What are other accelerated programs like? (University of Rochester here)

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Hey,

I was curious to see what other schools were like. I chose UR for the clinical hours, and that it's suppose to be a good school.

I'm towards the end of my program and have been kind of disappointed with the program. I wonder if maybe I should have chosen a different program.

In my experience with this program, there's a lack of student support, and half the teachers I've had didn't know how to teach... and rightfully so since they've never learned how to be a teacher... The school has been getting poorer NCLEX pass rates and in an attempt to prevent that, changed the exams to NCLEX style. So the exams are testing more on our test taking skills on a computer, vs a paper exam that tested our knowledge. So I guess a good thing about the program is that it's 12 months long and they have a strong desire for you to pass the NCLEX.The lack of student support, politics and favoritism though..

Some other students have said that other programs are worse, but I couldn't take their word for it, because they didn't attend other nursing programs. Thoughts?

Thanks.

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When it comes time to study for/take the NCLEX you'll be grateful they tested you in that way. The NCLEX is 50% nursing knowledge and 50% knowing how to take the NCLEX.

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Yeah, maybe. I've studied the NCLEX along the way, and the NCLEX style questions seemed pretty easy compared to how UR tested us. So you're right, maybe it does help.

I was never worried about failing the NCLEX, but would have much preferred that the exams they gave us reflected more on our knowledge. If they felt it was really important for us to know how to take the NCLEX, then they could have implemented a different class or workshop on it.

Are you a current nursing student?

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Currently a masters student, I took my NCLEX in 2014 and I remember feeling the same way you're describing. Nursing school had a lot of very frustrating elements to it, lots of "hoop jumping" so to speak. Stick with it, nursing school teaches you to take the NCLEX and be minimally competent as a new nurse, you really learn how to be a nurse the first year in the job.

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Specializes in Pre-hospital Critical Care.

I would have to describe my Accelerated program the same way as you described yours. Your there for only 12 months so the teacher's don't have time to care about you, drama runs high and the whole year is essentially NCLEX prep course.

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ditto

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Ah, thanks for the feedback everyone!

It's nice to hear that it's the norm, and yes, the goal is to be a minimally competent nurse and this is how you get there. I was so unsure, since my undergrad was all about research and being able to understand the concept thoroughly. So learning about all these disease processes etc, only to not be thoroughly tested on it was odd for me.

Thanks everyone!

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