Wanting to change my program, would love some advice

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I started an ABSN program back in August, expected to finish by December 2022. I love being a nursing student, but absolutely hate this program I am in. I am not having difficulty with understanding any of the material, but I just don't know if I can last the next year and a half in this program. It is highly unorganized, the teachers are not accessible, they say it's a "hybrid" but everything is online (understandable due to COVID, so I don't fault them entirely for it).

I don't want my hand held through the program, but I am paying them a lot to teach me, at least. Just a few days ago, they made us take a Nutritional ATI Assessment, with no proper information of what we were expected to do with it, or how to study it. Now, most of the class has to do a remediation for it, and we don't even get full points. Half of our work seems like busywork that gets in the way of me actually being able to study for the exams. I have a B+ average, and I know I can do much better if I am able to clarify with a professor that actually shows their face. I wanna be a good nurse, but I also want to go on into advanced practice, so I can't just get by on barely passing.

This program had a lot of bad reviews, but in the end I decided to go because I had no other choice. All the other programs either rejected me or told me I need to take more prereqs, and then MAYBE they would accept me. Now I am dreading this. The only thing that has saved this programs are the clinical instructors and preceptors, who help me as much as they can without getting on administration or the main professor's bad side.

Are there any programs that take transfers? I am not even looking for ABSN programs at this point, I am perfectly content with doing this in a 2 year traditional, as long as am actually getting a proper nursing education. Am I asking for too much or being unreasonable? Should I just suck it up and stick it out?

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.
On 11/2/2021 at 7:05 PM, Crimenpu said:

 

This program had a lot of bad reviews, but in the end I decided to go because I had no other choice. All the other programs either rejected me or told me I need to take more prereqs, and then MAYBE they would accept me.

 

There may be a reason multiple programs gave you the same advice. I will assume you didn’t have a 4.0 GPA, and the suggestion to take more prerequisites was to put you in a more competitive race with other students. I will also assume that the programs that rejected you outright selected the students with the better or 4.0 GPAs.
 

There is a lesson to be learned here (no pun intended). When it’s all over and you gain your license, you will learn as the job offers come flooding in that if something sounds too good to be true or if the reputation is undesirable, (I.e. paying big bucks for nurses regardless of experience), you might want to steer clear and select quality above quantity. 
 

Should you decide to leave this program, take the advice previously given to you. 

Good luck to you!

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Specializes in oncology.
On 11/2/2021 at 6:05 PM, Crimenpu said:

Just a few days ago, they made us take a Nutritional ATI Assessment, with no proper information of what we were expected to do with it, or how to study it. Now, most of the class has to do a remediation for it, and we don't even get full points.

Now that you know about the ATI tests, use that  information to investigate what these tests are like. Whether you got full points or not, this is important content that is tested on NCLEX.

On 11/2/2021 at 6:05 PM, Crimenpu said:

The only thing that has saved this programs are the clinical instructors and preceptors, who help me as much as they can

I am glad you found something good about your program. 

On 11/2/2021 at 6:05 PM, Crimenpu said:

I don't want my hand held through the program, but I am paying them a lot to teach me, at least.

 

On 11/2/2021 at 6:05 PM, Crimenpu said:

I wanna be a good nurse, but I also want to go on into advanced practice, so I can't just get by on barely passing.

Yes they should be helping you but at the end of the day, you are the learner and if you intend on advanced practice, you must learn to be totally self-directed. 

On 11/2/2021 at 6:05 PM, Crimenpu said:

Are there any programs that take transfers?

 

On 11/2/2021 at 6:05 PM, Crimenpu said:

This program had a lot of bad reviews, but in the end I decided to go because I had no other choice. All the other programs either rejected me or told me I need to take more prereqs, and then MAYBE they would accept me.

You answered your own question.

Best wishes on the future. Keep plugging along. 

 

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Glad to see that the only two responses here are just calling me too stupid for Nursing...

Unfortunately, now my nursing program is about to lose its accreditation, so I am SOL on this front. 

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Specializes in oncology.

Actually I was trying to help you.

1) Is your remediation for the ATI Nutrition completing templates and rereading online sections of the ATI Nutrition guide? If so, it is not hard but time-consuming. 

2) Paying a lot of $$ doe not guarantee you will skate through the program. 

 

41 minutes ago, Crimenpu said:

Glad to see that the only two responses here are just calling me too stupid for Nursing...

3) I am have given positive suggestions here but when you say things things above it is hard to relate in a positive tone:. And neither of us said you are stupid. You have graduated college in some discipline and completed the pre-requisites for a nursing program: however (and these are your words... meant to show shade at us? who tried to help?)

45 minutes ago, Crimenpu said:

Unfortunately, now my nursing program is about to lose its accreditation, so I am SOL on this front. 

I hope this doesn't happen but losing accreditation usually revolves around  NCLEX pass rates.    Is your school in Florida, per chance?

 

 

 

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1) Is your remediation for the ATI Nutrition completing templates and rereading online sections of the ATI Nutrition guide? If so, it is not hard but time-consuming. 

 

I don't mind something time consuming as long as I am benefitting from it rather than just something they threw at me to keep me busy. Nevertheless, this wasn't as bad as I made it out to be.

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2) Paying a lot of $$ doe not guarantee you will skate through the program. 


