MyNameIsJeff

Yeah I didn't think it would be too difficult since the passing rate is pretty solid. Have you gone through to their RN portion? If so, how was that? Also, what were the clinical sites for the PN portion? Any other complaints, gripes, raves, kudos, gems and/or pearls of wisdom?

Hey everyone! I was recently accepted into the LPN portion of their program options at CCC and wanted to know what everyone thought about the program? ALSO... If you applied to the LPN-RN portion while in the LPN program and went straight through, how that went? And if you got denied, did they say why? I've spoken to a recent graduate and she raves about the program, but I don't want to take a break at the LPN portion, I'd rather apply and push through and get it all done and work as an LPN while doing my RN portion. What's the program like? Clinicals? How's that new science building for the RN portion in Camden? Issues? Gripes? Instructors to stay away from, to ask for, etc...?

Hey all! I've recently been accepted to RCSJ at Cumberland for their generic nursing program. I randomly had an itch to look at their ACEN Policy 29 statistics, the ones that show not just the pass rates of the NCLEX, but program completion, and they seem to extremely low. Roughly 20-30% average overall since they're "new curriculum" change in 2022. Anyone in either RCSJ program, Gloucester or Cumberland have any insight on how it's run from other programs? I asked on FB but the reply I got sounded so scripted it was sketchy. For context, I know of someone who graduated from the Gloucester campus program last year and noted a bunch if issues trying to retain and keep clinical instructors so a lot of his clinicals were split into 4 week sessions so people could rotate through, and he spent most of the rest of the time in the lab. He did say that they treat you like a paying customer so if you have an issue, they don't dismiss it and they look into it, which is fantastic. But any other insight? The program completion of like 18 out of 56 students doesn't look good at all.

I know of a girl who went through their LPN program and raves about it. How are you liking the LPN-RN portion?

From my research so far, Florida and New Hampshire both offer it 100% Florida requires the same classes as NH, being Fundamentals, MS, MH, OB and Peds, but Florida requires a C grade or higher. NH, from my understanding, does not require specific grading, but I have not confirmed that yet. Florida's application fee is like $150, while NH's is approx $50. NH requires your state, and NH's backgrounds and an FBI clearance check. The only issue is you're not allowed to get into some LPN-RN programs, and depending on the state, a compact/multi-state license. Since most programs and BON's require graduation from an accredited PN program with proof. But once you get your LPN from one of the challenge states, you can just apply for reciprocity in the state you want to work in/live in.

Along the pay lines, does anyone know of someone who has under 5 years of experience, that has fought for higher starting pay at their accepted facility? Example, local hospitals in area are all union, most have starting pay at $40+/hr, with full time at 2080 hours over $85k a year, while local VA Clinics and MC's starting pay is $73K. Which is a HUGE difference in pay. Is it typically often they allow someone to argue with an offer letter to a super adjacent hospital that's paying that much higher of a difference? Like requesting that you start at a N1 Step 7 which would be the equiv pay? Or have people seen they're most likely told to pound sand? I get the benefits are worlds different, but to sacrifice over $10k to start and onward... that's a lot.

That would be considered EDRP if I'm not mistaken. You can find EDRP (education repayment plan/program) jobs on USAJOBS by just searching EDRP. It's VA specific on what is really need at that VAMC or that VISN. Currently, there's a lot of Texas VA's and there were recently a bunch of Indian Health Service positions like that as well. If you have your NP or especially your MHNP, you might be able to get a service chief to talk it up to the director to get EDRP specifically for you.

I know it sounds stupid, but check out @kay_bsntobe on tiktok. She has a link to an up-to-date excel sheet for each state that shows the income for RN's in each specialty, with years of experience, any extra bonuses, shifts, specialty and cities. It should help!

