Nursing students sue Excelsior College

Nursing Students Excelsior

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

There is so much misinformation as part of this suit. I participated in the NCSBN survey in 2010 - I don't recall the outcome demonstrating incompetence in EC grads. Also, the CPNE pass rate is disclosed in the EC catalog, and has been for years. Claiming that the information about the CPNE is hidden until the end simply isn't true. Some people just don't bother to learn about it.

Honestly, the sad truth is that EC will likely settle out of court to avoid spending so much on litigation, and it's ultimately going to make the program more expensive for future students.

I am not sure that "recent global news" is a credible news site; looks more like a paid press release by the law firm.

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There is so much misinformation as part of this suit. I participated in the NCSBN survey in 2010 - I don't recall the outcome demonstrating incompetence in EC grads. Also, the CPNE pass rate is disclosed in the EC catalog, and has been for years. Claiming that the information about the CPNE is hidden until the end simply isn't true. Some people just don't bother to learn about it.

Honestly, the sad truth is that EC will likely settle out of court to avoid spending so much on litigation, and it's ultimately going to make the program more expensive for future students.

I am not sure that "recent global news" is a credible news site; looks more like a paid press release by the law firm.

Definitely not a credible source.

With that said, you are misinterpreting what they're saying in the release. Now I'm not saying that all the information in the "story" is true or factual. What I am saying is that they're talking in legal terms, like lawyers do, and you're reading in normal human being terms, like a normal human being.

They're not saying Excelsior didn't disclose a pass rate, they're saying Excelsior released conflicting, and possibly fraudulent pass rates. They're also alleging Excelsior stands to gain increased revenues by maintaining a high failure rate.

They're also alleging that Excelsior doesn't fully disclose the details of the CPNE until a student is far along in the program and they've got EC dead to rights on that one. Information about the CPNE isn't hidden as it's commonly available from former test takers and third party educational providers. Their allegation basically centers around the fact that EC doesn't release all the details until you're CPNE eligible. Case in point, EC considers it a violation of the Academic Honesty policy to give the CPNE study guide to a student that isn't CPNE eligible and EC doesn't give students the study guide materials until they've completed every component of the nursing program. Now the key question is, is that a fraudulent or deceptive practice. That's one of the big questions up the court to answer. I do think EC is going to have an uphill battle defending that practice.

I do agree about EC settling and passing the costs on to other students. Class action lawsuits are EXPENSIVE, very, very EXPENSIVE. Much more expensive than just a lawsuit from a single entity. When you get multiple law firms involved, it gets astronomical.

Here's what's jumping out at me...

a) Any information regarding the test until all of the mini?courses were completed, consumers have spent thousands of dollars, and it was time to take the CPNE. At that time, Plaintiffs received information about the test.

That's true.

b) The extent of EC's involvement in designing, administering and manipulating the test, and EC's pecuniary interest and stakes in the result of the test;

Not sure about this one, but the fact that EC doesn't include any mandatory preparation course prior to the CPNE is going to hurt them. Especially when they have optional workshops for $300 dollars after you become CPNE eligible.

e) That the test, as administered, does not insure a fair and objective assessment” of the consumer's knowledge and skill;

The exam is subjective. Good luck fighting the "fair" assertion. I personally think that's B.S. but juries love that word.

f) That the test is subjective and is susceptible to arbitrary application. As a result, consumers are allowed to pass when they should not and are not permitted to pass when they should;

That's going to be a tough one to prove. What are they gonna do, bring in various EC graduates to demonstrate their competence in front of a jury? Good luck with that.

k) That due to the subjective nature of the CPNE, students find themselves required to take workshops, which provide the supervised, clinical instruction, which the EC program lacks; and

This is true. Attendance of a third party workshop is not required, but EC has spawned a small cottage industry by failing to provide adequate instruction themselves, which is going to hurt EC in this case, badly.

l) That due to the nature of the exam, some consumers would inherently face different scenarios than other consumers, and that the examiners,the equipment and the test criteria have varied, and do vary, from site to site.

They got EC dead to rights on that one.

I think EC has some problems they're going to have to address. If the head honchos at EC are smart they'll revamp this thing to be a more objective test, immune from lawyers and lawsuits. I have several ideas on how this could be done relatively easily but if EC wants those, they're going to have to pay me for them. :-)

And those are just some of my thoughts on this.

