Remington College of Nursing - Orlando

rad sugar · Jun 6, 2012

I was in the 2nd cohort, graduating in July '10. I don't have a job as a nurse, but I did move to Hawaii right after nursing school were I found a VERY competitive nursing market that wasn't too keen on hiring military spouses and out of state newbs.

I just moved to NY last month, and I'm transferring my license over.

I did pass my NCLEX on the first try, so that was nice.

I felt like I was really prepared to become a nurse, the program was SO CHALLENGING. Sleepless nights, more studying than I've ever done, lots of pressure... the clinicals we got in were great, varied, and really allowed us a lot of exposure to all kinds of nursing.

Some of my classmates were expelled, some failed out. Two were expelled a couple weeks before graduation and lost all their money. The stress of the debt I'm in is now tough on my husband and me; RCON was the first time in my life (college, MBA and all) that I ever had to pay for school, I've always gone to public schools, I had a full ride to college the first time, and when taking my MBA (I didn't finish, only did 2 terms) it was through a special program at my then-job, and they payed for it all.

Of the classmates that graduated with me - some are happily working away as RNs and loving it, some did get their dream jobs. But I'm not the only one to have never found a nursing job.

The personal BS, drama with the staff, changing rules, and lack of boundaries (like RCON trying to tell me what I could and couldn't do in my personal life) rude staff, problematic staff (that's since been fired) all left a bad taste in my mouth. I know that being there in the first year the school was open I took a risk, I was a guinea pig. I sure hope things are smoother, better now.

Anyone with RCON questions can feel free to shoot me a PM. I try to be fair, but still honest and even though my personality is super glitter, rainbows, smiles and puppies... I don't always feel that was when discussing the back-breaking, bank-breaking, crazy year I spent at RCON.

Good luck to all going through the school now and starting up next month!

Shawny · Jun 6, 2012

I think we watched the DVD through the same lens because I had the same feeling. I called the Florida schools to get specifics on the accreditation information and they will NOT accept a BSN from Remington. The BSN has to be from a CCNE accredited nursing program, and the school has to be regionally accredited. Remington's nursing program is CCNE accredited but the school is not regionally accredited. Therefore, a BSN from Remington is not sufficient. Bottom line... You're basically paying $40,000 for a RN certificate that you obtain from the state exam. And BSN is pretty much disregarded.

gcledor · Jun 6, 2012

It all depends on where you want to go. I called georgetown university b/c thats where im interested in going for my nurse practitioner program and they will accept remingtons degree. I believe university of miami will recognize remingtons degree. You have to do your research and actually call the schools your interested in if they will accept your bsn degree. Do not go into it blindly, look past the bsn and research where you want to go for your advance nursing degree. See if they recognize remingtons bsn.

BSNer12 · Jun 11, 2012

Does anyone in the current class (or pretty recent) have any advice for those of us starting in July? I know from the earlier posts that this is going to be a very intense and challenging program. What were your favorite (and least favorite) parts (classes, clinicals,etc.)? It's so expensive, but I do believe it will be worth it in the long run and I can't wait to get moving in my medical career :)

tcamp · Jun 12, 2012

Hey all, I know the APG committee met on June 7th, wonder how long until the decisions are mailed out?

flimfly · Jun 13, 2012

Does anyone in the current class (or pretty recent) have any advice for those of us starting in July? I know from the earlier posts that this is going to be a very intense and challenging program. What were your favorite (and least favorite) parts (classes, clinicals,etc.)? It's so expensive, but I do believe it will be worth it in the long run and I can't wait to get moving in my medical career :)

My first bit of advice is to refrain from using the term "medical". Medical refers to doctors, and Remington will take points of your papers for using that term. Doctors follow the medical model, and nurses follow the nursing model. You will have a "nursing" career or "healthcare" career, but not medical.

orlandostdnt · Jun 13, 2012

I know this sounds cliche, but I am starting to panic about the financial aspect to this program. I am starting this summer. Now, I KNOW the ABSN route is absolutely what I want to do; I know I will be a great nurse; I know I will do fantastic in school; I know I want to be a nurse without a doubt!!! I am just reading all these horror stories online of people saying they can't find work BECAUSE they went to RCON, and the money is not justified... etc etc. For those of you who attended or are attending: do you have any kind words? I'm concerned that if I passed up the opportunity and didn't get in elsewhere later - it's a year wasted where I could have been graduated! (yes I'm a "thinker" ...I know HAH).

cdscmb · Jun 13, 2012

I am just reading all these horror stories online of people saying they can't find work BECAUSE they went to RCON, and the money is not justified... etc etc.

Apologies for the wall of text...

