I am new here, a brief history: I an LPN currently working in acute rehab for a VA Hospital, I have been an LPN for 15 yrs. and would love to get my RN. I have primarily worked in the clinical setting.
I recently met a EC Graduate at work and she said it was a great program, since then I haven't seen her, and was told that she is now working in ICU at a major hospital. So I didn't get e chance to gather much information about the LPN-to-RN program. But, ever since meeting her I was very curious. I'd love to get involved with a distant learning RN program since I work full-time. I check my state board, and EC is acceptable here.
I am so pleased to have found this site. I stumbled upon the site while doing info searches for Excelsior College information. So far I have learned that EC is a distant learning college that can prepare LPN's for a bridge program to RN, among other programs. I see many links in my search that direct me to sites like the College Network and Rue, it looks like they sell study materials to pass the test-out courses. I have sent for information from Excelsior.
I was so happy to find this site, maybe someone can answer a few questions for me.
I hope I am following this correctly:
--As an LPN we can test each required course and get credit?
--How do you advance to take your nclex, that part is a little confusing?
--Are Rue or College Network good resources to prepare for testing.
--If you are in the program, are you happy with the program?
I just finished my nursing theory classes and now, waiting for the fcca to come in the mail. I have gone through the program with 2 friends from LPN school. We started with 4 but one decided to do Rue and ultimately quit because she was overwhelmed with the Rue format. They send 1 book per class and you have to answer something like 1700 questions for their money back quarantee (rip off). If you have the real books you get a much better education.
First of all GO THROUGH EXCELSIOR!!! You don't need Rue, college network, etc. They are just publishing companies, not colleges as so many people wrongly think. Excelsior tells you what books to purchase we all bought last years edition on amazon.com for next to nothing and downloaded the free study guides.
We did also purchse either study101 or lisa arends notes on ebay for 12.00 per class ( I prefer study101 but either one works). For transition to the RN and maternal we actually only used the notes and never bought the books.
All 3 of us passed all of our tests and here we are. We started in the end of December 2009, If all goes well we should sit for the CPNE by January 2010.
I can't say enough good about the great excelsior staff they sit and listen to your questions and never rush you through calls. The process has been user friendly and I feel like we have gained knowledge without having to sit in lectures and waste time listening to classmates jabber on about their Aunt Bettys back surgery, ugh!
Hello everyone, I recently completed my LPN at a community college in Arizona and wish to quickly bridge into a LPN to RN program that is universally respected. My community college offers a bridge program, but it would still take me a year to get into. Excelsior College initially looked like a possibility. However, after speaking to a few hospital nurse recruiters (from a couple of states including CA) I was told point blank that they DO NOT hire Excelsior grads. Of course the College Network folks won't dare mention this. I really do not relish the idea of having to gain tons of experience before a hospital would even consider hiring me. I welcome all opinions on going the Excelsior route.
EC grads take the same NCLEX as everyone else. In AZ they require a preceptorship of 120 hours in addition. The CPNE is probably harder than skills checkoff and clinicals combined in some nursing programs. If you are working as an LPN you can gain even more experience and use it to your advantage. Code experiences, acute changes in condition, wound care, IV training, taking orders, talking to doctors, reading and reporting lab values. All of these things, to name but a few, enhance your experience and training. Self teaching, studying and passing hard finals... show great character, motivation and commitment. These are all qualities that employers should consider when they decide to totally shut out a whole progam for nursing canidates from which to hire. These classes/exams are just as official as any other nursing school experince that is made of brick and morter.
I don't know about any of you but what I learned in Nursing school lectures were that :
1. They stood up front and read verbatum from the powerpoint. ( Hum EC study guide anyone?)
2. I had to read and read and read and self teach and study 99.9 % of the material on my own (and was expected to do so)
3. The tests were the only source of grading. They were mutiple choice and were hard as hell.
So... after tons of research, weighing my options I have decided that EC is a choice that will fit in with the goal of getting an RN.
You could post a question for EC grads from around the country to post where they got a job ( State and type of establishment).
Everywhere I go EC grads are working here in FL and GA. EC is either the second or third largest RN college in the country, they would be out of business if no one hired the nurses they graduate. I live in Tampa and I know at minimum 20 nurses that went through EC doing everything from ADON to ICU.
Hello Everyone ~ Is there anyone in the DMV (District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia) metropolitan area currently doing the EC LPN-to-RN program? I need a study buddy or study group. Please contact me @ [email protected] ~Thanks:-)
Veronica22715
55 Posts
I just finished my nursing theory classes and now, waiting for the fcca to come in the mail. I have gone through the program with 2 friends from LPN school. We started with 4 but one decided to do Rue and ultimately quit because she was overwhelmed with the Rue format. They send 1 book per class and you have to answer something like 1700 questions for their money back quarantee (rip off). If you have the real books you get a much better education.
First of all GO THROUGH EXCELSIOR!!! You don't need Rue, college network, etc. They are just publishing companies, not colleges as so many people wrongly think. Excelsior tells you what books to purchase we all bought last years edition on amazon.com for next to nothing and downloaded the free study guides.
We did also purchse either study101 or lisa arends notes on ebay for 12.00 per class ( I prefer study101 but either one works). For transition to the RN and maternal we actually only used the notes and never bought the books.
All 3 of us passed all of our tests and here we are. We started in the end of December 2009, If all goes well we should sit for the CPNE by January 2010.
I can't say enough good about the great excelsior staff they sit and listen to your questions and never rush you through calls. The process has been user friendly and I feel like we have gained knowledge without having to sit in lectures and waste time listening to classmates jabber on about their Aunt Bettys back surgery, ugh!
Good Luck!:)