Are all Excelsior Grads "Super Smart" ?

Tammy,

I LOVE your kickin' attitude. You describe some of us to a T. Not elitist at all, just not going to accept "no you can't" for an answer. Yes we can because we work smarter, never stop learning, are disciplined to the max when it is important and cool enough to not sweat the silly stuff.

Maureen F., RN, BS

This thread makes me chuckle. After many years in all kinds of schools I can only say that everybody can be a rocket scientist if that's what floats your boat. Excelsior students are ALL types and enrolled in that special type of program for 1 reason (if it's the nursing program): because they can. They only accept those with a healthcare background meaning you've seen & helped patients in certain career fields (although I take some issue with which fields they accept). You just have to want it bad enough to turn off the t.v. and study. The material isn't complicated but it's voluminous. Just to give you an example...I off & on studied for 1 exam almost a year (what a laugh)...got mad at my boss one summer and took & passed 4 exams in a week. Failed 1 b/c I was biting off more than I could chew out of anger...studied again for 2 months and passed it with an "A". So it really, really depends on YOU. It's as hard as YOU want to make it. I'm waiting on my CPNE now, should have taken it a year ago but it wasn't a pressing thing for me. The CPNE is the kicker, not the nursing exams. If you're an LPN start getting the CPNE skills down now while you are testing. The testing could, theoretically, be over in a month or so. There is a long wait for the CPNE...up to 6-8 months.

On the other hand nobody has brought this up but just do it and see. Yes, it costs some money but you could enroll in two programs at the same time and if you finish Excelsior's first then just drop out of the ADN program whereever your at. That is of course if you can afford it. Nevertheless, it's an option.

I graduate Oct. 16th from EC and highly recommend it. I went because (a) I didn't want to retake a&p and micro because I was over the 5 year limit, (b) because I could do it at my own pace and still work full-time and (c) complete the program in less than 2 years. I did not complete it in less than 2 years, my own fault, plus the wait time for the CPNE, however, I loved it, it worked for me, and am thinking seriously of going back for my BSN.