Excelsior colleg grads

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Does anyone know why Excelsior college nursing grads cant get jobs in some states such as California? Does anyone know how to get around this?

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Insufficient clinical education -does not meet state minimum requirements for nursing education.

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I know that is the typical view but people forget that excelsior is a bridge program. Most people were lpn's or paramedics for years before getting nursing degree from Excelsior. If experience counts for anything than they are actually better prepared than your average new grad... or at least just as prepared based on actual working experience. At least thats the way I look at.

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I know that is the typical view but people forget that excelsior is a bridge program. Most people were lpn's or paramedics for years before getting nursing degree from Excelsior. If experience counts for anything than they are actually better prepared than your average new grad... or at least just as prepared based on actual working experience. At least thats the way I look at.

No one is "forgetting" anything. You asked why states set limits/restrictions on licensure of EC grads. HouTX explained why. If you already know that is the "typical view," why are you asking? When LPNs, paramedics, RTs, etc., go to other nursing programs to become RNs, they still have to complete the required clinical experiences. (I used to teach in an LPN-to-RN program; no one at our school suggested, and the state BON certainly would not have bought, that the students didn't need to complete supervised clinical experiences as RN students). To me, the bigger question is why do so many states give EC grads a pass on clinicals, when they are required for every other applicant for nursing licensure in that state??? Nurses from other countries, who are competent and experienced RNs, often can't get licensed in US states because they lack sufficient clinical hours in particular areas of nursing, but EC grads can get licensed with no clinicals at all -- explain to me, please, how that makes sense.

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Does anyone know why Excelsior college nursing grads cant get jobs in some states such as California? Does anyone know how to get around this?

It's really very simple. It is because the education doesn't meet many BoNs' standards for minimum education for a profession. There is no way to "get around this" except by going to a better school in the first place, or limiting your professional work options to the states that think insufficient professional education is acceptable.

Since you ask.

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Well I thought there was something more to it than the typical view. If those are the reasons than where does the experience of the LPN or Paramedic come in to play. If I were a patient I would rather have some one taking care of me who had experience in the real world practicing starting lines, giving drugs, intubating (for paramedics) and saving lives rather than a new grad with a few "supervised" clinicals! It was also required for excelsior students to get clinical experience before becoming paramedics or LPNs, and before graduation are required to go through a very rigorous clinical sign off by advanced practice nurses. Im not trying to put any one down, I just believe that the real world experience provides a good platform to start from... Thats all! Thanks

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Just so you know most students who fail out of excelsior usually wind up graduating from traditional nursing programs! The school demands a lot from its students!

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
Just so you know most students who fail out of excelsior usually wind up graduating from traditional nursing programs!
That isn't necessarily so. I am sorry you don't "like" the answer to your question....but it is the truth. I don't not personally think that an Excelsior grad makes a bad nurse. I know of a very talented Medic that went to excelsior and is a brilliant flight nurse. However....his education will not be accepted by some states. California is a big one.

There are several states that scrutinize Excelsior...or more specifically have issues wioth concurrent theory/clinical. so I would look at other 37 states to obtain license:

Alabama

Arizona

California

Georgia

Illinois

Kansas

Louisiana

Maryland

north Dakota

Oklahoma

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

I see by other posts of your you are considering CRNA...these programs are very competative and picky about entry education. Choose wisely.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
Well I thought there was something more to it than the typical view. If those are the reasons than where does the experience of the LPN or Paramedic come in to play. If I were a patient I would rather have some one taking care of me who had experience in the real world practicing starting lines, giving drugs, intubating (for paramedics) and saving lives rather than a new grad with a few "supervised" clinicals! It was also required for excelsior students to get clinical experience before becoming paramedics or LPNs, and before graduation are required to go through a very rigorous clinical sign off by advanced practice nurses. Im not trying to put any one down, I just believe that the real world experience provides a good platform to start from... Thats all! Thanks

The role of a paramedic are completely different than the role as a nurse. I know....I was a flight nurse and a medic. It's like comparing apples and oranges....while they are both fruit...they are vastly different. Alas there is no way around it other than choose another school....thread moved for best response.

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The role of a paramedic are completely different than the role as a nurse. I know....I was a flight nurse and a medic. It's like comparing apples and oranges....while they are both fruit...they are vastly different. Alas there is no way around it other than choose another school....thread moved for best response.

I understand that the roles are different, I have done both as well. Im just saying that the knowledge base between the two can be bridged with out your traditional clinical experience. I think it stands to reason that the skills learned as a practicing medic are more valuable than those obtained in a clinical where there is very little pressure to perform!!!

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Specializes in Med-Surg, OR, ICU.

I understand that the roles are different, I have done both as well. Im just saying that the knowledge base between the two can be bridged with out your traditional clinical experience. I think it stands to reason that the skills learned as a practicing medic are more valuable than those obtained in a clinical where there is very little pressure to perform!!!

Very little pressure to perform?!? I have well have worked as a medic and currently as a nurse. I completely disagree with very little pressure to perform in a clinical setting. It's much more stressful and hectic in a hospital setting when you have 15 different people telling you to do tons of things on just one patient while you have the rest of your team to keep up with. Managing one or two patients is by far easier than being in a clinical setting with 7-8 acute patients.

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At one time (don't know if it is still there) the CA BRN website had a writeup on the site about Excelsior. If you can't find answers on the site, suggest you call the CA BRN and speak to someone directly to get their explanation. Likewise for any other state not currently accepting EC grads. A way to get around it is to work for a federal institution, such as the VA.

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