaunelle,

I start the RN program on Monday at the Newport News location, right down the road. When I interviewed with the director she told me that there were 60 spots available and over 100 applicants for those spots. I did good on my TEAS in all the subjects except for science. I took chemistry as a pre-req and my others transferred in. Now I would probably nail the science TEAS. They just changed the program from 15 to 16 months to break down Med/Surg into 2 parts because there was a low pass rate for that class. The program is $42,000 I am not sure how much housing costs.

Keep in touch and let me know if you have any questions.

Kris:nurse:

registerednursing · Mar 17, 2011

How is the Nursing program coming along? Do the instructors know their stuff? Have you talked to any of the seasoned students that have been there for over 9 months? I am curious to know about the clinicals?