Choosing between RACC and Reading Hospital School of health sciences

U.S.A. Pennsylvania

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Help! Any students or alumni from either of those schools on here that could help me? I have been accepted to both programs and I can't decide which school to attend. There are pros and cons to both options it seems! I heard some horror stories about RACC so i'm leaning toward RHSHC but then again, i haven't heard much of ANYTHING about Reading Hospital's program. I need information on what my schedule would look like at both schools but I can't seem to get answers from either school on these questions. Would one look better than the other on my resume? RACC would give me an associates (but I already have a previous B.A.) and reading hospital would only be a diploma. If I were to someday go for my BSN would that matter?

hello, I'm currently a student at the reading hospital school of nursing. It truly is a great program. I absolutely love it and I'm so glad I didn't choose a different school. They do have an agreement with Alvernia now that you can get your BSN with them. A lot of students that are in my class took their pre-req's at RACC and transferred to reading hosp. If you have any questions let me know!

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Hi, Thanks for responding and I do have a question for you... The Reading Hospital does not seem to be helpful with Financial Aid(at least for me). Can you help me understand how the policy works? Right now at RACC I get a refund check that I live off of while in school, meaning I take out loans, when I told the FA lady at the Reading Hospital my situation she didn't seem very willing to help me out. I would not like to make the wrong decision in choosing my school just because of the Financial Aid Descrepencies, Ant advice will help. Thanks!!! Salina

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Salina, I'm currently going into RACC for fall to complete A&P and Micro so I can apply to clinicals for fall 2012. Would you email me? I cant PM you as I'm a newbie but I'd love to chat with you about your experice at RACC!! my emails [email protected] :)

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GO TO READING Hospital, They will teach you NURSING. At RACC the price is low because you will teach you. I know there are a lot of "variables", however if you ever plan to do more with your degree or diploma then work bedside you need the GPA now more than ever. So my recommendation, go to Reading Hospital get your degree, then work and go to Immaculata (accelerated program, its a walk in the park compared to RACC) Keep that GPA up, do well and keep going to school (dont stay atthe bedside, its awful now) I graduated in the 1990tys, and I regret staying at the bedside so long, dont get me wrong I love what I do, I just hate all the crap they pile up on us, ever here of the truck stops here, thats you.

If you must do RACC, here is the insider secret they are interested in the NCLEX, they dont really teach, Lecture is pointless, READ ALL OF THE MATERIAL provided, and know tabers, never leave home without it. Know that the grading scale is off As arent As, more like Bs (seriously 92 is a B+, I think) therefore your GPA will drop. The tests are geared similar to the NCLEX so the questions give you two really good answers and two bad answers, so get used to their testing system (it hasnt changed) Now its been awhile but the floor nurses were able to teach us more than the cough syrup slurping nut they stuck us with during clinical, (dispite numerous attempts by students to have her removed) But in the end you did pay less, like 16K less, so it is worth it, Right? I thought so too, I passed, but my GPA didnt fare so well, every thing after RACC was A, my GPA now is only a 3.3, I was a 3.86 before Nursing School. Okay my two cents, debate if you want, Im done.

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Thanks for your advice! I have decided to go to The School of Nursing, I have had soooo many people tell me this a great program and I'm excited to start. Thanks again

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cheer12, Hi and could you give me any info on how the financial aid works at The Schoolof Health Sciences? I sooo want to go there but I am worried I can not afford it, Thanks!!!!

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Specializes in Emergency, Critical Care, Pre-Hospital,.
kdrose- thanks for the reply! I've looked into alvernia as well...and honestly thought that would have been the answer I was looking for but....they are EXPENSIVE!!!!! I can't get financial aid because this will be a second degree for me and I did the math yesterday. If I took all the classes I possibly could at RACC and ONLY the nursing courses at Alvernia, it would still cost me $37,950!!! For 55 credits!! So that's out.

At this point if hospitals really aren't accepting ADN's at all...my only option might end up being quitting the nursing thing altogether :crying2:. I just took a unit clerk position part time at reading hospital and during my interview the nurse manager asked me if I planned on ever getting my BSN. I told her that eventually that was in my plans but that the only programs in the area were just too far. She did tell me about Drexels online RN-BSN program which I didn't know about...but that will still require me to become an RN first. That is definitely something i'm considering but it still comes down to money then! If I went to Reading Hospital (my first choice) it will be 22,000 and then another 18,000+ for my RN-BSN. I could do RACC (if I don't fail out or quit!) for 6,000 and Drexel for 18,000 which is much better....but again, what if i don't even make it through RACC's program?

