WHAT DO YOU THINK? (Opinions wanted)

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Specializes in PeriOp, ICU, PICU, NICU.

Okay, this has been the latest dilemma at my school.

You see it is a very pricey private college. Like most of you can relate there is a placement test to get into the college and then there is the NLN pre-entrance exam that must be taken.

The thing is that the school will NOT let you sit for the exam until you are on your last semester of pre-req's which is about 1+ years later. You only are allowed to take the exam 2 times with a 6 month interval.

Needless to say, the students who don't pass the exam must withdraw and try their luck elsewhere (with a huge loan debt of course).

The school requires you to take most of the courses their because you get a point for each req you take THERE only, and the admission's process is based on a point system. Out of 57 possible points 13 come from there.....okay now to the question.

What do you think of the school not allowing the students to take the NLN exam from the start, therefore knowing if you stand a chance to get in or not.

My heart sank last night while a couple of my classmates were in tears because they had taken the exam and did not get the score the school requires you to. One of them was literaly told to "try her luck elsewhere".

This school has been everyone's last resort as everything else has a massive waiting list. This is the expensive route to go but brings more hope to all.

Anyhow, please share your opinion. I really wish they would allow the students to take the exam from the beginning or atleast way before your last semester of pre-reqs.

Thankfully, I passed the exam on my first try but I can only imagine to be in my other classmate's shoes right now.

Thank you kindly,

Jess

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

Sounds like they are trying to string you along for as long as they possibly can in order to maximize their access to your pocketbook!

Cha-Ching!

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Specializes in PeriOp, ICU, PICU, NICU.
Sounds like they are trying to string you along for as long as they possibly can in order to maximize their access to your pocketbook!

Cha-Ching!

My thought exactly. Obviously they claim otherwise.

Not cool.

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How horrible to squash potential nurses' dreams when we are so short nationwide! Even if you had not told us that the school was private, I would have known. FOR PROFIT!! Not for student. Have you thought about calling the NLN and seeing if they have a confidential complaint line or a corporate compliance/ethics hotline? Or a way to check complaints, and or resolutions, regarding your school. Good Luck. Don't give up!

My thought exactly. Obviously they claim otherwise.

Not cool.

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ooh :S

My question would be what exactly does the NLN test? Does it test on knowledge gathered over the course of the pre-nursing courses? Or is it simply a skills/aptitude test? I'm ready for any general aptitude test thrown at me, but shoot, it's been 15+ years since I had high school chemistry/biology/physics. Point being, I kinda vaguely looked over some test questions for our nursing program entry test (called NET I believe) and it seemed to me it had some science questions on it that I'm hoping my chemistry/micro classes will touch on. So I figured I would not WANT to attempt the NET til I've finished more of my pre-reqs.

J-9

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Specializes in progressive care telemetry.

That stinks. The program I am applying too tells you outright to take the required tests first to see if you would even get in *before* you waste your time, energy and money on prereqs.

Where's the "holding the nose" icon?? PU!

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Specializes in PeriOp, ICU, PICU, NICU.
How horrible to squash potential nurses' dreams when we are so short nationwide! Even if you had not told us that the school was private, I would have known. FOR PROFIT!! Not for student. Have you thought about calling the NLN and seeing if they have a confidential complaint line or a corporate compliance/ethics hotline? Or a way to check complaints, and or resolutions, regarding your school. Good Luck. Don't give up!

Great advice. I had not though about this.

Thanks

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Specializes in PeriOp, ICU, PICU, NICU.
ooh :S

My question would be what exactly does the NLN test? Does it test on knowledge gathered over the course of the pre-nursing courses? Or is it simply a skills/aptitude test? I'm ready for any general aptitude test thrown at me, but shoot, it's been 15+ years since I had high school chemistry/biology/physics. Point being, I kinda vaguely looked over some test questions for our nursing program entry test (called NET I believe) and it seemed to me it had some science questions on it that I'm hoping my chemistry/micro classes will touch on. So I figured I would not WANT to attempt the NET til I've finished more of my pre-reqs.

J-9

No nursing skills in it. Just math, verbal and science skills.

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Specializes in PeriOp, ICU, PICU, NICU.
That stinks. The program I am applying too tells you outright to take the required tests first to see if you would even get in *before* you waste your time, energy and money on prereqs.

Where's the "holding the nose" icon?? PU!

Sounds like a fair and comprehensive college. I know in my heart that this has been implemented with "money" in mind. Since you don't have much choice around here (as far as nursing schools go) they will always have a full house of applicants.

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It would seem better to have students take the test (or at least a pre-test) beforehand to see if they qualify.

Sounds like they are trying to cash in on the federal aid money and tuition money.

Is this a fairly new school Jess?

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Specializes in Operating Room.

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I guess, think of it the other way around. If they were made to take the exam first & passed, there's always a chance they could fail their classes.

So either way, it is to weed out. Please don't get me wrong, I truely believe some of the students who fail the Nursing entrance exams could go on and be WONDERFUL nurses.

Maybe another school would benefit them more.

Overall, I don't think it's fair at all!!! I had to take the NET, and could take it whenever I wanted as long as it was before the application deadline.

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I don't think that not passing one test makes one unfit for nursing studies.

How many of us know folks in class who are getting A's but are terrible clinical nursing students?

It just bothers me that they make you take all your classes at this expensive school and THEN in one test, BAM!, your finished.

Even the NCLEX will let you test again in a shorter period of time and give you pre-test material to help you out.

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