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

Have you ever looked at the CPNE skills summary that is posted on their CPNE page? Definitely not hidden. Excelsior College | CPNE® - look at the "CPNE summary." You really don't have to go looking around the internet for information to get a sense of it.

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Specializes in Outpatient/Clinic, ClinDoc.

I did excelsior(regents) back in the stone age when they sent information via snail mail (no internet) and even *I* knew there was a big nasty clinical test at the end and I'd have to study myself for it. There's NO excuse these days. :p

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Specializes in Emergency.

That would be lovely! But what hospital would step forward to take the reins? I have gotten the idea from conversations here that all state nursing boards have made their decisions but in the current state of budget cutting, wouldn't hospitals and care facilities benefit greatly from another source of Nurse Techs?

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My first encounter with EC (Regents) was in 1977, and even then, I knew about the big test at the end. They never hid anything about it. The manual is not provided to students until they are ready to test because it is constantly revised. If one can get it at the beginning and then they take the maximum amount of time in the program, it could be revised five or six times before the actual test date. No conspiracy there.

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I am also an enrolled Excelsior student LPN-ADN. I will hopefully be taking the CPNE in the fall and I really hope that I pass. I was well aware of the 6/10 CPNE pass rate and only getting 3 tries before signing up. Excelsior is up front about the cost of the program and they even have a tuition calculator. I live in a rural area and there are only a couple of full-time only RN programs with 2-3 year waiting lists which is why I chose Excelsior, so I could start right away while working full-time as an LPN. Excelsior is the only option for a lot of people who work full-time and/or have children. I also think what many of the critics to the college forget is that this program is designed for healthcare professionals to continue their RN degree and not designed for people with no clinical skills. I am sure there are some people who have to take the CPNE 2-3 times before they pass, whether it is just nerves or bad luck. Hopefully they do pass all qualified nurses by the third attempt but like all nursing schools, not everyone is going to pass. I do hope they are honest and fair with their program. Maybe as a result of this lawsuit and the california issues they will amend their program for the better. I know Indiana State University has a new LPN-RN/BSN Program where you set up clinicals within your own community. At the time I enrolled in Excelsior my state was not accepting the ISU program but they are now. Maybe in the future Excelsior would move towards something more like that or a longer CPNE experience than 1 weekend pass/fail (although at all nursing schools clinical are pass/fail and if you fail clinical you are out).

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Specializes in nursing education.

I did Excelsior (Regents) in 1992. We all knew about the big CPNE at the end. I got the study guide snail mailed to me when it was time. I basically memorized the thing! Had to go to California for my weekend - there weren't any sites in Texas then- passed it all on the first try.. Not saying to brag. Just that I studied very hard for it.

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Specializes in nursing education.
Sorry to threadcrap, but I did long beach also!! :) august 1989. =) We're part of the 'licensed in CA excelsior grad' crowd. :) We had 12 in our group, pretty sure everyone passed but two - and I remember those either didn't have or didn't read the light blue book. :)

Me too! Long Beach 1994! I think I burned my study guide too!! That was a very difficult weekend..,

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@BSNbeDONE would you be more specific on how you mapped out your plan? I signed up for the self study, got the book and syllabus and in still on ch 2 because I need to sit in the class room. I want to do what you did, take pre reqs at the CC and classes at EC. 1. How many classes did you take at once @ the CC? 2. How many classes did you take at EC simultaneously? 3. What did financial aid cover? What did you pay out of pocket? 5. How long did this all take from start to finish. 6. How long did you study per day and week. Thanks for your help or the help of someone who has done the same. I'm an LPN who went to ITT last yr took all pre reqs and couldn't commute to clinical studies due to child care so in starting over and none of the credits transfer. Help please!

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Recent RN grad and on to MSN with Excelsior.... I am happy with the program and feel that although it was difficult and the wait for CPNE was a bit long. I got finished in a year and 5 months. the 5 months was the wait for CPNE.... Just sayin. As far as states that don't except Excelsior grads...., have not had one travel company that has a problem with Excelsior. They are accredited and they should be, because its no picnic to get through this schools program and especially the requirements for CPNE. I would love to see a brick & mortar graduate from any school pass that gauntlet! I feel proud and passed NCLEX 2 weeks after graduating. Proof in the pudding! Good luck future Excelsior students. This can be done!:roflmao:

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