Has any one graduated from the excelsior LPN to RN program?

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Apr 1, 2014

Look in the Excelsior College forum there are many successful graduates

applesxoranges, BSN, RN · Apr 1, 2014

I would also be aware that some states will not accept you as an RN if your initial RN training was through Excelsior. The only one I can think of is California that has that issue. They did used to accept Excelsior graduates but they no longer do if the training was started after 200x. I think 2006 or 2009. If you do the RN to BSN, they have no issue, it's just the initial RN training.

beckyboo1, BSN, RN · Apr 1, 2014

There has also been a lawsuit against Excelsior that I read in an article recently about the clinical competency test.

Nursing students sue Excelsior College

ChrisRicci · Apr 2, 2014

The lawsuit is bogus - the nursing handbook spells out everything listed in the complaint. That said, I am awaiting my clinical exam and have passed all the challenge exams without problems and I would recommend the program. Go to the colleges tab above and click on the Excelsior college link. There are MANY, many satisfied students and several thousands of graduates from the program. But it's not for everyone - you have to be motivated.

beckyboo1, BSN, RN · Apr 3, 2014

Ok, I personally know someone that dropped a pen on the floor and picked it up and was flunked. Was that spelled out in the handbook? Sorry, have seen too many competent nurses fail for bogus reasons.

TiffyRN, BSN, PhD · Apr 3, 2014

Ok, I personally know someone that dropped a pen on the floor and picked it up and was flunked. Was that spelled out in the handbook? Sorry, have seen too many competent nurses fail for bogus reasons.

You know what that reminds me of? Last night on American Idol one of the contestants told the story of how she got a traffic ticket for "eating an ice cream cone". I haven't personally read all the Alabama traffic codes; but I guarantee there is no written prohibition of ice cream cones. Perhaps though, her driving was distracted or unsafe and that will be the offense cited on the ticket.

I feel this is what happens with many students in the CPNE. Yes, some of the standards they have are a little ridiculous, but with any kind of decent prep (I would highly recommend a formal review course) most adequately prepared students will pass.

I did not attend EC's ADN program. I did however attend their BSN program and 90+% of my classmates were EC ADN graduates. Most in the last few years. Though I didn't personally meet all these people, I have interacted in classes with dozens of recent EC graduates. I work with 2 such nurses, one has progressed through to Nurse Practitioner at one of our respected State Universities.

California did take issue with EC's lack of concurrent clinicals with coursework but even in their case, they grandfathered in previous graduates. For example, my friends who graduated years ago from EC could get licensed in CA. They are only enforcing this for those that enrolled after 2003.

Do be aware of States that have restrictions (usually require a preceptorship or # of hours worked in another State to endorse into them).

Excelsior College | State Board Requirements

Nalon1 RN/EMT-P, BSN, RN · Apr 3, 2014

Ok, I personally know someone that dropped a pen on the floor and picked it up and was flunked. Was that spelled out in the handbook? Sorry, have seen too many competent nurses fail for bogus reasons.

If you take any object off the floor and then come into contact with the patient with said object or anything that touched the object (ie your hands) without it being cleaned first, then yes, that is an automatic failure for causing physical jeopardy (not following aseptic technique/cross contamination).

It is spelled out in the Overriding Areas of Care (Asepsis, caring, Emotional and physical jeopardy and mobility)

Would you as a patient like it if your nurse picked up something off the ground and used it on you?

Is it extreme, some may say so, but that is how the rules are written. Not "bogus" at all.

If you drop a pen, pick it up (with a newly gloved hand), clean it with a aseptic wipe, set it on a "clean" area, take off your glove, wash your hands and then continue, that is fine (just make sure you turn the water off with a clean dry paper towel).

Many actually recommend carrying several pens in case this does happen.

NC Girl BSN · Apr 4, 2014

She definitely did a few other things that weekend to fail. But I guess that's her story and she is sticking it. They do not send you home for one mistake. She made several I'm sure. I passed the CPNE in 09 and it was stressfully but I was prepared.

pookyp, LPN · Apr 9, 2014

People pass every weekend. I'm in the CPNE beast group on facebook.

dorrybnursing · Apr 9, 2014

She definitely did a few other things that weekend to fail. But I guess that's her story and she is sticking it. They do not send you home for one mistake. She made several I'm sure. I passed the CPNE in 09 and it was stressfully but I was prepared.

That's correct. That might have been the final mistake that sent this student home, but it was not the only mistake. I passed in February with a couple of mistakes.

mdcdlt123 · Jun 9, 2014

I really liked the article about the nursing students sue the college. I took all my classes and got to the clincial competencies test and went down hill from there. Wrote letters but to no avail was unsuccessful. Just devastating!! Any suggestions?? I am still pursuing my RN. :-)