What makes a nursing school "official" or accredited?

U.S.A. Virginia

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I'm trying to figure out how legit MCI in Virginia Beach is. They are listed on the NLNAC website, but I just wanna know if this makes them official?

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Specializes in Emergency, Trauma, Critical Care.

If they are listed on the NLNAC site that means they have received a special accreditation beyond the basic requirements of the board of nursing for that state. You would want to go to the board of nursing for Virginia's website to double check, but they should definitely be accredited if they are on the website you checked.

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MCI is legit. When I was living there, I've never heard anything bad about the school. That was then though, I don't know how it is now. But, you can't go wrong with TCC, ODU or even Norfolk State. I've been to all three campuses, I like all of them. However, I prefer ODU though :). Dang, I should have just stayed in the east coast!

Also, I think ODU still has both NP and CRNA programs. I haven't checked lately, but if they still have both programs -- their training/clinical sites are NOT even that far from the campus. Hospitals like CHKD, Portsmouth Naval, Sentara health system, to name a few ... etc. --- begs the question, WHY am I in Vegas?? :eek::(:bugeyes: I'm still trying to answer that question, 'til now.

ODU has cornered the clinical sites there in the past, I don't know if they still have most of them. Since EVMS is there, they're probably competing for their med students with ODU's CRNA students? I don't know. Or probably both schools train mostly in the same hospitals, with different arrangements.

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MCI is legit. When I was living there, I've never heard anything bad about the school. That was then though, I don't know how it is now. But, you can't go wrong with TCC, ODU or even Norfolk State. I've been to all three campuses, I like all of them. However, I prefer ODU though :). Dang, I should have just stayed in the east coast!

Also, I think ODU still has both NP and CRNA programs. I haven't checked lately, but if they still have both programs -- their training/clinical sites are NOT even that far from the campus. Hospitals like CHKD, Portsmouth Naval, Sentara health system ... etc. --- begs the question, WHY am I in Vegas?? :eek::(:bugeyes: I'm still trying to answer that question, 'til now.

Thanks, Vegas! Are you there right now? My husband and I will totally trade you spots. He is from there and I used to live there. We don't like the east coast very much. :( Hehe. Anyway. I'm just worried about trying to get a job at a hospital, and having them not be able to recognize my degree because it's not "good enough" or something? I just wanna make sure MCI will give me a real BSN degree. Idk I guess I'm just not used to a nursing school being advertised on TV, and it's a little shady that they dont have tuition, or any information on their website...

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So after I get my degree, I take the NCLEX right? Does this test make me an official nurse in all states or just Virginia?

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Hi I recently graduated from MCI @Virginia Beach this past January 2010 and I recieved my license in March. The school is legit and after taking the NCLEX you will have a multicompact license in Va, Washington, NC and a few others. If you are thinking aboput this school you really have to be disciplined and a self learner it help's if you have previous medical experience but again as long as you are slef motivated and disciplined you should do well. There are some great teachers there very tough though.

I hope that helps if you have anymore questions feel free to send me a message.

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So after I get my degree, I take the NCLEX right? Does this test make me an official nurse in all states or just Virginia?

MCI is a private school. If they're fully accredited, then your license will be recognized everywhere. If they have provisional accreditation, then VA is the only one who recognizes it (technically). But, people graduate from provisional schools all the time, so I guess you'll be fine. Personally, I wouldn't go to MCI since it's a private school, just cost too much money. As far as training their students and how their program is, I've never heard anything bad when I was there. By the way, haven't heard anything negative recently either.

P.S. Vegas is not as "wonderful" as what people will try to make you believe. It's a great place to visit. It's ok to live in, but it's not a big whoop, lol. Nevada rates last on everything, including education.

Wait, I think Vegas ranked second on 'the suicide rates list,' in that research study that UNLV did a few years ago. I'm not sure if that's a credible study though. Vegas is ok, that's all I'm saying.

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Hi I recently graduated from MCI @Virginia Beach this past January 2010 and I recieved my license in March. The school is legit and after taking the NCLEX you will have a multicompact license in Va, Washington, NC and a few others. If you are thinking aboput this school you really have to be disciplined and a self learner it help's if you have previous medical experience but again as long as you are slef motivated and disciplined you should do well. There are some great teachers there very tough though.

I hope that helps if you have anymore questions feel free to send me a message.

Hi Chillima,

Sorry, it's not letting me send messages yet I guess. How would I go about getting a license in other states, like on the West coast? Is it the same test? Where are you going to work now? :)

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MCI is a private school. If they're fully accredited, then your license will be recognized everywhere. If they have provisional accreditation, then VA is the only one who recognizes it (technically). But, people graduate from provisional schools all the time, so I guess you'll be fine. Personally, I wouldn't go to MCI since it's a private school, just cost too much money. As far as training their students and how their program is, I've never heard anything bad when I was there. By the way, haven't heard anything negative recently either.

P.S. Vegas is not as "wonderful" as what people will try to make you believe. It's a great place to visit. It's ok to live in, but it's not a big whoop, lol. Nevada rates LAST on everything, including education.

Okay, that makes sense. Thank you. I'm in a big time crunch, that's why I'm obliged to go there (probably.) We absolutely love Vegas, plus we both have a lot of family there. So we are planning on going there after my schooling and his enlistment is up. You're right tho, it's not for everyone! :)

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MCI is a private school. If they're fully accredited, then your license will be recognized everywhere. If they have provisional accreditation, then VA is the only one who recognizes it (technically). But, people graduate from provisional schools all the time, so I guess you'll be fine. Personally, I wouldn't go to MCI since it's a private school, just cost too much money. As far as training their students and how their program is, I've never heard anything bad when I was there. By the way, haven't heard anything negative recently either.

P.S. Vegas is not as "wonderful" as what people will try to make you believe. It's a great place to visit. It's ok to live in, but it's not a big whoop, lol. Nevada rates last on everything, including education.

Wait, I think Vegas ranked second on 'the suicide rates list,' in that research study that UNLV did a few years ago. I'm not sure if that's a credible study though. Vegas is ok, that's all I'm saying.

How can you tell if it's fully/partially accredited? I went to the website and I can't tell that it differentiates it.

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Check out Virginia Board of Nursing ... it gives you a clear list of all nursing schools in Virginia and will say, full or provisional accreditation.

Never rely on a school's website for all information. Especially when it comes to official accreditations. Schools can pretty much say/claim anything. Also, the websites aren't updated regularly, not even quarterly. You need to look at official state website information to check out any school.

It also helps checking out websites like: CCNE, NLNAC to name a few. If still in doubt, try calling them. Emailing the appropriate people, until they get sick of you (just kidding). Eventually, they'll give you the 411 and hopefully that'll help you make a decision for yourself.

Research alone takes a lot of work, it's like taking another course! Sometimes, I get headaches and I'm starting to hate computers now :bugeyes: I need to do something fun soon or I'm gonna crack -- lol :bugeyes:

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There are three types of accreditation to look for. One is from the State Board of Nursing and enables graduates of the program to be eligible for Virginia licensure. The second is for the the for Nursing Program (NLNAC or CCNE) and indicates whether the School follows national standards of nursing education. The third is a regional accreditation (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools); it is this third type of accreditation that could indicate whether credit from one school could transfer to another, and whether the degree from that college can be recognized nationally.

The NLNAC website indicates that MCI - Virginia Beach was initially accredited in January 2009 and granted a 5 year accreditation. This is normal for first-time accreditation reviews.

The website for SACS indicates that ECPI Virginia Beach is on warning.

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