Please help... Seeking urgent advice about Respiratory Therapy school

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Specializes in Psych.

I know this is a nursing forum, but I'm not sure where else to ask this and I'm hoping I can get some kind of insight into this problem. I'm located in NYC where the majority of RT programs here are either too expensive (Mandl, LIU) or too far away for someone without a car (Stony Brook). I've only applied to 3 programs and have been accepted into one of them so far. Two of which are in NY:

1. BMCC - I'm on the waitlist for Fall 2021. But waitlist doesn't mean "accepted" (or rejected).

2. Nassau Community College - I have to interview for it in the Spring and program also doesn't start until Fall 2021.

3. Southeast Community College - I've been accepted to this program but it is not in NYC, it's in Nebraska. Let me explain...

First off, it's accredited (CoArC). They have a full time program for students who live nearby and a part-time online program for students in other states like me. I've been accepted into the latter. The way it works is that labs and lectures are online but clinicals are in person and we the students have to find our own clinical sites (since we don't live in Nebraska). The program starts January 2021 but clinicals don't start until January 2022.

Now I already work for an NY hospital. The program director told me that while they've had difficulty securing clinical sites in NY in the past, the fact that I already work for a hospital "helps immensely". The program's clinical coordinator has spoken with the RT manager at my job and says that he's on board and willing to help with my clinicals. However, the school doesn't have a signed affiliate agreement with my site yet, but "hopefully it will be signed by February 1st". My classes start in January and I haven't paid anything yet.

The coordinator said that if the agreement is not signed by the time clinicals begin in Jan 2022, I have to either find another site or drop the program. This puts me in a REALLY tight spot.

On one hand, I'm so happy to finally GET IN one of these programs because that's one big hurdle many face. On the other I'm afraid to risk the possibility of not being able to secure a clinical site. I mean maybe it works out, maybe the agreement with my hospital gets signed, who knows.

But then if I drop that program now and try to get into the other two that are in NY, I'm risking the possibility of not getting into them whereas with this one, I'm already accepted. I would literally be back at square one IF the two in NY end up rejecting me.

I'm really not sure what to do, I would like to wait until Feb 1st to see if my site gets secured but classes start Jan 11th and they have to be paid before then. I'm supposed to make tuition reimbursement arrangements with my job before then. I'm supposed to buy the expensive text books before then. It's all very time sensitive.

Should I stay in a program that has accepted me and risk the possibility of not getting a clinical site and ultimately having to drop the program? 

Or should I drop the program now and wait/see if I can get into one of the programs I applied to in NY, risking the possibility of them not accepting me?

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Specializes in NICU.

There are many Masters in Nursing programs that are online with clinicals locally (I understand it is an RT program). It is common occurrence to have students in online programs at hospitals. I would stay with the program and keep on top of the clinical agreement process. 

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Specializes in Psych.
On 11/27/2020 at 9:54 PM, NICU Guy said:

There are many Masters in Nursing programs that are online with clinicals locally (I understand it is an RT program). It is common occurrence to have students in online programs at hospitals. I would stay with the program and keep on top of the clinical agreement process. 

But is it common practice for those MSN programs to admit students without having a secured clinical site first? Do they let the students hunt for sites?

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Specializes in NICU.

Many do expect the student to find clinical sites. All of my coworkers that are in online FNP school had to find their own clinical sites. You just need to call the RT depts at your local hospitals and arrange for a preceptor. Once you find a preceptor, you will either contact your school for the paperwork or print it from the school's website and get it filled out.

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Are you still applying to  Southeast Community College

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Specializes in Psych.
6 hours ago, boredmenn said:

Are you still applying to  Southeast Community College

I start in two weeks but I haven't paid for classes or books yet. Im waiting on response from local RN program, which should be any day now.

Im kinda iffy about southeast due to the clinical site issue. If they end up signing an agreement with my job then great, problem solved, but I can't read the future.

The closest affiliated site they have is all the way in west Virginia. That would be crazy and expensive to travel from ny to west VA, for 3 days a week for clinicals.

The other thought I had was the possibility of moving to Lincoln, Nebraska where the campus is, by 2022 when clinicals begin so I can do them there and graduate. But even moving alone, leaving my current job, is stressful to think about 

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You got an email so we can talk. I cant direct message you

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Sent a email just now

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Hi All, I've been accepted as an alternate to the Online Respiratory Therapy Program at Southeast Community College.  It looks like from what I've been reading we need to find our own clinical site?  Is this correct?  

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Specializes in Psych.
20 minutes ago, jmiradakis said:

Hi All, I've been accepted as an alternate to the Online Respiratory Therapy Program at Southeast Community College.  It looks like from what I've been reading we need to find our own clinical site?  Is this correct?  

Unfortunately yes ? unless they have affiliations in your state/city. Where are you located?

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I'm located in Alabama and right now we have extremely high COVID Numbers.  I'm just worried about what will happen if the hospitals in our area don't let us do clinicals.  Guess I'll just cross that bridge when I come to it.  Right now, I'm just an alternate so if I can't get in for January, I'll reapply for Fall.  Maybe by then things will calm down some.  I think if needed, I can get in and do clinicals maybe at UAB and hopefully a few more.  Hope things go good for you and thanks for answering and responding to my question.  ?

 

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