Sanford Brown College of St. Peters, MO LPN to ADN RN

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Hello All,

I currently in LPN school in Illinois and looking for a LPN to Assoc. RN program. I am greatly considering Sanford Brown in St. Peters, Missouri. I had an interview with them and the tuition is very high. Are there any graduates from there or happen to know anyone who has graduated from there? Is it really worth all the money or is it best to just go somewhere else and do ALL of the prereqs and take the longer route?

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Specializes in Med/Surg <1; Epic Certified <1.

priaj1980:

this has been discussed several times that i know of in this forum, but i can't find the threads right off the bat....there area a number of concerns about going to sanford brown:

*cost

*reputation in the working community for grads; not saying you won't find a job, but i understand they're not the most desirable graduates

*classes taken there are most often not transferable should you one day decide to pursue a bsn or msn. this is the biggest concern you should have besides the one above. if there's any possibility you will one day want to continue your education, you would most likely be required to retake a majority of your classes over at the college/university you would be attending.

to verify this, you should start by calling local colleges/universities in your area and asking about the transferability of sb's courses. that might give you your answer immediately!

it might also help you decide whether the money investment with them is worth it vs. the time factor in pursuing a more traditional degree. do not depend on their 'salesperson' for this information at sb. they will tell you anything to get your money.

think carefully and do your homework!

best wishes!

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Specializes in Med/Surg <1; Epic Certified <1.

Just happened to think -- have you checked the St. Louis Community College programs for admission? I believe I spoke to someone this semester who mentioned she had transferred in as an LVN/LPN from another community college out west.

There are 3 campuses -- Florrisant Valley, Meramec, and Forest Park.

Nursing Program at St Louis Community College

You might check them out...the cost would definitely be MUCH less and they're well-respected in the local communities....

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Specializes in NICU, High-Risk L&D, IBCLC.

Wdwpixie is right on. Here's the latest forum that was mentioned:

https://allnurses.com/forums/f157/what-do-185120.html

There were a few others, but I can't seem to locate them. It seems like a really bad deal for the amount of money they charge their students. I would highly suggest you research LPN-RN bridge programs at community colleges. There are many other options out there that are so much better than Sanford Brown, even though they may take longer. Don't just look for the quickest way because it won't necessarily be the best way.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Geri, Ortho, Telemetry, Psych.

I'm going to try not to offend you, but I feel I need to be honest with you. 11 years ago when I went to nursing school at Jefferson College in Hillsboro, every facility that we did clinicals at said there were two schools that were not welcome to perform clinicals there. They were St. Louis College of Health Careers and Sanford Brown. These two schools are regarded as diploma factories. They cost a great deal of money and you complete the courses quickly, but their passing rates sucked. Now this was 11 years ago, things might have changed since then. But I would advise you to check the passing rates of the schools you are looking at. You don't want to go to school just to fail your state boards. JeffCo had a 100% passing rate when I went. That is why I went there, even though it was an hour drive there and back five days a week. But it was worth it - it only took me about 20 minutes to take and pass state boards. Good luck.:monkeydance:

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I am very familiar with this program. It is not accredited ( or at least was not when I lived in that area. I have known graduates that tried to articulate to a BSN program or ADN program and had to repeat most classes. It's very expensive as well. At one time, their NCLEX pass rate was very low, but I think that has improved....and it also depends on which campus as well.

I would highly recommend to check out a community college program...especially one that is fully accredited. That way if you want to further your education, your credits will transfer.

For example. I was originally an ADN, and when I areticulated to a BSN program, they accepted all 65 of my semester hourse. The same held true when I articulated from BSN to MSN - again all my semester hours were accepted.

Good luck!

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Well, first off this is my first post to the forum so Hello to everyone!

I'm a recent graduate of Sanford Brown. Yes, they are pricey. But the program has a very flexible schedule for working students. Evening classes and 1 to 2 clinicals during the weekday depending on what rotation you are on. That is why I choose to go there. The school is accredited. If it wasnt I wouldnt have been able to take state boards.Webster University and Chamberlain College of Nursing except ALL of SB credits. Some of the other Universities in the STL area do not except the SB Gen Ed credits You also have an option of getting around that. Get your Gen Ed classes and PreReqs at a community college and transfer them in to SB, that way if you want to go to any other college in the STL area to get your BSN you can, the Nursing Credits transfer to all the colleges in STL. I am starting Webster University Fall 07. As far as graduates being looked down on. Well, let me just say this if employers are looking at the school and not the individual thats is a new one to me. Im sure they are more concerned about your work history as a LPN and if you passed your RN state boards. Sanford Brown does have sort of a tainted history because of pass Directors of Nursing and Instructors. But, I assure you it is a good school! The Dept Chairs go above and beyond what they can do to help you succeed at the school. If you having a personal problem non school related they have resources to help you with that also. You can check the pass rates the the Mo State Board of Nursing web site. (sorry I couldn't link). I will also say this no one really likes school. Its kinda like your glad you did it but your so happy you dont have to do it again. So, yeah we did complain about some things while in school. But, I know people that bridged at other places and we generally had the same complaints. Also, I dont think it is a diploma factory. I graduated with honors from a different LPN program 10 yrs ago from a Community College. And I graduated with honors from SB and I studied my buft off to get that. It was not easy at all.. And as far a clinical sites the BSN programs get 1st chose then the Diploma program then the ADN programs. Ask a couple of Medical Administrators it also depends on who you know. If you have any questions feel free to email me. Sorry Im so long winded. I assure I dont work there. I just wanted to give first hand info from someone that attended the school

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Specializes in LTC, Rehab.

