Yesterday we were told that the school could not secure any clinical sites for maternal-child health and that we only have four lab days for the entire semester. Previously, we've heard that students were sent to a daycare for a single day, or were able to observe in L&D for two to three days, max. It's amazing to me that this is acceptable. I mean, I get it, if there's nowhere for us to go, then there's nowhere for us to go. But it's one thing after another with this program. Our pass rate is in the 60s%, there is gossip about the school being on probation with the possibility of losing accreditation, et cetera. Last term both maternal-child teachers quit and they only just secured one last month. But she's on vacation this first part of the semester so we have a sub. This new teacher that's out of town apparently can't access the eLearning site that hosts our files (powerpoints, syllabus, and more) so we can't start studying or reading; it's exceptionally frustrating. But it's not just this. The entire program thus far has been a nightmare - on top of the inevitable and expected 'nursing school stress' that all students everywhere endure. My instructor last term said, 'you guys should have went to xyz school'; even the instructor moral is horrendous. Another example, the intro instructor that has been there (for God knows how long) resigned the first week this term. It never ends. It also seems as if the school is all about money. They take 90 students three times a year and it is not a big school - at all. With a pass rate in the 60th percentile, this doesn't seem smart. I guess that bit is somewhat irrelevant, I digress...
I guess I'm just wanting to vent and curious if anyone else is not at all satisfied with the program they are attending so we can share frustrations and let off some steam. I know that 'the only constant is change' and in this field you must be able to adapt, deal with stress, yada yada - I get it. This is just crazy, though. We are also the test group for the new schedule / curriculum. It just doesn't seem to stop. :/
If investigated by the board, it will come out that there were no actual clinical hours. They would have to have a contract with a facility and an agreement for the students to be at the site. If there is no clinical contract, there is no proof you were in a facility. There would also need to be a paper trail for student attendance in clinical as well as clinical eval sheets. There would need to be a clinical skills list. There would have to be hours logged with a facility. It would take a lot for a school to fraudulently present that you were ever in a facility that you weren't actually in and would be very easy to prove you were never actually there. All im saying is to be careful. It doesn't not surprise me that this program has only a 60% NCLEX pass rate with what you describe. Obviously it is too late to go back and undo not having researched this before starting, but it is not too late to change your course.
I understand. But please note that when I used the term finagle, I was not implying fraudulent documentation or anything of the sort. They claim that that state knows there is a shortage of clinical sites for OB/Peds and I have a friend who has been an RN for a year now and had only a single clinical day at a daycare center. Last semester they were sent to L&D but were told to bring their school books and materials and studied in the staff lounge (per the students). It's a joke, yes. And it is not helping my education but I have no worries about not being able to sit for the NCLEX by missing out on these hours (based on history). That is not to say I am not exceedingly frustrated, but I'm not worried about not being able to sit.
I've practiced (and taught) in several different states over the years, and, in any state I've been in, a 60% pass rate on the NCLEX would get a school in serious trouble with the state BON and put it at serious risk of losing its BON approval. If that happens (the school loses BON approval), you would not be eligible for the NCLEX, regardless of clinical hours.
IMO, you are taking a serious risk by attending this school. You are obviously (just from what you've described here so far) getting a poor quality nursing education. Even if it's not expensive for you because of a scholarship, any money you are giving this school is too much. You would be much better served by cutting your losses and switching to a better program. Poor quality nursing programs hurt nursing and exploit students who don't know any better, and they wouldn't be able to stay in business if there weren't always people who don't know or don't care enough to avoid them.
Your best bet is to ditch this school and find one that has a high pass rate, exposure to clinical sites and will allow you to sit for the NCLEX...the BON listing is a good place to start.
Most, if not all, states will have a minimum clinical hour requirement for each field required. And only some of those hours can come from SIM lab. It would suck to make it to the end and find out our degree is worthless because you didnt meet the clinical hour requirement of your state BON..
If you don't get the state required number of clinical hours, you won't be allowed to even sit for the NCLEX. SIMs are now calculated for clinical hours, also mandated by state, but if your program isn't offering you the hours you need to even sit for the boards, they have broke their contract with you. Find out your rights, and get into another program.
For my own peace of mind, if able to move to another program (after doing due diligence in checking it out), I would do so as soon as possible. Would hate to get caught up in a detrimental situation because I waited too long to make the right move.
I am curious if you researched this school's pass rates etc before choosing to go there.
I heard the program was 'awful', but I never looked up the actual statistics. I got my bachelors degree here and just stuck with it as I support myself solely and have no way to move to another school and area. I've been with the hospital I work with since I graduated high school in 2008 (working on my 7th year) and also did not want to leave the company. I did expect it to a certain extent but never knew it would be so bad. Research or none, this program is far from acceptable, in my opinion.
I heard the program was 'awful', but I never looked up the actual statistics. I got my bachelors degree here and just stuck with it as I support myself solely and have no way to move to another school and area. I've been with the hospital I work with since I graduated high school in 2008 (working on my 7th year) and also did not want to leave the company. I did expect it to a certain extent but never knew it would be so bad. Research or none, this program is far from acceptable, in my opinion.
But if you looked up the BON and accreditation of the schools' in your area, as well as checked what schools local area hospitals invited in, maybe you would've went to another school, this not in danger of not obtaining your license....
I still suggest that you move to another program; staying will only be a disservice to not being provides the well-rounded knowledge and experiences in nursing school that one needs; you never know what population you may end up working with.
Research or none, this program is far from acceptable, in my opinion.
Then why on earth are you still attending? Giving this program any money (whether it's your own or a scholarship) is not helping yourself, and allowing these subpar programs to remain in business hurts nursing as a whole. The only way these programs stay in business is that they continue to draw in people who either don't know or don't care that they are getting a poor quality nursing education.
Then why on earth are you still attending? Giving this program any money (whether it's your own or a scholarship) is not helping yourself, and allowing these subpar programs to remain in business hurts nursing as a whole. The only way these programs stay in business is that they continue to draw in people who either don't know or don't care that they are getting a poor quality nursing education.
That this school even exists speaks to the fact that there are way too many nursing programs. For the OP, I don't know if you are quoting your instructor verbatim, but if that is the level of grammar spoken from a FACULTY member, then he/she should be sent back to kindergarten until grammar skills are polished. I've seen several bad grammar errors on this thread alone, which leads me to believe that way too many people are in college.
.thumb.jpg.e8f79cbf66268068c1483b0da107ae1e.jpg){kind=small}
MedicalPartisan
192 Posts
I understand. But please note that when I used the term finagle, I was not implying fraudulent documentation or anything of the sort. They claim that that state knows there is a shortage of clinical sites for OB/Peds and I have a friend who has been an RN for a year now and had only a single clinical day at a daycare center. Last semester they were sent to L&D but were told to bring their school books and materials and studied in the staff lounge (per the students). It's a joke, yes. And it is not helping my education but I have no worries about not being able to sit for the NCLEX by missing out on these hours (based on history). That is not to say I am not exceedingly frustrated, but I'm not worried about not being able to sit.