Why FCCJ over SJRCC?

misswhitney · Dec 16, 2008

Last I checked, SJRCC's was not even accredited. FCCJ has a higher NCLEX-RN pass rate than I think all of the other local nursing schools, and they let more students in each semester. With FCCJ, you get the opportunity to go to more hospitals. You can go to Shands, St. Vincent's, Wolfson's, Baptist (downtown, beaches, Nassau, and I think south as well), I think they are trying St. Lukes, Orange Park, and Memorial, which gives you a better chance to figure out what hospital you want to work for, and kinda get your foot in the door. FCCJ has a night and weekend program, as well as a day track program. I looked at my friend's schedule who got into SJRCC's and they are kinda the same as far as first term goes. Only thing different is that I think they take their tests online. SJRCC requires that you wear their 'polo uniform' every day to class as well, whereas you can where whatever you want most days at FCCJ, aside from clinicals. And I like our scrubs better as well.

I love love love FCCJ. It is unorganized, but we are like a huge family. Most of the other students help each other out, even if they do not know them. I feel comfortable with their program and I don't mind driving a ways to get to the campus. I feel as if I am going to be well prepared to be a nurse.

ChibiZoe · Dec 22, 2008

I've heard many more good things about FCCJ's nursing program than SJRCC (and about the school in general). Even a SJRCC nursing graduate recommended to me that if I hadn't started already, I should go to FCCJ. And I admit, I really do want to go there, and if I was half way in between schools (or even leaning closer to SJRCC) I'd want to go to FCCJ. But it's really hard when St. John's is literally 3 miles from my house, and my car is wonderful but old and I'd be constantly worrying about it breaking down and me having no way to get to school (if I had to, I could always ride my bike to St. John's).

But hey, if I could find someone in my area who'd be interested in carpooling with me to FCCJ and our schedules were close time-wise, I'd wanna do that. =D

ebonybrn · Dec 24, 2008

I have read some of the comments posted here..my best advice is too do your own research and come up with your pro's and con's...let me first say that I for one have taken all my prereq's at SJRCC and I personally know a few nurses that graduated from SJRCC and they was very happy with the program...from my experience the only negative was that they only accept 36 students in orange park, palatka campus is about 48 i believe...Yes they are accredited you can check with the BON..but I applied 3 times and couldnt get in...they dont have enough available seats as where FCCJ accepts 100+ students...just to let you know I moved to Orlando and going to school here, I'm in my last semester graduate in May 2009:yeah:

misswhitney · Dec 24, 2008

My friend is in the program at St. John's now and I know a few that graduated as well and they all said they wish they could have done FCCJ's if given the chance.

I checked into the accreditation aspect because my instructor told me that last semester (she does all of her rotations at Orange Park) and they are in fact not accredited... The school itself is, but the program is not. It is approved by the Florida Board of Nursing, but because it is not accredited, it makes it that much harder to bridge to get your BSN, though I think UNF accepts it. It can also be harder to get a job. I live closer to SJRCC and it would be much more easier on me to go to SJRCC. SJRCC's program is 5 semesters and FCCJ's is only 4, which makes it easier for me to get out into the workforce and not have to worry about a sitter as much. =) But I would do as the above statement said and look into both before you make the decision. It may come down to which one you can get into.:heartbeat

justbreathesrw28 · Dec 26, 2008

I graduated from SJRCC and am now working for Mayo Clinic. My grades were good, the test were hard and the clinical experiences were great. I feel the only thing that was lacking was pharm class. When I was in the program it was an online class, but since then they have changed it to classroom. The school is working hard to "toughen" up the classes and improve the pass rate. Our class of 28 had 25 pass the boards the 1st time which is pretty good. As far as the accrediation goes I'm not sure, but one of our students is doing a BSN bridge at FSU, another one at UCF, and I'm at UNF so it must not be to hard to bridge. I do think there are pro's and con's to each and every program you just have to weigh them out for yourself. Good luck.:redbeathe

