Any LPN's here experienced Excelsior or ISU??

EricJRN, MSN, RN · Nov 28, 2010

I've never been an LPN/LVN, but I am an Excelsior grad. One quick suggestion: If you're specifically worried about the clinical skills exam, you want to search for info on "CPNE" and you can find plenty of info on this website and others.

I think you'll see that opinions on the CPNE do vary. Some people find the process very straightforward, while others find it to be unfair and impossible. Most of us, though, think that the CPNE was challenging but very doable with some dedication.

taligirl · Nov 28, 2010

i am an excelsior college and just took my first exam and did not pass. what i studied i found not to be on the test (sociology)..very hard..but i will try again.anyone else have this problem with excelsior/college network

Erikadawn RN · Nov 29, 2010

I took Sociology, it was not a bad test. I used REA Clep books. You can find them at any book store or Amazon. I also used Instacert.com, the best resource for Clep tests.

smccoy · Nov 30, 2010

I need help deciding on the college network. I work full time and want to get my RN but traditional college may not work for me as we all have bills to pay. Anyone have any comments to this

smccoy

caliotter3 · Nov 30, 2010

I need help deciding on the college network. I work full time and want to get my RN but traditional college may not work for me as we all have bills to pay. Anyone have any comments to this
smccoy

There are many posts regarding The College Network in this forum. The majority of them are negative. Why tie yourself up with more than $5000 in a contract that can not be broken if you decide not to finish the program? You can buy the study guides that TCN is selling on ebay for less than $15 to $30 apiece. Go to the Excelsior College website and learn about the program. You do not need to go through any third party to complete their program. Likewise, you can take the required tests for the ISU program without buying the TCN study modules from TCN. You can obtain their modules from former students. The tests are standard, the study modules might be helpful but they are not life and death. For example, nursing care of OB patients is nursing care of OB patients. You can study the principles from any textbook on OB nursing care. There, you have it. Good luck with your decision to go with Excelsior or ISU.

JDavis2009 · Nov 30, 2010

I need help deciding on the college network. I work full time and want to get my RN but traditional college may not work for me as we all have bills to pay. Anyone have any comments to this
smccoy

I'm currently working with College Network for my RN and have had very positive experience so far. Just one online study guide for every class instead of regular text books. May not be for everyone though, because you really have to be able to make yourself study, and it is more expensive.. if your self movtivated it may be a good route.

Obviously you want to research, but don't let anyone scare you out of meeting with someone who can provide you with more information.

Traceyjo · Nov 30, 2010

I am using RUE and so regret spending that much money. I wished someone had advised me before hand. I have a friend doing the same program just through Excelsior and not using College Network or Rue and saving thousands of dollars. She is passing her exams just fine. You don't need those publishing companies to pass and be sure to read the fine print and between the lines. Once they get you hooked, you can never get out of paying. Yeah, I will admit the workbooks are very helpful, but weighing the cost now, it was not worth it. Good luck.

BooBear2710 · Dec 1, 2010

I'm currently working with College Network for my RN and have had very positive experience so far. Just one online study guide for every class instead of regular text books. May not be for everyone though, because you really have to be able to make yourself study, and it is more expensive.. if your self movtivated it may be a good route.
Obviously you want to research, but don't let anyone scare you out of meeting with someone who can provide you with more information.

I am using TCN also, and maybe it does cost money but it is a huge help to me when I look at Excelsior's Content Outlines and have no clue what train of thought I need to comprehend what it says.

I love my TCN online access and modules. They have saved my fanny a time or two. Being in Indiana and Excelsior being in New York, I need assistance that I can depend on.

As for the CPNE clinical check off, if you have ever been observed by state or had a performance check off you should do well. In long term care Indiana has surveys and you are watched by a nurse who can take not only your job but your license too if you don't do a procedure right.

Just a word on The College Network, and the CPNE. Hope it helps and Good Luck!! :nurse:

JDougRN, BSN, RN · Dec 1, 2010

I'm an Excelsior graduate. If this is your first experience in nursing, I would NOT recommend it to you. First, Excelsior doesn't teach you- they give you an outline and suggest some textbooks- there is no online teaching or feedback like there is in most online classes- that is NOT what this program is about. Secondly, the final 3 day clinical test is HARD! I am a very strong nurse, and when I did it, I had been an LPN in hospitals for my entire 16 year career- I had done cardiac/med-surg as well as 8 years of OB-Peds- and I found it daunting. The sign up process is very time consuming and expensive- There is a mound of paperwork you need to submit before you even get a test date. The test itself costs about 2500.00 last time I checked- and only has a 60% pass rate the first time. Would you get on a plane if you knew it only had a 60% chance of arriving ? You REALLY need experience with patients in order to pass this test. That being said, I really loved the Excelsior program, but it isn't for everyone. Good luck!

Dr. Tammy, FNP/GNP-C · Dec 2, 2010

I've signed up for classes at my local community college so that I can get some co/prerequisites out of the way while I wait for the next application period for their LPN-to-RN bridge program to begin. While I'm excited to get started with these classes, it's still a competetive application process and there's no guarantee I'll be admitted to the actual program.
That being said, I'm thinking more and more about Excelsior and ISU. Has anyone had any experiences with either of these schools? I'm certainly not opposed to online coursework but I worry when it comes to clinicals- especially with Excelsior's clinical being your "final exam" ...If anyone has any experiences whatsoever I'd love to hear about them! Thanks in advance!

I'm a graduate of both: Regents (now known as Excelsior) College for ADN and ISU for my RN-BSN.

Both are excellent, yet both schools exist (from an operational standpoint) in two entirely different worlds. The first world, Excelsior, is an evaluation deal only. That is, you either know it or you don't. And for that information it will cost you some loot. Back in '93 I spent nearly $1,000.00 just for the final CPNE test. With all of the other ACT-PEP tests, and College fee's it was well over $2,000.00 by the time I was done. I'm sure the prices have gone up since then, but to a working paramedic it was a good chunk of change back then. The really good thing about Regents is the fact that you have an opportunity to step up to the plate and prove what you know and what you can do in a pressure cooker atmosphere.

ISU, is different in that they provide training, and then evaluation. It is a wonderful school that I liked so much, I decided to work there as an adjunct nursing faculty. The information is delivered in a distance format, the exams are given under strict criterion and you perform your clinical activities in your home community.

When evaluating which one is the best fit, please, again, understand that these two choices are not in the same universe.