Considering Excelsior and need experienced advise PLEASE!

chip193 · Dec 22, 2004

HI;
I am a Washington state student trying desperately to get into a nursing program and because of wait lists and factoring changes at my local community college am considering taking a different route. I live in a little town and the major cities are even more difficult to get into for nursing programs. Not that I am not willing to try, it is just I am fed up with waiting and so are my husband and kids. So this is why I need to get the opinions of ppl who have gone to EXCELSIOR are attending or know someone who had or is.
What were there experiences like once they left the school's program, were they prepared for the real thing?
What are there clinicals like?
have you found that their program is respected?
The programs that piggy back EXCELSIOR (i.e. ISTUDYSMART.COM AND CHANCELLOR'S) Are they worth the money and effort, or does excelsior give you a guideline for buying the books needed to study for the exams?
Are you or were the people you know happy with their education from EXCELSIOR?
I am terrified to invest in a program like this but I cannot afford to keep waiting around to get into a program for a traditional RN program. I have checked Excelsior out with two state nursing boards and they are accepted and respected through the state boards, but I am concerned about employers. Kalispell Regional Hospital in Montana has employees who are students with Excelsior, but again I want the advise of people who have been there and done that. If you could help me I would appreciate it as this is a huge decision and investment for me. My private email is ... Thanks for the advise and help in advance.
Edith
A DESPERATE STUDENT WHO WANTS TO BE DONE:uhoh21:

1. The EC program, like any other program, can be summarized simply - you get what you put into it. I graduated in April, sent resumes out, and had three ER job offers.

2. You need to make sure that you are eligible for the program.

3. I did not use any of the publishing companies (Rue, Chancellors, etc.). In fact, I used nothing more than Saunder's NCLEX review and my 15 years street experience of being a medic. I have not heard any good reviews of the publishing companies.

4. There is a Yahoo group called "RN Study Group" or something similar to that. It was very helpful - has old tests and the folks on that (and its sub-groups) are going through the same thing that you are.

Good Luck!

Rookie · Dec 22, 2004

Excelsior has been a great opportunity for me. I started taking the tests several years ago while in California and never missed a beat when I moved to Arizona. I graduated in October 2004, took NCLEX November 29 and start my new job as a cath lab nurse on December 28, 2004. Chip is absolutely correct - you get out what you put into it. You must have alot of self dicipline and be good at studying. The content of each test is long and the test itself is short. Because of this, you end up studying much more, but the 1st time pass rate for NCLEX for Excelsior is 97% (I believe this is the correct number).

Make sure your are eligible, if so, you can take the first two tests before you have to start paying yearly student fees. You should have all your prerequisites done. I am greatful for the opportunity they provided me and would do it again.

nurselisER · Dec 22, 2004

Does anyone know of any good program on cd-ROM for teaching lab values?

keasc20 · Sep 20, 2007

I started July 22, 2006 and graduated July 20, 2007. I worked my butt off while I was a stay at home mom to my son Andrew who was 2 when I started. So I was really busy! I have been working at my new job since July 30th and was officially an RN on August 7th. I honestly have felt that the clinical part of being an RN as opposed to an LPN is not really that much different but I know a lot more theory then I did as an LPN and I am a better critical thinker for doing my RN through Excelsior!!!!! DO NOT GET ANY OF THE COLLEGE NETWORK OR ANY OF THE EXTERNAL STUDY THINGS! Get the study guide from the college and buy the books! DO not take shortcuts like that because you are putting your license in jeapordy before you even get it! Study and read read read everything resource that they give you! It is the only way to prepare to be a good RN. The hospital I work at hired me as a Nurse Extern IV so I was making my RN pay til I passed my boards. Excelsior was awesome!! Everyone that I have been friends with while enrolled there has passed! Life is good! I am loving being and RN and you can do it too! Just get enrolled and get started! I promise that you will not regret it!!

Kirsten RN:balloons:

HI;
I am a Washington state student trying desperately to get into a nursing program and because of wait lists and factoring changes at my local community college am considering taking a different route. I live in a little town and the major cities are even more difficult to get into for nursing programs. Not that I am not willing to try, it is just I am fed up with waiting and so are my husband and kids. So this is why I need to get the opinions of ppl who have gone to EXCELSIOR are attending or know someone who had or is.
What were there experiences like once they left the school's program, were they prepared for the real thing?
What are there clinicals like?
have you found that their program is respected?
The programs that piggy back EXCELSIOR (i.e. ISTUDYSMART.COM AND CHANCELLOR'S) Are they worth the money and effort, or does excelsior give you a guideline for buying the books needed to study for the exams?
Are you or were the people you know happy with their education from EXCELSIOR?
I am terrified to invest in a program like this but I cannot afford to keep waiting around to get into a program for a traditional RN program. I have checked Excelsior out with two state nursing boards and they are accepted and respected through the state boards, but I am concerned about employers. Kalispell Regional Hospital in Montana has employees who are students with Excelsior, but again I want the advise of people who have been there and done that. If you could help me I would appreciate it as this is a huge decision and investment for me. My private email is... Thanks for the advise and help in advance.
Edith
A DESPERATE STUDENT WHO WANTS TO BE DONE:uhoh21:

bsrn0523 · Sep 21, 2007

Hi Edith, my name is Jenn and I will graduate from Excelsior on 11/16 of this year. I passed the CPNE (clinical exam) 9/9 and will be eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN as of 11/16. I added my comments in response to your questions. Hope that helps!

What were there experiences like once they left the school's program, were they prepared for the real thing? I cannot speak for anyone else, but I feel very prepared to work in a clinical environment.

What are there clinicals like? It isn't a teaching clinical, it is an exam, a 2 and a 1/2 day exam. Friday night is the lab portion, Saturday and Sunday morning are the patient care situation portion.

have you found that their program is respected? Absolutely, there seem to be very many Excelsior graduates around these parts (Long Island).

The programs that piggy back EXCELSIOR (i.e. ISTUDYSMART.COM AND CHANCELLOR'S) Are they worth the money and effort, or does excelsior give you a guideline for buying the books needed to study for the exams? Firstly, buy the texts that the college recommends, not only for the exams but as great references later. Secondly, if you do decided to purchase any study guides, do not sign up with a publishing company, go on Ebay and buy slightly used versions for 1/4 the price ( I did this with TCN).

Are you or were the people you know happy with their education from EXCELSIOR? Very happy. As the mother of one year old twins and a 3 year old, I never would have been able to complete a traditional RN program in one year. I took NC1 on 11/24/06, and I will graduate on 11/16/07. As another poster said, you get out of this program what you put into it. I studied every night after my twins went to bed for three hours for basically a year, but in the end, it was certainly worth it.

:balloons:

donsterRN, ASN, BSN · Sep 21, 2007

Just a short note to say that the OP wrote this over two and a half years ago, and hasn't posted on these boards since this past April. I'm hoping she's made an informed decision about her education and is accomplishing her goals.

I'm sure she joins me in thanking you for your recent input.