Teaching @ Brown Mackie

nurseaboveboard · Jan 19, 2008

OK, they have called me for an interview today. I really would be interested in any of you who have experience with them to post before I go to the interview. I read on the board somewhere that their nursing program isn't accredited, but they tell me it is, so thats all I know so far.

Editorial Team / Admin · Jan 19, 2008

I do not have any first-hand information about teaching here, but here is a link to the website and info about accreditation:

http://www.brownmackie.edu/Accreditation.aspx

Good luck with the interview!

nurseaboveboard · Jan 19, 2008

Why thank you sirI, but is the overall college accreditation the same as a good nursing program being accredited by some accrediting body that applies only to nursing schools? Does this question even make sense to anyone? If so, please post! Thanks.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jan 19, 2008

Brown Mackie is a trade school in the strictest sense, not a traditional college or university. Therefore, their accreditations are going to be starkly different when compared to the surrounding community colleges and state universities.

Trade school nursing programs tend to not be regionally accredited.

nurseaboveboard · Jan 19, 2008

Well, they call themselves a college, but I don't know what governs that. If they're not regionally accredited, does this imply problems for the graduates, taking boards, getting jobs, etc? Thanks posters. Maybe someone who has taught for them will eventually see this post. I hope so. Please, students of Brown Mackie who see this, feel free to put your two cents worth in too.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jan 19, 2008

If they're not regionally accredited, does this imply problems for the graduates, taking boards, getting jobs, etc?

I attended a trade school LVN program that was not regionally accredited. So far, it's been fine for me.

As long as the school's nursing program is approved by that particular state's BON, the graduating students will be able to take NCLEX, obtain nursing licensure, and secure employment. The problems result if the student wishes to further their education, only to find that the credits earned at the trade school will not transfer to a traditional college.

nurseaboveboard · Jan 20, 2008

Thanks Commuter. That's helpful. Can I just check with my state BON then to see if it's approved?

Editorial Team / Admin · Jan 20, 2008

Thanks Commuter. That's helpful. Can I just check with my state BON then to see if it's approved?

Not sure if you are still in Indiana, but here is the list of accredited programs there:

http://www.in.gov/pla/bandc/isbn/lpnweb_11408.pdf

http://www.in.gov/pla/bandc/isbn/programs.html

nurseaboveboard · Jan 21, 2008

Thanks sirI! Hopefully, someone has or is teaching for them and will post their experiences, good, bad, or ugly.

nurseaboveboard · Jan 25, 2008

More Brown Mackie drama! I showed up ten minutes early for my 1:00pm interview. It seemed like a nice atmosphere, enjoyed seeing all the students, etc. The room where the interview was to take place happened to be taken, so I was led to a room full of cubicals. I was going to be interviewed in a small cube with various people right there in their cubes to hear everything, no privacy at all. Well, go with the flow right? Then I was informed that Brown Mackie, just that morning had placed a freeze on hiring full-time instructors, but they were looking for adjunct/part-time instructors. So I politely said "It was my understanding that I was interviewing for a full-time position." It was agreed that this was so. Then I said "Well, I don't wish to waste your time or mine, but I'm not interested in part-time." Thanked them and that was that. No interview. I did NOT say "Why the H--- did you NOT call me this morning and let me drive 34 miles to interview for a position that no longer existed." Well, I took the high road, but quickly switched to plan "B" which involved calling my second sched. interviewer, and requested to come early if possible. They were VERY accomodating, which was handy for me. Otherwise, I would have had to stick around town for a couple hours twiddling my thumbs, or resched. for later in the week, wasting gas, traveling back and forth. Well, there ya have it :)

LearningtoTeachRN · Mar 5, 2008

I worked very short term for Brown Mackie in Indiana, and found it to be a horrible experience. I was my first attempt at clinical instruction, and I was sent in with absolutely no orientation to the school, let alone the clinical site (I was completely blind going in). To make matters worse, the students scared me to death! They had no idea what it took to be a good nurse, nor did they care. They were not the least bit interested in what I had to say-I actually had to go find them several times-they were hiding from me like a bunch of little kids. To make a loooong story short, I had no respect from the students, and no support from the school. I was turned off from teaching until I was offered a position at Ivy Tech, where I am now employed. I am happy to say the two schools have proven to be as different as night and day, and I love teaching