Mercy Hospital Schools of Nursing (Practical and RN) Review

[CodeBrownQueen, ASN, LPN]

Hi All,

So several of you have asked me for my thoughts on Mercy Hospital's LPN and LPN - RN bridge program. Let me start by saying I have only completed the LPN program, however, the administrators are the same for both programs and the majority of what I write will apply unilaterally.

Let's start with the positives:

• Hospital based
  
• Most of the professors actually give two shakes of a lamb's tail
  
• Professors liaison with clinical floors to ensure students have ample learning experience
  
• One, of the two clinical professors I had, is a beast and you really learn a lot (she is an old school nurse) if you aren't there to just pass time
  
• You can complete co-requisites while taking nursing classes (not recommended)
  

Now the cons:

• Communication and clarification is abysmal and varies dependent on who you speak with
  
• Administration loves to posture and make egregious claims regarding the program
  
• No Federal student loans, you either qualify for Pell Grants or you pay out of pocket (do not expect this to be disclosed to you up front)
  
• $1200 non-refundable registration and administrative fees NOT covered by financial aid
  
• Theory and clinical pedagogy is varied between day and night programs
  
• Be prepared to listen to droning and slide reading, there were only 3 lecture professors who actually taught
  
• Theory and ATI are not parallel and there is disparity in theory education if the goal is to teach for the NCLEX
  
• Tests are 1+1=2 type reasoning and most questions have 3 answers so blatantly wrong only one could be write
  
• Schedule was consistently changed, even with a syllabus, every semester (my cohort ended up with 11 tests in 2 weeks [including a final exam] during the second semester because of the 3 Ps)
  
• No extended breaks between semesters (we got a week between Christmas and New Years and then back again on January 4)
  
• ATI is bundled into tuition fees with no opportunities to buy/rent independently
  
• Gotta drive to the hood to buy uniforms (females don't go by yourself or later in the day)
  
• All clinicals are held at Mercy Hospital exclusively with the exception of pediatrics (Miami Children's and the CP home on 163rd and 95)
  
• Administration likes to use scare-mongering tactics to achieve a desired outcome
  
• Absolutely NO financial aid for the LPN - RN program, 100% out of pocket
  

Asides:

• Administration will tell you graduation is required if you want to come to the LPN - RN program, this is illegal, they just want to make sure students show up to graduation
  
• Enrollment is down, they are accepting everyone who passes the entrance exam and meets the entrance requirements
  
• New uniforms effective May 2017
  
• NCLEX pass rates to-date for the LPN - RN program are down and currently Keiser University Miami Campus and Broward College have better NCLEX pass rates
  
• LPN - RN requires Saturday clinicals
  

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Moved to Schools/Colleges

[shablue]

Thank you!

[mvixam]

Hi.. Im getting ready to start the LPN program at mercy hospital in a couple of months I'm excited but nervous since I have no medical background. Im trying to get ahead start before I start is there anything else you could tell ex. book list, did you do the morning or afternoon program, how are the teachers etc. I would really appreciate it.

[elzabeellie]

Hi! Are you at Miami Mercer? How is it?

I would like to join ?

The director said the pre-entry exam was super easy. Is that so ? ? ? I have a BS in biology from a long time ago... If there is science/chem on the pre-entry... I'd likely need to prep.

Please tell all about the program!