Seeking Educational Advice: Should I repeat an RN Program? - (and why I'm considering it)

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  1. Repeat an RN program or re-test and take refresher courses later

    • 1
      Yes- Repeat an RN program
    • 1
      No- re-test for NCLEX & take a Refresher course

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Hi All

(Sorry this post is so lengthy)

I've been thinking and praying about my situation for a little while now- and would like a little input from all the wonderful seasoned professionals on this site... So here's the deal:

I have a bachelor's degree out of field (org. leadership) and I've graduated from an ASN program in August of 2015 (Florida). My problem is that my nursing school is not accredited and is most likely about to be placed on probation... Why is this my problem you ask? Well I chose this school after much deliberation and meeting with the staff reasons being-

1.they are backed/owned by a hospital

2. they were a new school at the time I enrolled, and advised me they were going to seek accreditation (which they did)

3. this school allowed me to continue working full time to support my family (most of the program)

4. Well educated & helpful staff

**Now my problem***

1. NCLEX pass rates are extremely low: 2015 pass rate- 37.04% 2016 pass rate- 28.57%

2. I unfortunately failed my NCLEX on first try (I haven't retested yet)

3. Most of the student body has failed NCLEX 3 or more times even after having taken remedial courses.

4. Most students agree that our training and courses / curriculum were not up to par.

5. The school was required to submit remedial plans for the program, and has withdrawn their application for accreditation to ACICS. ( found this in the FL Board of Nur. meeting minutes).

6. A lot of the equipment in the hospital was antiquated-(old) basically

**So basically I want to know if y'all can offer some insight: I'm currently thinking about enrolling in an RN program (accredited this time :-) ) and starting over like I've never gone to a nursing program.. my other option is to re-attempt the NCLEX (praying I pass) and enroll in refresher courses before attempting to seek employment.

I really thought I was making a good decision the first time around (y'all can check my old post about my school ) I'm hurt and feel a little slighted. I've been reading about the problems with nursing schools in Florida

http://www.oppaga.state.fl.us/MonitorDocs/Reports/pdf/1605rpt.pdf

http://floridasnursing.gov/meetings/minutes/2016/04-april/04062016-min.pdf

I want to thank you all for your for time and consideration- and am awaiting helpful and honest feedback.

@ ApplesxOranges and also the school did pay for us to take a Kaplan course at the end of the program.. didn't help at all.

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Hi HouTx-

Thank you so much for your response.. I figured "something was up" with the ACICS- there are multiple nursing schools affiliated with their accreditation that have been closed down. My classmates think I'm over reacting about going back to school to re-do a program. But I think it's in my best interest. Besides if I enroll in another program I'll get the education I need, and no headaches about transferring my credits for higher education. I don't want to be "looked over" when I turn in my applications for employment when I attempt to get my first RN job. A lot of people don't understand about the importance of choosing the right nursing program... everyone is so anxious and like myself are allured to the "easy process" of getting into a program- only to find out it sucks. And there are some that think I'll get the training I need on the job and not to worry about it.. but I don't like that. I think you should at least have a clue of how to do some things on your own- heck who wants to take someone back to nursing school when they're just supposed to be training you to work on the darn job.... not cool. I'm upset, and sad , and have been having anxiety. On top of the school expecting payments every month. However on the bright side- I have started applying to schools so hopefully I'll be in a nursing program by the end of the year or beginning of next year. My science courses have expired (the ones I took from accredited schools), so I have to repeat most of them now.

Wow - I have so much sympathy for OP. What a mess. IMO, This is a direct consequence of FL legislature's bone-headed decision to remove their BONs "nursing school approval" authority. I believe that the rationale was based on legislative hysteria about the horrible nursing shortage & the idea that the BON was a "roadblock" for the creation of new schools. Typical legislative boondoggle. Since then, there has been a (very predictable) cascade of failure - with subsequent closure of many commercial (for-profit, investor owned) schools that popped up since the BON ceased to function as the quality watchdog.

ACICS was dumped by the Dept. of Education a while back - it never was an actual legitimate "accreditor"... just a rubber stamp for commercial schools. All schools that were ACICS accredited have a very limited period of time to become legitimately accredited or they will be forced to close. NONE of those popup schools could obtain regional accreditation, so their "credits" are not transferable... just as OP has discovered. OP should stay abreast of all news about the situation because there may very well be a class action suit or some other method of recouping some of her financial loss.

I think OP has carefully analyzed all options - and has obviously educated herself very well about all of her choices. I agree that the best option is probably just to pursue a re-do. However, she could to try to CLEP some courses since she already has taken them. On a positive note, OP will undoubtedly do very well this time around.

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Specializes in ER.
Hi Applesxoranges

There was no financial aid. The school was unable to provide this privilege- institutions must have a certain amount of funds in an account if Im not mistaken, in order to be able to have a federal financial aid program. In Florida there is a 3 strikes rule - if the student has taken the state exam / NCLEX a total of 3 times and failed each attempt, they are not allowed to re-test before taking a state approved remedial course . I have only attempted NCLEX once. I have already spoken with the Florida Board of Nursing and I am able to re-test whenever I chose. I don't wish to wait years and take the test again. Although I can study and take a refresher course I feel it's not enough. I'm afraid of being a "mediocre" nurse, that's why I want to take the extra measures so I feel confident in my education. NCLEX is to test us to be sure we are not only sufficiently educated - but its to test and make sure you at least have the "basics" in order to be a safe nurse...and at $200 a pop for NCLEX, then paying at least $1800 or more for a refresher course- then having to pay for an accredited institution that will take my effed up credits- I'll come out cheaper just repeating a reputable program and save my piece of mind.. I'm literally terrified at this point.

