Betrayed nursing students and predatory, for-profit nursing programs abound. These schools take advantage of people with hopes and dreams of becoming a nurse.
Here are a couple of examples of shady schools.
Medical Prep Institute
Medical Prep Institute (MPI), a nursing program in Tampa Bay, Florida, was owned and operated by a nursing assistant. It was put on probation for significantly low pass rates in 2018 and 2019 and suddenly bounced back with a 100% NCLEX pass rate in 2020. Seven students took the test.
Instead of submitting eligible students' transcripts to the BON for NCLEX testing as customary after graduation, MPI required students to take additional expensive remediation courses.
When questioned about their practices, the school shifted blame and claimed that it was not the school's fault but the students who cheated, forcing the school to deny/delay NCLEX testing applications.
HCI College
Students from Florida's now-closed HCI College (formerly Health Career Institute) filed a lawsuit with a similar complaint. Former students allege that HCI falsely inflated pass rates by deliberately blocking 95% of students from taking the NCLEX.
Who is Vulnerable
First-generation college students who don't have family members to guide them through the process. They don't know what to ask, who to ask, or what to expect. First-generation college students have not yet learned to navigate a college system. It's not easy. (I've always said nurses should get one semester of college credit just for figuring out our paperwork, credits, parking, books, and more, but it didn't fly).
Community college wait-list applicants. Community colleges have long wait lists and are competitive. Applicants don't want to wait, so they turn to for-profit schools that will help onboard them quickly.
LPNs/LVNs bridging to RN programs
South Florida Haitian communities. According to the Miami Herald, South Florida schools have been targeting Haitian communities.
Red Flags
Shady schools have multiple red flags once you know what to look for. While there are always warning signs, sometimes aspiring nurses want to believe so badly that they ignore them.
Is it too good to be true? If something looks too good to be true, it probably is
False promises, such as claiming you'll be finished in a year or guaranteeing that you'll pass the NCLEX
Immediately offering a hefty scholarship to offset some of the tuition
The website ends in .com or .net, not .edu
The website is not secure
Multiple spelling and grammatical mistakes on the website and written materials. The example below was copied and pasted from Ideal Professional Institute's website on January 26, 2023.
Quote
This school offers 1 program which provide training for 4 qualification, including Florida Home Health Aide (CHHA) Certification, Florida Practical Nurse (LPN) License, and Florida Registered Nurse License. Time to complete this education training is 2.5 weeks.
The school is not ACEN or CCNE accredited. Read here for more on accreditation and what to look for. It's an essential read for anyone choosing a nursing school.
Odd names. "Medical Prep Institute" sounds like a prep school for doctors, not nurses. Likewise, stay away from international programs, such as "Sacred Heart International Institute," advertised as a beauty and nursing school (now shut down).
What You Can Do to Protect Yourself
Unfortunately, there is no central database with a list of bad schools. Bad schools pop up and then disappear, like Whack-A-Mole.
There are some helpful questions to ask the school before turning over a lot of money. You should get direct answers. Be concerned if they talk in circles or don't satisfactorily answer your questions.
Ask about graduation rates and attrition rates. Graduation rates should be high and attrition rates low. Contact your state BON/BRN to find out if it is an approved school. For NCLEX eligibility, once you graduate, your nursing program must be BON/BRN approved. It's mandatory.
Here are some examples of what you can find on your state's BON/BRN website:
Inquire about clinical sites. Shady programs do not have arrangements with local hospitals. Instead of receiving clinical training, students perform free labor at skilled nursing facilities.
Ask if they have a simulation (sim) lab. If they say yes, ask to see it. If they hesitate or deflect, take note. They don't want you to see their sim lab if it consists of a couple of outdated CPR dummies.
How long has the school been open? Some schools close after a couple of years and then re-open under another name to avoid scrutiny. These fly-by-night scam operations take advantage of the fact accreditation is not required when a school first opens.
Ask to see a course syllabus.
All states can have bad nursing programs, not just Florida. CA BRN issued a warning about unapproved nursing programs.
Tip: Confer with colleagues here on allnurses. There are many experts in nursing education who offer their knowledge.
Remember: Buyer beware. Don't get taken in by scammers. Take your time when choosing a school.
Recourse
To file a complaint against a Florida-based school, use this link.
