Dealing with Judgement for going to Excelsior

[Amber07]

Well I passed my CPNE in December and graduated from Excelsior in February. I truly appreciate the oppurtunity to be able to do this program as I was able to graduate and work a full time job.

However, I am now finding that people are close minded and even rude when they find out you did not go through a traditional program. I sometimes try to avoid the "where did you graduate from?" question which is sad to me as I want to be happy that I succeeded. I was grandfathered into the program as an EMT and did not have clinical experience beyond CNA work for a couple of years so my CPNE success the first time around was a huge deal to me.

I did not pass the NCLEX the first time and am studying hard to take it again but it is really easy to get discouraged with all the naysayers who think I am "weird" and not as "successful" as those who went to a traditional program. No one knows I failed other then this board and my husband and one close friend who also went through Excelsior. Last week I had a coworker ask if I had taken the boards and then went on to say "well since you did everything on line you must have to study harder now to learn this stuff and make up for it" I was so mad. She has a step daughter who just graduated a nursing program at a local college and is taking the board next week.

I guess I am worried that this will continue into my career and the rest of my life. (I currently am not working in the medical field until I pass the boards) How do you guys deal with this sort of rude, unclassy and close minded opinions? I just find it hard to have the positive energy and motivation to continue studying for the NCLEX with all this negativety.

[BinkieRN, BSN, RN]

It may just be regional? Around where I live no one cares where you went to school only that you passed NCLEX. I'm sorry you're going through this and good luck with the NCLEX

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

I mostly smile and say, "Uh huh." They're not worth my energy.

Don't bother defending yourself.

[ukstudent]

How about "An accredited nursing school".

Forget about the comments. They are only said by people insecure about themselves, in other words, bullies.

Most nurses base their ideas about fellow nurses, not on what school they went to, or even what letters are behind their name, but on how they act as a fellow nurses.

Study hard, pass the NCLEX and wear that RN with pride.

[erinp88]

I recently found out in that as a general rule, all the local hospitals do not hire Excelsior grads..... I guess it's my fault for not calling them and asking, but they want nurses that graduated from programs with x amount of clinical hours....Even though there are probably 100 vacant RN positions, I won't be able to fill one of them..

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

Excelsior is well-respected here. Of course, I'm in NY, and a rural area and they're glad to get qualified nurses.

The only negativity I've gotten is seriously along the lines of, "*I* had to do clinicals! No fair!"

[chaxanmom]

Excelsior is well-respected here. Of course, I'm in NY, and a rural area and they're glad to get qualified nurses.

The only negativity I've gotten is seriously along the lines of, "*I* had to do clinicals! No fair!"

People *complained* about having to do clinicals?? How stupid. One of the reasons I chose ISU over EC is clinicals. They are a benefit! Sheesh!

[akanini, MSN, RN]

They are a benefit to some but others may feel it's a waste of time if they are already working as LPNs and know the ropes.

[chaxanmom]

They are a benefit to some but others may feel it's a waste of time if they are already working as LPNs and know the ropes.

Experience is never a "waste of time"

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

Experience is never a "waste of time"

Well, having been working as a floor nurse for some time now, yes, clinicals would be an utter waste of time for me.

I just failed the CONE. And it had NOTHING to do with my nursing care. It was documentation. Period.

[akanini, MSN, RN]

Experience not being a waste of time is your opinion. You are entitled to it. Not everyone feels the same.

[BBFRN, BSN, PhD]

Yes- it depends on how long you've been a LPN, and where you've been working. I didn't get tested on any nursing procedure or area of care at the CPNE that I couldn't already run circles around, so clinicals would've been a waste of time for me as well.

In my traditional RN-BSN program, we only had to do clinicals for Community Health. That was definitely a learning experience, because I had never worked in that area before.

Everyone should gauge their own experience and comfort level in deciding what kind of program to do. After 7 years of med/surg and ER at a level 1 trauma teaching hospital, the CPNE was easy as far as patient care went, because the acuity level was much lower than what I was used to. You're not gaining experience if it's redundant, and you've been performing these tasks independently for years. And I do say this as someone who has actually taught clinicals.

I agree with Sue that the care plan portion was where I focused most of my studies, because we did collaborative care plans at my hospital. I could update them, but not initiate them as a LPN. But, it was mainly because I was used to a different type of care plan.

I'd say that if you're not really comfortable performing most of the common nursing procedures, then a program with clinicals would be the thing to do, and it would be a valuable learning experience. I can see where Chaxanmom is coming from- I just don't think it applies to everyone.