[Nurse122705]

I enrolled in Excelsior College to get my RN quickly finished. I am an LPN and I finished all my gen-ed classes while getting my accociate degree at community college some time ago. Excelsior said all I need is 21 nursing credits and then I can sit for my NCLEX-RN. It seems to good to be true. I took the first test and found it less then difficult, I now have 18 credits to go. I don't know anybody who has done Excelsior. I hear the clinical test is very hard and people offten fail, im terrified to waste precious time and money. I was gifted the College Network study binders (normally a giant rip-off). I found the test at the end to be much easier then the actual test I took. I would love to hear from people who went with this route to bridge LPN-RN

[Mollypita]

I did the Excelsior program and will be glad to help you with your questions. It sounds like you might need more than 21 credits (each nursing class is 4 credits which = 28, then the CPNE is 8 credits). I was an LPN for 14 years. It's a good program, very unique (obviously) but it does have its disadvantages. I'd say it's easier than a traditional ASN program up until the clinical, which is three days of H*LL. But I passed it and then the NCLEX. I'm very glad I did it, even though it was certainly a financial strain. Let me know any specific questions you might have and I will answer as best I can. Good luck! Molly

[Nurse122705]

I was worried about the clincal, im going to pay the extra $ for the practice course offered. I can't afford to fail it, I have heard it was very hard and if you turn your back at the wrong time it's an instant fail. Im postitive it's 18 credits remaining. The classes were 3 credits each, not four. I need to finish an online course as well as my child abuse course, maybe that adds up to a few more. How long did it take you? Im hoping to get done over the summer with everything, hopefully the clinical as well.

[NURSEOK5]

Okay, what does turn your back at the wrong time really mean????Not facing the pt, the instructor, that statement bothers me, I am planning to be complete in Dec. HELP........................

[Mollypita]

I do remember that if you were to leave the siderail down and turn your back, especially with a baby in a crib, that would be a fail for that PCS. I did take a workshop to prepare for the CPNE and a friend of mine took two before she passed on her second attempt. I absolutely would take any and all workshops you can afford!! With only 18 credits or so, you might as well finish. Just set out to succeed no matter what. Failing the CPNE is devastating, as my friend went through it, but many many people did so and then passed on the second (or third) attempt. It is very expensive but there's no way around it. I'm now making decent money as an RN with very good benefits, and it was all worth it. Even if the CPNE did add a substantial number of gray hairs to my head!!!! Good luck!!!!

[spunky nurse]

I actually have several friends who have done very well with excelsior! They actually attend a class once a week with a tutor for 4 hours that keeps them on tract. Several have attended some sort of a CPNE workshop after they finished their curriculum and all have passed everything the first go round! Keep your chin up! There are pros and cons to everything you do in life and you are continuing to move forward and that is all that counts

[SuesquatchRN]

I have finished all of my tests and am taking the CPNE workshop this coming week, and then the CPNE the end of May. After that I have an associate's, and can sit for the NCLEX-RN.

There is a lot of information in the Distance Learning forum. Stop in.

[zimsaint]

Originally Posted by Nurse122705

I enrolled in Excelsior College to get my RN quickly finished. I am an LPN and I finished all my gen-ed classes while getting my accociate degree at community college some time ago. Excelsior said all I need is 21 nursing credits and then I can sit for my NCLEX-RN. It seems to good to be true. I took the first test and found it less then difficult, I now have 18 credits to go. I don't know anybody who has done Excelsior. I hear the clinical test is very hard and people offten fail, im terrified to waste precious time and money. I was gifted the College Network study binders (normally a giant rip-off). I found the test at the end to be much easier then the actual test I took. I would love to hear from people who went with this route to bridge LPN-RN

I finished Excelsiors program this past January 08, but my actual graduation date was in March. It only took me 6 weeks to do 5 tests. I transferred all my general education class from community college. I also did their Information Literacy class over about 6- 8 hours spread over 2 days. It was very easy but tedious. The CPNE is HARD!! And it will be your biggest obstacle. The worst part is WAITING for an actual date to do the CPNE. The wait time is 6 to 8 months. So even if you finish your actual classes in 2 or 3 months you still have to wait. You will be lucky to finish before the year end. I hear they have started to test during midweek at the Midwestern Performance Assessment Center, so CPNE dates are down to about 4 month wait. The Northern Performance Assessment Center is good for cancellations dates; you may want to be open to go to any testing area to increase your chances for a rushed date. But I would caution you to check with your state BON to be sure they will grant Excelsior grads licensure; more and more states are refusing and putting restrictions for additional requirements for clinicals. Overall, it is a great program, but I have already started working on my BSN from a state university to make my degree solid. I want to do travel nursing and the two main states that I desire to travel ABSOLUTELY WILL NOT grant endorsements now...California and Maryland. Florida also has stop allowing grads to take NCLEX, but will endorse( many others states are the same) I myself had to test for another state and now waiting to be endorsed in my home state . Talk to your BON: Excelsior is pretty straight forward, they will tell you the facts.

Good Luck

[akanini]

zimsaind does that mean you won't be able to be a travel nirse in CA?