Should I switch Nursing Schools after finishing my 1st semester?

[JCast87]

So, I have been in tears for 2 days now with this internal conflict that I am having about leaving my current nursing school for another.

I started one of those small, expensive, private nursing schools after completing all of my prerequisites with a 3.76 GPA from my local community college. This school is a 1 year ADN program that is approved by the state of Florida but not accredited. Their NCLEX passing rate is about 40% but I decided to go in order to finish nursing school quickly and start working. I figured even if the passing rate is low, I will still do well because I know the type of student I am.

Needless to say, I don't feel like I am learning much. I just finished Pharmacology in 4 weeks. It's impossible to learn what we need to learn in such a small amount of time. Although I have A's in this school, I doubt myself everyday for making the decision to come here. once we were told by someone in administration that "we should be lucky to be here because we obviously couldn't get in anywhere else". I felt like saying "thats not why I came here". Granted, most of the students or teachers do NOT speak English at this school (Miami, Fl.)

I recently spoke to an admissions rep at another school that is well known in Miami and has a reputation for developing grade A quality nurses, however the program is 27 months (BNS). She said I would have no problem getting in. This school is $40,000 as apposed to the $20,000 school that I am at now.

One RN I know, told me to stay at the school that I am in now because what matters is me passing my NCLEX and everything else I will learn on the floor. She says she also felt that she didn't know anything when she graduated from her school and she managed to pass her boards.

I am in tears as I write this because I don't know what to do. I have finals at my school this week and I need to end on a good note should I decide to transfer (but at the new school I will have t start from scratch). I just want to be a great nurse. I don't want to settle for good. I love this field and have a deep passion for nursing. Any advise is appreciated!!

[RNintraining72]

If I were you, I would get out while you can! Not being accredited is a BIG DEAL! What if you decide down the road you want to continue your education? If nothing transfers (which it won't) you will have a lot to take over. Also, hospitals are becoming more and more selective in choosing RN's, especially new ones. If they have a choice between an RN with a BSN and a RN from a one-year non-accredited school, who do you think they will choose??? Don't let money be a reason to have regrets down the line!

I sooooooooooo agree!!!!!

[Stephalump]

Please switch. I understand 27 months seems like a long time, but some things are worth waiting and working for. You've seen what the "quick and easy road" can get you.

You may very well learn all you need to know oboe the floor, but first you must get to the floor. You cannot get to the floor if you cannot pass the NCLEX, and you cannot pass the NCLEX if you aren't learning. You may save yourself a few months and $20,000, but not becoming a nurse means you wasted 2 years and $20,000. If you do pass the NCLEX, you still need to find a job, which can be harder coming out of a program that isn't accredited and doesn't properly prepare nurses. Hospitals know these things.

Follow your gut. I promise you, you won't regret doing better for yourself.

[Tragically Hip]

The only regionally-accredited nursing programs I'm aware of in Miami-Dade County are UM, FIU, MDC, and Kaiser. (Nova Southeastern is to the north, in Davie.) I wouldn't go to any other school in the area. FIU is fairly reasonably price and MDC is a real bargain (they have an ADN and BSN bridge programs). FIU is very hard to get into (there are many applicants vying for 100 seats). If you get any kind of decent score on the TEAS V, you will have little difficulty getting into MDC.

By the way, if you get an ADN at MDC, you can bridge right ito the BSN program without having passed the NCLEX (though you may have to pass it witing four months in order to keep certain scholarships).

In case there was any question — yes, I do suggest you transfer in to an accredited program.

[itsnowornever, BSN, RN]

Time isn't the issue here. Dont rush it. My pharm class was 9 weeks and it was GRUELING the only reason I got an A was because I had an AWESOME instructor! I am in a BSN program that is costing me enough to put a down payment on a house, however, every grad I have talked to has found a great job and we have an awesome reputation with hospitals! Our NCLEX pass rate is somewhere in the 95% rating and they do an AMAZING job as prepping us for it. Switch. It's for the best.

[Stcroix, ASN, PhD, RN]

Transfer. I was talking to a Nurse Manager recently (who does a lot of the hiring) and was told that "I like to hire people from ******* College because they are well prepared and have a good track record with 'getting it' and succeeding." This just goes to reinforce what some others are saying, WHAT school you come out of can influence your marketability, and in this hiring environment, that's a big deal in my book.

[sauconyrunner]

Not being accredited is HUGE. not worth it. On top of that the 40% NCLEX rate is TELLING. You might be a great student, but you NEED TO BE TAUGHT. You need to be taught how to be a nurse, the knowledge base that goes into nursing, and also how to take the test. The pass rate does not reflect totally on the students...it reflects on how well students are prepared. Just imagine, you study a ton of biology. Then you get to the exam and it's a little about biology but mostly about Bio-physics. Are you going to do well?

Go somewhere else. you will have a really long career, an extra 27 months...will fly right by!

[AloeBlox]

i would switch since its not accredited .. good luck and keep us posted

[snobanda]

I say switch. 20,000 is a lot of money for a degree you can't use. You can spend 40,000 and go to a school and even move up and become an advanced practice nurse. Finish off strong and go to a nationally accredited school.

[jhopper]

Watch this first:

Moral 4: there are no shortcuts in life.

Moral 5: if you're mother were sick in the hospital would you want the RN from the fast track program caring for her or the RN who went to the accredited 3 year ADN college?

Moral 6: well there is no moral 6. go to a better college...

[Edward Rich]

you should ask yourself " is RN enough. if enough just stay in that school. you could start work and making money faster . you don't have too much loan to pay back.

not everything you learn in school will be use when you start working as register nurse.

do you have enough time to go back to start over again ?. if you do than go to school that offer BSN.

good luck

nurseinus.com

[NICUmiiki, DNP, NP]

I'm still waiting for an upside of attending an unaccredited school...

I've heard a few downsides though.. Want to get your BSN/MSN? Want to become an NP? Want to move out of state? Want to work at a VA hospital?

Just too many things could go wrong for me to stay at the offending school.

If they continue with a 40% NCLEX pass rate, they'll likely be shut down soon anyway.

[OnMyWay23]

I too say switch schools. I just did the same thing myself. Sure, I am going to almost max out my loans thanks to having spent the previous 2 years working on pre reqs somewhere else, but I know that I will get a great quality education. On top of that, not only is this school fully accredited but in the area I am all the hospital know this particular place turns out top quality nurses and almost everyone of them has a job before graduation.

I would look at the long term as well as your pros and cons. But from your post you are already feeling you need to leave, so do it. You are getting that feeling for a reason so do not ignore it.

Best of luck to you!