as2633

As someone who works with with students and instructors frequently- We don't notice how crisp and fresh your uniform is. If you're willing to learn and helpful- we remember that. While it's important to appear professional, I think this email is a little much.

I graduated from ECPI Virginia Beach a few years ago and have my BSN now. The program was okay. Plan on getting a BSN- Not from ECPI. I was good with the program until the middle. We were short instructors and they were filling slots with teachers that weren't qualified to teach those subjects. Also, the tests are NCLEX based. Instructors pull questions from kaplan in lieu of on the material taught in class. It's good practice for when you to take the NCLEX (I passed mine hung over in 45 minutes), but while you're in the program you will struggle. If your studying the skin- log into your kaplan account (I think you get this in pharm) and go through the sections on skin. Basically, what they teach is you is it's impossible to know everything and how to deduce with the information presented. I took me awhile to understand that. I have a BS in another subject and was used to being tested on what has been presented. MCI's method is applicable to real practice when you have to make decisions quickly. It prepares you to make the best choice. The instructors vary. Had some great ones, had a few that were horrible. One of the teachers used questions from a CD included in a supplemental text unrelated to the textbook verbatim. If you bought the book, you had the test. Make friends with someone in a mod ahead of you so they can tell you about teacher quirks. Something I didn't care for about the program was you have to be incredibly flexible, almost to the point where you feel like you're paying to be abused, and they want you to be thankful about it. They can give you a print out with the wrong address for a clinical location and somehow it's still your fault. It's not a bad program, has its quirks though.

It's hospital and unit dependent. At my facility, LPN's weren't allowed to take doctor's orders or push meds.

I don't know about HPH, but Queen's will probably consider you a new grad. I interviewed there a few weeks ago and the HR manager explained nurses with less than 24 months of floor experience in the role of RN are still new grads. Starting pay in that bracket is 48.00/hour. I can't remember whether or not she said you can have time served grandfathered in. Pay after the 24 month mark was 52-54 an hour I believe. As for relocation allowance, I would be surprised if they offered it. There are so many nurses here that can't find jobs (after three months I'm starting to apply for traveler/agency positions)- it doesn't make sense why they would pay someone extra to move here. Frustrating market. The table ICU man posted is old (from 2005 I think). Good luck.

I interviewed for queens a little while ago. How long did it take for them to make a decision?

We got the address, but there were three different addresses for three different community service board locations (all had different names). We knew what location we were to be at and the address. When we didn't see any vehicles we figured this was the wrong location. Earlier in our semester two students got lost because the school provided an incorrect address or something. We assumed we had the incorrect address. It doesn't make a whole lot of sense, but there wasn't a whole lot of critical thinking happening on our part either. As far as our instructor, we aren't given cell phone numbers. We were to arrive at 0700- our school isn't even open at that time so we decided to best course of action was the head over to another location that we knew was active. Regardless, it was our fault. I just feel so stupid and don't want this impacting my chances of finding a job. I'm also worried people think I don't care or take these things seriously. I'm being a little neurotic though.

Hi everyone, I have a bit of anxiety over being written up today and basically I want to know if getting written up in school will have an impact on my ability to find a job after school. I'm currently in psych clinical, I was paired with another student and we were sent to a community service board to do home visits with a registered nurse. When we arrived to the clinical site we did not see any cars and it was slightly residential. We waited outside for a few moments, and then my partner suggested we were at the wrong location (there had been confusion about another site earlier in our semester). We decided to go to an active clinical site we passed on our way there to figure out what was going on. When we got there the nurse tried calling the site we were supposed to be at and didn't get an answer. She sent us back, told us she would call someone to make sure we got our clinical time. In hindsight, our actions were silly. Fantastic. When we got back to the clinical site people were there and we entered, however, the nurse had already left to do her rounds. We were told to sit and interact with the social workers for the rest of the day. Around 1 our clinical instructor showed up to collect our attendance (a document signed by the head nurse saying we were there the full day). We handed those in and she left. Around 1:30 the nursing staff dismissed us even though we were supposed to be there until 3 p.m. My partner and I went home and the next day saw we were given zeros for our attendance/assignments. Today I had a meeting with the DON. Basically, we were written up. When I read the sheet it sounded like it was for not contacting the school when we were dismissed to have the paper work corrected. Honestly, this didn't even cross my mind. I'm sort of kicking myself. Am I screwed when I go to find a job? I graduate in six months and am stressing slightly.

