Could Excelsior be my answer? Need advise

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Sep 26, 2009

Do you have to pay the hospital back if you quit the program?

caliotter3 · Sep 26, 2009

Yes, it does sound as if your job is dragging you down. Try with everything you have in you to stick it out in your current program. Excelsior College is a viable option, provided your state accepts EC for licensure, but it is not the best option because of the end of course clinical exam. You are far better off by going through your current program with its clinical component. Good luck on your LVN exam. Wishing you the best on turning this around. Try to explore the option of withdrawing from the program and reentering after a break. Sometimes this is possible, but you have to be in good standing to do it.

robert2010 · Sep 27, 2009

If I quit I do not have to pay the money back to the hospital.

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Sep 27, 2009

Then think about Excelsior.

www.excelsior.edu

Also, though, what state are you in? The program is not accepted everywhere.

NC Girl BSN · Sep 28, 2009

Good Luck on your LPN exam! Make sure EC is accepted in your state. Its an attainable degree but not easy. I really hate that your not passing but its still early in the semester for you to throw in the towel. Is there anyway you can talk to your manager and maybe do two 12 hr shifts on the weekend? Do all you can to make it through the semester. We are all routing for you!.

robert2010 · Sep 28, 2009

I'm in Texas, EC is well accepted here. Today I decided to talk to my boss and demand less working hours and try 100% on raising my grades and leave EC as plan B. but seriously is the clinical part EC that bad? thanks for the advises.

caliotter3 · Sep 28, 2009

Look at it this way. When you do clinicals through a regular school program all you have to do is show up to clinical prepared, get through your shift, do what your instructor and the preceptor nurses tell you. You're home free. The CPNE is an emotionally intense three day testing session. You don't have an opportunity to really establish a rapport with the testing personnel. You have to go into at least three patient care scenarios and perform to 100% of standards and complete the lab stations perfectly. Many people fail. Their nerves get to them. Little things can trip you up. The upside is you have three chances if you can afford to pay for it. The downside is if you fail the third time, you are dismissed from the program and can not reenter for five years. So much easier to just go to clinicals at your school and meet their standards. But it is there if you need this program as a backup. HTH

Editorial Team / Moderator · Sep 28, 2009

but seriously is the clinical part EC that bad?

The pass rate for the clinical exam (CPNE) was about 59% the last time the statistics were updated. So yeah, it's not easy. Do-able? Yes. :) It just depends on preparation and how a student manages his/her stress.

ivanh3 · Sep 28, 2009

Hello, My nursing program have four semesters (nursing 1, 2, 3, 4) I did excellent in nursing 1 & 2, but in nursing 3, right now I'm not doing so well (failing now), my job is overworking me and since my job is paying for my school they think they have the right to work my schedule as they wish (work 25 hrs/week but scattered all over the week and on call). In nursing 3, NS turn up a notch on critical thinking and with me working an unpredictable schedule it is not working for me. I want to continue nursing but right now I'm broke because I work 25 hours a week. On friday I'm taking the LVN exam because my RN program is a dual career (RN & LVN at same time) and I was thinking of changing to Excelsior. I need advices, thanks.

Suck it up and keep going with what you have. I hate to get all coach-locker room-cliche on you, but seriously, take a deep breath, burn the midnight oil, be tired all the time, but do WHATEVER it takes to finish the program you are in now. If you are failing, then go to your instructor and beg for help. Ask your classmates. Ask questions here. 25 hours a week for work is not a lot. It might feel like it is, but it is not. If you drop everything and switch to Excelsior, you still might fail, and at best you will end up with a degree that is not recognized in every state. Just because it is recognized in the state you live in now, doesn't mean it will still be when it comes time to graduate. Research what happened in Georgia. For the record I am not being critical of EC, but there is no getting around reality.

You are in the program you need to be in. I think it is a big plus that you get your LVN halfway through. My roommates had that option and it really helped them in terms of better jobs for school and practice for the NCLEX.

You can do it.

Ivan

MauraRN · Sep 28, 2009

Ditto Ivanh3. I did the EC program LPN to RN, worked as LPN full-time, did very well on all of the exams, failed 1st CPNE passed 2nd CPNE. That performance exam has little to do with nursing knowledge or experience but has everything to do with how well you can stuff your stress. And at $2000+ a shot, most of us have a wee bit of trouble keeping the stress down. It is really an all or nothing at all exam. It sounds as if you would do better staying in your current school, work your 25 hours, and study the rest of the hours of your life that aren't absolutely necessary for sleeping, eating, commuting. Forget a social life, love life, family life until you finish school. You can do it.

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Sep 28, 2009

Ditto.