Are all Excelsior Grads "Super Smart" ?

MauraRN · Jun 29, 2009

Are all EC grads super-smart? YES!!! Smart in the following ways; self-motivated, disciplined, obsessive, emotional intelligence (Know your capabilities and limitations) organized, unable to accept "no" for an answer, as in "no, you aren't capable of ...."

I suggest that you practice as LPN in sub-acute care, you will learn all the clinical skills that you need to pass CPNE; assessment, documentation, clinical skills such as tube feeds, foley caths, wound tx, med passing, IM, IV meds, sub-q meds, running a code, time mgmt. Consider this as paid nursing school clinicals.

For me, the most important piece of time mgmt for exam study time was a dedicated room in my house with all of my books, study materials, laptop, etc. This worked for me because I could grab study time while multi-tasking, cooking, laundry, monitoring kid's homework, etc. I turned my once lovely dining room into a study hall/lab complete with dummy to practice on, IV's hanging from chandelier, hutch converted to med closet, you get the idea.

BTW, EC is not "ONLINE" it is the same content of brick and mortar schools. I have a friend who did traditional RN while I did EC and we were assigned same content, textbooks, But I did not have to waste 2-3 hours a day in traffic or work for free doing "clinicals".

EC worked for me, middle-aged, mom, but I could not have done it without the support of the allnurses.com crew.

Maureen GN

caliotter3 · Jun 29, 2009

Not necessarily super smart, but they work hard.

Law of Fives · Jul 1, 2009

Steadfast commitment and headstrong determination. Similar to a traditional program, but what's different is you have to autodidact well. The rate of assimilation I presume can be a little longer for the distance type courses, since you have a longer time frame for which you can complete the course, but there are still limits in that regard.

On a side note, these sorts of comments never set well with me:

Just my opinion but I would never do a nursing program on -line--MAYBE an ASN/RN to BSN/RN but not LPN to RN....

But, perhaps I'm jumping to conclusions. Do you care to elaborate, Rochester?

melissakp · Jul 4, 2009

I'm a paramedic who is finishing EC's program and we don't do some of the skills nurses do but we can sure learn them. If it wasn't feasible they wouldn't offer the program. Melissa

HeartsOpenWide, RN · Jul 4, 2009

Make sure your state accepts them. California does not hire/give licenses to Excelsior graduates. Guess they think they are not taught all they need to know. At least that is what some one told me.

readytoroll · Jul 19, 2009

Make sure your state accepts them. California does not hire/give licenses to Excelsior graduates. Guess they think they are not taught all they need to know. At least that is what some one told me.

California actually takes EC graduates and reviews them on a case by case basis, although their criteria for who is approved and who isn't is unclear. If you look on Excelsior's website they very clearly tell you how each and every state's BON views EC grads!

I hope to start the program as soon as I get my test date and pass! I finished my Accounting degree via distance learning and as a military wife who will be moving soon EC is the perfect answer for me. I am not worried about those few states that are stuck in the dark ages on the subject, they'll come around eventually. Times are changing.

Dr. Tammy, FNP/GNP-C · Jul 23, 2009

I couldn't characterize Regents/Excelsior grads as rocket scientists as rocket scientists are mostly introverts. I would say that Regents/EC grads are more akin to the fighter pilots of nursing. Tens of thousands of wannabe's apply, as an example, for Navy flight school. Only a few of those are accepted and make the grade to eventually become naval aviators. Out of those, even a smaller percentage are actually up to the task to fly jets. Out of those, even a smaller percentage have the right stuff to fly fighters.

Please don't take me the wrong way; I am in no way suggesting an elitist position other than stating simple facts. Most anyone can be spoon fed a nursing program over the course of two to four years, regurgitate skills and knowledge with a snap of the fingers and jump through hoops like a trained circus ferret.

It takes, however, a special kind of ballsy individuals to say, "No thanks, I have my crap together enough to just take the final exams for all the nursing classes and then I'll show 3-5 masters/doctorate prepared nurse educators the real deal during a three-day comprehensive nursing skills exam." In a way, it's a pretty arrogant and cocky way about going through a nursing program--much like the jet fighter deal.

In the end, though, it's good to be a Regents grad.

Editorial Team / Moderator · Jul 23, 2009

jump through hoops like a trained circus ferret

Tammy, you kill me! Bwa ha ha ha!!

MauraRN · Jul 24, 2009

Tammy,

I LOVE your kickin' attitude. You describe some of us to a T. Not elitist at all, just not going to accept "no you can't" for an answer. Yes we can because we work smarter, never stop learning, are disciplined to the max when it is important and cool enough to not sweat the silly stuff. :yeah:

Maureen F., RN, BS

chiromed0 · Sep 23, 2009

This thread makes me chuckle. After many years in all kinds of schools I can only say that everybody can be a rocket scientist if that's what floats your boat. Excelsior students are ALL types and enrolled in that special type of program for 1 reason (if it's the nursing program): because they can. They only accept those with a healthcare background meaning you've seen & helped patients in certain career fields (although I take some issue with which fields they accept). You just have to want it bad enough to turn off the t.v. and study. The material isn't complicated but it's voluminous. Just to give you an example...I off & on studied for 1 exam almost a year (what a laugh)...got mad at my boss one summer and took & passed 4 exams in a week. Failed 1 b/c I was biting off more than I could chew out of anger...studied again for 2 months and passed it with an "A". So it really, really depends on YOU. It's as hard as YOU want to make it. I'm waiting on my CPNE now, should have taken it a year ago but it wasn't a pressing thing for me. The CPNE is the kicker, not the nursing exams. If you're an LPN start getting the CPNE skills down now while you are testing. The testing could, theoretically, be over in a month or so. There is a long wait for the CPNE...up to 6-8 months.

On the other hand nobody has brought this up but just do it and see. Yes, it costs some money but you could enroll in two programs at the same time and if you finish Excelsior's first then just drop out of the ADN program whereever your at. That is of course if you can afford it. Nevertheless, it's an option. :eek:

kdsharp · Oct 10, 2009

I graduate Oct. 16th from EC and highly recommend it. I went because (a) I didn't want to retake a&p and micro because I was over the 5 year limit, (b) because I could do it at my own pace and still work full-time and © complete the program in less than 2 years. I did not complete it in less than 2 years, my own fault, plus the wait time for the CPNE, however, I loved it, it worked for me, and am thinking seriously of going back for my BSN.

katherine100, LPN · Dec 13, 2009

I graduate Oct. 16th from EC and highly recommend it. I went because (a) I didn't want to retake a&p and micro because I was over the 5 year limit, (b) because I could do it at my own pace and still work full-time and © complete the program in less than 2 years. I did not complete it in less than 2 years, my own fault, plus the wait time for the CPNE, however, I loved it, it worked for me, and am thinking seriously of going back for my BSN.

That is what i am afraid of. If the wait to take the CPNE will be 6 months, I may as well go back to my old rn school and finish up the RN. How long was your wait?