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I've been an LPN for 2 years now and also work agency with General Healthcare Resources. I want to get my RN but my husband is in school also for his RN :bugeyes: so I have little choice but to do it online if I'm going to do it at all. I went to EC's website and created my EC account. Now what do I do :confused:? How do I know what and how many classes/courses I must take to get my degree? Do I have to pay the $75 fee to apply just to find out if I have to take too many courses? I took a lot of prerequisites at local community college for the RN already.

Also, I cannot find out on my state board of nursing (PA) if they even accept EC degrees- do you know if they do?? I don't want to get into anything I cannot get out of (ie: TCN). Thanks

Kelly

hi, i just enrolled in excelsior just wanted to get some feeback on the nursing program i've been a medic for 5 years time for a change, also where would i purchace books? i know there is a exam fee, what happens if i fail a exam, would i have to pay that price again?

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

You can buy the books anywhere -- I bought some of mine used on Amazon.com for very little money. Yes, if you fail an exam, you must pay for the re-test.

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Specializes in Peds, LGBT, Allergy/Immunology.
hi, i just enrolled in excelsior just wanted to get some feeback on the nursing program i've been a medic for 5 years time for a change, also where would i purchace books? i know there is a exam fee, what happens if i fail a exam, would i have to pay that price again?

Another thing I found that was actually cheaper was to buy ebooks. I bought a Nook and it really saves money and space with all those textbooks. Some of the books on the excelsior bookstore website are ebooks, but i found another site that has almost all of the books as etextbooks: www.digitaltextbooks.com check it out! I hope this helps!:up:

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Specializes in Peds, LGBT, Allergy/Immunology.
Hi Lunah...you seem to know alot about Excelsior...I'm an LPN about to enroll. I only have to take a&p, micro and info lit along with the nursing portion. You mentioned in another post how you only have to enroll before your third test, did I understand you correctly? Does that mean I can take a&p and micro before enrolling or can I take all the gen ed courses and the first two nursing tests before enrolling? I only ask because I'm about to go on maternity leave and my husband just got laid off so I really can't afford the $875 enrollment fee right now. Any info you could sgare would be great. Thanks.

Hi, did you finish the program yet? Those were the only classes I needed as well. Do you have any tips on how to finish quickly?

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JULESLPN 08 I thank you and I thank LUNA RN for all of your positive remarks an info, al of my questions have been asked and I am going to get my trascripts sent to EC on Monday. One ques. remains .....if i went to a vocational (nonaccred.) LPN school Can I clep the A+P and Micro?question.png

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Can I do EC if I do not have an LPN?

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Specializes in Peds, LGBT, Allergy/Immunology.
Can I do EC if I do not have an LPN?

Check out their website. If you have another health related field training you are eligible. Otherwise, you may have to look elsewhere. Good luck!

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
Can I do EC if I do not have an LPN?

https://www.excelsior.edu/Excelsior_College/School_Of_Nursing/School_of_Nursing_Admission_Policy -- there is the admission policy. In general, you have to be licensed or certified as some sort of healthcare provider already, or have completed a certain portion of a nursing program. Most of the students I know are LPNs/LVNs, paramedics, RTs, or military corpsmen.

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Thank you for the information. I have two degrees in social services. I checked the policy and I do not qualify in any of the areas they have listed. :cool:

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I graduated from EC in 2008.

Lunah RN congrats on your graduation from EC!! I also see that you were a PM for 7 years prior?? I'm in that same boat now and would like a little advise. I am currently accepted into a regular "brick and mortar" school (as they say) and scheduled to start their online program in January 2011. The class work is on line with only 1-2 clinical days a week. I currently work as a FF/PM and have been a PM for 6 years. It would be difficult for me to constantly get time swaps for the clinical's (when it falls on my shift) and I've heard the instructors in nursing school take attendance very seriously!! Did you feel EC was a good program that prepared you for nursing position adequately? I feel as though I do well with self discipline and motivation to get the classes done but wanted to get your take on the program. Thanks for any advise or help you can offer:)))

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

I also worked as a tech in an ER, so much of what I learned about nursing, I learned from my RN coworkers there. Clinically, EC doesn't prepare you for being a nurse -- EC will only ensure during a clinical exam weekend that you're prepared at the level of a first-day new grad. But being a medic (which I still am! :)) did enhance my capabilities as an ED RN, and vice versa.

I loved EC, but if I'd had another alternative, I would have taken it. There is a whole bunch of a baggage attached to being an EC grad, and not all states accept the degree: https://www.excelsior.edu/Excelsior_College/School_Of_Nursing/Accreditation_and_Licensure/State_Board_Requirements. If you're in a traditional program now, I'd stick with it! Fewer hassles afterwards.

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Thank you so much for the input. I have checked with the FBON and they do accept EC for direct liscensure. What other issues where you referring to as in down the road? BSN? I'm actually just looking to do nursing perdeum until I retire the fire department (11 more years) then look to do travel nursing! I feel as though , eventhough more structured, either option is a fully online program regarding the academics ( my "regular " program is also full on line except for clinicals weekly )! I guess it's just hard decision to make when there is an easy way out through EC. And by no means do I mean it's and easy program just would be easier for scheduling! Thanks again for you input it really does help:) :clown::confused:

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