Student at Tri-C which is appealing its lost NLN accreditation. When we started, we all were told it was fully accredited. Tri-C is saying this is a technical issue that will be resolved and not to worry but little other info is forthcoming.
Halfway through the program, most younger students are jumping ship and starting over. But I'm 51 and can't imagine 3 more years to go through another waiting list and then starting over. It has been my dream to get a degree at my age. No one in my family even graduated high school, and I've struggled all my life after a brutal start. I was finally hopeful that I could make something of myself and accomplish that dream of walking to get a college diploma. To say that I'm devastated is an understatement.
I'm at a crossroads now and must decide whether to take a risk, to start over at another school or to just give up and realize I won't recoup my money and time if I only have 10 years to work after graduating.
Is it worth the pain and cost of nursing school just to get a degree from a nonaccredited school at my age? Should I cut my losses and wait a few more years to start over? I'm spiraling into deep depression over this.
My current school got their accreditation. They made a couple of suggestions, but on the website it shows the visit date, with the actual reaccreditation date being 3 months later (they gave us the preliminary report a few weeks after the visit, and said the official paperwork takes a few months). My previous school (that I taught in) is still in the process of initial accreditation. After seeing what must be done to achieve it, I have little hope for them
It is not true that you can not transfer your credits to a bachelors degree program. I spoke with Ohio University and they will be glad to have us (tric grads). Phew! To answer the OP, I think you should stay. The rn to bsn program at OU is online and takes less than 2 years. You'll have your bsn before the other students even get IN to another program. I'm sure someone will hire you, you will be an RN that passed the nclex. If the worst thing imaginable happens, and they will not hire you as an rn, hospitals are dying for good pcna's. Good luck. I know this has been a nightmare.
I'm sure someone will hire you you will be an RN that passed the nclex. If the worst thing imaginable happens, and they will not hire you as an rn, hospitals are dying for good pcna's. Good luck. I know this has been a nightmare.[/quote']
This sounds crappy, I mean you can work as a pcna while you get your bachelors (but I still think you could get an RN job, the school is still state accredited). I know the Cleveland Clinic pays for it after one year of employment.
I am not sure of your location, but I just had a scare two days ago about this same thing. I only applied to one school, my CC that Ive been doing all pre-reqs at. I did not even think about if they had accreditation or not! Well I found out two days ago my schools program is not nationally accredited. Then I read on here that I might not be able to get a job, I couldnt get my BSN or MSN after, it wouldnt be vaild in other states..... BUT I called UNC, and Duke hospitals and universities, and was told it was not a problem! They said my school is accredited through the state BON, the job postings stating "need degree from accredited school", means state not national.
My DON also told me it costs the school $50,000 for first accreditation, and $10,00 every year after. Yikes! Most community colleges in my state (NC) are not nationally accredited.
I would check with local nurse recruiters to see if it is a problem.
I am not sure of your location, but I just had a scare two days ago about this same thing. I only applied to one school, my CC that Ive been doing all pre-reqs at. I did not even think about if they had accreditation or not! Well I found out two days ago my schools program is not nationally accredited. Then I read on here that I might not be able to get a job, I couldnt get my BSN or MSN after, it wouldnt be vaild in other states..... BUT I called UNC, and Duke hospitals and universities, and was told it was not a problem! They said my school is accredited through the state BON, the job postings stating "need degree from accredited school", means state not national.
My DON also told me it costs the school $50,000 for first accreditation, and $10,00 every year after. Yikes! Most community colleges in my state (NC) are not nationally accredited.
I would check with local nurse recruiters to see if it is a problem.
Basically it means they are upholding particular standards. It usually more of an issue with for-pofit and predatory schools, then it is with cc and traditional schools. After doing some research, apparently Tri-C issue was a failure to have enough RN MSNs. These means they will either have to higher more MSNs or the staff will have to go to graduate school. It is possable that they can fix this, but it won't be a quick fix.
The school got too big too quickly. They would need to find roughly 100 or so MSN prepared nurses willing and able to be clinical instructors and lab preceptors to replace all the current BSN prepared clinical instructors. That's just not going to happen. The program is just too big mainly because they added 2 RN programs to the new Westshore campus and also absorbed the old Huron Hospital diploma program when the Cleveland Clinic shut that down adding another program to the Eastern Campus and another Evening program to the Metro Campus. All told you have a program that has well over 1000 students in it. With 8 students per clinical site/instructor you have over 125 instructors that you need. Where are you going to find that many MSN prepared nurses willing to work for that Tri-C can afford to pay?