riina · Mar 17, 2009

Hello

I had lots of problems with SJRCC. Most teacher's are nice however, but discrimination is wide. Nursing students are not treated fairly. There have been problems with whole classes failing and teacher was fired. However that was not done until someone showed up with a lawyer and went over the heads of the nursing office. Clinicals are full and most of the teachers do not explain or lecture with an exceptions of the few. I am not posting anything I did not feel on my skin. My religion was picked on and one teacher made a great effort to make off color comments to me and flat out insults. She tried to have me fail my clinicals also not only the class. There was a instructor who tried to get a job over there and the first question she was asked was " if she would fail a student. " When she replied that she would help the student in every way possible they asked again. Would you fail a student? They apparently have a quota to how many need to fail. They pick on some students to the point of nervous break down to make them fail , because they know they cant afford a lawyer. The nursing school Deans assistant has no problem being rude or hanging up on you. Lady in a school had a complete utter nervous breakdown because of one particular teacher. They had a student that showed up drunk in clinicals and nothing was done to him. I saw him drunk. The same person is in a graduating class. There is a strict code of uniform that you need to stick to, but some don't , even though it is a grounds for dismissal. I was attacked buy another student and the person was not disciplined. I know a student in my class that was failing and she had grade changed on her final. The teacher sat in a classroom and erased and helped her pick right answers. School has been threatened with a law suit 3-4 times. Grades are not calculated right most of the time and no action is taken. They used to do a CAP test and now it is hesi to find out what they need to teach you. However they will only give credit for it if you achieve 75% on your tests same goes for homework. It is like Las Vegas. You basically gamble on not your ability to learn , but if the teacher likes you. The homework is overwhelming and they said in my first semester they are not allowed to give credit for it. So most teachers don't give it. The ones that do have you waste about 8 hours a night writing them up. Next day you usually have a test on something that has nothing to do with work you completed. Every sentence on some of them ends with a threat. There are only 3 good teachers in that school. Rest should be dismissed. It comes down to civil rights. I can count 4 classes they had to change and start rounding up grades to avoid confrontations with the main deans office with the school. In one semester I saw a whole class march to Head Deans office that is above nursing school because the whole class was failing. Teacher was removed , but no other action was taken. I know from hearing it from a person face to face that a teacher threatened them when they were reapplying for the program . That was the teacher that failed the student. She was making sure that the student understood that she was the only one teaching the class and basically even if she gets back inn, she will finish her off. Grades were changed every semester while I was in that school and everyone new about it. People were taking prescription meds to get through the program. If anyone thinks what I am saying is a slander they are wrong. I lived it.

So anyone who wants to have a good experience in nursing school I suggest not to apply at SJRCC. They don't teach. There are 2 teacher's who actually lecture rest of them are basically waste of money. They keep saying nursing is hard. It is not hard. They need their heads examined. They know students will swallow a lot of Kaka to get through the program. So they have just gotten extremely bold. :down:

Somebody is going to come with a class action law suit one day. :yeah: :smokin:

PS! I want a lot of new nurses out there to make health care profession change, but to do that we need to start holding the ones that are teaching responsible for their actions. :bluecry1: :banghead: :cry: :nurse:

jhsRN · Mar 18, 2009

When did you attend? I am now leaning more towards FCCJ. Thanks for the feedback.

riina · Mar 18, 2009

It has been awhile, but I will never forget the treatment I got. Nurses eat their young is not just a saying. My experience might be totally different from the experience you will have. If you do go to SJRCC make sure you document everything on your calendar. In case you run in to problems that is considered admissible in court. Actually in nursing profession you need to document all. It is 75% of your skill. I can only reflect on what happened to me, but I do believe in my heart of hearts that I am responsible for someones extreme unhappiness if I withhold what I went through. :twocents: http://stanford.wellsphere.com/nursing-article/lateral-violence-in-nursing-school/258207 Penny for your thoughts!

jhsRN · Mar 18, 2009

Thanks, maybe that teacher is no longer there

riina · Mar 18, 2009

I really like your outlook on life. I think you really need to decide for yourself. Information is out there. Analyze what is best for you.:bowingpurAre you prepared?

ellas · Mar 20, 2009

Riina- Which campus did you attend at SJRCC? I've heard a lot of negative remarks about SJRCC - from the student selection process to the treatment of the instructors. I have not gone there ,all this is just here say.