rgodfrey

80 to 60 is still a lot better than 110 to less than 50, im assuming that the majority were also lost in the lower levels and even the 1st week,....that doesnt sound that bad....but if your program is losing more than half then there is something wrong with the program

It may have been considered one of the best in the state due to its NCLEX pass rates? Usually thats what its based on, not necessarily retention.......board scores dont help you if you cant graduate. It can be a good thing to an extent, however, when you're paying money, and sacrificing your life over the course of 2 yrs, you should get more of a promise that you can be gaurneteed success if you work your ass off and treat the programs like a full time job that it takes to be successful. Its not fair to those hardworking people who give up everything only to be led on and eventually crushed, and then forced like me to find other options.....luckily I found another option in an ABS program, which other's dont have and its a wonderful program Man I wish I had did more research on these programs, and not just chosen one b/c it was "close to my house and affordable", but sometimes thats all you can go on because its you're only option

Yes, I know what you're talking about with that program, I also failed out of that program. It was so disorganized, and we were always tested on stuff we never learned, and the teachers were so out of sync' with what we learned. and the way the exams were scheduled were extremely unfair, ...we had 2 exams in 8 days, and our final was 3 days apart from our last exam. I never thought i'd say this but im now in the Accelerated B.S program at UB and its easier (still hard of course, because nothing nursing related is easy) but its so well organized, and easier. Nursing school is hard, but that school is much harder than it should be for all of the Wrong Reasons disorganized, and we were always tested on stuff we never learned, and the teachers were so out of sync' with what we learned, and completely off the wall questions that make 0 sense such as : At what age does a human fetus resemble a human? They used to say you need to :apply info" and "think about the question", yes thats very true....no doubt, but how can you apply info that you dont have because you were misguided? and no rationales for questions: at UB we actually get rationales for our questions To further answer your question: My sister began at GCC started with 70 graduated 55, so yea it is your program if your losing more than 50% of people who start.

Im really interested in exploring Nursing after a semi-successful (passing with B's) but disappointing experience in Nursing school, and was wondering if there was anyone out there who had done both Respiratory Therapy and Nursing School and was also wondering which is harder? Im also exploring PT, but the length of time is a major drawback, and cost although im still very young....20 yrs old and an EMT. I just am having an awful experience in my RN program, and dont feel like im learning anything except how to be a good guesser on exams and wipe ______ (no offense) and how to be nasty, sadistic and mean like my instructors. I guess I want a field where I feel like I can make a major difference (not that nursing doesnt) ..... since Respiratory's main focus is on the Airway and Breathing, .... after doing much research I feel like this could be my thing..... I am looking for input from anyone Ive heard my brother who is an RT say, RT is the easier of the 2 (at least in the classroom) because the primary concern is the lungs and to an extent the heart and anything other body system that may pertain to pulmonary function, he also didnt have the B.S off the wall questions and felt like he learned more in RT school than RN school, but also had more in terms of written exams and praticals.. ......however, what makes nursing so hard is RN's have to know everything and anything,....they are truely on the front lines, and are responsible for everything from cardiac to respiratory to psychosocial and elimination....." Anyways, just wondering... RT school is hard no secret but for an over/under, how hard is the schooling compared to nursing ...

Im really interested in exploring Nursing after a semi-successful (passing with B's) but disappointing experience in Nursing school, and was wondering if there was anyone out there who had done both Respiratory Therapy and Nursing School and was also wondering which is harder? I just am having an awful experience in my RN program, and dont feel like im learning anything except how to be a good guesser on exams and wipe ______ (no offense) and how to be nasty, sadistic and mean like my instructors. I guess I want a field where I feel like I can make a major difference (not that nursing doesnt) ..... since Respiratory's main focus is on the Airway and Breathing, .... after doing much research I feel like this could be my thing..... I am looking for input from people who already have some minimal experience. Ive heard my brother who is an RT say, RT is the easier of the 2 (at least in the classroom) because the primary concern is the lungs and to an extent the heart and anything other body system that may pertain to pulmonary function, he also didnt have the B.S off the wall questions and felt like he learned more in RT school than RN school, but also had more in terms of written exams and praticals.. ......however, what makes nursing so hard is RN's have to know everything and anything,....they are truely on the front lines, and are responsible for everything from cardiac to respiratory to psychosocial and elimination....." Anyways, just wondering... RT school is hard no secret but for an over/under, how hard is the schooling compared to nursing

I must say I really love what both of you guys (TC3200 and griffinchet) had to say......however "There aren't many nursing professors who will not listen to a student who has rationally thought out a clinical scenario, and has reasoning behind their choices that are valid" ---You soundlike you went to the ideal Nursing School..... hell I would settle for rationales behind questions ... -----So here's a question for all Does Nursing Education need to Change?