How would it come out cheaper...? Assuming that all your pre-reqs transfer, an average nursing problem is about 50 credits of just nursing classes. At the low end of the community college credit cost at 102 a credit hour, you could be looking at least 5,000 before purchasing books, uniforms, and any supplemental material. This is if everything transfers otherwise it will probably be closer to 13,000.

Also, since you graduated with an ADN I think, you could run into an issue with SAP. Basically, you would have already completed the degree you are trying to get even if you did not use federal loans.

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Hi ApplesxOranges,

I'll tell you why it's cheaper for me to repeat- I am unable to attend a Community college here using the credits /ASN degree I got from my current nursing school. They wont accept anything from an unaccredited institution. I had been researching schools that will accept my degree, and although there is quite a list- I will list the tuition costs for online RN-BSN in Florida that are accredited and will accept credits from my non accredited nursing degree:

WestCoast University: Miami [TABLE=class: telerik-reTable-1, width: 0]

[TR=class: telerik-reTableEvenRow-1, bgcolor: #E7EBF7]

[TD=class: telerik-reTableFirstCol-1]Tuition Cost

(per credit)[/TD]

[TD=class: telerik-reTableFirstCol-1]$525.00[/TD]

[/TR]

[/TABLE]

Jacksonville University

[TABLE=width: 600]

[TR]

[TD]Cohort RN-BSN[/TD]

[TD]$225

[/TD]

[/TR]

[/TABLE]

This is an addition to my taking a refresher course and hoping this will suffice. - That's what I mean by cheaper. Because if I start over at a community college or local / state school I won't have to worry about paying extra to further my education etc. So either way I will be paying extra if you get my drift.

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**Update on my nursing school**

They have voluntarily closed and are no longer approved via Florida Board of Nursing. They have also changed their name lol.

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Well that is a tough question, and I'm just as torn as you are.

If you did not go back to nursing school:

-You could buy LOTS of resources to help you pass NCLEX. Your school sounds like it really dropped the ball as far as your education is concerned, but hopefully the school gave you at least some foundation upon which you can build. Kaplan nursing is known for helping students with NCLEX-style questions; if you follow their course to a T, they guarantee you'll pass NCLEX. You could also get a more content heavy NCLEX review book like Saunders NCLEX-RN Review to brush up on content that your instructors may have missed. I am not sure if you would pass NCLEX by reviewing these things. But you could try.

-If you did end up passing NCLEX, you might struggle to find a decent job due to your school's reputation. It might be helpful to ask around and get a feel for who hiring managers will hire and from what schools they like to hire from and what schools they absolutely will not hire from.

-If you did pass NCLEX, you could try to find a job in an undesirable area/state (better chance of obtaining a job because people simply don't want to live here). After you get about 2-3 years of experience in acute care, employers start caring less about your education and more about your experience. However, that is not to say that your school's lack of accreditation will not factor in later on in your career.

If you did go back to nursing school:

-You would learn a lot. Nursing school is not just about passing NCLEX; it's about learning how to safely care for patients. I truly believe someone can pass NCLEX while being a very unsafe nurse. School and clinicals teach you how to nurse. School lays the foundation. It might be very hard to function as a nurse (safely) if your schooling was inadequate. Going back to an accredited school would ensure that you receive a quality education that doesn't just prepare you to pass a test, but prepares you for patient care.

-The downside is that I doubt you'll be able to get much financial aid this time around. Be prepared to pay a lot out of pocket/take out private loans (blah, right?).

What a tough place to be in. If you do decide to go back to school, please please please research that school like your career depends on it. Come back here and ask questions about schools too! Whatever you choose, good luck.

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@ ApplesxOranges and also the school did pay for us to take a Kaplan course at the end of the program.. didn't help at all.

If you followed the Kaplan plan to a T (took all the question trainers, did the practice tests,watched all the videos, and did at least 90% of the Qbank, etc.) and still failed, they allow you to continue using Kaplan while staying in touch with you personally to figure out what went wrong and to coach you on what to do from there (I can't remember if you get a refund or not).

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Hi Purple_roses- thank you !

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
**Update on my nursing school**

They have voluntarily closed and are no longer approved via Florida Board of Nursing. They have also changed their name lol.

OMG! I have been waiting for this to happen. It was clear when all these pop up schools were everywhere. Somewhere in this there should be a lawsuit. The problem with locally accredited schools...they don't transfer to other states even though you passed the boards.

What a mess....((HUGS)). I would make a call to the attorney general of Florida and find out about the money you "owe" them. I am so sorry. Most of us knew this would happen...these schools were interested in a fast buck. There are others posts where most of us would try to talk people into not going to these schools. My daughters nationally accredited school with a 99% pass rate is $35,000.00 for a BSN.

I don't have good advice but I can offer you a hug. ((HUG))

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Specializes in Mental Health.
**Update on my nursing school**

They have voluntarily closed and are no longer approved via Florida Board of Nursing. They have also changed their name lol.

Good to hear. They aren't still trying to collect $$$ from you are they?

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Hi Esme12! Thank you so much. I really appreciate the hugs.. I need em.. I love hugs hugs=happy lol

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Good to hear. They aren't still trying to collect $$$ from you are they?

Hi Rionoir- yes of course they are. They voluntarily closed, and then reopened and added an LLC to the end of their name. The students didn't even know that was going on. (I have a friend there whos still a student). Just horrible.

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