Passaic County Community College RN program

A little late in the discussion here, but needed to post...

"Some of the professors aren't the nicest and the comments they tell you aren't nice either but just block it out and show them you can do it. One in particular tries to belittle the students but once you show her you know what you talking about you will do fine."

Unfortunately, I've heard this many times from other students in PCCC's program before I enrolled, but I applied anyway hoping for the best.

I am currently enrolled in PCCC's nursing program basically bc I live in Passaic county and it's the school I could afford to go to. I didn't have another choice, as Bergen Community would have cost almost 3x (and I can't get aid or loans because I have a bachelor's degree already in something else).

The handouts they have given us are wrong and will say to read a certain chapter on something and when you go to read that chapter, it is not on the subject or doesn't exist at all. etc...these are things I was warned about and hoped they were wrong!

When classes were postponed because of the weather, I called to confirm the time that class started, they told me to "check my email". I was like "I already looked at my email, and it doesn't say, which is why I'm calling". I mean, seriously. There is no need to be rude! ( BTW, they never answered my question and I had to turn to other students, who also were unsure about the starting time but were afraid to call and get scolded!)

Regardless, I'm planning on sticking it out and passing, as it's my only option for school right now! I wish I could have afforded to go somewhere else.

PS...the Sussex County Campus is in Downtown Newton. My comments above are towards the Passaic, NJ campus (near Clifton and Paterson).

Oh wow, Sussexgirl! I totally agree with you regarding the amount of handouts they forwarded us via email. I have no idea which ones I'm supposed to print out and read first!!! There are hundreds of pages, no lie

Another bad thing I heard about this school, which I'm finding to be true, is that you really feel like you are "self learning" most of the stuff with very little direction. I'm a little disappointed that I have to learn so much from DVDs.

, I'm sincerely going to TRY to make the best of this. Just Understanding and accepting the school's shortcomings, trying not to let it get me too frustrated, and just going to take as much information out of it as I can, leaning on fellow students for help, and pass the NCLEX and be on my way.

thanks for listening! And keep me updated on how you're managing!! It helps to get it out and also to hear that I'm not alone in this struggle!!!

Oh, PS...I did by a 3 ring notebook and a hole-puncher with dividers. I put the calendar, exam schedule, and contact numbers (which I will probably never use again lol) in the front, and I'm just printing out the stuff that "seems" to correspond with the calendar in putting it in there for each day. I'm actually getting together with a fellow classmate today and we're going to try to sort through stuff.

But, the three ring notebook really helps organizing all that paperwork!!!

We got an email yesterday that told us to "have the content we should have received on September 1st prepared for the first day of class" and none of my fellow classmates, nor myself, received anything on Sept. 1st!

Ahhh, fun!!

Sussexgirl, send me an email at: Kalyani670@ Yahoo.com so that I can share more info with you, if you want!

As far as the content, it does seem like we will be well prepared at the end for the NCLEX. It is TRUE that PCCC students have a good reputation in the Hospitals around here and they get hired, on average, within 6 months of graduation. The NCLEX passing scores in the past were around 88-89% about 8 years ago (according to PCCC's website), but within the last couple years, they are up to 97-98%, so we just gotta keep remembering that's what we are there for and it's a great opportunity to have been accepted (no matter how bad the bureaucracy is!!)

On reflection, the truth is, we're always going to encounter someone or something, no matter what school we are in, that is going to be frustrating, and it's always a lesson in patience! LOL! I'm hoping once classes start officially I'll have figured out a way to navigate their "system" better.

Hi Sussexgirl and Kaylani,

Count me in on the confusion/frustration!! I had the same difficulty with the mystery lab time, handout not having the correct information etc. I talked to a few friends who graduated other programs and none of the other programs had a self learning module like PCCC so I felt especially overwhelmed. Especially with the "fail the SLM, fail the program" language in bold in the hand out.

I have heard only good things about the program from any nursing students I approached so I am hoping that once classes start things will be a little more streamlined and organized than what we have experienced so far. I am looking forward to Tues, just want to start already!

Hey Cupcakestar!

I'm glad you've heard a lot of good things from other people. That's hopeful!

Yes, what we had to do with the SLM, I've heard other schools actually have a class for that and you don't have to learn it at home on your own. But, I guess that will make us more autonomous later!!

But the page numbers/chapters and DVD selections they tell us to watch/read are not always correct and most of the handouts are NOT in chronological order on the portal, so they are just overwhelming to sift through. Also, the course outline is not in chronological order with the calendar they sent us, so you have to sort through that as well.

I just would like to not be confused about what my tasks at hand are. I don't mind a ton of work and I want to learn the subject matter! I've read a ton of stuff already and did hours of math with that CD-Rom and I just hope I read what I was supposed to. I don't want to feel like I am wasting study time because I have to go on a scavenger hunt to find out what pages we are supposed to read!

Yes, I'm looking forward to tomorrow, too. Hoping for some clarity!

Hello Nursing 1 students!

Just a warning.....parking is HORRIBLE....so allow yourself plenty of time to find somewhere to park and get to class. The professors HATE when someone comes in late with the excuse that they couldn't find anywhere to park!

I'm in Nursing 3 and begin on Tuesday also....

Good Luck!!!