Possibly starting ADN at Excelsior as a Paramedic

[notaflyguy142]

Hello all!

This is obviously my first post ever on allnurses.com and I wanted to start off with a hello!

So, like many people who come to this portion of the site, I am seriously looking into excelsior and am very close to pulling the trigger. I have two A.S degrees, one in fire science, the other in Emergency Medical Technology. I am a licensed paramedic, and like most paramedics in Oregon I have found that the jobs are very hard to find as a paramedic and as a firefighter. I have been volunteer firefighting for two years, and am finding it extremely difficult to find a job. Thus, I am close to going down the nursing path.

I am used to taking online classes so that atmosphere to me won't be any different. Are there any paramedics out there that have gone through excelsior (or anyone from Oregon that has done it)? What should I expect from Excelsior?

I am not worried about the payments or the money, as it will cost me roughly around 8k when it is all said and done (thankfully, my fire department reimburses volunteers 5250 per year). I currently work at a hospital full time as a pharmacy tech (for those familiar, I work at OHSU, Oregon Health and Sciences University). If I put my head down and really hammered this program out, could I possibly do it in 10-12 months?

Thank you all for any replies/information that would be beneficial to my decision!

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

If you pass the nationally recognized NCLEX why can't you work in Cali?

Because the Cali board of nursing will always consider the source of your RN (your initial RN education), and they do not recognize EC's program because it does not have clinicals concurrent with theory classes. You will not be licensed in Cali, you cannot endorse in as an EC grad. You would have to repeat your entire RN education at an approved school.

[PaParamedic]

I'm a Paramedic(fairly new too), only LS2, LS3 to go before FCCA and CPNE. So I'm into it more than halfway. I would suggest you lurk here often, doing searches for good advice, and avoid the 'doom and gloom' threads.

Good luck,

[Outlawsx3]

Time line. I was very motivated and finished my theories in under 4 months. FCCA is 8 weeks. ( Be sure to enroll on their time line due you will have to wait for the next online FCCA class.) CPNE test date is in about 3-4 months. They told me at least 6, but I was very flexible + got lucky!!! Happy with Excelsior so far. All business no games :-)

[ssalulu]

It's doable if you're able to put in the time and effort. I already had my pre-reqs done before I started. It took me a little under 11 months from the time I took my first test to taking the NCLEX yesterday.

[AngLVN, LVN]

The only way that you will be able to work in California as an RN is if you work for the VA or a Federal Prison. There is a possibility of endorsing your license after you receive a BSN from an accredited school of nursing. But you have to have worked as an LPN/LVN and have experience working as an RN first. It is a case by case. I got the information from an RN here on this forum who stated that he was able to endorse but had to go through many hoops. Hope this helps.