Do you regret getting your LPN-BSN or RN online

MauraRN · Jul 20, 2009

I did EC ADN. It worked for me, love distance format and I am beginning EC MSN in the fall. EC is now the largest nursing school in the country. As such, EC should assume a more assertive role in squelching the arbitrary regulations being issued by the self-important fiefdoms, aka BON's. EC could help shape a national conversation on the relative merits of its program and the excellence of its graduates. EC graduates should not be subjected to the whims of local pooh-bahs.

Maureen F., RN, BS

Brooklynqueen, RN · Aug 28, 2009

:1luvu: i think you answered my question. but would love to hear from you via email..or chat....my profile: new grad :smile:, need to online schooling :behindpc: but heard such negative feedback..such as it would be hard for me to get a job afterwards.. do you have any books left that you would like to sell? contact me to give me the full lowdown on excelsior college. college network came to my job recruiting but heard alot of under-the-table negative feedback. pls contact or respond!

Brooklynqueen, RN · Aug 28, 2009

:flwrhrts: okkk, i gotta ask, what is ISU, im new to nurseblog>.....thanks!

caliotter3 · Aug 28, 2009

ISU = Indiana State University. This school has a distance LPN to BSN program up and running in many areas. Difference between it and EC is that they require clinicals, EC has a clinical exam instead. Their program is currently accepted in CA, for example, where EC is no longer accepted. There are several threads about the ISU program in this forum.

erinp88 · Aug 28, 2009

I regret it! I did LPN to ADN through Excelsior. Just became CPNE eligible yesterday. I live in an area where Excelsior grads are not recommended for hire. I have out of date clinical skills because I worked in an educational setting. When I signed up with Excelsior, my original thought was that I would've had a different job by now...No, not in Michigan, especially West Michigan. Now even when I get my RN, the hospitals are not into hiring Excelsior grads. Too many new grads from local traditional programs. Some of the job postings even say "Must have completed a 400+ hr clinical program" or something to that effect. Shame on me for not checking, I just assumed an RN was an RN.

Brooklynqueen, RN · Aug 28, 2009

ISU = Indiana State University. This school has a distance LPN to BSN program up and running in many areas. Difference between it and EC is that they require clinicals, EC has a clinical exam instead. Their program is currently accepted in CA, for example, where EC is no longer accepted. There are several threads about the ISU program in this forum.

okkk problem solved...thanks for responding so quickly! I just want to go the right route..thanks so much for the clarity of this issue! you've been great!!! so im taking that your saying ISU is more accreditable Nationwide than ec due to the clinical process?

MSNMPHPhdNMD · Aug 28, 2009

You technically need no experience for EC to get your RN "online." (I don't know about ISU). The jury is still out on whether significant experience helps in the CPNE or not. However, it does seem that SOME experience in any direct patient care is helpful.
The EC clinical test is 2-1/2 days long and are at specific sites which may or may not be in your state. I am in Iowa and chose to go to Wisconsin because we could drive in a reasonable amount of time. Of course, the WI sites are also the closest to me. Others choose any available CPNE site in the US so they can get in as quickly as possible.

I wont go as far as to say that. excelsior has some guidelines for enrollment. i know for a fact you have to be a paramedic, military trained corpsman or LPN to get in the program.

Baloney Amputation, BSN, LPN, RN · Aug 29, 2009

I wont go as far as to say that. excelsior has some guidelines for enrollment. i know for a fact you have to be a paramedic, military trained corpsman or LPN to get in the program.

Of course, or an RT or other various titles that require educational clinical experience...

In the post of mine you quoted, I'm talking about significant experience outside of educational clinicals in whatever speciality the student has already achieved may or may not be particularly helpful. For instance, I've heard of several people who did the 50% completion of an ADN degree find it incredibly helpful to just have any patient contact as a job, like a PCT or CNA, even though they can't legally practice many of the required nursing skills but still get patient contact. I've also heard of CPNE testers that have been LPNs for 500 years and have much difficulty toning down their substantial clinical experience to meet the requirements of the EC.

MSNMPHPhdNMD · Aug 29, 2009

Of course, or an RT or other various titles that require educational clinical experience...
In the post of mine you quoted, I'm talking about significant experience outside of educational clinicals in whatever speciality the student has already achieved may or may not be particularly helpful. For instance, I've heard of several people who did the 50% completion of an ADN degree find it incredibly helpful to just have any patient contact as a job, like a PCT or CNA, even though they can't legally practice many of the required nursing skills but still get patient contact. I've also heard of CPNE testers that have been LPNs for 500 years and have much difficulty toning down their substantial clinical experience to meet the requirements of the EC.

No worries, it was worded in such a way to say anyone can get into the program so now you have clarified it.Thannks for clearing that up .:)

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Aug 29, 2009

No regrets. I'm now doing the BSN online. It has not been a barrier to finding work. The recession's taken care of that.

caliotter3 · Aug 29, 2009

okkk problem solved...thanks for responding so quickly! I just want to go the right route..thanks so much for the clarity of this issue! you've been great!!! so im taking that your saying ISU is more accreditable Nationwide than ec due to the clinical process?

I would suppose so. At least that is what the individual state BRNs would say in defense of their stance. However, I don't buy off on that. If the lack of clinical practice in the EC program was a real problem, then I would have expected the various boards to refuse to acknowledge EC from the get go. Historically, there were only two states that were against EC at the beginning. I do not care to learn about nor dwell on the politics of "get rid of recognition for EC", but "recognize School Y or School Z". I see it as politics, nothing else. Without Excelsior College, there are perhaps thousands of competent practicing nurses who would not be in nursing today.

David Offenbaker, BSN, RN · Aug 30, 2009

Wow, so Michigan has some hospitals that specifically won't hire EC grads? That's a new one to me!

I got hired at a hospital yesterday and asked the nursing manager what she thought, and this is what she said. She said that her only worry was that 'online' (I know it's not online but she kept referring to it as that) programs wouldn't be able to teach you critical thinking.

I told her that since being an LVN I have worked in Med/Surg, and ICU continuously because I wanted to get tons of skills--and critical thinking had always been one of them. So, when all ways said and done I asked her if she had an Excelsior grade come in, who had been an LVN/LPN for a couple years before-- would she hire them? She nodded her head and said "yes" :-).

So, I am curious which hospitals are saying that you HAVE to have the extra clinical experience? Working as an LVN in the hospitals, at least here in Texas, there are almost no differences between LVN and RN except that they can hang blood, do initial 'hanging' of TPN, and push some cardiac drugs LVN's cannot push. Am I forgetting anything? :typing

Dave