FazeRN

I just saw this post and it's from months back. I know how it feels to be in your shoes. If you're still around and in need of advice, I'll be glad to provide you with help. [email protected] -Allan

I am a recent graduate of Trinitas School of Nursing (Jan '08). Maybe I can provide you with my insights... While I don't discourage my friends from attending this school, I do remind them that it is a very rigorous course. I think of it as a crash course into nursing. We don't have pharmacology courses or those public health courses, just one big 6/8/10 credit courses per semester where everything is incorporated. I was still taking my A&P, chemistry, & microbiology going into the first two nursing courses (and also working part time), but by the time I got into the last three classes, my time was purely devouted to them. As for costs, it's around $5000/semester out of county. If you pass the third nursing class (132) and you're maintaining over 3.0, you're eligible for their Kellogs scholarship (which covered most, if not, all of the nursing tuition and even books--not so much now because people were buying $500 giftcards with them). I didn't even know I got this scholarship until 2 weeks after I paid for the tuition of the fourth class. I think I can explain this one. Trinitas has no entrance exam. Everyone and their mothers applied and based on what pre-req's and gpa, they were eventually accepted. Now I breezed through high-school and ranked #4 amongst the graduating class and maintained a ~3.5 GPA for two years at Rutgers, and I can honestly say that these nursing courses are no joke. They kicked my butt. I even lost my full scholarship after I repeated the OB/Peds course. It takes a certain maturity and dedication to do well in these classes. I have much respect to those who have a family, work, and went to Trinitas for school. It really takes maturity and dedication to get through. I shake my head after two young guys who were in baggy clothes ask me, "is this **** hard?" while waiting on line to register for the first nursing class. Although the first class felt like a history class, half the people failed (out of 250+). I don't wanna make any judgements, but anyone who failed the first non-clinical class didn't belong there. From there on, about a quarter to a third of the class fail. Anyone who got into nursing just for the money were mostly gone after the first clinical course. This is when students start seeing what nursing really is all about. My friend who had a B+ avg in theory exams withdrew because he hated patient care. A lot of people who fail have a bitter taste in their mouth. There's 41 of us who graduated. Not once were we pressured to pass the NCLEX 100% as a class. We were just told that the past couple of graduating classes have 100% passed. And if we failed, so what, study harder take it again. Our school's student nursing association even paid for a Rutgers review to help us study, it wasn't mandatory either. The program is a tough one without a doubt. They really prepare you. I worked for an externship and the Rutgers seniors and Bloomfield students were amazed at what the Trinitas students knew, and I just finished 132 (3rd class, 2nd clinical) at the time. The professors have been very supportive. After failing a class and repeating it and still not doing well, my professor scheduled a meeting with me and we had a looong chat. She made me question my career choice and lifestyle. She basically kicked my butt after I revealed that I was a single-no-kids-no-job-living-with-parents student , but she was supportive still and offered me numbers to counselors and therapists. I owe it all to her that I've made it and am in one of the best careers out there. I should've hugged her and thanked her at graduation if only my family didn't rush me for dinner arrangements. That's my . I don't frequent this message board often but if you have any questions PM me.