The nice thing about the VA nursing scale is that it's in excel format on the OPM website and once you realize the breakdown of what you would be, as the one person said before, "NurseI/II Level I/II/III etc..." you can determine what the pay is for that VN (their equivalent to the GS pay scale) and then the steps. I will say, that in my VISN, the Philadelphia area which includes a big area, some areas, and units do not automatically get step increases like our counterparts on the GS side in a DOD capacity do. I've seen many times where it's favoritism over work ethic, and seniority in union over anything that'll get that person their long awaited step increased before you'll ever see one. It's what drove quite a few nurses away from one of the VAMC's in our VISN. So keep that in mind. However, you did mention wanting to know about the DHA side of things, which no one has answered yet. If you get some good insight on that, I'd love some as well. I'm still getting a bunch of bs and half-assed googled answers from people about how it works on the GS side of things for the DOD. That's where I'd like to be, even though though clinically, there's more to offer me in the VA. I'm looking more towards the long term goal and random fringe benefits that we don't get with a standard PIV card. Ex: Like access to the base gyms/rec centers and pools, use of DOD lodging, travel benefits etc. All the health benefits are the same to choose from as well. And from what I've experienced first hand by working at the VA and with the DOD is that the DOD seems way more lax'd with leave than the VA. So there's that too. -End rant-

Not even close.

Not even in the slightest. Thanks anyways.

Hi all, I've worked for the DOD as an Army Civilian and as an MSA for the VA. I'm familiar with how the VA does their VN pay scale, and seeing a general listing for the GS 5-15 for Clinical Nursing for the DOD(AF), I was curious how it worked exactly. When I worked for the VA, it was explained to me that pay raises, (steps) weren't automatically given like they were as a DOD Civilian, and that they often had to be fought for and made it seem unappetizing to be a VA nurse. According to the DOD listing for the Clinical Nurse, if I started out as an RN with them, I'd have to have 1 year of experience with my ADN, or zero experience and my BSN, but I'd be a GS-5 which is clearly not logical for the pay difference. However, it says the GS-7 would be for the ADN and 2 years, or the BSN plus 1 year, and so on and so forth. Is the GS bump through automatic like some positions are? Or is it something that, "has to be in the budget," or applied too, or fought for as well? Once I'm done my ADN, I'd be doing my BSN which I'd have done in about a year, so would I automatically bump up as well? I currently work in a civilian hospital as a CNA until I finish my ADN, but miss the perks and comradery of working in the DOD. However, I don't want to do it if the pay cut is astronomical.

Also ---------------------- left back in the Summer. I was actually on her last information session the week before she retired. I've gotten some insight to the RCBC program from some current students, and they're telling me to run as fast as a I can to a different program. Apparently their accreditation is on probation and in the works to get revoked due to a few issues, including the NCLEX test scores that you had mentioned. I was super excited since RCBC took all of my xfer credits, unlike Camden. But at this point, I'm leaning towards OLOL.

The scheduling is what I'm looking at. I still need to work at least part time (.6 FTE if not .75) and go to school. I've done some forward thinking and planned out a mock schedule with RCBC and realized that I wouldn't be able to do a day shift if I worked days or nights specifically, and I wouldn't be able to work nights unless the facility is going to be flexible enough with letting me not work overnight on a specific night because of clinicals the next morning. Cost, at this point, isn't a huge thing. And I'm not saying that like I have the money. It's going to be in loans and it is what it is. I've also looked into Camden County College's program with Rutgers to do the 3 years BSN. But the extra classes for admission into the program alone doesn't make any sense. Nor does the traditional Rutgers Camden program since it's still 4 years. I could be working as an RN within 2 this way, and at least not struggle to keep things afloat for those four years at Rutgers. I didn't respond back right away because your comment about clinical hours in specific areas intrigued me, so I reached out to RCBC and asked about that situation. They said it's, "long term care, maternity/ob/L&D, peds and something else (I lost my note card), then med surg for the last like semester or more." And in essence from what I gathered, a lot of it is just med-surg which is not what I was looking for. I was hoping to get into a program that rotated you through a decent amount of specialties to not only get that experience, but to get an idea of what you want to do when you graduate.

I mean there are major universities over the bridge that don't have amazing pass rates nor focus on NCLEX testing and kind of just leave students fending for themselves once their program is done. Nor do I think passing the first time makes you a better nurse, per say. But I understand where you're coming from. I'd prefer a program where I got not only the book value of the program, but the clinical value too. I'm only hesitant with the OLOL program since CCC wouldn't take all my xfer credits and I basically have wasted 2 semester's worth of classes they won't accept since they limit it at 24ish credits.