 

I never said it does. In fact, I never wanted to skate by on anything. I know I have to work and study hard, but working and studying hard is useless when it isn't actualy going to pay off, or your mental and emotional sanity is going gone.

I have had no issue passing any of my classes, I haven't failed any classes yet, not have I come close. At the same time, I am not doing as well as I want to be, no matter how hard I work. If I was expecting to skate by, I wouldn't be asking my original question.

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3) I am have given positive suggestions here but when you say things things above it is hard to relate in a positive tone:. And neither of us said you are stupid. You have graduated college in some discipline and completed the pre-requisites for a nursing program: however (and these are your words... meant to show shade at us? who tried to help?)

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I hope this doesn't happen but losing accreditation usually revolves around  NCLEX pass rates.    Is your school in Florida, per chance?

No, it's in the Midwest. But yeah, apparently accreditation is dependent on our most recent cohort passing the NCLEX at 95% first timers, and they aren't telling us about this.

Also, I am not trying to throw shade at anyone, I simply read those responses as being dismissive of my concerns. It is entirely possible that I was misunderstood, as well. If I attacked or offended any of you, I apologize. At the same time, vague statements like "you answered your own question" aren't really helpful for me, and it seems condescending. The same thing with someone saying "maybe there is a reason?" when I have given proof that I am currently proving them wrong.

I know I have to be self-directed, I don' want anyone holding my hand. However, expecting proper transparency and proper definition of what is expected of me shouldn't be fartfetched.

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Specializes in oncology.
7 hours ago, Crimenpu said:

No, it's in the Midwest. But yeah, apparently accreditation is dependent on our most recent cohort passing the NCLEX at 95% first timers, and they aren't telling us about this.

First time NCLEX pass rates for colleges are usually acceptable if they are above the national average (usually in the 80%). I have never heard of a requirement of 95%.  There must be something else.

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On 11/17/2021 at 8:47 AM, londonflo said:

First time NCLEX pass rates for colleges are usually acceptable if they are above the national average (usually in the 80%). I have never heard of a requirement of 95%.  There must be something else.

I'm not sure.

I just don't want to work through all of this only for my work to screw me over in a year or two when they lose accreditation

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Specializes in Customer service.

I can tell you that nursing school is tough. I just passed my ATI at Level 3. About half of the students didn't make it to Level 2. They're blaming our instructors for it. Funny thing, we took the same course. They wanted an easy out by studying through Quizlet. I didn't. I read my textbook. Our proctored ATI exam was heavy on the application of knowledge. I couldn't believe I did well. I read my assigned readings. 

So, what I'm saying, you have to help yourself most of the time.

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Specializes in oncology.
On 11/28/2021 at 4:06 PM, Crimenpu said:

I just don't want to work through all of this only for my work to screw me over in a year or two when they lose accreditation

Are you thinking if you graduate from a school that later loses it's accreditation, your work will revoke your license?

Once you graduate, your credentials are sent to the SBON you are applying to and you pass NCLEX your license is good as long as you pay your fees, complete any CEUs required, and  don't have any clinical action against your license.

 

On 11/2/2021 at 6:05 PM, Crimenpu said:

I wanna be a good nurse, but I also want to go on into advanced practice, so I can't just get by on barely passing.

Frankly, this is probably what I heard from 90% of the students I taught. There was a daily litany that being an NP was what the end goal. Make your goal being an RN and only then plan your future. The US will be overrun with NPs as if it isn't already. There maybe a 'salary race to the bottom' in the future. 

If you HAVE to plan your future beyond being an RN (which is a great career plan in and of itself), look at new innovations in the role. 

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Specializes in NICU.
On 11/2/2021 at 7:05 PM, Crimenpu said:

Are there any programs that take transfers? I am not even looking for ABSN programs at this point, I am perfectly content with doing this in a 2 year traditional, as long as am actually getting a proper nursing education. Am I asking for too much or being unreasonable? Should I just suck it up and stick it out?

Unfortunately, nursing schools do not take nursing school credits from other schools. You would need to start over from the beginning. If you feel your program will not prepare you to pass NCLEX, it may be better to start over with a different program. The problem is that you have been rejected by other programs and it may take you longer to get accepted into another program than it would be finishing your current program.

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On 11/30/2021 at 4:48 PM, londonflo said:

Are you thinking if you graduate from a school that later loses it's accreditation, your work will revoke your license?

Once you graduate, your credentials are sent to the SBON you are applying to and you pass NCLEX your license is good as long as you pay your fees, complete any CEUs required, and  don't have any clinical action against your license.

Frankly, this is probably what I heard from 90% of the students I taught. There was a daily litany that being an NP was what the end goal. Make your goal being an RN and only then plan your future. The US will be overrun with NPs as if it isn't already. There maybe a 'salary race to the bottom' in the future. 

If you HAVE to plan your future beyond being an RN (which is a great career plan in and of itself), look at new innovations in the role. 

Hello, sorry for the late reply

I wasn't neccessarily talking about NP, but any sort of graduate pathway. My original plan was CRNA, but that's out of the card (I know I'm being stereotypical here). However, I know that any sort of innovation may require further study or further degree. I am really afraid that if my school loses accreditation, then those credits will not be recognized for a masters (not neccessarily NP programs) or doctorate program.

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