tell me about your nursing school experience please!

chris21sn, BSN, RN · Aug 31, 2017

Entered a bachelors of science in nursing program right out of high school, at the tender age of 19. Was given a near-full scholarship at the school. Was inducted to the international nursing honor society, graduated cum laude with a 3.6 GPA. Passed flying colors on the NCLEX, in 1 hour, and 75 questions.

Got offered a position at a MICU/SICU position right out of college, as new grad. IV, phlebotomy, ACLS, BLS, EKG certified. Working towards the Crna route slowly.

Lecture wise - Always excelled in school, since grade school. I didn't study much, and cruised through nursing school. Our school was very competitive - I started with 60

kids at the beginning of freshmen year, only 15 of the original kids were still with us. Always felt nursing lectures were always too filled with "fluff" all that caring and sharing rambling with PowerPoints. I would study at home for most of the time cause I felt the teachers simpy read off powerpoints. I remember struggling especially with Fundamentals of Nursing 1, because I was so used to factual/physiology questions rather than situational NCLEX types. I was never really taught how to answer NCLEX questions (had to teach myself)- so I would say if there is anything nursing programs should improve in it is those two facts (better teaching methods instead of lazily reading powerpoints and teaching how to do NCLEX questions). Did well with science classes.

Clinicals - Always struggled the hardest with clinicals, especially due to the fact I was super shy and never worked a day in my life. Very naive. Struggled with most clinicals -- a lot of the teachers, I felt, were intimidating and not quite understanding. I did well with OB and psych surprisingly but I attribute that to the teacher. If there was anything I'd improve it'd be that. Positively wise I went to a lot of sites - at LEAST 50. Exposure was great.

hoped I helped.

HermioneG, BSN, RN · Aug 31, 2017

Colleagues,
I'm researching the future of nursing education and examining generational differences for a class assignment and i would really appreciate your help! If you can, please tell me your age and share some general information about your experiences. What type of program did you attend? What were some positives and negatives about your didactic (lecture) courses? What were some positive and negatives about your clinical courses? Is there anything you would have changed about your program? Thank you so much for your help!!

I'm 28 years old and recently graduated from a BSN program.

My program was very well structured. Passing was a 76%, and any time a student gets a C or C+ in a class they are required to take a student success/learning class the following quarter where they pair you up 1:1 with a current RN who helps you along. I got a C+ my first quarter because I was going through some hard times at home and became overwhelmed. The following quarter they assigned me the best mentor. She gave me study tips, offered to study with me, shared real world application stories when OB came around (she was a NICU nurse), and she would text me the night before the test making sure I was okay and reminding me to get some sleep. Then in the morning she would text me telling me to relax and that she believed in me. She would also hand make little cards and bookmarks with inspirational quotes on them which she would give me in our weekly meetings. It was such a light during such a dark and stressful time in my life.

As far as homework, we didn't have very many homework assignments aside from care plans and the occasional paper (at max one a quarter). This was a definite positive for me as it allowed me more time to keep a healthy schedule and keep my sanity. The amount of "busy work" was next to none, and when we did have homework it was for a very clear purpose. It freed up my time to focus on the really important things to study, and also get enough sleep.

The professors took a special interest in each student, and there was a lot of one to one attention which was really nice. Clinicals were often right across the street from the school, and many weeks I would see people that I recognized/knew which helped long term as far as networking.

I don't have any negatives to share, since the administration was very supportive and helpful. The experience as a whole was fantastic. There were stories of the occasional bully clinical instructor, but it was rare and the professors handled it quickly. Most of the clinical instructors were great, and leaders in their respective field. For instance, my clinical instructor for my last quarter also happened to be the charge nurse in the department I wanted to work in. He mentored all of us and would bring us coffee during our clinicals and was always there when we needed him no matter how busy he was.

I ended up graduating, passing my NCLEX and within a week of passing was informed that I was accepted into the New Grad program at the department of my dreams. I do believe 100% that my practicum assignment there my last quarter, as well as the networking options my school offered me, were huge factors in landing that position. My amazing clinical instructor was even part of the interview panel for the job. It helped ease my anxiety so much. Last I heard they started having a quarterly luncheon with many of the administrators and directors at the adult and children hospitals across the street. They apparently have a panel where the students can ask them questions about the application process/resume/interview tips and help the students network. As a part of my leadership/management class we were also able to sit in and observe interviews on the unit we were assigned to with the educators and director. This helped me significantly when it came time for me to interview.

I guess something that I would change if I could would be the price of tuition. Its a very expensive school, but the up side is that there's a student loan repayment program that I signed up with through the hospital where they will pay up to $70,000 back on your nursing student loans. So that ended up being really helpful.

imhorsemackerel, LPN · Sep 9, 2017

I'm 28 and graduated from a LPN program at a vocational school, so I'm not sure if you're only interested in RN students. I was part of the 17-month program. There were two evening adult classes, and we had a bit of a rivalry. When we started pharm and fundamentals clinicals, both classes were mixed. During our second year, the high school graduates (they spent their first year attending the vocational school while taking their high school classes) and the adult learners both went to class on a full-time basis. We were still split, so the adult learners and the high school graduates were separated through Med-Surge.

