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.
Keith- You are a wise man and I am following in your foot steps and finding another route. I haven't gone to the CPNE but I know several who have and have failed at least once. Several like you, have spent extra money on workshops and books just to try and get through. Just because they post that people have been passing the CPNE- it doesn't say if it is their first, second or last try or if they are even the same students returning; how many dropped out before that, and how many people actually take the CPNE during those years….
I am a paramedic of 5 years and I currently work in the hospital side of things. I am currently in limbo until June 23rd, due to apparently not understanding that the semester program rules now applies to the do it at your own pace (beware the fine print kids and read those e-mails thoroughly). I had a just applied for LS1 at the end of March, but apparently my date to take the test was the last semester day in April. Because I didn't take the test on time†I got a Fail on the test and now have to repay the money for the course. (I never even paid the money to pearson vue to schedule my test…). I even paid for the pre-test as well, which I can still access but not the actual part of LS1 to take the test, apparently the pre-test dates do not correspond with the actual class dates.
I did call about this and I asked how can you put me in a semester program when I have to pay extra and travel to a completely different location to test anyways (nearest pearson vue site is about a half hour away)? I was informed about the changes only when I asked, and then I got a hem-haw answer about the wait times increasing, and the loss of testing sites. The person I chatted with over the phone, told me that they were always looking for hospitals to help expand their program and for new testing sites and that would help bring the wait list times downâ€- I did inform her that I am here to pass this program and get my RN, not to locate them hospitals for them to test atâ€. I was going to appeal, but I am done with this.
This is the third time, the rules have changed in this program- once was the requirements after I had been accepted and passed that baloney class that was 1 credit, then it was the fees for testing and class itself, and now the semester rules. Also, the CPNE wait times have now changed on the website- if you notice it says 5 months in one spot, and a little further down it states the wait times are 7-12 months, which coincides with my friend who failed and they told him that it was a 9-15 months wait (since 12 months is the average of the 9-15 time frame.).
Keith- I am sorry that you too found this out late in the game. But thank you for reporting your issues as well.
All others- When I started I found the tests challenging in the beginning, but then they seemed to get a lot more difficult after differences. I wish anyone else well and good luck in their journey. A friend who did pass at my hospital said he noticed a lot of changes over the last year with his program as well. He passed the CPNE and was doing the BSN program but has gotten out of it. Check and print that list of CPNE hospitals, because my old list I printed looked a lot fuller before the first of the year. If this is your only option and you think you can do it, fantastic. If not, or you're unsure; I recommend a backup plan or a regular brick and mortar school.
For me- I will take the LS1 test and then bail. I cannot fathom giving these people more of my money except to get my grade up ( I only have 1 D†out of all of my 275 college credits and that was a long time ago) so this was a shocker. But to give them more and more money and then $2300+ to say ok, I will see you in a year (what the bugger am I supposed to do for a year? Twiddle my thumbs and call every day several times a day for a opening (notice on the payment page the new fees for dropping your date))???? Not barring travel, lodging, yearly fee costs, and that graduation fee? Oh and add in the wait time after you pass the CPNE for everything to transfer over and take the NCLEX date? I think not. I have other schools I am interested in and I am going to explore other options. I took this program because I believed it was going to work with me and my schedule, be cost effective and timely. I was incorrect in this assumption.
Specializes in EMT since 92, Paramedic since 97, RN and PHRN 2021.
For me- I will take the LS1 test and then bail. .
I didn't think the nursing tests at excelsior don't transfer out anywhere, why even bother if you're not gonna to complete. I'm not being a smart Alec just curious.
I didn't think the nursing tests at excelsior don't transfer out anywhere, why even bother if you're not gonna to complete. I'm not being a smart Alec just curious.
No offense taken. I think it is more of a pride thing for me. I don't like failure and it being on my record. Tis true that most programs don't take Excelsior credits but some brick and mortar schools will take some of those credits from what I am finding. You never know till you try, and sometimes you succeed.
