BS or BSN

Nursing Students Excelsior

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Is a B.S in nursing the same as a B.S.N? I KNOW DUMB QUESTION... BUT THE SCHOOL IM CONSIDERING ATTENDING WORDS THINGS ALITTLE WEIRD... I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I AM EARniNG MY B.S.N, NOT JUST A B.S

Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
Ah, ok. I remembered the scandal, reputation, etc.....found something that I thought reflected that. But yes, I see it's not for the bridge program. OTOH, if there's something so "off" for this program from the school, might be cause for concern for other programs it has, no?

If you read the complaint it's because people did not comprehend the type of competency based program the bridge program is, and felt Ill prepared for the competency based clinical performance exam. The program graduates pass the NCLEX at similar rates to traditional programs. The RN to BSN/MSN programs are course based similar to most B&M programs. Excelsior has bee around for more than 40 years and is a CCNE accredited, NLN center of nursing education excellence for ASN BSN &'MSN. Not all program earn that distinction. Is the distance learning or competency based learning program appropriate for most people, probably not but it is a viable option for those who due to work or other commitments cannot sit in a classroom and are highly motivated independent learners.

I'd venture to say based on the thousands of people I've met over the years and hundreds that I've worked with or trained MOST are not motivated independent learners. But for the few that are, and do their research on their options, distance or online programs can be a godsend. I will definitely concur that the competency based bridge to ASN is NOT appropriate for most candidates.

As an aside, CABRN does not accept any distance/online based entry-to-practice nursing education program.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
They charge $459 per credit, and the RN-BSN program is 60-70 credits, plus fees.

Not far off from many east coast 4 year schools but defiantly not economical or necessarily the best deal. I know the rate per credit is significantly reduced for active duty military and some veterans.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.

If you choose the course option for every aspect of Excelsior's BSN program (general education and nursing component), your costs will be higher. I took every exam and optional (cheaper) courses offered, until I made it to the nursing component of the BSN. At that time (08/2013), I took 4 nursing courses for a little more than 6 grand total, and from January until now, my costs were under 6 grand for this year's 3 courses (currently in my last course).

Prior to August, those exams/courses taken were general education components and were anywhere from $70-$489, with one failed attempt on a nursing exam. All combined were no where near $30,000. Again though, if you choose the course option only, it will cost more and may very well reach $30 grand if you have to repeat a course and/or you have nothing to transfer in as far as credits. Good luck to you...

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Oncology, Epic CT.

I totally was expecting this thread to be something else...Lol

I read the title as "Bull----(you fill in the rest)" or BSN...Lol! Considering all the threads that have popped as of late about that debate.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, OR, ICU.
If you choose the course option for every aspect of Excelsior's BSN program (general education and nursing component), your costs will be higher. I took every exam and optional (cheaper) courses offered, until I made it to the nursing component of the BSN. At that time (08/2013), I took 4 nursing courses for a little more than 6 grand total, and from January until now, my costs were under 6 grand for this year's 3 courses (currently in my last course).

Prior to August, those exams/courses taken were general education components and were anywhere from $70-$489, with one failed attempt on a nursing exam. All combined were no where near $30,000. Again though, if you choose the course option only, it will cost more and may very well reach $30 grand if you have to repeat a course and/or you have nothing to transfer in as far as credits. Good luck to you...

Do they offer the test out option for the BSN like they do the ADN? Not ready for BSN program yet but looking into options.

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Specializes in Nurse Scientist-Research.
Do they offer the test out option for the BSN like they do the ADN? Not ready for BSN program yet but looking into options.

The RN to BSN program for EC is quite different from their ADN program. There are only two courses in the BSN nursing core courses that can be either as online courses or test out option. The tests are a much cheaper way to go. Also, EC can significantly decrease the cost of the BSN overall due to their generous acceptance of test for credit options such as CLEP, DANTES (DSST) or even their tests for credits (Ethics and several other courses). I obtained 6 college credits for a Humanities CLEP for $70 plus $10 transfer fee. That's really cheap people!

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Specializes in Nurse Scientist-Research.

"Is a B.S in nursing the same as a B.S.N? I KNOW DUMB QUESTION... BUT THE SCHOOL IM CONSIDERING ATTENDING WORDS THINGS ALITTLE WEIRD... I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I AM EARniNG MY B.S.N, NOT JUST A B.S"

I'm staring at my diploma issued mid-January from Excelsior. I didn't want to post a copy cause I like to keep a little privacy. It has my name, below; "Bachelor of Science", and below that "in Nursing". No one has questioned me about this being a BS versus a BSN. I think most people that matter don't make a distinction anyway as long as your major is Nursing. There is another thread on here somewhere discusses how some nursing bachelor programs are B.A.'s and this doesn't seem to have hampered those graduates in their job/career/scholarly pursuits.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.
Do they offer the test out option for the BSN like they do the ADN? Not ready for BSN program yet but looking into options.

in addition to what TiffyRN said, EC also offers quite a few cheaper, less popular exams for $95 that fill the same upper level credit requirements as their more expensive counterparts. I took a couple of those to complete my general education requirements, in addition to whatever CLEP course I could. I didn't spend the big bucks until absolutely necessary. ;)

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