Can anyone explain how Excelsior works?

JulesRN10 · Jan 30, 2011

excelsior is a lot of information to take in, and i probably won't get it all out, so help me out peers!

first, excelsior provides an opportunity for professionals, such as lpn/lvn's, emt's, paramedics, rrt's to gain an associate's degree in nursing. not a "traditional" online program, you test out of each class. there are 8 nursing exams, the fcca, and the cpne. for the nursing exams, you download the study guide (syllabus for the class), study the suggested material using the suggested textbooks, or other study material and schedule your exam at a pearson testing center. whatever grade you get on the exam, equivalent to a final exam in traditional classes, is what you get in the class. the questions are nclex style, multiple choice. you can finish a class in a couple of weeks to a few months, just depends on how you dedicate your time. when you finish the nursing classes, you take the fcca. it is something like nursing delegation...you are sent a packet for this and you have so many days to finish it and send it back to them. it is the only solely handwritten component of the program. once you are within 10 credits of completing all the requirements of graduation, you can register for the cpne. this is clinicals. there is a study guide that will become your best friend and worst enemy :uhoh3: it is a 2 1/2 day pass/fail exam that includes lab stations: iv push, iv piggy back, im or sq injection, and a sterile dressing change. you will also have 2 adult and 1 pediatric "test" (pcs). you will be given 1 patient at a time and 2 1/2 hours form start to finish. you will have to write 2 care plans, which will then be accepted or denied by your instructor. if accepted, you will implement your assignment, then write the evaluation of your assignment. if you pass each of these, congrats! if not, you can fail each lab station 1 time and 1 adult/1 peds pcs one time. fail 1 of those a second time and you fail the entire exam. you can take the exams/cpne a total of 3 times before being asked to leave the program. there are several testing sites across the nation, pa, ny, oh, wi, tx, ga...certain hospitals that excelsior has teamed up with to provide us a facility.

just for reference, i completed the nursing program including micro and a&p in 1 year. i know several people here who finished quicker and lots that have taken more time. it all depends on you! i was a single mom to 2 kids, worked a full time and a part time job while i did it...glad its done, but would do it again in a heartbeat! don't be afraid to ask questions, that's what this website is for!

tootsie2184 · Jan 30, 2011

Thank you SO much, that is veryyy good information!! Im a single mom of a 4 year old as well, so I can definetely relate how hard it is. I noticed the college is accreditted as well until 2015 so far, so that is great news!

So basically let me see if I am following on the same page.. Basically there is only ONE- CPNE then? And thats after you finish all of the Nursing classes/tests?

Im going to call Excelsior about clinical rotations in PA. Do you happen to know which hospitals are partnered? I live in Southeastern PA, near Philadelphia.

Thanks again!

Editorial Team / Moderator · Jan 31, 2011

I believe the current Pennsylvania CPNE sites are in York and Chambersburg.