[ColoLPNStudent]

Be very careful before you sign up for the Excelsior program if you plan on working in a major metropolitan hospital or even a larger hospital in a rural area.
I know of two people here in Colorado that have had problems with their Excelsior education. One spent over $5,000, passed the Colorado NCLEX and has found that major hospitals will not hire her because of the lack of additional clinical hours and real-time instruction. The second stopped taking the course after spending more than $3,000 after finding out the same information.

I signed up last April and immediately after had the RN that had taught my CNA class the year before tell me that many hospitals have problems with these types of degrees. I had already bought a bunch of books, but basically left it where it stood thinking I could always get my money back. Boy was I wrong.

I was using the istudysmart.com system to get some of the classes out of the way for Excelsior and when I wanted to get a refund, I was shocked at what I heard. If you do not request a refund within 3 days of signing up, you're out of luck. No refunds period. Am I glad I only spent $800 plus another $200 on books.

So...my advice is to try and get into the second year of an ADN program at a community college if you're an LPN (which in most states has a very small waiting list as compared to entering into it in the first year). If you're a CMA, Paramedic or whatever Excelsior currently says qualifies you for the RN-ADN program, do what it takes to get into a real-time, nursing school. I have heard three stories besides my own now and would council anyone seeking to become a nurse to seek other options than online programs. It may take me longer, but it will be better in the long run.

[hippienurse]

I agree.

I cannot believe people are allowed to learn nursing online, it just doesn't seem right to me. (Sorry if this upsets anyone, it is just my opinion)

[Dream_Nurse2b]

I don't agree with the above statement. People who get their degrees online are just as good if not better than people who learn in a traditional way. As for the lack of clinical experience, well EC requires everyone to take the CPNE. Which I gather is very hard, because according to EC, 40% of people who try fail the first time. And please remember that EC is not really made for people fresh out of school, it is made for people that have been in the medical profession for a while and want to move up . These people have clinical experience from school, as well as on the job experience that you can't get anywhere else. I would never reccomend going back to a school based ADN program after becomming an LPN. That is simply because it will without a doubt take you almost two full years of school to complete. With EC you can move through your courses quickly, and you do have to know what you are doing in order to pass their course or exams. If employers have a problem with it well I just think they are stupid, they need to go through the program themselves to see how rough it is. Hospitals in my state don't have a problem with EC at all.

I am just about to start my LPN program, but I plan on getting my ADN, about six months after I become an LPN. I am ging to do all of my pre-req's now, and when I finish school, that is when I will enroll in EC, so I'll have most of my course work done. And remember that you don't have to be in EC's program to take their exams, except for Nursing Concepts 3-7. And I am taking all of my pre-req's through CLEP exams, except micro biology anatomy and phis, and english. I have already taken english, I am about to tak anatomy and phis, and I will be taking microbiology through an EC exam. So I won't be paying anything to EC until I get ready to take an EC exam. My fiance is doing the same thing to get his associates's in business.

So this is basically it, a degree is a degree no matter what. But what makes a degree valid for most is accreditation. And in the USA regional acrreditation is what is thought of as valid. EC is a real college and is regionally accredited, by ones of the regional bodies, which is approved by the US department of education as, a valid accrediting body. And they are also approved by the NLN for the nursing programs.

[Ruylupez]

Just a side note, if you do choose excelsior check with your state board of nursing first. I almost started there until I learned here in Illinois they specifically state that an education from excelsior is "an unapproved nursing education program" and it is identified by the state nursing act as "not meeting the requirements for licensure"

[traumaRUs]

This all points to checking with your state's board of nursing first before enrolling in online education.

[CHATSDALE]

you may not want to get go the ec route but if you get a lot of your courses out of the way [non-clinical] it will free you to concentrate on the clinical aspect of your course...
unless you have a very strong medical background you are not going to get as much out of an online course as you may need to be a competent nurse...weigh your options...

and be careful with your money....there is always someone who thinks they need your money more than you do

[klone]

Originally Posted by hippienurse

I agree.

I cannot believe people are allowed to learn nursing online, it just doesn't seem right to me. (Sorry if this upsets anyone, it is just my opinion)

There's no reason why you shouldn't be able to learn the lecture/book portion of your nursing online. Heck, we have our lectures televised and watch them on a TV screen, how would that be any different?

The clinical portion of the nursing program, from what I understand, is little different than that of a traditional school. You still have to go to a health care facility to fulfill your clinical training.

[featherzRN]

I'm an Excelsior grad and I have never had a problem getting a job. Better yet, I work in California and have a full time hospital/clinic position in Beverly Hills and a per diem position with Kaiser Permanente - no one has ever said word one to me about where I went to school. I also worked three years in an open heart ICU, among other interesting positions.

Granted, I graduated in 1989, so that gives me a bit of slack. :P I will say, however, that back when I graduated it was considered a GOOD THING to go to Regents (which is what it was called back then). The nurse recruiter at my hospital had me helping others move up the ladder - it showed independance, initiative, etc.

All that said, if your local hospitals are expressing doubt I'd go to a regular program!

[akcarmean]

I live in Illinois and I have heard that it is going before the state and has a good chance of passing that Illinois will now recognise schools like EC. Currently I am an LPN and right now I am going to school on line for my classes other than nursing. I am getting the ones I need for my ADN and BSN except for the nursing portions. Hopefully by the time I get where I need to for my nursing and clinicals that Illinois has passed the bill and will recognize. JM2C but when doing online classes takes more dedication to get the work done.I have 1 month to finish my 2 classes and take the test before I start my next 2 classes. You have to be very dedicated and organized to study from home. I know that you do work very hard when going to classes but it's a little easier to know that you are expected to be in class and someone is waiting and watching for you; but with online classes you are the only one to make yourself to do the work and you keep looking at the house and chores and other responsibilities that need to be done and have to keep your self displend enough to do your studies. Oh well don't mean to offend anyone just giving my 2cents. Nursing is a tough profession and you have to work hard to get where you want no matter how you go about it. Congradulations to all who are in or starting programs. Good luck and hope we all can continue to be a good source of help, compassion and support for each other as we have been in the past.


Angie

[kyboyrn]

I attend an ADN program at a community college, and for LPN's entering the program to get there RN, they only have to take a transitions course in the summer, and then they start into the second year of the program with us. So really, it only takes them one year. Our program is one of those 1 year, then you can take your LPN boards, and then another year, and you can take your RN boards though, so maybe that's why it's different. Still, the university right across the border from me doesn't offer an LPN program, but if you enter as an LPN, you only have one year. So, do you really have to go two years at other schools if you're an LPN entering an RN program? I don't think so, unless you have a lot of pre-requisites to finish up on.



[. I would never reccomend going back to a school based ADN program after becomming an LPN. That is simply because it will without a doubt take you almost two full years of school to complete.