Changes to nursing theory course/exam delivery

Nursing Students Excelsior

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

Changes to the ADN Program — this is from the school:

The faculty in the School of Nursing has approved moving the nursing theory portion of the associate degree in nursing program to an online course-only format. Associate degree in nursing students enrolling at Excelsior College on or after December 6, 2019, will register for online courses to meet their nursing theory requirements. These changes will be phased in for current students and are part of a planned transformation of the associate degree in nursing program to strengthen curriculum and ensure graduates are prepared to work in contemporary health care environments. The College will be in direct contact with current students individually to review their degree completion plans. This change does not affect the option to use UExcel exams to complete general education/arts and sciences requirements.

Specializes in Nurse Scientist-Research.

So I take it this was the complete demise of the old-style "test out" format Regents/Excelsior was known for over the years. In a way, not unexpected. I know they are really struggling overall. I find it very sad since my husband did their ADN program in 2001 and we both got our BSNs there. We've both since gone further in our education with me completing my PhD a few weeks ago and he about to finish his 1st semester in PMHNP school. I did not experience the theory courses for ADN but hubby did and it allowed him to complete his nursing theory courses in about 6 months (after fiddling around with pre-reqs and co-reqs for about a year).

Specializes in LTC, home health.

I have thought about trying Excelsior College for my RN for a while, but I'm afraid that taking the online classes will be too expensive. Excelsior charges over 500 per credit. That is kind of steep. The community college in my area charges half that.

Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
20 minutes ago, mellster said:

I have thought about trying Excelsior College for my RN for a while, but I'm afraid that taking the online classes will be too expensive. Excelsior charges over 500 per credit. That is kind of steep. The community college in my area charges half that.

Excelsior College is a private school, so your community college will be less expensive. If you have a local program, that would probably be your best option.

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Does anyone know what schools accept the Uexcel and ECE nursing exams? I can't figure out why student would take them if even Excelsior won't accept them.

TBH I think the Excelsior concept pre-2020 is great, wish I would have known about it before. Not sure how many students are going to go through the busy work of online classes while still having to take that grueling pass/fail practicum at the end of the degree.

Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

It's just the nursing theory exams that they aren't offering to students any longer if they enrolled after a certain date. Those nursing theory exams were never offered to external students for other universities. Those other exams may still be required or accepted by other schools, but these are different exams. 

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