Excelsior BSN-MSN

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Is anyone familiar with any of the following information regarding BSN-MSN at Excelsior College?

I am an Associates Degree (May 2008) prepared RN from SUNY WCC, currently employed in a Medical-Surgical setting. I expect to graduate with my BSN from CUNY Lehman in May 2010.

1. Can I start taking courses towards my MSN at Excelsior before I have my BSN degree?

2. Is the Nursing Informatics specialization a subset of the Clinical Systems Management specialization?

3. Don't the three specializations have at least a few courses in common?

4. Is it possible to work with my advisor to select courses in such a way that I can specialize in all three specializations?

I read the descriptions, and I am interested in clinical systems management as well as nursing informatics. In addition, I have always enjoyed teaching. It seems like a perfect combination of aptitude and course availability.

Thank you

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I'm curious about your choice of Excelsior. I started looking at RN MSN programs. I'm an RN and have a BS from Excelsior but have decided to do the RN BSN first. I've decided against Excelsior for for the BSN because of issues I read on these boards about some nursing boards not accepting Excelsior. Also, even Western Governor's was going to make me send transcripts from all the colleges I have credits from rather than accepting the consolidated transcript from Excelsior. Those things made me pause and reconsider. I've found there are other programs that are also flexible and just as cheap.

So I'm curious, have you looked at other online MSN programs? What made you decide on EXcelsior? No argument intended...I'd just appreciate your thoughts.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
I've decided against Excelsior for for the BSN because of issues I read on these boards about some nursing boards not accepting Excelsior.

That is only the ADN program -- the state BONs always look at the source of your RN when it comes to licensure. Since your original RN was not a result of graduating from Excelsior, you wouldn't have a problem. :) Just more food for thought!

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I already have my RN license after my Associates in Nursing from SUNY.

I expect to complete my BSN from CUNY.

So, I was thinking along the lines of what Lisa "LunahRN" has posted above.

I have not decided on Excelsior.

I am just considering Excelsior.

What made me look at Excelsior is:

I'd definitely like to hear from other people who have had successful distance learning experiences on a Masters level.

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Have you considered posing your questions to a counselor at Excelsior?

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This is the reply from a counselor at Excelsior:

You can't take MS courses prior to completing your BS, but we can get you enrolled and into classes pretty quickly after you have the degree. The Nursing Informatics specialization is completely different than the Clinical Systems Management specialization. The three specializations are very different but do have the 5 core courses in common. You cannot complete all the specializations - you do need just one. But we also have certificate programs in all three areas, so you could, for example, do the MS in nursing with a specialization in Nursing Informatics but then also complete graduate certificates in Nursing Education and Nursing Management.

Hope this helps!

Sincerely,

Graduate Academic Advisor

School of Nursing

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