Once we started our OB rotation, we were all mixed together. There were a few people who complained about having to change things up, but I didn't mind. There were some people I preferred to be in a group with, but life doesn't always work that way. There were also many people I befriended even though I was a bit older than they were. Whether they were seasoned CNAs or recent high school graduates, I think everyone learned from each other. At the end, for the most part, many of us became good friends.

Now for the bad. *deep breath*

During Med-Surge, they tried to split the adult learners class in half. Initially there were 42 (or so) of us. After about a month, 39 remained. One of the instructors had to go on medical leave, so they crammed us in a stuffy classroom. We had no personal space. We were loud. We got on each other's nerves. And I actually miss it.

About three weeks into Med-Surge we started clinicals. So we went through Med-Surge clinicals twice. The first time's case study would focus on medicine. The second one focused on surgery. They put about 6-7 people in each clinical group. When a group was out in clinicals, everyone else was in theory.

Problems:

1) If we had a test, and you were out in clinicals (everyone experienced this at least twice), you had to go to clinicals in the morning then drive to school. The administrators only allowed us 1 hour before the test would be administered. Our lunch was included in that hour, and traffic was always a problem. Luckily our instructor sympathized and let us go a few minutes early to grab a bite on the way. The only reason they allotted the 1 hour was because we needed a certain amount of hours for the program.

2) During the OB rotation we only spent 3 days in clinicals. I attended the first day. The second day I had a car accident. The third day we had to go to campus because the clinical instructor had to substitute for another instructor who was sick. So the administrators told me because I only had 1 day of clinicals, I had to go with the last group, and I needed to go the full 3 days. Yes, even though my group technically only had 2 days of clinicals, I needed to get 4 days. And, no, my group did not have to make up any clinical hours despite missing that one day.

I didn't want to fight it. My confidence was already defeated by the fact that now I had to deal with getting a new car and picking up some shifts at work. The hospital also wasn't really busy. We tried to keep busy and asked the nurses and residents questions when appropriate. Being a male, however, I was not going to see anything. I mean, we saw the residents perform the assessments on the babies briefly before they were brought to their mothers, so that's something. My female classmates had stories about the clients giving birth or watching a c section. So I don't know why I had to go 1 extra day. I guess I'll just live vicariously through their experience. I ended up sick for the next month, but I at least managed to pass that rotation. side rant>

3) Tests were created by the administrators. Even though instructors in our groups could make up quizzes and quizzes can make up a small percentage of class participation, the tests and finals were the bulk of the grades. Some questions were just written badly. The kicker? After you're done taking a test, you never see it. The instructor gives you your grade (whether it be that same day or following week.........or three), but you will never know which questions you got wrong. Also, you will never know what the right answer is. The instructor is given a score sheet that has like a 5 word blurb of what the question was about and the percentage of the class (high school graduates and adult learner together) that got the question right. Our instructors advocated when necessary, and if we were lucky, we would get a point or two back.

4) Back to clinicals. Clinical sites are being snatched left and right because other vocational schools, colleges, and universities. And unfortunately the cards weren't in my favor. I was always placed at the site where there was nothing to do. But you make the best you can out of a bad situation. So I was constantly looking for things to do.

It was quite an experience. I suppose I wrote about more negative experiences than positive, but I passed my NCLEX the first time and got a job. I've made many friendships, and I'll definitely be keeping in contact with my instructors. This crazy ride put my foot in the door of nursing, so I'm grateful. And thanks if you managed to read this novel.

Hospital2017 · Nov 30, 2017

Hi. EMCO77. Just want to share my friend's experience with Chamberlain school of nursing. She failed her Capstone class NR 661 because she didn't reach 70% of APEA predicable exam. She attempted 3 times. She got 68, 69 and 67. The passing score is 70. As the school requested, after she failed the second time, she attended APEA live review class with her own expenses. She got the lowest score ever 67. It is very difficult to swallow the result. Chamberlain told her she has to retake the NR 661 with the clinic rotation. She almost has a nerve break down. It is so difficult to find a clinic site. She questioned about Chamberlain's evaluation method because APEA predicable exam didn't divide ANCC and AANP exam. As she plans to take AANP exam, she didn't study ANCC questions. There are over 10 questions regarding ANCC non- clinic issues. She also told me one of her classmate who just passed her AANP exam yesterday told her the real AANP exam questions are much easier than the APEA predicable questions. I am thinking go back to get my NP myself. I don't want to be stocked in my last class like she did. I probably looking for other schools.