Anyway I am pretty certain that both Reading Hospital and St. Josephs in my area still do hire ADN's BUT they prefer a BSN. I guess i'm sorta hoping that having a part time job at Reading Hospital, AND going for my Diploma at Reading Hospital, will result in me getting a job at Reading Hospital?

I definitely have a lot to think about still and it all just makes me head spin. :uhoh3:

AHHHH misinformation...isn't it wonderful to just say what you think like it's the Gospel?

I was accepted at both RACC and RHSoN (now RHSHS) and picked Reading because it had the shortest distance between two points. The other issue is that RACC has no guaranteed progression, that is the clinicals are competetive and you are competing with Alvernia, RACC, RACC LPN and others for spots on the clinical floor. Reading has a guaranteed clinical spots for its students. The cost was a factor and convenience to campus plus, well RH has a beautiful state of the art campus v. RACC's.

BSN necessary for hire? Reading and Joe's hire Diploma, ADN and BSN. I know, I currently work at both with my Diploma.

kdrose, think about what will work best for you. Get through school, do your best (many hospitals including Reading are using GPA as a cut point for new grads [this last year 2.8 for an interview and 3.2 for a specialty interview ED, ICU, etc.]), work somewhere while you are in school, it builds experience, makes you part of the hospital family and in Reading's case gives you $2K per year tuition for P/T employees, plus gives you a leg up on non "in house" candidates. Plus after you are an RN, many hospitals give tuition reimbursement (RH 4$k/yr)for advancing your degree, then potentially pay you more through the clinical ladder at RH and thru yearly assessment at SJH.

In the "area" ONLY HUP and its affiliates are BSN only, though Jeff and Hershey would like to move that way, they haven't.

Good luck and PM me if you need additional info.

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Is the reading hospital school of health sciences changing from clock hours to credits?

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I currently go to RACC and am in my 3rd semester of clinicals with 1 to go. It is not an easy program by any means, but should it be? Graduates need to be prepared to take their boards and pass! Also, in order for schools to maintain their accredidation, they must have an 80% NCLEX pass rate. When I looked into going to either school, I was almost scared away from RACC. I decided at the last moment that I wanted the ADN and the cost was a plus! It can be done with hard work and determination! I actually really enjoy it at RACC and with the exception of 2 or 3 instructors - have really liked the majority of instructors. We are expected to learn a lot on our own. They give the facts and the basis, but we are to apply critical thinking skills. Some people can - and make it - and some can't - and don't. I feel RACC gets an unnecissarily bad rap because of the high fail rate... but the majority of the people I know who did not make it - were overwhelmed. It is very difficult to work and do clinicals. I have so far (with a flexible work schedual of about 20hrs a week), but will quit to focus on my final semester next month. As for actual clinical rotations - I have experienced Med/Surg, LTC, Maternity, Psych and had a great experience at all! It is not for everyone, but for some - it is a good choice and a pleasant experience. Good luck to everyone! Nursing school is tough period! BTW - some local hospitals ARE moving away from hiring non-degreed graduate nurses. Which was another factor I considered when I chose RACC.

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Reading Hospital program = full run of that hospital. I can't tell you how much cool things I got to see and pulled to because I was a student of that hospital.

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Alovesjos, I have been accepted to the Fall 2013 class. Congrats on doing so well and completing the tough program, you have a lot to be proud of. I am currently finishing up my Masters in Health Education, and I am nervous to start at RACC. I have not heard anything good about this school. Could you please answer a few questions for me. Do teachers provide extra help for struggling students? Do they help narrow information for tests? How many tests are involved in each semester? I ask because I think it is unfair to not provide enough opportunities for students to prove themselves. Are tests 50 or 100 questions? What GPA do you need to achieve in order to move on to the next course load. Thanks for answering these questions and providing any other insight you might be able to offer, its much appreciated. Thanks and good luck!

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RACC's Program is full of old fashion intructors. Amelia Capotosta is an arrogant woman and she makes to look the Nursing field so bad. I don't think they are willing to help the students. They want to make everyone nervous. I do not like RACC'S Nursing Program

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