College of Saint Mary — Attraction in Omaha

I have to admit. I didn’t vet this school prior to attending the LPN program. I just got in with little effort. And No TEAS required. To sum it up, it was a hazing experience, my opinion. In talking to other classmates, their primary reason for attending, excluding returning students, was because CSM doesn’t require TEAS. Please, just go take the TEAS and get on a waiting list elsewhere. This program has a lot of hoops and is ripe with control freaks. If you’re thinking of coming, all I can say is don’t. The completion rate is a failure (27-38%) for a reason. Let that be your best warning and save your time, effort, money and academic record. And while the school boasts about a 100% NCLEX pass rate, so do the other LPN programs in the region, except this school hasn’t always and doesn’t tell the entire story. MOST people passing failed out of the program (failing one class, means a mandatory repeat…the following year; not semester) the first time, then must wait nearly a year, if they come back at all, to return to complete the program (which isn’t the best in Omaha) and then sit for and pass NCLEX…2 years after initially enrolling a 1 year LPN program elsewhere. Graduation classes are made up of returning students, as the norm. Many of the people in my class were students that failed the LPN program the prior year, and were returning (set up to make you feel as though you have no other option) or they left or failed out of the BSN program and dropped down to the LPN program…prior experience…and still struggle), teaching is ineffective and testing is worse (not enough time, a deliberate attempt to cram everything into a single exam and poorly written…plus, you can’t use a back button to change an answer…and more) they dominate your time, the staff is not diverse, there are only, literally, a few inexperienced NEW first time teaching instructors, MUCH of the grading is subjective, clinicals we’re primarily about how complete a single report sheet was filled in, not patient care, the school needs professional test writers, labs are barely used, student concerns are dismissed or ignored and the costs, financially, are burdensome. And you risk financial aid. Students are afraid of speaking up out loud. As you can tell, there’s no way I’d come back. Don’t do it. Go elsewhere, MCC (the best school), Lincoln,...

This school is more than just a school. The support from the faculty is unparalleled especially for me as a single mother. I graduated the LPN program here in May 2023 and love the campus so much I decided to stay to further my education. What I will say about the nursing program is that while it can be incredibly challenging, there is a reason for that. Everything from the assignments, the exams, to the clinical paperwork set me up for success not only on my NCLEX, but in my practice as a nurse. You don’t want to be learning the important interventions and contraindications for the first time when you’re out in the field especially if you are involved in direct patient bedside care. I couldn’t ask for a better education. This campus makes a point to educate students on diversity and prepares them to serve people from all walks of life. The only thing I would like to see different is awards and scholarships for mothers on campus who may not be able to participate in as many...

This school seems to have great academic programs. But I will say that it is not a very welcoming campus. As a transfer sophomore student, I have gone to many of the events to meet people but people are not welcoming. Many- not all- of the girls are rude and it's like no one knows the decency of a polite conversation. I will be staying at this school because of my program but the people here are stuck up, rude, and the school lacks helping new students fit in unless you are on a sports team. Screw people who are just here for academics I guess. Because they aren't going to have events that people can go to to meet people on their floor or who live on campus. Let's just say it is a very lonely campus and while I enjoy my classes, the people are stuck up and do not appear to...