CO nurses-is Excelsior to get an RN OK???

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I'm in a rural area of CO, and am too far away from any brick and mortar nursing programs. The nearest LPN program is over 2 hours away, and to get an RN would require at least a 3 hour drive...With 2 small kids and a self employed husband who works crazy hours, I cannot drive 2-3 hours each way to attend school (or stay overnight...). It would compromise my family's income, risk my dh's business, be way too stressful for everyone, etc...

So, that leads me to Excelsior. I called the CO Board of Nursing, and the woman seemed kind of lukewarm on the program. Said that CO considers it "nontraditional" and that I would need to do an additional 750 hours of preceptorship (?) & get signed off on all those skills, to show that I had actually learned everything. I had talked to the DON at our local hospital 2 years ago, about the program, and she said that several local people were doing it, but again-seemed kind of lukewarm and vague on the program. I don't mind doing the extra hours, but don't want to waste time and $$ doing a sketchy program, kwim? Would I still be as employable?

This is basically my only chance to do nursing school. Any advice?? I've asked about this before in a general way, but am wondering if anyone from CO, specifically, has advice.

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Specializes in NICU.

I am sorry. I would love to try and help, but I do not understand what the progam is. Woul someone please explain it to me?

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I think you have to already be an LPN in order to obtain your RN training thru excelsior, if I understand your post, you mention that the nearest LPN school is 2 hours away, does this mean that you aren't a licensed nurse at this time?

I could be wrong, but it seems like I read about this somewhere, you might check the student forums or the distant learning forums.

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Yes, Excelsior requires the LPN after your name, or paramedic, or something similar. Their program is not available to you otherwise for their RN programs.

You are going to find it quite difficult to get a program that is all on-line and have your state credit it for licensure.

You may want to approach this from the other way and find out from them which on-line programs have been approved by them for licensure.

Going to move this thread to the DistancLearning forum where they will be more assistance available for you and others are aware of this type of program.

Best of luck to you.

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Sorry-should have said, I am not an LPN. However, when I called the CO Board of nursing, they said I had to do 350 hours of extra preceptorship (is that the right term?) if I was already an LPN, and 750 if I did the full 2 year program to become an RN (no prior LPN), with Excelsior. If they don't have that program-if you need to be an LPN to even start, the woman must have been confused... how odd... Oh well-I will recheck Exelsior's site and see what it says. Thanks

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Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

co may require a preceptor ship i do not know,but i do know how the ec program works. the program is meant for people with significant clinical experience. there are no clinicals involved with excelsior just a clinical exam where you must prove that you are competent enough to function as a first day rn. your evaluator does not give you advise or prompt you on patient care ..it is do or die. it is a self study work at your own pace course. i finished all my exams in 4 months but there are people that take years to complete them. however, in addition to this you wait in a long line to take the clinical exam and this could be as long as 8 months. they give the guideline of 2 years but it does not take that long if you stick to it. you will only qualify for excelsior if you are a lvn/pn , paramedic, rt or completed 50% of a rn program. so what the woman meant was you have 350 hours of preceptor ship if you were a lvn before you did the excelsior program or 750 if you were a paramedic, rt or completed 50% of a rn program. does this make sense?

sorry-should have said, i am not an lpn. however, when i called the co board of nursing, they said i had to do 350 hours of extra preceptorship (is that the right term?) if i was already an lpn, and 750 if i did the full 2 year program to become an rn (no prior lpn), with excelsior. if they don't have that program-if you need to be an lpn to even start, the woman must have been confused... how odd... oh well-i will recheck exelsior's site and see what it says. thanks
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Specializes in Research.

Hello~ I think this is my second post. I am a EC soon to be RN. I have completed all theory exams and need just the cpne and nclex. I agree with what some of you have stated regarding the discipline to teach yourself the material to pass both cpne and nclex. I think traditional school would have been easier for me. I have a family and work full time. It was hard to find time alone to study. It has taken me 5 years to complete the AA program. anyway,before I started the program I called the nursing recruitment office of a major hospital n NYC and asked if they hired EC grads they said sure we do. I'll keep you all posted once I am hired. Best wishes to you all :)

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Specializes in Med/Surg Nurse, Homecare, Visiting Nurse.
Hello~ I think this is my second post. I am a EC soon to be RN. I have completed all theory exams and need just the cpne and nclex. I agree with what some of you have stated regarding the discipline to teach yourself the material to pass both cpne and nclex. I think traditional school would have been easier for me. I have a family and work full time. It was hard to find time alone to study. It has taken me 5 years to complete the AA program. anyway,before I started the program I called the nursing recruitment office of a major hospital n NYC and asked if they hired EC grads they said sure we do. I'll keep you all posted once I am hired. Best wishes to you all :)

Hey, your in NY what part? How were the exams for you? Why did it take you so long? Did you have gen eds to take? Are you going to any workshops to help you prepare? How did you get into the program...ie LPN, RT..etc. Which exams was the most difficult? Sorry, so many questions just curious.

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Specializes in Research.

Hello BetterME29~ I'm in brooklyn as well. My background is 6yrs navy corps- 20years RMA and now 10years in clinical research. Why did it take long- tons of books/reading and drama of 6 kids(husband,college daughter,highschool daughter and the other three just plain school drama.This is the short version. I guess life just happens. I'm glad that excelsior allows for this. I would not have made it the traditional way. I was one semester from my BS in biology when my oldest daughter decided her temp stay with grandma was going to be a permanent one so I moved back to NYC as well- took a lot of readjusting. 911 happened and I was limited in what I could do in the emergency room due to my lack of RN- It took some time to get all my transcripts together since I attended school in CA,HI and NYC. Sorry too much info- I did plan to make this short...bottom line is that I'm so happy that EC has given me the oportunity to complete my RN at my own pace. :redpinkhe:w00t:

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Specializes in paramedic.

Yeah like what everyone said you have to be a LPN, Paramedic, or such to do the Excelsior. I know that Colorado started the additional prereqs a couple of years ago. In a way I don't think it is a bad thing, I kind of wish I had a chance to do more clinical. maybe find a clinical rotation instead of the CPNE or something

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EC college has been a wonderful experience for me. i have 2 kids and a spouse as well as all the stuff that goes along with adulthood. I did the EC program in less than 2yrs and am waiting on my CPNE. I have found a group of EC students at the hospital I work at and that is a great source of support. My study time was during the day while kids are at school and I work 3-12hr shift Fri-sun. You have to be very motivated and do alot of independent study. Good luck!! Don't worry if the BON does not get excited about EC, "traditional School" is not POSSIBLE for everyone. Ask around I have heard good things about the Nurses that finished this program, also previously called REGENTS!!

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Yeah like what everyone said you have to be a LPN, Paramedic, or such to do the Excelsior. I know that Colorado started the additional prereqs a couple of years ago. In a way I don't think it is a bad thing, I kind of wish I had a chance to do more clinical. maybe find a clinical rotation instead of the CPNE or something

If you feel like you need more clinical before the CPNE, I guess job shadowing could be an option. But, if you feel like you want a little more after you pass N-Clex, a woman, that was a few years ahead of me in high school, took an RN refresher course, at a local community college. So, you may want to check into that. There is supposed to be less competition , and more flexible. I think they have theory and, in hospital clinical, but more and more of them are switching to theory online, to make it more flexible.

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