Well yes,....obviously you cant go into detail and I dont know many RN programs that give you 100% of information. Lecture outlines the content, we all know that....at least its supposed to, but if there is little clarity between the students and teachers on what we are supposed to be covering? If we never once even talked about Dissociative Fugue and Allergic Rhinitis in class, how am I supposed to know I am supposed to read about it when its not in the syllabus or assigned readings that was actually the exact question, and its in our textbook, and also our lecture notes........and actually the funny part is that, its these type of questions that cause many people in our program to struggle, not the application questions that make you prioritize what you should do first.........this is what im talking about..... but somehow it was soda that was the answer. Here's another At What Age does a Human Fetus begin to resemble a person? A. 8 wks B. 12 wks C. 16 wks D. 28 wks ---book says 12 weeks, they say 16 weeks...

Exactly..............to my nursing instructors " im sorry for trying to make you do your job" But the textbook should be the lead teacher and the only teacher

Well first of, nobody is bashing nursing, but are critizing nursing education at our respective programs which we reserve the right to do. Second off, yeah, PT is a doctorate or masters program, but honestly..... if im going to work this hard, it may as well be for a profession that pays better, gives me more autonomy and is a doctorate program..... unlike Nursing where I have neither, and I'm overworked, and physically beaten down over time and burned out..... My brother did a PT program recently, and ive seen his material he gets and its nothing like I get.... Yea its hard but its nice to be tested on stuff we actually learned, and by someone who actually knows what they are teaching.... And yea Applying information, yes ..... I get that but you're missing the point, you cant apply stuff you never learned, and this so called intuition one poster says...... if you dont know what a Total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy is, and YOU NEVER LEARNED about out or covered the topic in class so you can read on it more......then how can you use your're magical nursing intuition one poster so speaks of?..... thats called guessing When you have bullcrap questions like these ones which are just one of many then this is how you get frustrated and lose respect not for nursing, but nusing education and your program: What is the priority intervention for a patient with a blood glucose level of 55mg/dl A. Administer 8oz of orange juice B. Administer 8oz of diet soda C. Administer 5 peices of Candy D. Administer 8 oz of regular soda The Answer is D..... the textbook says A and C would be right, but we cant challenge questions and we get no rationales toward questions. ----and there are plenty more where that came from.....about 10 for every exam and if you got that right you just did what? ......oh yeah guessing? And lastly., as far as self teaching.....you're missing the point, ......Self Teaching is fine, when your're guided in lecture on what to study and not misled by unorganized, out of sync, lectures that are never clear on what you're gonna be tested on.......But all I am saying in regards to Nursing education is what is the point of coming to class, getting a lecture of an instructor just reading from a sheet so you have to teach yourself everything?

Believe me, i do all of that, read, read and did i mention read..... yes you guess in the field however, what you can also do in the field is justify your "guess"....and it kind of is a joke when you cant challenge exam questions And if self-teaching is all im gonna be doing on the outside ....ok fine, let it be self-taught, but then answer me this: Why do I need to show up to class and listen to B. S lecture irrelevant to anything i need to know for my patient and my exams when I have to teach it to myself anyways? Someone in a post said it well......dont teach me when you dont know anymore or anybetter than me. Personally all im saying is i firmly believe some aspects of Nursing Education need to change.

