NachoMomma

When you open up the ADN NCLEX pass rates on the VABON website, it automatically opens up to the 2nd worksheet (that has TCC on it), but the first sheet has MCI and other schools on it.

The post titled MCI Virginia Beach!!! will answer a lot of your questions!

It's true - BSN is the way to go, but for many it's not a possible option option right away. A lot of ADN students have plans to further their education to the BSN program. MCI now has the full accreditidation for the BSN program (you can verify on the NLNAC website) and the ADN program is still a candidate (the visit is in October). It is approved by the VA Board of Nursing. As for hospitals in Hampton Roads not hiring "short program" grads, the time put into MCI is short in the calendar year, but the hours are still the same. You get a ton of clinical experience - of course it's not as much as Sentara b/c they ARE the hospital - but we still have full clinicals and class schedules. For the first half of the program, you take basics: A&P, nutrition, theory classes, etc. For the second half, you take classes one at a time in 5 weeks. Five weeks psych, five weeks med/surge, five weeks acute, etc- clinicals 3 days/week, classes 2 days/week. MCI students are everywhere. There's not a job for everyone - and new grad positions are hard to come by, but most students have one lined up by the pinning ceremony. Chesapeake Regional is the only hospital that I've heard was not going to hire MCI grads - but they did just a few months ago. You can look up NCLEX pass rates on the Virginia Board of Nursing website. For 2009, MCI is at 94% and Tidewater is at 90%. (This is MCI Va Beach). The school isn't perfect and it's certainly not for everyone. It's intense and you're going to get dirty. It's still new and b/c it's a different format than traditional schools, it gets a lot flack. We have parking problems and the printers never seem to have paper. However, despite the price, this is the program that best suited my needs. When people asked me where I went to school, I used to kind of roll my eyes and say, "MCI?" like I was ashamed. I'm not anymore - I'm proud of where we came from and where we're going. We're still growing and have a lot of work to do. :) Now I'm off to work on my care plan....

Yeah - the 15 months was the deal maker for me - as long as you get through it! Faster doesn't mean it's easier and if you make below an 80, then you have wait about two or three months for the class to come around again to retake it. About the accredidation - it is SACS accredited. It is in candidacy status for NLNAC. The BSN program (which is only a bridge program - you already have to have your RN) had their visit in Feb and we should be getting the approval any day. The ADN program has their visit in October. They've been very active with NLNAC trying to get everything for approval. It's also a package accredidation - we're (VA Beach) applying with NN campus and Richmond campus, so those campuses have to have their stuff together, too. Of course, Va Beach is the best one :) Sentara has a great program, but it is also very competitive with wait lists. They also only have the BSN program now, no longer the diploma. (Which is great!)

You'll get the review sheet at the office at MCI - it's given to the registrar for her to review your course description. Day time and night time RN is 15 months. The LPN is 12 months. It is about $40,000 - but it flucuates and it may not be that much. You can get federal aid, but it won't cover all of it. I took out a personal student loan with Wells Fargo and my husband co-signed. Sallie Mae also does school loans for MCI. Are you by any chance a military spouse? If you can only come once, be ready to sit and take the entrance exam. It's called TEAS. You can get a basice nursing school entrance exam study guide at the library. For the RN program, you'll have English, Grammar, Math, and Science. Be sure to brush up on your conversions (pounds to kilograms; cups to milliliters; etc). Good luck! Let me know if you have any more questions!

They accepted my chemistry from ODU. You have to provide a course description, an official transcript, and a signed review sheet.

