Nursing program w/a minimum required to pass with a 90% on exams, what do you think?

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Currently I'm looking into and spoke with an admissions counselor about an accelerated BSN program that requires students to pass with a 90% or better on each exam. I found out you get only one chance to "fail" and the second time around will cause you to be kicked out of the program. The admissions counselor made it seem like it wasn't a huge deal..but is it?

She told me many students get through it, the professors are accessible and really helpful and students form study groups since there is a less competitive advantage because everyone has to get at least a 90% to pass. The classes are also taught in a "block format" .

The program is 14 mos long and costs 50k plus living expenses.

What do you think about this? Not too bad or a gamble?

I researched this school on this forum and found there are many students from CA who applied but haven't found a lot of posts about the program itself.

I'm interested to find out what you think.

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Although it may be doable, it sounds like a little bit much to me. While I am not a proponent of low standards, I believe one should have the most chance of success available to them. I would look for a more forgiving program, if it were me. JMO

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Specializes in Critical Care, Clinical Documentation Specialist.

WOAH! I'm sorry, but I think that's INSANE. Not only the pass rate, but cost.

I have good grades, but no way would I risk that much money on those requirements.

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90%? I wouldn't do it. I can understand 80%, but 90 seems excessive. And it's for each exam, not for each class? That's even worse, since you can't get like a 87 on one test and make up for it with a 93 the next test. I have a pretty high GPA, but I did have my "off days" now and then when I only got a B on a test and had to make up for it with others to bring up my grade.

Maybe there is lots of extra credit offered. That's the only way I'd risk all that money, personally.

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yeah I thought it was a bit crazy, too. I don't doubt my abilities and skills to be a great nurse, but I also do not want to go crazy about meeting a 90% or better with the idea of potentially not passing and failing..therefore having 70k or more go "down the drain" .

I was just a little surprised because she responded to me as if it was nothing...but it feels like I would focus on trying to get a 90% or better than actually being a nurse..if you know what I mean.

The school is University of Southern Nevada. I would've considered going through the process if it was not for that requirement.

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I agree. That sounds too intense. I've heard of 80% to pass, but never higher.

I guess it depends on your confidence level. I've gotten A's in prerequisites, but having never taken an actual nursing course, it sounds like too much of a gamble.

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

the cost would turn me off. If you are in the USA your state has established minimum standards for all nursing schools and requires a certain number of students to pass NCLEX-RN for licensure in order to keep the state accreditation. So why not go to a state school? Should be lots cheaper

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I'm a huge proponent of someone doing well in thier classes and clinicals, since one day they may be taking care of me. So I'm torn what to think... I also know from my own experience there are just some classes you may not do as well in as others because of the material, teaching stye, etc. In my class had a minimum grade that we needed obtain but it was not that high. Our med-math exams we had to get 90% or better but we had three times to take the exam, even though most students did not need that many tries...

I think you need to see what your options are and if you can dedicate the time to meeting these school standards. Do not make the investment if your life is not conducive to devoting the time to get that 90% all the time. If you feel that you can do it, go for it and make the investment. Nursing will open many doors for you.

I went to a 2 yr ABSN program that was ~60K after all was said and done, it was the only school I could get into after two years of wait lists....

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the cost would turn me off. If you are in the USA your state has established minimum standards for all nursing schools and requires a certain number of students to pass NCLEX-RN for licensure in order to keep the state accreditation. So why not go to a state school? Should be lots cheaper

I am a second bachelors degree seeking student. Some schools won't even accept because of that. Many schools here have 2-3 year waiting lists, especially the public ones. There's an educational crisis going on in California, and it's not going to get better anytime soon.

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I don't think aiming for 90%+ accuracy is a bad thing. That >10% you don't know could be a med error or procedural mistake that'll kill a patient. I am not saying all mistakes on an exam will cause patient harm... but the more you don't know, the easier it is to have a serious error.

That being said, based on my own experiences in nursing school, for the 90% to be fair the exams must be fair. And the exams I've taken are NOT fair (we have a 76% minimum passing grade). There will be typos or wrong answer keys, which they usually fix if enough students bring it to their attention. But some questions just don't make grammatical sense. Last exam we had one question that was NOT in any of the chapters we studied and the specific info won't be covered until later in the semester. If the 90% rule applied at my school they'd lose almost everyone in the class. As it is with the 76% rule, we'll be lucky to graduate 40-50% of the students who started out (and this is AFTER all pre-reqs are done and then selective admission).

The $50k thing seems high. I did a 2 year ASN program which cost me about $5,000 including books, which is also a RN program.

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Specializes in ER, Trauma.

It's a great deal for the school! Get you indebted to them for $50 grand, then flunk you out. No need for many instructors. You should check with the board of nursing to see if they have any information on the school. Can't remember where, but heard recently about private schools getting people indebted to them, then the school might even pack up a move away!

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Yikes. 90% is very difficult to obtain. I had a 78% "minimum" for a passing grade which was based solely on exams! This was an accl BSN program. I found 78% was difficult for me ; I could not imagine trying for 90%! I found my program admission sucks you in with the NCLEX pass rates, great job opportunities with their “career fairs”, block schedules, availability of the professor, clinical sites, reputation, lab support, etc when in reality the professor were AWFUL, were not available and unwilling to help you, and you could not chose your schedule or clinical sites, the dean/asst dean/bsn chair were the devils AND they did not have a career fair nor help us prepare to find a position. I felt they are basically a for profit school, not a Catholic school. Out of a starting class of 120, only 60 graduated because of the “fail one class and you are out.” 50k is a lot of much money.

Another thought is start the program and if it is not for you, drop out before the deadline to pay the tuition which would allow you to gauge your interest, the program, the professors, clinicals, etc. My school’s first test was conveniently AFTER the drop date just to get your money. Students were money to them, not people with emotion, or future nurses. They did not care if people passed the classes or not because the ones that got through gave them a high pass rate for the NCLEX stats. I wish I would of researched the program more and applied elsewhere.

If you decided to start, you can prepare now by reviewing the basics for each class you are taking (patho, med surg I, skills, etc) and buying a few NCLEX books to learn how to answer the application questions. Start to know your basic levels (vital signs, IV fluids, transferring patients, etc).

Make sure the admissions counselors do not profit off of each student they bring in….

I wish you luck!!

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