A lot of times Nursing Credits arent transferable, however I have looked into a BSN program..... I have heard people rave about one particular private school No its a 2 year A.A.S program, not an accelerated, yeah 100 from level 1 to 40 by level 4.... The Board Scores are have declined the past 3 years coming from 95% 4 yrs ago to 84%, 82%, and 85% respectively.....the department actually lied to us until I looked on our state education website..... the scores they told us were about 15 percentage pts lower lol As far as the NCLEX questions, the funny thing is, yes you will be tested on things you have not learned, but there is still a knowledge component to the questions, and a memorization component........ but its hilarious that the questions on my exams are harder than the ones in the NCLEX review books and my textbooks.... PT is no cakewalk,...but i know its not has hard and subjective as Nursing Education .....id be afraid to find out what med-school is like

Definetly thinking about backing out of my RN program after completing 2 of the 4 semesters...... Probably going to change my major to Physical Therapy and go from there. I love the job, but honestly.... I have a lot of respect for the RN's and the students who put up with it, but I just feel like I lost a lot of respect for Nursing Education and how future RN's at my school at least, are taught. I feel like my program has taught me nothing except how to be a good guesser, and self teacher. And the exam questions are another frustrating thing, ....its funny because people always tell me, about how you have to apply information we learned and not just memorize...um I think I get that but thats not what I mean when I complain about the exams....... I partly disagree....because I believe there is definetly a memorization component to any RN program, but how can you apply information you never learned?? because at my program we are tested on stuff we never learned all the time, and I'd swear the exams are designed like that so nobody gets a grade higher than a C+ or 42/50 at my school without luck or again being a good guesser. (and only a handful of people get higher than a 42...... My program is also very disorganized, ....the courses are team taught, and judging by exam content the instructors are very out of sync with what we learned....the instructors call it thinking through the question....we all call it at my school, guessing, and again How can we apply knowledge that we never learned, and is also not in the book or notes (i study both i'd know).....?? ....and believe me, ive gotten all the NCLEX review books necessary and let me tell you, are exam questions are much harder than the NCLEX questions,,, My favorite part about my program is we get no exam reviews and no rationales for the questions we got wrong, and we also cant challenge them. And I also personally love how my instructors just read from sheets word for word when they teach...... this is why out of 100 people I started with at my program we are down to about 60 for level 3 and will likely lose another 20 en route to 4...last years graduating class was around 40 students..... the sad part is...its mostly because of school and work and people struggling to balance it..... I think personally the nursing program im in needs to stop convincing people that they can do it with full time jobs and famlies when you really cant... Now Idk if every program is like this everywhere, but if you're reading and you have your own experiences please share, but.....all I know is ive really lost all respect for the way nurses are educated, and as much as I love it, I think im just going to go to school for physical therapy

One thing you should never do as a student who aspires to be a Nurse is to give up on your dream. And my experience at Erie Community College North Campus in Buffalo, NY taught me this. One thing I took for granted with Nursing programs was retention rates (not necessarily NCLEX pass scores). But with Retention rates....how many people actually graduate from ECC who start. They'll start with 100 plus 10 lpns, and they will end will 45-50, and they'll lose the majority between the 2nd and 3rd semesters. Honestly im a firm believer that there is no such thing as a bad student, but bad teache, and ECC has plenty of them. Also ECC is known for lying to their students.... they claim to have a 98% pass rate on the NCLEX exam......... In fact the board scores for this school the year I graduated in 2010 was actually 83% (only about 15% lower than what they told us lol)...... The instructors claim that "very rarely, do we have someone not make it to the end...we'll lose about 10-15", when reality is they lose close to half the class. The School is also lying about their accrediation status. They claimed in 2010 that the schools accrediation was good for 7 years, reality check:........... they're on probationary status and are in jeporady of losing their accrediation because of the following: - declining NCLEX Pass Rates, extremely low retention rates at the city campus, and pretty low at North, and not enough faculty....also poor facilities Rumor has it (pretty true since I heard this from several students that are there now).....that they also dont even have enough staff to send all their students to clinicals next year because of budget constraints. I has complaints about the program when I was in it let alone mainly about the exams: they were unfair, the questions were all arguable, and we couldnt even dispute the answers. Also Exam reviews were a joke.....they just put on an overhead and we see the answers and thats it.....they also give No rationales. Nobody in this program has ever gotten an A, or even an A- since it is a 97% and 95% respectively, and the majority of the program ends up in the c, c+ range..... and this will hurt you when you decide to go on for you're BSN, and you're applying for schools. I left this school in 2008 after a very unsuccessful run. I failed my third semester because I had scheduling conflicts with my clinicals for level 3, I was a evening track student and I was forced to do day track clinicals and I failed because of fatigue mainly, ....because I work the graveyard shift at a hospital and had to go to clinicals the next morning.... and the department chair Patti Lositio told me "maybe I should drop out" after pleading my case.....luckily i only failed the lecture/theory portion the next year, I applied at Trocaire (I had to start all over) and passed with a 3.5 gpa, and graduated with my A.A.S, and passed my boards on the first attempt....granted their are dark spots about Trocaire, (there are a few nasty instructors, and the cost)...but its worth it because they provided me with the resources to be successful. After exams we get to sit down and speak with our instructor to see what went wrong on the exam, and we get rationales for the tests. There is an arguable question here and there, but the exam questions were fair and literate...... Overall the message from my experience is beware of some Nursing programs, ....College is still a business, ......and do you're research .....pay attention to retention rates as well because honestly: what good is NCLEX pass rates if you have a 50% chance to even make it through the program.... and if you're unsuccessful, go to another school if you can .....and by the way, I strongly suggest you take you're pre-reqs at one school and transfer into another if possible so if you flunk out of a nursing school, the school that has your transcript that you used to apply to school isnt tarnished by a failing grade..... sometimes it is the school or the program, and sometimes, some people who are unsuccessful are successful a second time

