Excelsior College and State of MO?

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Okay so I have tons of questions. First of all, can someone fill me in on the Excelsior College. Do the offer an LPN bridge program? I have heard there are some problems with doing clinicals with the online programs. Do you end up doing them out of state, for how long? Has anyone from MO, completed their clinicals. Also I was reading on these boards somewhere and I thought that I read somewhere that not all state boards accept Excelsior? I don't really see how that is possible. I am really confused. I am a future LPN student with a family and am considering an online bridge program but am terrifed that a) they are outrageously expensive b) you complete the whole program and then can't take your boards for some reason or c) you have to do tons of clinicals in a land far far away. :uhoh21: Also, just be honest with me if you have done this particular program. Would you reccomend it to YOUR friend? Thanks and I don't mean to sound hectic but am trying to plan the future.

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Specializes in Med/Surg <1; Epic Certified <1.
Okay so I have tons of questions. First of all, can someone fill me in on the Excelsior College. Do the offer an LPN bridge program? I have heard there are some problems with doing clinicals with the online programs. Do you end up doing them out of state, for how long? Has anyone from MO, completed their clinicals. Also I was reading on these boards somewhere and I thought that I read somewhere that not all state boards accept Excelsior? I don't really see how that is possible. I am really confused. I am a future LPN student with a family and am considering an online bridge program but am terrifed that a) they are outrageously expensive b) you complete the whole program and then can't take your boards for some reason or c) you have to do tons of clinicals in a land far far away. :uhoh21: Also, just be honest with me if you have done this particular program. Would you reccomend it to YOUR friend? Thanks and I don't mean to sound hectic but am trying to plan the future.

Someone where I am interning is doing an online program....I'll have to ask him again who he's doing it through (are there more than one?)....I know he's going to Atlanta to do some lab skills checkouts, but am not sure what he does about clinicals....I work the next couple of nights, so if he's around, I'll ask him for more info.

I'd also call the MO State Board of Nursing (if this is where you want to be licensed) and ask them about their take on the program. The "salespeople" at these places will tell you anything you want to hear, so be sure to do your homework. Are you going to go on for a BSN or further at some point? If so, do the local universities where you live also accept these credits or will you find yourself retaking classes to the tune of a lot of your money and time? Just a few other things you want to be sure to think of....

Good luck!!

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Specializes in CNA in OB,ER,ICU,MS.

A girl I work with did this program. She was already an LPN and got her RN. She is an OB nurse in MO. They sent her all the books and she did some tests online and others she had to go to another city ( about 90 min away) and have her tests proctered at a college. Then she went to Ohio ( I think) and did a 3 or 4 day clinical there, and at the end of that she had a clinical test ( pass or fail). Then she took MO boards. She passed on the first try! I know she really liked it, but said she was glad she had been an LPN for a couple yrs and had clinical experience under her belt.

She took the clinicals Spring 2006, took boards in May 2006.

She loved Excelsior mainly because she had a family and could still work full time ( 3 12 hour shifts a week) and study. Plus she would have about an hour commute round trip and Excelsior was cheaper in the end.

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Most people get confused when first learning about Excelsior because they are not told that it is basically not a traditional nursing school with classes and clinical practice, but an assessment institution. They help you pull together all of your credits and you show your nursing knowledge by taking tests and the clinical portion is a clinical assessment at the very end. It is a very good option for different situations, one of them being people who had to drop out of traditional programs before completion. You really need to check out their website: http://www.excelsior.edu. You can then call the school with any questions you have, the school personnel are very nice and helpful. As far as certain states not accepting Excelsior, that is a recent thing. You need to find out what your state's current status is. I wouldn't worry too much about the future because usually when a state wants to change their rules they give plenty of notice and grandfather in already enrolled students, like CA did. My best advice though: do not procrastinate. If you decide to enroll, don't dawdle along. After the first year, they charge you a yearly enrollment fee and there is an ultimate deadline. Can't take the rest of your life to finish. Also: On Oct. 1 of this year the curriculum is changing. Biggest addition: a second, more involved clinical evaluation. Save yourself time, money, and an ulcer by enrolling before Oct. 1. Good luck with your decision.

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