PaNrse

As this is an older post, I hope you have found somewhere.. but any program will evaluate what you have done and see if they can give you credit for what you have completed. If the clinical is part of the course, and the course is accepted, then the clinical is accepted. I would say start calling. I don't think there is a "bad" philadelphia area program for your BSN.. but see where you can get the best "deal"! If not, or if you have finished.. then get right into a RN to BSN program as soon as you graduate, as the hospitals in the area want BSN nurses.. especially if they are going for "magnet" status! Good Luck!!

Try elsewhere!! Not everyone requires the TEAS! Don't give up. If this is what you really want to do, just keep going. Call up area schools and ask if they require the TEAS or not... You can do it!!

I know these are old posts so you have probably decided, but I do think that tuition cost is a great concern these days! Most of the Philadelphia area schools have good reputations and you can't really go wrong with any of the names on that list. I would definitely investigate NCLEX pass rates, and also what is required to graduate. Some programs hold up your ability to take the NCLEX based on what you score on a standardized exam like the HESI so I would ask about that! One Pa area school holds up students sometimes for a year or more if they don't get the required score on the pre graduation exam. That adds expense and frustration to the program. Some also have wonderful new buildings.. but that is supported by high tuition. Holy family is a smaller program with less tuition and an excellent NCLEX pass rate (100% December 2011 graduates passed NCLEX first time). Whatever you decide.. I would say go with a BSN program.. many hospitals are going for "magnet" status..and that requires a majority of the nursing staff to be BSNs so they are not hiring diploma or associate degree grads! Associate and diploma grads are going back to school for their BSNs! Good luck!!

I'd also say be very careful. Anyone can have a negative experience anywhere. Holy Family has new faculty and a new program starting in the fall. They have a counselor on site who provides help with test taking skills and support (and anyone in nursing will tell you it's all about being able to take tests!) The entire last semester focuses on getting you ready for the NCLEX with weekly review classes and online questions. The faculty are very supportive and often offer summer programs for free to help students.. this summer they are running one to help ESL students in the program! They have a grant to help minority students in the program. They had a 100% pass rate on the NCLEX from the December 2011 class. Talk to a senior in the program to get a true view of the program. Ask the admissions counselor if anyone can give you an email for a senior to talk to. Holy Family has clinical placements at many of the best hospitals (Cooper Hospital University Medical Center, University of Pennsylvania, Thomas Jefferson, Children's Hospital) and they employ many of the nurses that work at the hospitals as their clinical faculty. You can find happiness at any nursing program, and you can find unhappy people at any nursing program. Holy Family is for you if you like smaller programs and less expensive programs :) Some of the best nurses in the area are Holy Family grads.. Director of nursing at the Philadelphia Protestant Home... Holy Family Grad.... Magnet Director at Fox Chase Cancer Center.. Holy Family Grad... Bottom line... visit any school you are thinking of attending and strive to get an objective opinion. Good luck!

I know these posts are old, but old posts hang around so I thought it was time to put in an update! Holy Family has summer classes but not clinical classes in the summer... only non clinical ones.. passing is 77.. but a 76.5 is rounded up to a 77. They have some free programs offered in the summer for ESL nursing students and have free tutoring and a counselor on site at the school to help with study skills and test taking anxiety. There is a focus the entire last semester on getting you ready to take NCLEX with a three day review the week before the semester starts, weekly online questions, and a weekly review class at lunchtime. The December 2011 class had 100% NCLEX pass .. that combined with the fact it is one of the least expensive universities around should encourage anyone.

The negative posts I've seen are old. as with any program faculty come and go and anyone can post something negative after a bad encounter.. it doesn't make the program bad... Holy Family has a new curriculum starting.. and new faculty.. and had a 100% NCLEX pass in December 2011! That and the fact that it is one of the least expensive programs around should encourage you! ask to sit in on a class or ask to talk to current seniors... they can give you a realistic opinion.