Any LPN go through Excelsior?

montananurse · Jul 15, 2007

Hi there. I graduated with my LPN December of 05. After that I worked in a clinic setting. Prior to my LPN, I had all of my pre-requisits done for the Excelsior program except Lifespan and their Information Literacy course. I took the first test in December of 06 and am taking my last test next week. It is all how fast you can do it. I really haven't studied that much. I am comfortable with the information because I am working on a med/surg unit. I have people to go to for questions and I ask a lot of questions. I did this with three kids (13, 9, and 4), a husband, and working full time. I hope to get through the CPNE by January 08. My only suggestion is don't enroll until you have to. I believe you can do your pre-reqs and the Nursing Concepts 1-3 before enrolling. You have to pay $800 to enroll and then $495 per year after that. Get your pre-reqs and as many Concepts tests done prior to spending that $$. Also, the practice exams have helped me a ton. I purchased books at half.com, and I didn't always get the exact edition they want you to have. I saved about $600 right there.

Good luck.

real1143 · Jul 16, 2007

Oh wow! So that made it about 8 months...Now Excelsior has sent me information but they wanted me to call them a lil closer to graduation. WHat I need to know is...if I do take my pre-req's at a local community college...how do I know what classes will transfer over...how do you do it....If I ask will they tell me or advise me not to do it....

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Jul 16, 2007

Just apply to Excelsior and they'll tell you what classes to take. Not even classes - what exams to take. Once you pass the NCLEX-PN you will be accepted, no question. They'll tell you if you need micro or A&P or what.

STEADYJ · Jul 17, 2007

What is the shortest length of time it took to complete the Rn Program....

It is a good program but you have to be pretty self disciplined. I pulled credits from and education degree 20+ years ago plus my pre-req's and 1st year nursing credits. I didn't have to take any additional courses, just their nursing concepts and the CPNE. The main thing is to get your transcripts in and see how they accept them. I had to challenge a few things but they finally accepted what they should have in the first place. Alot depends to on if your LPN came through a school like Apollo where the pre-req's may not count or a traditional program. Either way, good luck with it. I have several of my class mates that also went through Excelsior so I know it is do-able.

akanini, MSN, RN · Jul 17, 2007

I will be graduating from a vocational LPN and EC's website states that they won't take credits from them. Please tell me this is not true.

Guest27531 · Jul 30, 2007

I graduated from Excelsior when it was still Regents college (awhile ago). I was already an RN and had been working for nearly 4 years when I started the program. They accepted no nursing credits as everything was done by Challenge...perhaps it is still the same now...both written exams and clinical exams.

I was extremely comfortable with every aspect of nursing (academic and clinical) and I was working in an Open Heart Recovery Room where I had very advanced procedures to do every day. I am extremely disciplined and I study very well on my own. I prepared thoroughly and found the written exams easy (exactly the same as I found the Nursing Boards) but I found the clinical exam to be very difficult because of the "overriding jeopardy" sections.

Doing it that way made it possible for me to continue working full time but it was not easy. I do hope it works out for you but don't go into it thinking that you will only need to demonstrate what you already know. The fact is, you must learn their system to demonstrate what you can do so, prepare yourself.

literati7 · Jul 31, 2007

Dear Montananurse, Hello. Wow, you are a hard worker. Well done. I'm a 25+yr LPN currently awaiting my transcript review from Excelsior. They have them, but it's only been two weeks & they will not be in a hurry. It isn't entirely clear to me how to go about taking the Nursing Concepts 1 exam before I've actually enrolled with Excelsior. I'm currently enrolled at my local Community College where I have been re-taking all my prerequisites (cause initially I was planning to apply to their school of nursing & they said all my credits were 'too old') so I have access to a testing center. Since setting my goal of attaining my RN degree I have manage to maintain a 3.9 GPA so independent study seems like a good fit, I think. Are you saying I might be able to test out of Nursing Concepts 1 - 3 & that it will then apply (like any other WEBCT class I've taken so far) toward my AAS via Excelsior? That would be great news. Any feedback?