I'm an MCI student about half way through the program. The school is for profit and does cost 40k, but you may transfer in some of your courses. My total program cost is around 25,000 (this includes books, uniforms, etc.). I'm not from Virginia, in my home state associate nursing degrees run around 25k and there are wait lists. I walked into MCI in June, was accepted for August start date. For me, that was pretty amazing. MCI has one of the highest NCLEX pass rates in the area. They teach you how to tackle the NCLEX the entire time you're in school. As for finding a job after graduation, I don't hear of a lot of people have trouble. Again, it's a for profit college- but they do set their students up for success. The people who work in the career counseling office (that's not what it's called, but I'm having a mental block) are really passionate about what they do. In all honesty though, I haven't heard of many students who can't find employment after graduation. As for the program itself: You absolutely need to be easy going and flexible in this program. Things change all the time. I highly suggest not working, as it is fast paced. You'll walk into the first mod all bright eyed and bushy tailed, by the end of the program you're spent. We go through an entire text in a five week period and are expected to know everything. I can't stress enough to set yourself up for success by taking into account how fast paced this program is. Most of the faculty is incredible. One of my current instructors is so on point I began doubting my ability to be a good nurse. She was knowledgeable, articulate, and just amazing (and my new hero). But I'll admit, I've had two instructors that weren't very good. There are good and bad in every program though. If you want more in depth information message me. If you're flexible and don't have a lot of responsibilities outside of school this may be a great program for you.

Thanks for the feedback. I actually ended up enrolling in MCI's RN program and am about half way through!

You'll need three letters of recommendation. The counselors are pretty upfront, but it's not like they can say "you're in for sure." It's ultimately up to the directors. Don't stress, just do your best and stay positive!

I have no idea how MCI does their GPA thing. Have you taken the pre-req's? Chem, Computers, and Math.. if so, did they transfer? As for the first semester you're in nursing school- don't count on your classes transferring. They may not. My advice: go in and take their admissions test- it's not that hard. If your counselor tells you you are competitive for the RN program you are. Trust them. If they try to talk you into the LPN program, you're not competitive for the RN program. As for applying for the 19th.. in my opinion this is not feasible. You've missed a few mandatory meetings, your financial aid isn't ready, and they probably already conducted interviews and began the selection board. The process for applying is you make your appointment and have an initial interview with a counselor. This is basically a talk session where you're given information on cost, classes, etc.. Then they have you take the admissions test. You then meet with financial aid to make sure you can pay for the program. I advise you have your FAFSA already filled out and sent to the school. Also have all your transcripts on the way. After this you come back for a second interview (it's sort of an interview, but mostly just talking with your counselor. They're super cool). You also see financial aid again. At some point you have to turn in letters of reference and an essay. Once you have all your loans in order/paperwork submitted there is one more interview with the director or assistant director (both are incredibly nice so don't be nervous). At some point there is also a mandatory meeting where you fill out your background check and receive information on how to obtain a drug test. A few weeks after everything is submitted you'll get a call with MCI's decision. But! I recommend making an appointment with a counselor immediately. Also, the admission process may be different for you than it was for me.

Thanks so much. That's what I assumed, but it seemed odd that a school would want their students graduating with lower GPA's. Though I see the benefit of the strictness of our grading scale.

The school I am attending uses a nursing grading scale (100-93=A 92-86=B 85-80=C Anything below 80 is failing). It's an associates program and I would like to earn a BSN once I'm finished. When I turn my transcripts in will the BSN school I apply to know my current program grades on a stricter scale or will I have to apply with a lower than normal GPA? Looking at my unofficial transcript, my GPA for the current school has been figured out using their grading scale.

Hey.. does anyone know what month the new class graduates in? Is it January 2013 or later?

I drove to the fresh market today to get a few things and the roads were pretty clear. We're delayed 1 hour Monday so classes don't begin until 9.