Excelsior College questions

Nurses General Nursing

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I am looking into Lpn- RN programs, Excelsior college has popped up in my search.

For those who are going through or have been through their program, is it worth it? My Hubby is concerned about them not being Legit. LPN's how much credit were you given for being LPN's. Any difficulty with employers about having your degree through them.

Am I understanding it correctly in that you primarily earn credit through taking their exams at a center? Correct me if I am wrong.

Any other info you want to add will be much appreciated. :)

Well, I wasn't going to post this, but since you mentioned some concerns, what the hell.

California just recently banned Excelsior, mostly due to complaints from hospitals and nursing associations. Some hospitals refused to hire their graduates, which is what prompted the state to take action and terminate the program.

Maybe it won't matter in your state, but the program has been controversial in other states. Just FYI.

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Specializes in LTC.
Gee, I could be wrong but I don't think you do the same kind of clinical evaluation at the BSN level you do at the ADN level. Check their website for a description ( and be sure to look at the cost!) of what is required for the BSN "clinical".

Sorry, I should have read your post more closely before I replied. I didn't even realize there was a clinical requirement for their RN-to-BSN degree.

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Specializes in Trauma,ER,CCU/OHU/Nsg Ed/Nsg Research.
Sorry, I should have read your post more closely before I replied. I didn't even realize there was a clinical requirement for their RN-to-BSN degree.

http://www.excelsior.edu/enrolled/nur_pxms.htm

Here's the link to info about the clinical performance exams. Note that if you go into the BSN program, you can either take the CPNE, or portfolio your experience.

Also, I've heard good things about Plano. Either you know your stuff, or you don't in the CPNE. The CAs and CEs have strict guidelines that they have to go by, and we are made fully aware of what is expected of us during the CPNE. As far as I know there are no elusive CEs/CAs out to get students and fail them. From what I hear, the majority are extremely supportive, but it's not their job to teach us what to do in the CPNE. We should have already learned it by the time we take it, because it's a performance exam. If you ever have any questions about it, make a phone appt with a CPNE advisor. They will answer anything you need to know. Don't let people who fail to take responsibility for their own "unpreparedness" and blame the CPNE staff for it. We get it beat into our heads that if we don't perform perfectly during the CPNE, we will fail. I know somebody that failed for not putting a paper towel on a scale before she weighed a patient. But, we are taught that we have to do things like that in order to pass. We have to show that we have learned what was expected of us, or we fail. Those who take that seriously know what they're in for when they take the exam. That's the gyst of it, really. No facility is any worse than the others. It is what you make of it by studying your butt off, and keeping contact with a CPNE advisor so your questions will be answered before the exam.

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Excellent reply. Wonder what is needed for the portfolio assessment, seems the easiest way to get through their BSN if you are already a practicing RN is to do that but there appears to be eligibility criteria. I'm sure the program is easier to understand once in it, looking at it from the outside is a different story.

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Specializes in Trauma,ER,CCU/OHU/Nsg Ed/Nsg Research.

I'm not sure what the eligibility criteria is for the portfolio, either. I'm going into the BSN program after I take the CPNE for the ASN in mid-May, so I won't be doing a portfolio. The ph# for the School of Nursing is 1-888-647-2388 then 1317 if anybody is interested in calling them and asking, though. Just ask for a BSN advisor when they answer, and they'll patch you through.

Excellent reply. Wonder what is needed for the portfolio assessment, seems the easiest way to get through their BSN if you are already a practicing RN is to do that but there appears to be eligibility criteria. I'm sure the program is easier to understand once in it, looking at it from the outside is a different story.
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Specializes in Psychiatry.

I wonder how many tries at the cpne you have?

Kelly

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Specializes in Trauma,ER,CCU/OHU/Nsg Ed/Nsg Research.

I could be wrong, but I think you have 3 tries. There are workshops to help you though, so you can do run-throughs and get critiqued on what you need to work on.

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Specializes in Psychiatry.

Okay, I read their webpage. 3 times to pass. Just makes you wonder what one does with the education if they don't make it. Start an RN program over again? Just thinking out loud here. lol

Kelly

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Specializes in Trauma,ER,CCU/OHU/Nsg Ed/Nsg Research.

Actually, they are NLNAC accredited, so the courses could be transferrable to another NLN accredited college. I do know that the U of L BSN school here accepts EC nursing credits. So, if anything you would have to take all the clinicals and any other requirements not covered at EC to finish your degree at another institution.

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Specializes in Outpatient/Clinic, ClinDoc.

I took my CPNE in Long Beach (California), and from what I read on the excelsior support yahoogroups boards it's supposed to be horribly hard to pass in Long Beach. /shrug. I passed with no fails on any modules. We had 12 people testing and 10 passed for sure. There was one fail I know of and she was REALLY unprepared and the other one (who was destined to fail) hadn't even read the study guide. And those of you who have taken the CPNE know the study guide is your bible. :)

So don't worry TOO much about CPNE locations.

And FWIW, I work and am licensed in California and have never had a problem getting a job based on graduating from Excelsior (then Regents College). California has not 'banned' anything yet, but they have required that LVN's get supervised clinical experience now - since Excelsior is not yet offering that they won't let you sign up as a California student at this time. I have a feeling they will figure something out eventually.

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Specializes in Trauma,ER,CCU/OHU/Nsg Ed/Nsg Research.

Thanks for posting your experience, Featherz. I like to hear more from those that have "made it" than those who haven't. I agree with you about the study guide being your Bible. They go to great lengths to tell you what they expect from you. It's got just about every curveball they could throw at you covered in it.

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And FWIW, I work and am licensed in California and have never had a problem getting a job based on graduating from Excelsior (then Regents College). California has not 'banned' anything yet, but they have required that LVN's get supervised clinical experience now - since Excelsior is not yet offering that they won't let you sign up as a California student at this time. I have a feeling they will figure something out eventually.

Look, I'm not trying to stir the pot, believe it or not. But let's present both sides of the issue, since this is what the OP asked about. Excelsior may be "legit" in some states and with some hospitals, but that's not always the case.

I actually ran into a Kaiser recruiter last week, and they're not hiring new Excelsior grads. And one of my classmates works at Kaiser, and wanted to go through Excelsior, but her Kaiser bosses said she would not be hired as a nurse if she did. It's no surprize since Kaiser testified against Excelsior at the board hearings.

I'm glad it hasn't been a problem for you, but it might be a problem for others. If you want to use some word other than "banned." Ok. The bottom line is: Excelsior is no longer an option in California.

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