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.
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.
did you ever get in touch with the state board of nursing? They have the final say on licensure
Tri-C has full approval from the Ohio Board of Nursing.
As an aside there are more Tri-C graduates practicing Nursing in the Greater Cleveland area than from any other school. The program is highly regarded in this area among employers. More highly regarded than another school in this area that likes to tout how many hours of clinical their students have.
Tri-C nursing students angry over school's accreditation problems .
...In one March 29 letter, the Accrediting Commissioninformed Tri-C President Jerry Sue Thornton that its board had voted three weeks earlier to deny continuing accreditation to the school's RN program.
In a separate letter, sent the same day to Tri-C's dean of nursing, the Accrediting Commission listed reasons for its decision, saying, among other things, that the majority of the school's part-time faculty do not have master's degrees and the school has not provided evidence to show its graduates are competently prepared....
The Cleveland Clinic, for example, only hires nurses from accredited nursing programs, according to a spokeswoman. And some colleges that offer bachelor's or master's degrees in nursing only accept students with associate degrees from accredited nursing programs. ...
Questions you need to consider for determining to continue in progarm or move to another one.
1. What is job outlook in your area of Ohio...are ADN's getting hired or is BSN degree being favored?
2. What articulation agreements does program have with BSN programs? Call BSN program to confirm still accepting graduates..
If not BSN programs not accepting your ADN class credits and BSN is preferred hiring, it would behoove you to change programs if you are less than 1/2 way through program. If more than 1/2 way through program then completion final year in your best interest.
I say stick it out. This is a regionally accredited community college, correct? And because they were BON accredited when you began the program that has got to count for something. And most regionally accredited school articulate well to state universities. The one thing you need to find out is if you can sit for the NCLEX after graduation. If the answer is yes, I'd stick with it.
I am a recent graduate and I just wish this situation would get resolved. In my opinion, Tri-C should be assisting the current BSN instructors in getting their Masters degree. Most of the lab and clinical instructors are part-time and many that I've talked to are working on their masters on their own. They have known about this since 2010 and if they could show that they are making an effort to hire MSN nurses and assist their current BSN instructors on advancing to MSN the conditions would have been dropped. As someone already stated, this program is huge and as they were expanding they should have taken this seriously. 3 years is a long time, I am not panicking, I am PO'd!! They need to figure this out quickly.
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.
"Hope" is not a plan. I know exactly how it feels to look at an extra year in the face, but if you really want a career in nursing (esp if you think there is a chance, no matter how remote, that you will move to another state sometime in your lifetime, and that other state won't accept your license) bite the big one and lose these losers before you go down with them. They want your money. Spend it more wisely.
"Hope" is not a plan. I know exactly how it feels to look at an extra year in the face, but if you really want a career in nursing (esp if you think there is a chance, no matter how remote, that you will move to another state sometime in your lifetime, and that other state won't accept your license) bite the big one and lose these losers before you go down with them. They want your money. Spend it more wisely.
Um, you do realize that this is a publicly (County and State) financed and run community college you are talking about here. Considering tuition was around $70 per credit hour when I started the nursing program doubtful they are looking to get student's money. The program cost me a total of about $3000, books, uniforms, supplies, everything.
As I stated earlier the issue is the program expanded and got too big too fast. When I started in there were something like 500 or so students in the entire program. Now there are over 1200. A lot of that has to do with the school basically taking over Huron School of Nursing after the Clinic shut that down and closed the Hospital.
The problem with Tri-C is that if they do lose the accreditation, it's not that they can't take state boards, they can, it's that many of the hospitals in this area require you to have graduated from an accredited institution.
Um, you do realize that this is a publicly (County and State) financed and run community college you are talking about here. Considering tuition was around $70 per credit hour when I started the nursing program doubtful they are looking to get student's money. The program cost me a total of about $3000, books, uniforms, supplies, everything.
As I stated earlier the issue is the program expanded and got too big too fast. When I started in there were something like 500 or so students in the entire program. Now there are over 1200. A lot of that has to do with the school basically taking over Huron School of Nursing after the Clinic shut that down and closed the Hospital.
your quantity of students is irrelevant. That just means the school screwed 1200 students out of advancing beyond an ADN or BSN. Non accredited students aren't eligible to attend masters programs at most schools because they didnt sit at a school that was accredited. THe other issue is the way nursing is moving, a BSN will be required in the future, so if these students come from an unaccredited school, how will they get their BSN if many BSN programs only take accredited schooling students? effectively ending their career and forcing them to repeat nursing school if they wish to be a nurse again. you may be thinking $3000 is a lot right now, but if down the road you cant get a job because you attended a school that was unaccredited, then that $3000 you spent knowing you went to an unaccredited university is wasted.
I agree, find another school and continue your education.
Hi everyone! I wanted to kindly respond to the issue of accreditation, most specifically Tri-C. Most of you are correct with your statements. However, I'd like to add a more sincere perspective. To the nursing student who questioned if leaving the nursing program at Tri-C would be better for her career, the answer is no. You've put in so much effort and dedication that jumping ship will only be to your disadvantage. Tri-c is accredited by the Ohio Board of Nursing, therefore you will not have a problem with qualifying for the Nclex given you pass the program. Once you pass the Nclex you are eligible for hire. You would only be hurting yourself if your interviewers learned you quit a highly distinguished nursing program due to lack of understanding of 'accreditation'.
And it is true a BSN will soon be required within the next decade or less. It is worth achieving. But applying to a BSN program should not be a problem as long as you qualify if you graduate from Tri-C's nursing program. NLNAC, a valuable committee is secondary to state licensing. Many universities do not apply for NLNAC accreditation because they don't need it.
Good luck, believe in yourselves, and face these challenges head on like a champion.
Hi everyone! I wanted to kindly respond to the issue of accreditation, most specifically Tri-C. Most of you are correct with your statements. However, I'd like to add a more sincere perspective. To the nursing student who questioned if leaving the nursing program at Tri-C would be better for her career, the answer is no. You've put in so much effort and dedication that jumping ship will only be to your disadvantage. Tri-c is accredited by the Ohio Board of Nursing, therefore you will not have a problem with qualifying for the Nclex given you pass the program. Once you pass the Nclex you are eligible for hire. You would only be hurting yourself if your interviewers learned you quit a highly distinguished nursing program due to lack of understanding of 'accreditation'.
And it is true a BSN will soon be required within the next decade or less. It is worth achieving. But applying to a BSN program should not be a problem as long as you qualify if you graduate from Tri-C's nursing program. NLNAC, a valuable committee is secondary to state licensing. Many universities do not apply for NLNAC accreditation because they don't need it.
Good luck, believe in yourselves, and face these challenges head on like a champion.
This is hokum. Only one post, just recently signed up?? Do research and talk to facilities, as well as schools in the area that you are planning getting your BSN from, and ask them about accreditation. The only thing an employer would say is bad is that you were given the opportunity to do research on a program's accreditation, decided the accreditation did not matter, and stayed with the school anyway. DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH AND TAKE ADVICE FROM OTHERS ONLY IF THEY CAN SUBSTANTIATE THEIR CLAIM!!!
Theoxenia
50 Posts
Very glad to hear that! Thank you.