EC College costs seem low but are not worth it

[Keithin PA]

HI, I attended EC Nursing program and although it seems like a great deal on the surface, Its not.

EC looks great on paper, low costs, online classes, short clinicals, etc, its drew me in as it has THOUSANDS OF OTHERS but theres a catch.

Its all for nothing if you dont pass the subjective CPNE exam convinentely scheduled at the end of the program.

I took all the coursework, paid all the fees, went to numerious workshops on passing the CPNE, but did not pass the CPNE twice, the first time I took it, no one passed out of 6 people and the second time I took the exam,, one person passed out of six.

You might be saying, well, I will work harded than this guy and pass, I thought the same thing, did everything possable to pass, studued constantly for the CPNE, did it all, took the EC prep work, everything, this is a great deal with one catch, the objective CPNE exam.

If I can just convince just one person to not go this route and take a tradational LPN to RN program, Ive done some good here,

Please dont get pulled in to this what looks like a easy way to become a RN, I know it looks good on the surface but its deceiving and you can easly walk away with nothing like some of my classmates taking the CPNE and failing it for the third time tha last time I took the test.

Their is only one sure winner in this scenario and sadly to say it is Excelsior College in making a profit.

Best Regards, Keith LPN in PA

[emtpbill, ASN, RN, EMT-P]

As a current student in excelsiors program I read your post with great interest.

I cannot say one way or the other that you are right or you are wrong as I'm only taking my last test of phase 1.

Can I ask what location you took your CPNE at?

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

Caveat emptor. Do your research. I don't recommend Excelsior College for students who have in-person options — and I say that as a graduate. If people think this is the easy way, they are sadly mistaken.

OP, are you testing for a third time?

[Keithin PA]

Hi, Thanks for your response, I took it at Chambersburg, PA, good Luck by the way, some people do make it through, Keith

[Keithin PA]

HI, Thanks for your response, Im wasent trying to say its only for people looking for an easy program, I meant to say its appears to be extreemely convient and inexpensive, no Im not going to take it again a third time, I was completely prepaired last time and should have passed, fool me once shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me.. fool me three times , whell Im not sure what they say about that, LOL.. Im glad you had a good experience with them. Keith in PA

[emtpbill, ASN, RN, EMT-P]

Thanks Keith. Sorry to hear you haven't had success in it. And what do you think was the issue? Was there a certain part they kept failing you on or do they not tell you?

[Keithin PA]

The first time was completely my fault, I failed a skills station. The second time I was failed because a clinical instructor did not like my rational for picking a nursing diagnosis and interventions, the nursing diagnosis and interventions were considered approperate for the patient but the instructor did not like one part of my rational for why I picked the nursing diagnosis, it has to have two parts, I checked with a Dr and wrote a appeal, my response from EC was just a form letter stating the clinical instructor decided it was wrong and that was the reason for my fail, no mention to what I wrote in the appeal. This school has thousands and thousands of students, I just dont beleive in EC anymore, it seems like more of a lottery than a school, anyway, best of luck to all of you already in the process.. Keith inPA

[Nalon1 RN/EMT-P, BSN, RN]

I knew this was a failure post before I read it.

Sorry you did not pass Keith. You still have one more try.

For the tens of thousands that have passed the program, I would believe they would disagree with you.

It was a pain.

It was not cheap.

It was not fast.

It was not easy.

It was frustrating at times.

It was nerve racking.

The CPNE sucks.

I would not want to go through it again.

All that said, it was worth it.

You have 2 choices:

Take the CPNE a 3rd time.

Don't take the CPNE again.

Yes you could fail again, but you could also pass. If you don't take it, all that time and money is wasted for sure since most of EC is not transferable as actual nursing credits.

Anyone that has done any research on Excelsior knows about the CPNE, and that the CPNE is a huge ordeal and not easy. It is well known that it is a pass/fail and has a high fail rate. If failed 3 times, that is it. Each person needs to see if it is something that they think they can do. I have never heard anyone say the Excelsior is easy. Can't say I have heard any that have completed it say it was not worth it.

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

You gave us one reason that you failed your second CPNE, but those of us who have been there/done that know that it was just the final reason — you don't fail for just one thing.

The reality is that you completely didn't fail out, you still have a chance to endure 2.5 days and be a graduate nurse on the other side, but I get it — it's expensive, and while it's not a difficult test, it's so easy to fail. I don't know how many times I would want to do it if I hadn't passed. I would like to think I would keep on until I was truly out.

Best of luck in your educational endeavors. I hope you find a program where you can be successful.

[Nurse_Of_All_Trades, LPN, RN]

The first time was completely my fault, I failed a skills station. The second time I was failed because a clinical instructor did not like my rational for picking a nursing diagnosis and interventions, the nursing diagnosis and interventions were considered approperate for the patient but the instructor did not like one part of my rational for why I picked the nursing diagnosis, it has to have two parts, I checked with a Dr and wrote a appeal, my response from EC was just a form letter stating the clinical instructor decided it was wrong and that was the reason for my fail, no mention to what I wrote in the appeal. This school has thousands and thousands of students, I just dont beleive in EC anymore, it seems like more of a lottery than a school, anyway, best of luck to all of you already in the process.. Keith inPA

Keith, thank you for sharing your experience. By any chance, did you take a workshop prior to either CPNE attempts?

[emtpbill, ASN, RN, EMT-P]

Keith I can't help but to sympathize with your feelings about the CPNE. I will hopefully be taking mine by the end of the year(hopefully sooner) and cannot begin to imagine what it might feel like on the second try to hear you did not pass.

I sincerely hope you do decide, one day, to try the CPNE again and wish you nothing but skill and luck!

[MiniNurseintraining]

I'm sorry to hear your plight OP. This is one of my fears getting into a program that do not adequately prepare me and is just one huge loan feeding money scheme and the fact that I might get plugged into a health care career that is dead end and goes no where. I don't want to become complacent but I can stress myself out a good majority of the time. Good luck and thanks for the forewarning.