I'm in the MCI RN program right now - about half way through with it. Yes - it does cost a lot - it's not a secret. And it's not for everyone - it's accelerated and fast paced and it's not easy. They don't transfer in a lot of classes - like A&P or any previous nursing classes- but will transfer in you English, Sociology, etc. The rationale behind that is if you took A&P somewhere else and then you get to a nursing class and don't know your stuff, then it falls back on them. They want to prepare you and they want you to pass your boards. They are SACS accredited, so your gen ed classes (english, etc) should transfer to other schools. Your nursing classes will not transfer - and that's not an accreditation thing, it's a school thing. MCI is also in "candidate status" for NLNAC accreditation and we get our visit this fall. While I've had some issues with MCI and some teachers, I've loved my experience there so far. I needed the fast paced program - I couldn't wait to get in to TCC or ODU and they're long wait lists b/c we're a military family. I love my class - we're very close and I've met the best people. I've had some issues with some teachers, but most really want you to succeed. The nursing instructors all have a ton of clinical experiences and have their MSN. The directors are very caring and know almost every student by name. Their door is always open. As for the A&P book - in the RN program, our book was the exact same book used by TCC A&P and it's about 3.5 inches thick and we got a lab book and we got a study guide book.

I was told by NLN and DON that you have to be a student at the school when they do the site visit. The BSN's site visit was in January. The ADN's site visit is in October. For the class that just graduated and the one that graduates next, they will not be grandfathered in.

It's hard to say how "intense" it is - some have no problems and some really struggle with time management. Most students have a harder time in the night program mainly b/c they're also working full time. I'm in days and a lot of people in my class work, too. :) Good luck at your appt tomorrow! (if you go on a tour, it may smell pretty bad in part of the building...we're dissecting pigs tomorrow!)

The drops are usually because of failing or absences. Because the classes are only five weeks long, they have a very strict 80% attendance policy. If you're class meets twice a week, then you can only miss twice. If you get sick or your kids get sick or if there's a family emergency, then it's really hard. If you do have to drop out, then you have to wait for the next round to come through if there's a spot available (usually 3-4 months later). As for finances, it depends on when you drop and your lenders. Financial Aid is distributed in "semesters" - just like traditional schools - fall, spring, summer. If you drop out before 10% complete, you get back 90% (actually- your lenders do - and you will still owe them for the portion used) and if it's after another percent, then you owe a certain percent, etc. For federal funds (this is a federal rule, not MCI's rule)- if you withdraw before 60%, it's prorated. It does say "if a studen withdraws after completing at least one course within a semester, the return of funds requirement does not apply." We do have "older" people- we have everyone. You may not be the oldest in the class! I think our class has a great commraderie and we have 20s, 30s, and 40s. It is intimidating - it's fast paced and it's a lot of money. It's not for everyone- but it is for a lot of people and a lot of people not only survive, but thrive. You're current 4.0 already shows that you're dedicated and a hard worker. It definitely worth looking into! I think you should go for the RN! I do recommend getting the study guide and working through a few problems to brush up on your skills! The next mod and final opportunity to get the prereqs starts on March 30, so I'd try to get an appt if you want to start in May. (I'm in the RN program) (I don't know much about the LPN program- but I do know that it's 12 months and seems to start more often than the RN program. The RN program is 15 months)

In study group today, we were talking about getting a NCLEX review book, but thought maybe to hold off until we got the nursing classes. Maybe I will pick one up after all! It hadn't even crossed my mind to look at a care plan book- but I think I will now! Thanks!

Thanks for the extra info about the clinicals and careplans! I haven't gotten there yet, but I'm excited to. I've heard about those care plans and knew they were in intense, but I didn't realize they were 8-10 pages or at least 10 hours! Wow! How many did you start with and how many do you have now? I've heard that the classes get really small really quickly around that time- but I've also met some that had a great rate (started with 25 and 21 graduated!) Of course I'm biased, but I think we have a very strong group! :)

