LPN to RN

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Feb 24, 2013

Moved to Excelsior College forum. First, ensure that this program is acceptable to your state board of nursing. Next check out the article from Lunah RN now a sticky under FAQs for this forum for an abundance of info on this program.

gbassett215 · Feb 24, 2013

Thank you!

NotMyProblem MSN, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN · Feb 24, 2013

2010 EC grad here!!!!! The way to go!!!!! As flexible as you need; as fast as your heart's desire!!!!!! Love it!!!!!

em1025 · Feb 25, 2013

Hello I am a new grad and just got my first job starting in a few weeks. I was wondering if anybody had any opinions/advice/suggestions about the online Excelsior program? I don't think I would have time to do an in-class program and don't want to do deal with the hassle of rearranging a work schedule at a new job?

I was looking into this as well, I'm from Oklahoma so I hope I can do this.... Good luck

gbassett215 · Feb 25, 2013

2010 EC grad here!!!!! The way to go!!!!! As flexible as you need; as fast as your heart's desire!!!!!! Love it!!!!!

How was the clinical at the end?? That's the only thing that is scaring me!

libran1984, ASN, RN · Feb 25, 2013

I would strongly try to dissuade you from Excelsior.

I will start off the bat with, "I never did the LPN to RN excelsior program".... HOWEVER!!

There are 4 nurses I work with and only one of the four had anything nice to say about the program. So let's talk about it this way....

Nurse #1 says, "I loved the excelsior program. It was expensive but I studied at my own pace and completed the entire program in just under two years. It really allowed me time with my kids."

Nurse #2 says, "I passed my first time around. It was too expensive, and in a lot of ways really seemed to rip you off. Like the only reason I think I passed clinicals was because I took the $1,500 training course prior to clinicals. Most of my clinical group didn't pass and were sent home before the weekend was up. One guy retook a blood pressure without waiting a full two minutes and thus, according to Excelsior, caused patient harm. The patient was just fine, but they say it is patient harm if you don't wait a full two minutes before attempting a second blood pressure in the same arm as a failed blood pressure. I'd recommend you try a different program."

Nurse #3 says, "I was an LPN for 11 years! I thought I would never be an RN. I finally made it to clinicals and was sent home because when I auscultated breath sounds I went up and down instead of Left to Right. It was a very simple mistake, but they're so strict. I was ready to give up. it was $4,000 down the drain in just one day of clinicals and I had to drive all the way back home to Indiana crying. I finally got the nerve to try clinicals again a few months later and only passed by the grace of God. The only nice thing I have to say about Excelsior is that their tests were so hard and so much like NCLEX that when I finally sat for the NCLEX-RN, it was a breeze. If I were you, just go back to school at a normal program. If you have to, just apply to a straight RN program and retake all those fundamentals, Pharm, and whatever else. Excelsior isn't worth it."

Nurse #4 says, "I was an LPN for almost 20 years. I gave so much money to that damn program and have never felt so little in my entire life. I failed clinicals twice. I quit my job at the hospital because i couldn't look any of the other RNs around me in the eye, thinking they thought less of me because i couldn't pass my clinicals. Finally, on the third time, I had taken their expensive prep course and was determined to pass. It was my last chance. I flicked an insulin syringe for an air bubble and a drop of insulin fell from the syringe and on to the table. The instructor looked at it and then at me. She tapped her finger next to the small fleck of insulin and tsk'd me! They say that by losing a drop of insulin like that is changing the dose and thus endangering the patient. I know I must have turned beat red and I got right up into the instructor's face and i let her have it. I said, 'You WILL NOT fail me over thissss!!' I pounded the table and then wiped the drop off. Right as Rain my clinical weekend was over and I able to sit for boards."

NotMyProblem MSN, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN · Feb 26, 2013

How was the clinical at the end?? That's the only thing that is scaring me!

The clinical went EXACTLY as spelled out in the CPNE study guide. If you are not nervous with someone watching over you and are able to keep your focus on what you're assigned to do, you are guaranteed to pass. Don't let those who have never done this or any other program dissuade you. Those individuals are only referencing hear-say. This and any program will be what you make of it. Yes, I had over 20 years of LPN experience and yes, I did the program in under a year, and yes, I passed the CPNE and the NCLEX on the first attempt. But no, your LPN experience will NOT help you get through the program or pass the CPNE. What WILL help is the ability to understand and apply concepts and follow simple directions. Let me make one little clarification: being an LPN did help with the CPNE in that as a nurse already, I was MORE than comfortable with people watching my every move. Patients' families do it all the time. Self-study is not for everyone.....only those that are highly motivated and very well self-disciplined.....hence, the self-study. If someone says Excelsior College was too easy, it gets attacked as being not a valid nursing education. If someone says it's too hard, EC is labeled as a rip-off. I heard both sides prior to enrolling and decided no one paying for this EXCEPT me and I knew I was prepared to do whatever to get my degree; only, I felt, for me, sitting in a college classroom was not an option for a working adult of my age. So, I went for it, gave it my best shot, and it worked for me. As far as the CPNE, a silly mistake does not cause you to fail the CPNE. A number of things had gone wrong over the 3-day weekend if a person failed and poor preparation is one of them and although my preparation for the weekend cost me $500, there is an online 'friend' of mine who studied nothing BUT the CPNE study guide, practice according to the guide, and passed. Obviously, her confidence level was much higher than mine even with my years of LPN experience and she was a Respiratory Therapist. Judge for yourself. Every institution in this country has its share of passes and failures and it all boils down to preparation.

Good luck to you! Much success!!!