nursing schools without accreditation

leslie :-D · Dec 12, 2011

What is your opinion of non-accredited nursing schools churning out nurses? I was in another thread and was told that students from these schools can sit for the NCLEX.For some reason, that doesn't settle well with me.

they can sit for nclex.

it doesn't settle well with me either.

and there will be employers who care that you didnt' graduate from an accredited school.

but then again, there will be some that don't care either.

again, can we talk about raising the bar into nursing school?

when will we learn, that there are sev'l things we can do to elevate nursing into a profession where only the best can apply.

mandating an accredited school - should be a start.

sheesh.

leslie

sapphire18 · Dec 12, 2011

What is your opinion of non-accredited nursing schools churning out nurses? I was in another thread and was told that students from these schools can sit for the NCLEX.For some reason, that doesn't settle well with me.

I agree. I don't see how this is ok.

Double-Helix, BSN, RN · Dec 12, 2011

I understand your point about accreditation, and it's valid and I'm sure there's a lot of truth to it. But I don't think it's the be-all, end-all of nursing schools. You take the same NCLEX no matter where you graduate. Someone from an accredited school can barely pass the courses and take four tries to pass the NCLEX. Someone from a non-accredited school can graduate with A's and pass on the first try. So just because the school is accredited doesn't mean the students will automatically be better nurses.

netglow, ASN, RN · Dec 12, 2011

I wonder why a person is allowed to retake the boards if they don't pass? This allowance to retake boards doesn't sit well with me.

bookwormom · Dec 12, 2011

Schools may not be nationally accredited, but they must be approved by the Board of Nursing in the state in which they operate. (I could be wrong, but this is my understanding.) National accreditation is expensive and complex; the school may decide it is not worth it, if they are turning out students who can pass NCLEX.

As far as taking the NCLEX more than once, why not? This is common in other professions. Many circumstances can affect one's ability to pass on the first try--illness, test anxiety, etc.

DoGoodThenGo · Dec 12, 2011

I wonder why a person is allowed to retake the boards if they don't pass? This allowance to retake boards doesn't sit well with me.

Why not? Many professions allow multiple chances at passing entry into profession exams,

The late John Kennedy Jr. took the NYS bar exam and failed something like ten times (more or less) before finally passing.

DoGoodThenGo · Dec 12, 2011

What is your opinion of non-accredited nursing schools churning out nurses? I was in another thread and was told that students from these schools can sit for the NCLEX.For some reason, that doesn't settle well with me.

There is a difference between state accrediation and national.

The former is required for any school of nursing to operate within a state's boundries and for the graduate to be able to sit for the boards amoung other things. The latter (NLN, AACN, etc) show the school and it's graduates have met certain standards to earn a stamp of approval.

While all schools require the first, the second does take time to earn. Both the NLN and AACN require volumes of data from a program including how well it's graduates perform as RNs before awarding accreditation. Therefore it may take several years after the first graduating class before a program has say the NLN award.

Keep in mind also schools can loose NLN and or AACN accreditation and long as they meet state requirements continue to operate and their graduates sit for the NCLEX. For instance if a school is sold such as what happened to Saint Vincent's Staten Island and Queens, the new owners must submitt a new application for accreditation and start from scratch.

In short every nursing program at one time or another was "unaccredited" by a professional body. Now one can wait around for said school to apply and be awarded or choose another program elsewhere if that is important.

There are facilities that will only hire those whom have graduated from schools with professional accreditation, and IIRC some RN to BSN and higher degree nursing programs will only accept same.

netglow, ASN, RN · Dec 12, 2011

Why not? Many professions allow multiple chances at passing entry into profession exams,
The late John Kennedy Jr. took the NYS bar exam and failed something like ten times (more or less) before finally passing.

See, now I think that is nuts.

DoGoodThenGo · Dec 12, 2011

See, now I think that is nuts.

Why?

And for the record NYS has some of the toughest professional exams of the fifty states. Law and accounting are the first come to mind.

Someone has paid their money for an education in law, medicine, accounting, or what have you; just because they cannot pass a licensing exam the first time shouldn't be the end of it.

The average state bar first time passing rate runs on average 70% to 89%. New York State's had risen to a high of 90% in 2008 but has dipped to the high eighties recently.

Considering how there are scores of new grads who passed the NCLEX on their first go that I wouldn't let near me with a barge pole, am not that quick to throw over someone who needed a time or two (or three...) to pass the finish line.

netglow, ASN, RN · Dec 12, 2011

I just don't understand -- then why test?

If you want to allow repeats then have there be actual scores for each attempt available for employers and states licensing boards to view on record.

Actually, when I applied for another license in a compact state, the app did ask if you passed the boards on your first attempt.

I applaud those employer apps that ask for your GPA for every degree you have as well. I just saw one for a pharm sales rep position, that listed a GPA necessary for it's minimum requirements.

I also am against allowing repeats of college level courses to improve one's GPA.

DoGoodThenGo · Dec 12, 2011

I just don't understand -- then why test?
If you want to allow repeats then have there be actual scores for each attempt available for employers and states licensing boards to view on record.
Actually, when I applied for another license in a compact state, the app did ask if you passed the boards on your first attempt.
I applaud those employer apps that ask for your GPA for every degree you have as well. I just saw one for a pharm sales rep position, that listed a GPA necessary for it's minimum requirements.
I also am against allowing repeats of college level courses to improve one's GPA.

For the last bit every college one has ever attended while allowing repeats both grades count. Therefore trying to undo the damage from a "C", "D" or god forbid "F" is going to take an "A" in the repeat and perhaps a few other classes as well.