N.E Philly Prism Career Institute

[stacycakesss]

Oh Prism…Prism Career Institute. Where do I even start?

Before I begin, I am not releasing the names anyone who works at this school, for privacy purposes. BEWARE! Please. Enroll at your own risk. I'm not being sarcastic about this. I myself was fooled, as well as many others. Shame on you Prism! I'm not sure how other campus' where, but my review is solely based on the Philadelphia campus. I am entitled to the First Amendment; to state my own opinion/ review and I feel others should have a little heads up before they begin their long journey of nursing school. I tried doing my own research on this school before I started and I really couldn't find a review on it, or I just found short little reviews….so I went and enrolled. I started in July 2014 and I just finished the LPN course March 26, 2016 and this is how I feel…..

You have to take the TEAS test( which is normal), which was $20.00 when I took it. You have to pay all this money before you even start, almost $200. You need to have drug test, child abuse, background, transcripts, shots, and physical. Don't wait last minute. Get it all done ASAP. KEEP RECORDS OF ALL PAYMENTS AND PAPER WORK. THEY LOSE EVERYTHING AND WILL TELL YOU THAT YOU OWE MORE MONEY THAN YOU ACTUALLY OWE. So my advice to you is to keep records of everything. They will constantly call you over money, even if its seriously $10.00

First off, the student "advisors" really are good con-artist. They will make the school sound like the cherry on-top of a nice hot fudge sundae. They will tell you that you will be working with children, maternity wards, work on this mannequin that GIVES BIRTH and that you will have tutors to help you if you need it. It's a LIE. I never once got to work with children (NO clinical site & we worked on pediatric mannequins that a TEACHER had brought in and it was a few times) and our maternity rotation was ONE DAY at Einstein and ONE DAY ONLY.

Clinical, well, it's ALL Geriatrics. I wish we had experience with all age groups, at some point atleast. If you're a CNA, clinical is going to be like a day of work for you and PLEASE do not complain about it because you'll be looked down upon (I've seen it happen). IF, IF you are lucky enough to get a wonderful clinical instructor (they DO exist, trust me), they will seriously make clinical a wonderful, hands on experience. I am truly blessed and happy that I got the opportunities that I had because not all of my classmates did. Also, the school seems to lose clinical sites every time they get a new one and it's the students fault. The school accepts ANYONE into the program. There is a lot of drama and fighting.

Students will act like they're out on the streets. It's a mess and it's truly ignorant because I went there to learn and go to clinical. Not report to school because they damn clinical site was lost (that's what happens if you lose clinical sites). Try and do as much as you can at clinical. If you got an awesome instructor, try to get all your skills in…because you may not ever have that opportunity again.

Do not depend on teachers to actually teach you (they read to you and do power points). I've had teachers say they only teach” because they need shoe money”. You MAY get a really good teacher, because there are a few who are amazing and very helpful! They create their own notes and power points. Teachers always come and go, which stinks because some are so wonderful. You will get ATI books each term as well as your subject books. READ THOSE ATI BOOKS! They will come in handy. You have to take proctored test which are a specific % of your grade. READ AND WRITE NOTES! I'm telling you, YOU are your own teacher. Don't share notes because you'll get accused of cheating.

The school doesn't care why you're late, absent or who died; even if it's your own mother (happened to me). You'll get docked time and time is VALUABLE. So don't waste it. Be at clinical at 6:45am. If you show up at 7am sharp, you'll get sent home and guess what… if you're over the clinical time, YOU FAIL. Not kidding. I have just heard that the school isn't even allowing students to miss or makeup time!!! We just got a new Director at the school, so things have already changed and they sound pretty awful. Some students actually miss MORE time than allowed and somehow still have ALL there time. Curve balls are literally given to the chosen ones. Makes sense, don't it?

