excelsior questions

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · May 9, 2008

Or, do you work at your own pace and as soon as you pass the exam you move on to the next subject?....
I know the longest wait is the CPNE exam.... and there is only one... right?
SO, basically no clinicals except for that on CPNE exam (which i know is very difficult)

At your own pace. Move on after one exam to the next one.

No clinicals.

There is more than one practical (CPNE) exam under the new curriculum, but I don't know much more than that.

caliotter3 · May 10, 2008

Please reconsider since you have no prior medical experience. Most people in this category find it next to impossible to pass the CPNE and blame their failure on their lack of experience. Read up on the program at the nursing school section of the Excelsior website, http://www.excelsior.edu. There are warnings there for people who have no experience. Not trying to scare you off, but you need to have a clear picture of what you are facing.

BethT · May 10, 2008

that is the whole point of becoming a paramedic.... to gain experience.... maybe i am totally wrong...

CraigB-RN, MSN, RN · May 10, 2008

I am a little confused about this but I just want to see if I have this right based on what I have read on this forum...
I currently have no medical experience (but I am working on that, either LPN or Paramedic...have not decided yet)
But, once I get one of those I know I can get accepted to Excelsior.
I have read posts with people asking how long it takes to get your RN. Maybe it was dumb of me to think that Excelsior was like any other college, you had to take classes one semester at a time... is that not how it works?
Or, do you work at your own pace and as soon as you pass the exam you move on to the next subject?....
I know the longest wait is the CPNE exam.... and there is only one... right?
SO, basically no clinicals except for that on CPNE exam (which i know is very difficult)
Can someone just give me a basic rundown on how this all works?
Thanks!!!

Do your homework very carefully. YOu might just find that getting into an RN program might cost less than doing the LPN/Paramedic thing first and it might even take less time. Keep and hopen mind and be honest about things when your looking.

elkpark · May 10, 2008

that is the whole point of becoming a paramedic.... to gain experience.... maybe i am totally wrong...

I think caliotter's point is that people who do well in EC are experienced (as in "years of practice") LPNs or paramedics; simply completing one of those educational programs and then going right into EC will not provide you with any real experience.

I agree that, if your plan is to complete one of those programs simply to qualify for EC, you might do just as well to just enter an RN program in the first place.

caliotter3 · May 10, 2008

Elkpark is right about my post. In my area, just graduating from an LPN or EMT program does not guarantee one a job. Jobs are sometimes hard to get for these specialties. You need paid work experience to help prepare you for the CPNE. Jumping from one educational program to another will not likely be sufficient. That is why EC warns prospective students and why they have placed restrictions on those entering their program. When they first started up and for many years, anybody could walk in off the street and take the program. If they passed, fine. There are those that could do this. But the majority of people can't.

firecoins · May 14, 2008

I think caliotter's point is that people who do well in EC are experienced (as in "years of practice") LPNs or paramedics; simply completing one of those educational programs and then going right into EC will not provide you with any real experience.
I agree that, if your plan is to complete one of those programs simply to qualify for EC, you might do just as well to just enter an RN program in the first place.

Actually, I am in a paramedic program right now and considering taking the excelsior program. I have 160 hours in the ER, 32 hours in the OR, 40 hours in the ICU, 320 hours in an ambulance and I am not finshed yet. We draw blood, set up IVs, push meds, intubate in the OR, use the glucometer, set up and intrepret EKGs, assess patients etc etc. On top of all that I work as an EMT-B and will be working as an EMT-P if I take the excelsior program.

BethT · May 14, 2008

That is exactly what I am wanting to do. I know I will have alot of hours while I am going through the program, although I do not plan to work as an EMT-B while doing the paramedic, I do plan to work as a paramedic while doing the Excelsior thing.

I was just wondering how doable it is without YEARS AND YEARS of experience.

I may love being a paramedic, I don't know. I haven't tried yet. I definately want my RN and I think I will love this too.

I guess I did not make myself very clear.

firecoins · May 14, 2008

That is exactly what I am wanting to do. I know I will have alot of hours while I am going through the program, although I do not plan to work as an EMT-B while doing the paramedic, I do plan to work as a paramedic while doing the Excelsior thing.
I was just wondering how doable it is without YEARS AND YEARS of experience.
I may love being a paramedic, I don't know. I haven't tried yet. I definately want my RN and I think I will love this too.
I guess I did not make myself very clear.

You may want to work as an EMT-B before doing the whole medic program. The medic program is intense as I pointed out in my previous post. You should have some idea if you like it enough to put yourself through the intense training. If you don't you might be better getting into a direct RN program.

calliesue · May 14, 2008

Yeah Firecoins but do you know the nursing process ? ??

Just kidding! I have been an lvn for over thirteen years and I don't have your skill set. :bow:

Editorial Team / Moderator · May 15, 2008

You may want to work as an EMT-B before doing the whole medic program. The medic program is intense as I pointed out in my previous post. You should have some idea if you like it enough to put yourself through the intense training. If you don't you might be better getting into a direct RN program.

Oh, I second that, bigtime! I went straight from EMT-B to EMT-P with very little experience as a B ... it was tough! The program I went through now has students test out at the EMT-I level in the middle, and I think that's smart!