As for the prereqs, I don't know if they'll take pass/fail chemistry as a transfer. Did you have a lab? They might though! I know the other transfer rules are that they have to be within 7 years unless you have a degree. I'm in the group that just started in Janurary, so we're all doing okay so far!! We lost two after the first mod- one was thisclose and the other had a lot of absences. The classes are five weeks long, so it it's a lot of material at once, but it's two classes at time. I really like the way the schedule has been so far. We're done at one (except Fridays- until 4) so then I have the afternoon to study and do homework and then I can have the evening for my daughter. (Then I study some more when she goes to bed if I need to!) I'm not going to lie- it's not cheap! For RN, they're "quoting" almost $40,000, but most in my class are paying $34,000 or less. If you can transfer in sociology or other gen eds, then it'll be less. They do help you with FAFSA and if you qualify for things like the Pell Grant, then you get that too. I had to take out a personal student loan to help. If you're military, then you may be able to qualify with the new GI Bill that takes effect in August. It's a lot of money - but you don't have to pay it the day you start or anything. Most are paying $100/month. When I took out my private loan, I asked for the additional to cover my monthly payments so I wouldn't have to sweat it. Even though it costs more, we'll be graduated and working that much sooner than waiting to get accepted and then finish at TCC. The next nursing class starts in May and there's only one five week session left to start before they start. If you're interested in starting in May, you should call and make an appt. That way if you need the prereqs, you can take them on time to still get in the May class. The next one starts in August. The TEAS wasn't too bad. For LPN, it's math and reading comprehension. Math is basic conversions (inches, feet, cups, quarts, etc), some ratios, some basic algebra manipulations. Reading comprehension included reading some instructions like "draw a rectangle. write and X inside the rectangle. Shade in the top portion. Think about drawing a circle. Shade in the left portion of your rectangle. What does your picture look like?" and will have some phone book advertisements and it'll say "Who will you call for blah blah blah?" If you decide for the RN, then you'll also test for science and english - which has a lot of grammar and punctuation. The science was tougher and nobody does super on it. It includes some chemistry, graphs, physics, etc. Some people have said that they day they went to get the initial info, they had to take the test right then. I was able to make an appt and come back to take it. There are some nursing entrance exam study guides at some bookstores, so it definitely wouldn't hurt to pick one up (or look at the library!) to see where you stand and see if you need some improvement before taking it. There not looking for perfection and not expecting you know it all. Oh, and even though it's not a real "interview" the day you come for the info meeting, it'll really help if you dress up some. I've seen many come in in jeans or tennis shoes. You don't need to come in a suit or anything (although you will have a real interview with Director of Nursing and maybe President that'll you need to be "professional" for). We have all ages in my class - from just out of high school to ones with grown children. We all have a mixed background in medicine- some with no prior experience, some have been LPNs or CNAs, some have a family history of nursing, etc. wow- this was really long! Let me know if I didn't answer all your questions or if you have any more questions! When I was looking into MCI, I tried so hard to find all this info before going there, so that's why I'm so eager to share it.

Yes- you do take the prereqs at MCI and they're "free" (If you're admitted to the program- if you drop out, then they're $200/class). It's only college math (algebra), computers, and chemistry. If you've taken these, then they'll more than likely transfer. The A&P, Micro, English, etc classes are all incorporated to the RN curriculum. (English, nutrition, and sociology will transfer, but A&P and other classes will not transfer). Don't stress about your age. :) I'm approaching 30 and I say I'm going to be 30 if I become a nurse or not, so I might as well do what I want to be doing! As for LPN vs. RN- it's a decision you'll have to make. How did you do in your other classes at TCC? Your GPA and TEAS (entrance test) will play a factor at MCI. For some they reccommend doing LPN first and then doing RN, but if your ultimate goal is to be an RN and you pass the TEAS, then I'd go that route so you're in school for a lot less (and a lot less student debt!) We have some in my RN class that went to the LPN program at MCI first too and for some people that's a good place to start. Let me know if you have any more questions! You can search my posts and see that I've posted a lot of info about them lately! Good luck!

I think it varies. I was talking to a student in the BSN program and she said that in her ADN program they started with 25 and 21 made it to the end. However, the class that just graduated in January started with 30 and only 9 made it on time. The day classes seem to have higher rates of on time graduation than the night classes. The night students usually work full time - but the ones that make it really have their stuff together! Because the classes are only 5 weeks long, there's a very strict absence policy. You can only miss 20% of classes - if you only meet twice a week, then you can only miss two classes. If you get sick or hurt (or if it's your child), then it's easy to miss the time. Also you have to have above a an 80 to move on. We started in January and we've lost one already. If you do drop out, you do have the chance of getting back into the program in about three or four months when the next class comes through. However, there has to be a spot open for you and if more than one of you is trying to get in, it's based on GPA.