anybody choose excelsior after 50% of nursing program completion

smiley2030 · Aug 19, 2009

Hi,
I have finished the first two semesters of a four semester ADN program. I am quite dissatisfied with the program and am considering dropping out to finish at excelsior. I have completed the following clinical rotations - psych, med surg and fundamentals (first semester clinicals). I would be interested in hearing from anyone who has done this or considered doing this due to disatisfaction with their program. My grades are A- and I have not flunked any nursing classes. Thanks for your input.

Hi

I am enrolled right now based on 50%. I have completed all of my clinical on the 4 year BSN program. I am taking my first exam next week.

NC Girl BSN · Aug 19, 2009

I am sorry that you are not happy with your program but I am sure others will echo along with me and tell you that you should stick with your current program. EC is not easy and some of the smartest nursing don't pass the CPNE the first go around. I think you should stick it out and complete your program. EC is not accepted in every state and this can cause unwanted stress in the future and limit the places you can practice.

I think Excelsior is a great program and has given many of us a way to become a RN in a time where getting into RN school is nearly impossible but I would not leave a RN program to do EC especially if your making A's.

Editorial Team / Moderator · Aug 19, 2009

I would not leave a RN program to do EC especially if your making A's.

My thoughts exactly.

caliotter3 · Aug 19, 2009

I would not leave a RN program to do EC especially if your making A's.

I also agree with this. You are making A's in a program where you are getting credit for clinical experience. There will be absolutely no stigma attached to your clinical experience. You show up for clinical, do your assignments, don't tick off the clinical instructor, and you are home free. The CPNE is a bear and there are people who find they can not slay the bear, no matter how hard they try. I am one of those 50% people and I would have to say, I wish things had worked out with the traditional program. I, too, saw shortfalls there, but like many say, "Get what you came there for, and get gone".

Essentially, by leaving that program, you would be dropping one of your chances in the nursing school game by default. This is not something I would willingly do. Good luck with your decision.

BetterMeRN · Aug 20, 2009

Stick with your program, you WILL find faults with EC too. My two cents.

RN34TX · Aug 20, 2009

Stick with your program, you WILL find faults with EC too. My two cents.

My advice as well.

It would help to know exactly why you are dissatisfied with your current program but I will tell you that in my experience, I know very very few RN's were not dissatisfied with their nursing programs on some level, no matter which school they attended.

I'm an EC grad myself, but I would only recommend this program to certain people under certain specific circumstances and from what you've described, your circumstances would not be one of them.

smiley2030 · Aug 20, 2009

My advice as well.
It would help to know exactly why you are dissatisfied with your current program but I will tell you that in my experience, I know very very few RN's were not dissatisfied with their nursing programs on some level, no matter which school they attended.
I'm an EC grad myself, but I would only recommend this program to certain people under certain specific circumstances and from what you've described, your circumstances would not be one of them.

I agree, I didn't have any choice but to go with Excelsior. I had applied many nursing school and they all wanted me to start all over again. I am in GA and I will not be able to work in GA, I will have to work outside in another state for one year than I will be able to endorse in GA. So, I also suggest that you finish you program if you are not struggling.

ivanh3 · Aug 23, 2009

i have finished the first two semesters of a four semester adn program. i am quite dissatisfied with the program and am considering dropping out to finish at excelsior.i would be interested in hearing from anyone who has done this or considered doing this due to disatisfaction with their program. my grades are a- and i have not flunked any nursing classes. thanks for your input.

this one is truly a no-brainer. trust me. you will regret giving up being two semesters away from being done, not having to sweat the monster that is the cpne, and then worry about which state does or does not (or will or will not) accept ec grads. just because a state excepts ec now does not mean it will next year (or two) or so when you are done. consider that the waiting list for the cpne can be six months plus.

if you don’t like the program you are in now remember this: often as we are learning we not only learn what to do, but we learn what not to do. we might see things we are not comfortable with. just say to your self: when i get my license i will be better than that.

nine months will go by fast.

ivan

David Offenbaker, BSN, RN · Aug 26, 2009

I am also in a similar situation.

I have been an LVN for two years.

I am in a new LVN to RN program here in Texas, that is not yet accredited and now there is problems with them becoming accredited.

I've maintained a 4.0 so far, but I'm starting to realize I am paying a total of 22K for a program that I am pretty much teaching myself. So I ask myself, why not just do Excelsior? It's accredited, less expensive, and self-paced.

Currently, I 11 months left in my RN program. The instructors I've had thus far don't teach, just give you literally a 200 page syllabus, have you log onto WebCT and do quizzes, etc. The class time is spent listening to stories about the instructors nursing career, etc. I am taking 3 class, find myself in school 4 days a week, can't work because of all the extra busy work they give.

So, like the original poster, I am seriously considering going to Excelsior to finish becoming an RN.

Thoughts?

Dave