Your concerns are valid and I agree that the financial aspect is bad. I understand the frustration of not knowing what to expect and reading conflicting info all over the place. It is not true that people are not getting work because they went to RCON. People are not getting work out of state because no new grad nurses are getting work out of state (and possibly out of central florida). Don't deceive yourself, if you plan on graduating and moving back immediately to where ever you came from and getting a job as a hospital nurse, it won't happen unless you know someone there and even then, chances are slim. There is a nationwide experienced nursing shortage, but unless you have that experience, you will most likely not get hired at a hospital right away.

If you are staying here in central florida post graduation, or you plan on staying here for at least a year to get some experience, you'll be fine. The hospitals here are hiring graduate nurses regularly and RCON students do get hired. Now, you may not get what you want right out of school, you may have to take what you can get to start, but after 6 months or a year, you can pretty much pick what you want to do. UCF, UF and USF students are dealing with the same conditions.

All that being said, you are the most important factor in getting a job. If you slack off or are sloppy in your clinicals, don't count on getting a job here.

If you have the time, finances, a current well paying job and good enough grades, apply to the state schools and see if you get in. There is a huge backlog and the entrance requirements are very competitive. At RCON, you're essentially paying extra to bypass all that. The staff has been great, my clinical instructors have been fantastic, and it'll all be done in a year. For me, it was worth it. For you, it may not be, that's for you to decide.

orlandostdnt · Jun 13, 2012

cdscmb-

Thank you SO much for your timely and considerate response! I already applied to few state schools last winter (given at the end of the app cycle), and even with decent grades and 8+ years of hands-on patient experience in healthcare.... I was passed up. It was immensely discouraging. My main concern paralleling the financial aspect is exactly that : waiting another year, reapplying, and being re-rejected; when I could have been graduating.

I have worked in most of the hospitals here on the space coast for the last 4+ years, and have a lot of friends in the hospitals. However, your reassuring words about in-state job placement is excellent to hear!

Again, thank you for your reply!

flimfly · Jun 14, 2012

Apologies for the wall of text...
Your concerns are valid and I agree that the financial aspect is bad. I understand the frustration of not knowing what to expect and reading conflicting info all over the place. It is not true that people are not getting work because they went to RCON. People are not getting work out of state because no new grad nurses are getting work out of state (and possibly out of central florida). Don't deceive yourself, if you plan on graduating and moving back immediately to where ever you came from and getting a job as a hospital nurse, it won't happen unless you know someone there and even then, chances are slim. There is a nationwide experienced nursing shortage, but unless you have that experience, you will most likely not get hired at a hospital right away.
If you are staying here in central florida post graduation, or you plan on staying here for at least a year to get some experience, you'll be fine. The hospitals here are hiring graduate nurses regularly and RCON students do get hired. Now, you may not get what you want right out of school, you may have to take what you can get to start, but after 6 months or a year, you can pretty much pick what you want to do. UCF, UF and USF students are dealing with the same conditions.

I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to disagree a bit with you. I was offered 2 out of state jobs, one of which was offered to me several weeks before I graduated and the other 2 weeks after I graduated. I didn't know anyone at those hospitals who helped me get those jobs. Also, I personally know of a student who will be graduating in July that has 2 interviews set up out of state. Additionally, I was offered a job in Titusville, FL, and the girls that I still keep in touch with from school all have jobs in the Orlando, Tampa, Ft. Lauderdale, and Gainsville areas. You getting a job is directly related to how much effort you put into it and how flexible you are. There are new grad RN programs at many hospitals in Florida and around the country that you can apply to. If you are sending out your resume but not hearing back from places, then call and ask why and possibly rewrite your resume. If you have several interviews and don't get any offers, then call and ask why. You may need to work on your interviewing skills. I moved to Florida for the sole purpose of getting my degree then moving back to my home state. If that is your goal, then it can happen.

cdscmb · Jun 14, 2012

I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to disagree a bit with you. I was offered 2 out of state jobs, one of which was offered to me several weeks before I graduated and the other 2 weeks after I graduated. I didn't know anyone at those hospitals who helped me get those jobs. Also, I personally know of a student who will be graduating in July that has 2 interviews set up out of state.

It's not always good when someone disagrees with you, but in this case, that's great! I only spoke of info for people I know (and that was about a year ago), but if people are getting job offers out of state right out of school, that can only be good for students. I'm glad to hear it.

BSNer12 · Jun 18, 2012

Okay, so remove "medical" from original my question and insert "nursing". For previous (or current) students, what was personally your favorite and least favorite parts of the program as far as the actual coursework? (Favorite and least favorite classes, clinicals, etc.) Any insight would be very helpful!