One thing you should never do as a student who aspires to be a Nurse is to give up on your dream. And my experience at Erie Community College North Campus in Buffalo, NY taught me this. One thing I took for granted with Nursing programs was retention rates (not necessarily NCLEX pass scores). But with Retention rates....how many people actually graduate from ECC who start. They'll start with 100 plus 10 lpns, and they will end will 45-50, and they'll lose the majority between the 2nd and 3rd semesters. Honestly im a firm believer that there is no such thing as a bad student, but bad teache, and ECC has plenty of them. Also ECC is known for lying to their students.... they claim to have a 98% pass rate on the NCLEX exam......... In fact the board scores for this school the year I graduated in 2010 was actually 83% (only about 15% lower than what they told us lol)...... The instructors claim that "very rarely, do we have someone not make it to the end...we'll lose about 10-15", when reality is they lose close to half the class. The School is also lying about their accrediation status. They claimed in 2010 that the schools accrediation was good for 7 years, reality check:........... they're on probationary status and are in jeporady of losing their accrediation because of the following: - declining NCLEX Pass Rates, extremely low retention rates at the city campus, and pretty low at North, and not enough faculty....also poor facilities Rumor has it (pretty true since I heard this from several students that are there now).....that they also dont even have enough staff to send all their students to clinicals next year because of budget constraints. I has complaints about the program when I was in it let alone mainly about the exams: they were unfair, the questions were all arguable, and we couldnt even dispute the answers. Also Exam reviews were a joke.....they just put on an overhead and we see the answers and thats it.....they also give No rationales. Nobody in this program has ever gotten an A, or even an A- since it is a 97% and 95% respectively, and the majority of the program ends up in the c, c+ range..... and this will hurt you when you decide to go on for you're BSN, and you're applying for schools. I left this school in 2008 after a very unsuccessful run. I failed my third semester because I had scheduling conflicts with my clinicals for level 3, I was a evening track student and I was forced to do day track clinicals and I failed because of fatigue mainly, ....because I work the graveyard shift at a hospital and had to go to clinicals the next morning.... and the department chair Patti Lositio told me "maybe I should drop out" after pleading my case.....luckily i only failed the lecture/theory portion the next year, I applied at Trocaire (I had to start all over) and passed with a 3.5 gpa, and graduated with my A.A.S, and passed my boards on the first attempt....granted their are dark spots about Trocaire, (there are a few nasty instructors, and the cost)...but its worth it because they provided me with the resources to be successful. After exams we get to sit down and speak with our instructor to see what went wrong on the exam, and we get rationales for the tests. There is an arguable question here and there, but the exam questions were fair and literate...... Overall the message from my experience is beware of some Nursing programs, ....College is still a business, ......and do you're research .....pay attention to retention rates as well because honestly: what good is NCLEX pass rates if you have a 50% chance to even make it through the program.... and if you're unsuccessful, go to another school if you can .....and by the way, I strongly suggest you take you're pre-reqs at one school and transfer into another if possible so if you flunk out of a nursing school, the school that has your transcript that you used to apply to school isnt tarnished by a failing grade..... sometimes it is the school or the program, and sometimes, some people who are unsuccessful are successful a second time