Excelsior College Questions

BBFRN, BSN, PhD · Mar 13, 2006

I'm only posting cause the other ones didn't really answer my questions. How exactly does EC work? Do you just study for the exams or do you get assignments? How do you get clinical experience for school? Approximately how long does it take to complete? What was your experience in the program like? Good or bad?

EC offers a variety of formats for different courses now. You can do an online class, you can just test out, or you can do some courses via CD Rom. When I did the program, it was all test-outs. I would call and speak to an advisor. They're pretty honest and helpful in guiding you in the direction that would best fit your needs.

Sheri257 · Mar 13, 2006

the point is that you're attempting to paint the worst possible picture, and yes, it's misinformation... what makes it worse is it's deliberate. as though an EC graduate wouldn't be allowed to work in all the states you list! it's simply ridiculous.

Oh come on ...

The same info has been posted on this board numerous times not just by other posters but, also, the istudysmart.com website ...

http://www.istudysmart.com/content.asp?cid=70

I guess they're also trying to deliberately paint the worst possible picture ... not.

I could post that the sky is blue, and you guys would still go into convulsions just because I posted anything at all ... no matter how benign.

Get a grip ... will ya?

:chuckle

BBFRN, BSN, PhD · Mar 13, 2006

.
I could post that the sky is blue, and you guys would still go into convulsions just because I posted anything at all ... no matter how benign.

:lol_hitti :no:

pedinurse05 · Mar 14, 2006

This link from the Florida BON website doesn't mention reciprocity ...
http://www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/nursing/nur_faq.html
Q: Can I apply for a nursing license in Florida if I graduated from Regents (Excelsior) College?
A: Licensed Practical Nurses who had integrated clinical and theory in their practical nursing program, and subsequently graduated from Regents (Excelsior) College, may apply for licensure in Florida. Non-LPN's may apply only if they were enrolled in the Regents (Excelsior) College program on or before August 10, 1994.
But, in case there are exceptions ... this is why I said at the top of the post that people should call the state boards to verify the info.
Take a chill pill.

I think you may be right. I do recall there being a dated clause like this for non-LPN graduates. She is right to check. If you did the program prior to that date as a non-LPN you should be ok, but after the date may be a entirely different story. Most people I know from Florida who have done the program were LPN's.

pedinurse05 · Mar 14, 2006

Oh come on ...
The same info has been posted on this board numerous times not just by other posters but, also, the istudysmart.com website ...
http://www.istudysmart.com/content.asp?cid=70
I guess they're also trying to deliberately trying to paint the worst possible picture ... not.
I could post that the sky is blue, and you guys would still go into convulsions just because I posted anything at all ... no matter how benign.
Get a grip ... will ya?
:chuckle

you must be quite addicted to all the convulsions we have here on the distance learning threads since you frequent them often :) But really, you are quite right that there are more than a few restrictions out there and in my opinion it is only going to grow if EC doesn't make some entry and clinical changes. While I am thankful for the program...I realize that they have kinks that could be addressed better.

pedinurse05 · Mar 14, 2006

the point is that you're attempting to paint the worst possible picture, and yes, it's misinformation... what makes it worse is it's deliberate. as though an EC graduate wouldn't be allowed to work in all the states you list! it's simply ridiculous.
if you look under the rules for reciprocity in florida, the educational requirement is that you qualify for the nclex in another state. thus reciprocity is freely given to EC grads. why don't you call state boards before you post misinformation here attempting to discourage those pondering enrollment in EC?
so rather than me taking a chill pill, perhaps you could take an honesty pill?
i'll agree with you on one point. that people should directly call state boards and get the truth, rather than take anyone's word for anything here. this is clearly disconnected from reality.

I don't think she meant it bad...but it is true those are some real restrictions that potential students must be aware of prior to enrolling. Unfortunately, life is not very predictable--where you think you may never be may just be where you end up. I am fortunate to have thought I might be in California someday and enrolled prior to the cutt date....others need to know--and worse case scenario may just be what makes a decision for someone. EC is a good option for those who study well independently and have a clinical foundation more than a mere certification to be accepted into the program...it however does lack in it's enrollment criteria and clinical evaluation--and I am an EC grad!

Sheri257 · Mar 14, 2006

I don't think she meant it bad...

I didn't. I was just making a joke that sometimes you guys read more into my posts than is actually there.

The Florida BON website says what it says. At least I posted a link to the relevant info. It's not like I was making this stuff up. If Traumahawk thinks it's wrong then feel free to post additional links that might clarify the information.

But I don't see how posting links to the Florida BON website ... where they are discussing this very question ... is either dishonest, misleading or a deliberate attempt to distort reality. It's not.

I guess some people just freak out ... for whatever reason.