Good luck, tmjones! I hope you find a program that works for you.
Thanks Pixie! You did a great job on a lot on this topic with lots of posts, guidance and knowledge and you and several have been instrumental in the beginning. I hope people do pass this program, but for me I guess I need more of a brick and mortar thing.
If you did your due diligence at the beginning - you know all that about the risks. For some it is the only option that will fit into their life. I am always amazed at those who really slam Excelsior. If you don't want to take the risk, don't! But why drag it down for others.
tmjones1
42 Posts
Keith- You are a wise man and I am following in your foot steps and finding another route. I haven't gone to the CPNE but I know several who have and have failed at least once. Several like you, have spent extra money on workshops and books just to try and get through. Just because they post that people have been passing the CPNE- it doesn't say if it is their first, second or last try or if they are even the same students returning; how many dropped out before that, and how many people actually take the CPNE during those years….
I am a paramedic of 5 years and I currently work in the hospital side of things. I am currently in limbo until June 23rd, due to apparently not understanding that the semester program rules now applies to the do it at your own pace (beware the fine print kids and read those e-mails thoroughly). I had a just applied for LS1 at the end of March, but apparently my date to take the test was the last semester day in April. Because I didn't take the test on time†I got a Fail on the test and now have to repay the money for the course. (I never even paid the money to pearson vue to schedule my test…). I even paid for the pre-test as well, which I can still access but not the actual part of LS1 to take the test, apparently the pre-test dates do not correspond with the actual class dates.
I did call about this and I asked how can you put me in a semester program when I have to pay extra and travel to a completely different location to test anyways (nearest pearson vue site is about a half hour away)? I was informed about the changes only when I asked, and then I got a hem-haw answer about the wait times increasing, and the loss of testing sites. The person I chatted with over the phone, told me that they were always looking for hospitals to help expand their program and for new testing sites and that would help bring the wait list times downâ€- I did inform her that I am here to pass this program and get my RN, not to locate them hospitals for them to test atâ€. I was going to appeal, but I am done with this.
This is the third time, the rules have changed in this program- once was the requirements after I had been accepted and passed that baloney class that was 1 credit, then it was the fees for testing and class itself, and now the semester rules. Also, the CPNE wait times have now changed on the website- if you notice it says 5 months in one spot, and a little further down it states the wait times are 7-12 months, which coincides with my friend who failed and they told him that it was a 9-15 months wait (since 12 months is the average of the 9-15 time frame.).
http://www.excelsior.edu/schools/nursing/cpne/application-and-payment
Keith- I am sorry that you too found this out late in the game. But thank you for reporting your issues as well.
All others- When I started I found the tests challenging in the beginning, but then they seemed to get a lot more difficult after differences. I wish anyone else well and good luck in their journey. A friend who did pass at my hospital said he noticed a lot of changes over the last year with his program as well. He passed the CPNE and was doing the BSN program but has gotten out of it. Check and print that list of CPNE hospitals, because my old list I printed looked a lot fuller before the first of the year. If this is your only option and you think you can do it, fantastic. If not, or you're unsure; I recommend a backup plan or a regular brick and mortar school.
For me- I will take the LS1 test and then bail. I cannot fathom giving these people more of my money except to get my grade up ( I only have 1 D†out of all of my 275 college credits and that was a long time ago) so this was a shocker. But to give them more and more money and then $2300+ to say ok, I will see you in a year (what the bugger am I supposed to do for a year? Twiddle my thumbs and call every day several times a day for a opening (notice on the payment page the new fees for dropping your date))???? Not barring travel, lodging, yearly fee costs, and that graduation fee? Oh and add in the wait time after you pass the CPNE for everything to transfer over and take the NCLEX date? I think not. I have other schools I am interested in and I am going to explore other options. I took this program because I believed it was going to work with me and my schedule, be cost effective and timely. I was incorrect in this assumption.