LPN to RN advice

Nursing Students Excelsior

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I am completely lost. I went straight from high school to an LPN program. I finished and have been working as an LPN since August. I want to start into an RN bridge program as soon as possible, but I have no prerequisites. I checked with the local community college, and the cost for just prerequisites is outrageous. The cost for just that, would probably put me through a bridge program. The nearest on campus LPN to RN class is 2 hours away. I am seriously considering excelsior college. But I'm not sure how that works without prerequisites. Any thoughts on excelsior or different routes is greatly appreciated.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
I am completely lost. I went straight from high school to an LPN program. I finished and have been working as an LPN since August. I want to start into an RN bridge program as soon as possible, but I have no prerequisites. I checked with the local community college, and the cost for just prerequisites is outrageous. The cost for just that, would probably put me through a bridge program. The nearest on campus LPN to RN class is 2 hours away. I am seriously considering excelsior college. But I'm not sure how that works without prerequisites. Any thoughts on excelsior or different routes is greatly appreciated.

Community colleges tend to be the best way (and least expensive) to obtain those pre-reqs. You are probably going to need them no matter where you go.

Have you downloaded and read the Excelsior nursing catalog to obtain a thorough understanding of how the program works?

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.
I am completely lost. I went straight from high school to an LPN program. I finished and have been working as an LPN since August. I want to start into an RN bridge program as soon as possible, but I have no prerequisites. I checked with the local community college, and the cost for just prerequisites is outrageous. The cost for just that, would probably put me through a bridge program. The nearest on campus LPN to RN class is 2 hours away. I am seriously considering excelsior college. But I'm not sure how that works without prerequisites. Any thoughts on excelsior or different routes is greatly appreciated.

Try this on for size.

Exams – CLEP – The College Board

The above link will tell you which colleges accept CLEP exams. The exams themselves are under $100, testing center usually charges $15-30 to administer the test. An outline is provided of the exam content; but you will have to purchase your own study materials. So, whatever college you choose, make sure each desired exam is accepted before you spend the money.

As for Excelsior College, if you find that you are unable to study and pass any of the CLEP exams independently (on your own), EC will be very challenging for you since you simply must be self-motivated for success...there is absolutely no one to make you study, and you are setting your own deadlines.

As Pixie.RN said, contact Excelsior College to see which pre-requisites you would need and whether or not they would accept certain CLEP credits. Also, you would need to know whether or not your board of nursing recognizes a degree from Excelsior. I took quite a few CLEP exams as well as classroom courses. EC accepted practically all of them. But it has been 8 years since I first applied....things change over the years. Who knows? You might find that your local community college (your first choice) has a generous CLEP policy and will accept most or a lot of those exams to meet those pre-requisites.

Definitely check with the EC because I believe LPNs now have to maintain employment throughout their enrollment. I'm not sure if there is a specified amount of time required prior to enrollment or not. (I know you said you've been working since August. This is just one of many changes that have come about since my graduation from the program). A friend of mine said she was told one year; but it's best to get that directly from the college itself.

The last time I checked, I didn't see that one year requirement; but I wasn't looking for it all that hard either because my holding her hand would not have helped her succeed in EC's program. Whatever information we provide here, it's always best to double check it with your college.

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WHATEVER YOU DO, DO NOT DO EXCELSIOR! After over $10,000 I still do not have my RN ! That's $10,000 is not including the pre-reqs. I already had the pre-reqs for my paramedic program and my bachelor's degree. You will save tears, time, stress, and money if you do community college. Just move for two years ! Seriously.

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Dont listen to naysayers. Not everyone makes it in any program anywhere and you'll always have someone who posts negative stuff. I read somewhere that 42 thousand rns have gone through excelsior. That's alot of nurses. Get the nursing catalog from excelsior and read it!!! Lots of important info there that will help you decide.

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