online rn degrees

opalmRN · Feb 18, 2003

Just wanted to throw in my two cents here.

I also contacted Excelsior last summer. I was told that I would have to take an EMT course to be considered. (BTW, that was not true) so I enrolled in a 7 month class. Got up to December when I found out Excelsior changed that. EMT-B would be admitted but after Jan 1, 2003 they had to have an additional 1000 hours POST certification in order to get into Excelsior's program. So, when I contacted the school again about this change I was told my only other option was to have my educational and work experienced reviewed. I ask for the review packet and when it was finally sent (had to make a second request) it turns out that the review form is an exact duplicate of the form that is used for students to review whether they are ready for the CPNE weekend. I couldn't believe it. Excelsior is saying that to be considered for their program you must posses the same skills as you would have at the end. What is that all about? What is the point of the program if you need to have the same skills at the end as you do to be considered at the beginning?

Needless to say, I have lost faith in Excelsior and the way that they considered applicants. I do believe that there are excellent nurses out there who did go through the Excelsior program. I just think that in addition to narrowing the field of who they accept they also need to consider what it is that they are looking for in the first place. As another poster indicated, just because you have the certification in a particular field does not necessarily have any indication of how proficient one is at that job.

I also know a school that teaches medical assisting. I would not admit any of the graduates from that school to a nursing program merely because of their certification. On the same hand I know several medical assistants that are not certified that I highly respect for their experience and knowledge.

I wish that I had had better results from Excelsior but I also believe that everything happens for a reason.

Spazzy Nurse, RN · Feb 19, 2003

Oh wow, what a crappy experience with EC. That is such a bummer that they changed things on you like that.

I agree with you....... there are many, many LPNs out there who are far less skilled than some of the MAs who don't have any certification. It's kind of ridiculous the way EC does things.

Sorry you had such a rough time.... but as you said, there is a reason for that. :)

mona b RN, BSN, RN · Feb 19, 2003

Hi Opalm,

Good to hear from you. Have you heard from Deaconess?

mona b

newbie1 · Feb 16, 2006

Hi! Yes, in California they will now accept the RN as long as you have fulfilled the clincial requirements all California RNs must complete.

From the State's web site:

DECISION REGARDING EXCELSIOR COLLEGE

The California Board of Registered Nursing adopted the following motion at its board meeting on February 6, 2004:

"The following action supersedes and replaces the December 5, 2003, Board action related to Excelsior College:

"Excelsior College graduates, like other out-of-state graduates, must meet the requirements set forth in California Business and Professions Code Section 2736, including supervised clinical practice concurrent with theory, in order to be eligible for examination and licensure as a California registered nurse. This eligibility requirement applies to students who enrolled at Excelsior on or after December 6, 2003."