Excelsior College (Online Nursing School)?

QUEENIE17 · Jul 7, 2006

I have never attended this school. I can tell you that they have visited our hospital on several occasions for testing the students. I am a tech and I observed the following. If I witnessed 20 students I would say 15 of them failed the test. The instructors are certainly not a good representative of the nursing profession. I resented the way the instructors forgot that the patient they would be working on is real and not a test dummy. fyi this school is very expensive....try to find another option, it doesn't appear to me that they are a good choice.

awayhod · Jul 7, 2006

I "attended" the program for my ASN, and I am at Phoneix for the BSN on-line. For the experinced nurse, I feel they are a better option than formal schools, because you have the freedom of working at your pace. Also, you do not have to set in a classroom listening to someone you might not respect once they open their mouth. For a new nurse, I think the slef paced and lack of one on one support my be more of a challenge, but they seem to be very valid and successful programs.

nicolentony · Jul 10, 2006

I only know of RN's who have done the RN to BSN online. I am currently in an online RN TO BSN program, but received my associates from a local community college. I don't think I'd have been successful earning my RN through Excelsior - just my 2 cents. I DO think the program is very expensive.

EricJRN, MSN, RN · Jul 10, 2006

I'm an Excelsior grad and had a very good experience. Right out of school I landed a job in my first choice specialty, a Level II/III NICU. You've got to have prior healthcare certification or licensure (LVN/LPN, RT, paramedic, a few others) for admission, but I think it's a good option for those with patient care experience.

There are no standard clinicals like you'd see at a traditional school. At the end of the program, students take the Clinical Performance in Nursing Examination (CPNE). This is a three-day skills exam (not just clinical hours/observation) that involves the demonstration of specific skills, care planning and assessments involving real patients and skills stations. There are workshops offered by Excelsior (and by unaffiliated programs) to review for the CPNE for an extra fee.

The skills tested on the CPNE, for the most part, are pretty basic. The main challenge is controlling stress. There can be long waiting lists (3-6 months in many cases) for this final requirement, it can involve significant travel since there are only testing sites in a few locations across the nation, and the test itself is expensive (I believe $1600-$1700, but I've been out of the program for a few months now). With all of that riding on a test with relatively little margin for error, some students will make silly mistakes under the pressure. When I tested, I believe the first time pass rate was around 68%. As far as our examiners, I can only say that mine (in Amarillo, TX) were very professional. In order to be fair to each student, they have to remain mostly silent and can't interact with the patients too much, but I think the examiners at most sites try their best to at least be polite.

When I compared EC's costs to what I might spend at a traditional program, it came out a little more expensive, but if you only take the CPNE once and you avoid getting stuck in a contract with any study guide publishing companies, I think the difference is not that huge. For some of us, it's either pay a little more or don't pursue nursing at all.

Some things to consider:

- 'Distance education' does not equal 'easy.' When I was an EC ASN student, my job didn't allow me to attend a regular classroom during the day, but I still had to squeeze in the study time somewhere.

- Not all states allow new EC graduates to sit for the NCLEX due to the lack of concurrent theory/clinical hours, but most states do. If you stay in NY you should be fine.

On this site's Distance Learning/Independent Study Forum, you'll find a ton of EC-related posts. Feel free to PM me for more information as well.

kaismommy · Jul 10, 2006

Hello you guys! Thanks for your input Queenie, Awayhod, Nicole & Eric. Yes, I guess there are pros and cons to everything. Some people thrive in a traditional way of schooling others just don't.

Not all states allow new EC graduates to sit for the NCLEX due to the lack of concurrent theory/clinical hours, but most states do. If you stay in NY you should be fine.

This is what I'm afraid of. I'm currently living in Las Vegas for -5- months now , but I intend to go back to California (my whole clan lives there ... one of my downfall = too family oriented!!! :uhoh3: ). That's why I want to make sure that if I go for the LPN-BSN/RN ladder, that the program will be good enough to apply for licensure here in Nevada or be endorsed in Calif. or any other state for that matter.

- 'Distance education' does not equal 'easy.' When I was an EC ASN student, my job didn't allow me to attend a regular classroom during the day, but I still had to squeeze in the study time somewhere.

You're absolutely right, Eric. 'cuz I took some prereqs online before, for ex. Math, Human Dev't, even Pharma - oh boy it's more work than attending class on campus. But as I said, right now my only option is distance educ. Oh by the way I went and check that forum you mentioned and it's a wealth of info, thanks. I found Indiana State U interesting. I've emailed them and waiting for response. You have all a nice day.

madambutterfly · Jul 13, 2006

Hello everybody! Is there anyone out there who have heard or know somebody who went to nursing school using particulary Excelsior College? Or any online nursing school? How successful are there graduates? Because I know that with my schedule there is no possible way for me to attend a school via the traditional way (classroom). Please help

I have taken 1 class so far and I love it. My schedule makes it very hard for me to go to "regular" school. I am enrolled in the RN_BSN program. I heard about it from an instructor of mine when I was in nursing school. She got her degree that way! You have to be focused but you have to do that no matter what school you go to and the payment plan is affordable.