Hello everyone I ALso am a recent graduate from SAnford Brown, and our pass rate is very good at 100 percent for 2006,yes they are pricey but you're going to come out 50 grand or more anyway through traditional college or persuing a Masters degree, as a LPN you arent learning that much more information to have to go through irrelevent classes that I will complain that the community college throws at you to get more money.I past my board this week 1st time with only 75 questions, not that the number matters just proves I quickly showed my competence level.Sanford Brown had a poor rep and I went there knowing that, just to find out that every single professor there had just taught at Barnes-Jewish Nursing school. You have to realize that Missouri is a small city more like a big town to me and they pride education on where you been more than experience so dont sweat it I would recommend Sanford Brown,and if you move to another state believe me they could care less about Barnes Jewish or whatever; especially with the popularity and technology of online education, Missouri always lags behind on the trends. Webster University and Chamberlain former Deaconess will except and transfer your credits from Sanford Brown, since ,no , they arent accredited by NLN but who cares if you get another University degree behind your credentials.dont expect to come out of any college cheap if your plan is to move on,I have a friend who grad from a 4 yr traditional college and she was pissed off that i was done and passed boards before she did and I will pay just as much as she is when I finish my bachelors degree. I had classmates who were coming down from other states just to attend SBC which I believe is the reason why the community college and all other colleges began accomodating LPN who want to bridge,SBC was suckin up all the business. Expect to pay more for anything excelerated,1yr of nursing may cost you 25 grand at sanford brown but it all adds up the same if you go through 3 years at a 4 yr college.

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Specializes in critical care, management, med surg, edu.
I'm going to try not to offend you, but I feel I need to be honest with you. 11 years ago when I went to nursing school at Jefferson College in Hillsboro, every facility that we did clinicals at said there were two schools that were not welcome to perform clinicals there. They were St. Louis College of Health Careers and Sanford Brown. These two schools are regarded as diploma factories. They cost a great deal of money and you complete the courses quickly, but their passing rates sucked. Now this was 11 years ago, things might have changed since then. But I would advise you to check the passing rates of the schools you are looking at. You don't want to go to school just to fail your state boards. JeffCo had a 100% passing rate when I went. That is why I went there, even though it was an hour drive there and back five days a week. But it was worth it - it only took me about 20 minutes to take and pass state boards. Good luck.:monkeydance:

Jefferson College now has an evening weekend program. Just two evenings per week and everyother weekend. Check it out! 636 789-3000

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Specializes in critical care transport.

I applaud you for passing quickly.

I have found myself in Missouri, from Washington, unexpectedly. In my opinion, I would go to a school who is accredited- instances like mine are a perfect example.

I don't think there is any reason NOT to go to an accredited school. Classes you can transfer anywhere are far better than those that transfer "sometimes." Those extra classes that are prereqs are okay, and I became well rounded because of them. I think you SHOULD take psychology and english and chemistry and biology... they make you understand and communicate better.

A poster who quoted $50K for an education like that was the average. I will be paying about $7K for nursing school at a community college. No loans.

We ALL know that the meat and potatos is on-the-job experience, not everything you learn for the NCLEX. It is probable that Sanford-Browne students are as competent as ADN graduates from accredited schools.

I think there are ways to get a great education for less, and have classes that transfer to anywhere you want to go.

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im not sure what you mean. psych, chem ,micro, soc all the preqs that are required at a cc are also required at sb. i just happened to get all mine at a college and transfer them in. i can apply to graduate with my bachelors in psych and a minor in soc. but im not doing that until i get my bach in nursing because, once i do that i cant apply for undergrad student loans or grants. i just think it all comes to what ever works for you. bec we all have different situations. i know of several people that didnt pay a dime for school at sb bec there employers paid tuition. they did every thing at sb and didnt transfer anything in. i will also say this if you transfer preqs in and not get them there the tuition does come down. good luck with nursing school.

"sometimes." those extra classes that are prereqs are okay, and i became well rounded because of them. i think you should take psychology and english and chemistry and biology... they make you understand and communicate better."

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Specializes in critical care transport.

"Im not sure what you mean. Psych, Chem ,Micro, Soc all the preqs that

are required at a CC are also required at SB. I just happened to get

all mine at a College and transfer them in."

Okay, I didn't glean that the first time, yes- that makes total sense! :-)

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