:typing

traumahawk99 · Mar 14, 2006

I think you may be right. I do recall there being a dated clause like this for non-LPN graduates. She is right to check. If you did the program prior to that date as a non-LPN you should be ok, but after the date may be a entirely different story. Most people I know from Florida who have done the program were LPN's.

i personally know a recent EC grad who was a midwife. and yes, she got reciprocity to florida. when i called the state board, they advised me to go the reciprocity route, telling me it was "the loophole for excelsior". i've since decided to move to nyc, but it's nice to know this is just lip service to those control freaks who run the traditional programs.

the point is that despite all the hullaballoo, there's really not much real world restriction on EC grads. given the upcoming shortage of nurses as our society ages, it wouldn't make economic sense to deny licensure to EC grads.

i think california will eventually relent and offer reciprocity to those who've worked as rn's in another state.

but the bottom line is to call the state where you want to practice and ask about the rules for reciprocity.

would i do excelsior again instead of going through a traditional program? you bet!

RN34TX · Mar 14, 2006

i think california will eventually relent and offer reciprocity to those who've worked as rn's in another state.

I predict the same thing will happen over the years. There will just be too many experienced EC RN's as the years go on wanting reciprocity and the political stuff will eventually simmer down.

But that's just a mere prediction on our part, now isn't it?

I think that what Lizz and others may be trying to say is that, given the fact that although you and I may be quite sure that CA will eventually cave in, and then taking for granted that we are correct, is it in the best interest for someone who wishes to live there at some point to go through the entire EC program, and then just hold their breath waiting it out for CA to allow them RN licensure?

How long will they have to wait for this to happen? 2 years? 20? More?

When I contemplated getting my RN through EC, I sat down and called BON's of every state that I could possibly imagine myself living in and asking them what their policies were on licensure for EC grads, as recommended by EC. Florida was one of those states.

The "education and licensure" specialist explained to me on why their rules are written the way that they are.

Many years ago, certain types of health workers could get grandfathered into LPN licensure in a number of ways, either by way of work experience, and/or challenging the board exam.

But this also was occuring during a time when LPN's themselves were not given as lengthy of educational programs and/or had more narrow scope of practice and job responsibilities.

In the 1970's, when EC started, these grandfathered LPN's were now becoming RN's via EC. She was not clear about whether these grads had problems or why they felt that some changes need to occur, other than they were now getting a lot of RN applicants who had almost no structured clinical experience in an educational setting.

So in 1984, the new rules stated that EC RN applicants must have graduated from a structured LPN program with theory concurrent with clinical or however they actually wrote it in the board language.

That's why there are different rules for people before and after 1984.

The way I see it, what FL did in the 1980's isn't a lot different than what CA did in 2003. I just think that FL handled it a little better and more realistically with respect to LPN's than CA did, but that's JMHO.

That's not to say that EC doesn't share plenty of responsibility in making some changes of their own, because I agree with pedinurse in this respect.

I never asked her about being licensed in another state and then endorsing into FL, since I knew that as an LPN, I already met their criteria for initial licensure.

I also could not find anything on the FL BNE website regarding a non-LPN in this situation so I'm unclear of this as well.

Just thought I'd post my experience with the FL BNE and hoped to help make some sense of their rules regarding licensure since this seemed to be a popularly discussed state here.

Also, I'd like to point out that on that same day, I also called the CA BNE and at that time, they had no restrictions whatsoever on EC grads, not even close to what FL already had in place.

So who knew that in 2003 that things would be so different?

I just think that EC students and hopefuls today need to exercise a lot more caution and to stay informed because a lot more changes are happening today than when I enrolled.

Jo Dirt · Mar 14, 2006

I have been told recently by a licensing analyst from the BON in California that it is still possible for a new EC RN to get a license in California with an additional 360 hours of clinicals.

Got the info. straight from the board.

BBFRN, BSN, PhD · Mar 14, 2006

I have been told recently by a licensing analyst from the BON in California that it is still possible for a new EC RN to get a license in California with an additional 360 hours of clinicals.
Got the info. straight from the board.

I thought CA specified that the clinicals had to be concurrent with the didactic, though.

Sheri257 · Mar 14, 2006

I thought CA specified that the clinicals had to be concurrent with the didactic, though.

They did. All I can say is the board makes my school jump through a bunch of hoops to meet the concurrent theory with clinical requirement.

We're in a situation where there's not enough clinical sites to do psych clinical rotations for the entire class at the same time. So ... the class is split in half ... where psych theory is taught to half of the students while they do psych clinicals. The other half of the class is taught ICU theory while they do ICU clinicals. Then we switch.

I assume my school wouldn't be going to all of this trouble and, believe me, it is a lot of trouble ... if the board wasn't a stickler about it. The school has to hire additional teachers and find additional classrooms to make this work. And they have to document all of it because there's very little leeway with the board when they audit the school every couple of years. If the clinicals and concurrent theory is off by as much as a week, the board gets on their case.

I don't know what this means for EC students who may be trying to meet the clinical requirements after the fact but, I do know that the board can be very tough when it comes to the concurrent theory with clinical requirement at my school.

:typing