They can afford it by restructuring from the top heavy, labyrinthine administration to paying for professors and instructors. I know Tri-C is large, but the president herself is in the top 10 pay for community colleges in the country and the many deans are likewise paid quite generously. Tri-C has money. They're just spending it on new buildings with pools and fancy gyms and generously paying an overgrown administration instead of the classroom. (Top-Heavy Administration at Community Colleges | eHow.com)
I am due to start at Tri-C Nursing Program Fall 2013. I am 38yo, and I too feel I am at a loss right now on what to do. We are still able to take our NCLEX, because we are still recognized by the BON. However, most higher education in our area only take credits from accredited institutions. So to move on to you BSN after you graduate would be next to impossible, and most hospitals in our area will not hire an RN w/out a degree from an accredited institution.
I am going into this with a hope that they still retain their accreditation. The rumor is they will reapply (if their appeal is denied) and current students will be "grandfathered in" to the accreditation once they receive it back..That being said if they do lose it and have to reapply, I will switch gears and go thru the surgical tech program. I can't afford to go get my BSN so my plan was to get my ADN, and then move on to a BSN program after I had a year in the hospital and some experience. And hopefully have the hospital help with paying for the BSN. And being told I will be grandfathered into an accreditation just isn't enough security for me.
larma,
I am sorry if I sound too harsh but you need to get your facts straight. It is simply not true that there are no 4-year colleges in the area that won't accept present and future (if tri-c loses NLN accreditation) tri-c graduates for their RN-to-BSN program. Get in contact with the academic advisors of the schools you're interested in, email them, call them etc., find out for sure. I have been personally inquiring at CSU, Kent State and Youngstown State universities and been told that yes, they would take tri-c graduates as long as they passed their boards, i.e. become licensed RNs. To take boards, our school only needs accreditation of State of Ohio BOARD of Nursing: see that is why it's called "board" exam, or aka NCLEX, because Board of Nursing, state gov. Body, administering it. NLN is NOT part of any local, state, or federal Board of Nursing, it is a PRIVATE organization. Read on history of NLN and other accrediting organizations for colleges of nursing.
In a nursing profession it is extremely important to learn how to not doubt yourself, not to be affected by panic, by chaos; not to act on emotions, verify the information yourself before proceeding. This way you'll build your professional confidence and keep your sanity, physical health. I am speaking from personal experience. Show the difficulties that you are too difficult, some one said.
You will be fine, tri-c is a good program: it's not only about prestige and NLN logo on its name, it's about students, faculties, quality of the program itself.
The school got too big too quickly. They would need to find roughly 100 or so MSN prepared nurses willing and able to be clinical instructors and lab preceptors to replace all the current BSN prepared clinical instructors. That's just not going to happen. The program is just too big mainly because they added 2 RN programs to the new Westshore campus and also absorbed the old Huron Hospital diploma program when the Cleveland Clinic shut that down adding another program to the Eastern Campus and another Evening program to the Metro Campus. All told you have a program that has well over 1000 students in it. With 8 students per clinical site/instructor you have over 125 instructors that you need. Where are you going to find that many MSN prepared nurses willing to work for that Tri-C can afford to pay?
I take it you have been there a year? Some states allow nursing (RN) students to take the LPN NCLEX after 1 year of school...I would check with the BON-
If you can, take the LPN text then bridge somewhere else...
That sucks...
This is an excellent answer! I took the LPN NCLEX with partial RN education through New York state. I hope she will be able to do so.
In you Ohio you MUST be a graduate of a Board Approved LPN program to sit for the NCLEX-PN. Completing half of a RN program doesn't qualify you to sit for the NCLEX-PN.
The program is fine. Basically the issues the school is facing have more to do with politics than they do with the actual program. It's hard to argue with a 93%+ first time test taker NCLEX-RN pass rate. I took the NCLEX-RN and was in and out after 75 questions and completed the test in under an hour.
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ReinventingMyselfAgain, MSN, RN
1,954 Posts
My current school got their accreditation. They made a couple of suggestions, but on the website it shows the visit date, with the actual reaccreditation date being 3 months later (they gave us the preliminary report a few weeks after the visit, and said the official paperwork takes a few months). My previous school (that I taught in) is still in the process of initial accreditation. After seeing what must be done to achieve it, I have little hope for them