The director doesn't care about class pictures or a graduation, so don't look forward to one. She just wants you all to pass NCLEX, which we are STILL awaiting to come in to the school to register for NCLEX, THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO PAY FOR IT AS IN OUR CONTRACT IT STATES IT, and get our darn certificates of completion!! We just had a change in the DON too, so she is new to the Philly Campus. We thought things would look up, but we were all wrong. I had a gut instinct on her and my guy was 100% correct. She docked us from our Med Surg to make us do this VATI thing (which wasn't too bad), but we never learned the subject matter yet! Mind you she also lied to ATI about our graduation. She lied and said we didn't have to pay, and then the school tried telling us we had false information and tried getting us to pay. We as a class defended ourselves from the matter and it was resolved. She is also very rude. She will never admit to the many lies she told. She will act nice to the class as a whole, but is VERY rude when it's one on one. She talks about students as well, which is VERY unprofessional. We had to ALL pass a predictor OR…I repeat OR pass this virtual ATI-Green light thing and apparently people did too well, SO as a punishment us who PASSES THE PREDICTOR THE FIRST TIME…ALSO…I repeat ALSO needed to obtain the GREEN LIGHT FROM ATI. She also told us WE HAD TO TAKE OUR NCLEX on two specific dates or there will be problems!! I felt a little threatened by that remark too. Now, we apparently need to pay $75.00 to the school if we don't take NCLEX on HER dates. Funny thing is, she didn't even submit paper work to the BON, let alone register everyone.

This school is a Joke. People are passing even if they fail. So us hard working students are actually working hard, while others who fail…pass just because she wants the school to look good!! The school is on the verge of closing down, I can feel it. Please seriously think about going to another school before you choose Prism. I wish I had just went to CCP and got my RN.

How did I manage myself through this mess? Well, it was VERY hard. My mother passed away just this past November, but I kept working hard. I stayed away from the drama, really limited my friends, I never went out. All I did was focus on my school work. I read everyday, wrote notes, watched videos from Simplenursing.com or youtube. I've bought Kaplan books. I am a mother as well. Anyone, ANYONE can make it through nursing school, you just have to stay focused. I am currently studying for my NCLEX and praying I pass first try!

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

It's a shame how LPN programs are few and far in between, let alone of good quality in the Philly area, especially when LPNs are still utilized in Pediatric Private Duty Home Health, Home Health, corrections and specialty clinics and not just in LTC.

My former pediatric employer had Prism students; some wanted to start trouble but most were great, wanted to learn, and were offered positions; I wondered if they lost the privilege to go to the site.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

As far as studying for your NCLEX: do you know what your weaknesses are?

The issue may not necessarily the source of the review, but how one approaches the NCLEX itself: understanding the four concepts of becoming a competent, entry-level nurse:

1. Safe, effective care;

2.Health promotion;

3.Physiological Integrity;

4.Psychosocial integrity

Will determine WHAT the question is asking you; the question may be Respiratory related-but is it a Health Promotion or a Safety, or a Physiological or a Psychosocial one? Would you know the difference and choose the BEST answer?

Once one understands the concepts of NCLEX, they can do so successfully.

Don't look at content; you know most of the material because you passed nursing school; begin to do questions related to each concept; review all questions and rationales; ANY rationale you struggle with, THEN review content. Lather, rinse, repeat.

When practicing the questions, prepare the questions like a mock NCLEX exam, review the minimum and then work up to the maximum for endurance purposes.

As far as advancing your career:

Go for the BSN; there are a few programs that accept some credits towards your LPN status in their program; I believe Holy Family does, and my alma mater La Salle does; find a job and then figure out which program you want to pursue; take any pre-read at CCP and then get your BSN-you get your foot in the door anywhere faster.

Also-your education, even despite the challenges you experienced, are a great foundation.

Best wishes.

[stacycakesss]

Thank you for your kind words. Yes, I do actually know my weaknesses. The Virtual ATI program test us on all subject matter and is almost set up on a plan which follows NCLEX criteria. So, I have been reviewing my weaker areas. Pharmacology is one. I know the basic, common drugs, but not everything. My tutor on Virtual ATI send me a bunch of test I could take which were all the areas you listed above. I also bought the Kaplan Premier book, which has 180 questions. Im beginning to get frustrated because our school is supposed to call us in to register, since they are paying for our NCLEX. We have called to ask about it and no one wants to give us any information.

I actually want to get my RN BSN. That is my next goal! I plan to stick with it too. My clinical instructor said LPN is a great foundation, but to go for that BSN! (:

The pediatric site we had at school was Frankies world, which the school lost due to students acting out of control. We have lost numerous of sites along my LPN journey. Its a shame because there are some really good students at Prism who actually want to learn and take everything seriously. I myself was one of them. Some of the students are even grown adults. Sometimes Im actually embarrassed telling people I went there.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Moved to LPN/LVN student nursing forum