Excelsior college

Nursing Students LPN-RN

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Specializes in LPN.

Has any one done clinicals for Excelsior college yet? There isn't much information on whether or not its actual clinicals or a test.

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Specializes in LTC, HOME HEALTH.
On 6/29/2022 at 10:47 PM, mimi2930 said:

Has any one done clinicals for Excelsior college yet? There isn't much information on whether or not its actual clinicals or a test.

Hey, its actual clinical at sites in certain states. I believe 4 states including NY, PA and TN. I forgot the last one.  They are for 3 days fri - sun. You are responsible for travel and accommodations.  And you have to do it 2 separate times I believe. 

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Specializes in Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Volunteer Nursing.

It's been a while for this post but I figured I'd answer in case anyone was still looking for answers. I was part of the first Excelsior ADN class to do clinicals in Albany NY. If you have any questions please let me know. I'd be happy to answer. 

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Specializes in LPN pursuing RN.
Sandcastles said:

It's been a while for this post but I figured I'd answer in case anyone was still looking for answers. I was part of the first Excelsior ADN class to do clinicals in Albany NY. If you have any questions please let me know. I'd be happy to answer. 

Hi! I'm very interested in picking your brain on the revamped ADN program & clinicals. I am unable to send you a private message so I hope that you see this eventually :).

 I am an LPN and currently finishing up pre-reqs at a local college. I'm currently taking A&P2 and slated to take Microbiology in the fall, but I am considering switching & going the Excelsior route. I took a couple exams through excelsior & a third party company that provided study materials many years ago. They sent you a 3-ring binder & you taught yourself the material and then went to a testing center and took an exam for "credit by examination." Are the 8-week online classes actually taught , are there lectures? Is there feedback from the professors, or is it still pretty much a teach yourself? Were the classes doable while working full-time in 8 weeks as far as the amount of work? Did you/were you able to double up at all? I will have all my general ED requirements (& then some!) done due to previous college, but I think they will still want me to take the Cornerstone requirement and Information Literacy.

I'm also wondering about the flexibility of scheduling for the weekly synchronous lab components. Are there multiple options per class? Because I'm wondering how difficult it will be to fit in around my work schedule.

And finally & maybe most importantly, the clinical! From what I see it looks like 1 clinical weekend in Phase 2 and 2 weekends in Phase 3? Again, wondering about flexibility of scheduling due to having to work every other weekend. How did you find the clinical experience? Was it actual clinical instruction? Or was it more like being tested? Did you find it helpful? Stressful? Did the instructors make you feel like they wanted you to succeed? I just remember hearing such horror stories about the old CPNE. 

This was a really long post, LOL! Any information & advice you can give about your experience is so appreciated! THANKS IN ADVANCE! ?

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Specializes in Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Volunteer Nursing.

Hi Kendra,

 

     I believe you couldn't send a message because if I remember correctly I think you have to post a certain number of posts or reply to posts for the message feature to become active. ( correct me if I am wrong, something along those lines.) Excelsior College is an excellent choice for your RN. It allowed me to complete my RN degree on my own time and continue to work full time at the hospital. You may be able to double up with prereqs but the nursing portion I do NOT recommend doubling up if you are currently working as the courses are rigorous. The instructors are excellent and very supportive. They want you to succeed. The clinical was similar to that of when we were in LPN school. We were on a med surg unit. We got to see new things, learn and some things the instructors observed us doing and graded us on it, example would be surg wound care, hanging a piggy back etc. Of course it was stressful but not unbearable. I had fantastic instructors and they were always in touch and supportive. They push you to make you better. They challenge you and your critical thinking skills must be up to par. Clinicals was TWO weekends towards the end of the program and you get to choose your preferred weekend ahead of time. You aren't guaranteed to get your selection but they work with you. I'm now halfway through my BSN with Excelsior. I continued on with them because of the superior experience I feel I had. I think the best thing to do would be to apply to the program and the school can let you know what you need left to complete your goal. I wish you success going forward. ? Any other questions feel free to ask. 

Kind Regards,

Elizabeth 

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Specializes in LPN pursuing RN.
Sandcastles said:

Hi Kendra,

 

     I believe you couldn't send a message because if I remember correctly I think you have to post a certain number of posts or reply to posts for the message feature to become active. ( correct me if I am wrong, something along those lines.) Excelsior College is an excellent choice for your RN. It allowed me to complete my RN degree on my own time and continue to work full time at the hospital. You may be able to double up with prereqs but the nursing portion I do NOT recommend doubling up if you are currently working as the courses are rigorous. The instructors are excellent and very supportive. They want you to succeed. The clinical was similar to that of when we were in LPN school. We were on a med surg unit. We got to see new things, learn and some things the instructors observed us doing and graded us on it, example would be surg wound care, hanging a piggy back etc. Of course it was stressful but not unbearable. I had fantastic instructors and they were always in touch and supportive. They push you to make you better. They challenge you and your critical thinking skills must be up to par. Clinicals was TWO weekends towards the end of the program and you get to choose your preferred weekend ahead of time. You aren't guaranteed to get your selection but they work with you. I'm now halfway through my BSN with Excelsior. I continued on with them because of the superior experience I feel I had. I think the best thing to do would be to apply to the program and the school can let you know what you need left to complete your goal. I wish you success going forward. ? Any other questions feel free to ask. 

Kind Regards,

Elizabeth 

Hi Elizabeth!

Thanks so much for your response and for sharing such helpful information. Due to your positive experience I am definitely going to look into this further as an option once I finish Microbiology.

THANK YOU!

Kendra ?

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Sandcastles said:

It's been a while for this post but I figured I'd answer in case anyone was still looking for answers. I was part of the first Excelsior ADN class to do clinicals in Albany NY. If you have any questions please let me know. I'd be happy to answer. 

Hi how are u can I send u my info so I can ask u more about this school?

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Sandcastles said:

Hi Kendra,

 

     I believe you couldn't send a message because if I remember correctly I think you have to post a certain number of posts or reply to posts for the message feature to become active. ( correct me if I am wrong, something along those lines.) Excelsior College is an excellent choice for your RN. It allowed me to complete my RN degree on my own time and continue to work full time at the hospital. You may be able to double up with prereqs but the nursing portion I do NOT recommend doubling up if you are currently working as the courses are rigorous. The instructors are excellent and very supportive. They want you to succeed. The clinical was similar to that of when we were in LPN school. We were on a med surg unit. We got to see new things, learn and some things the instructors observed us doing and graded us on it, example would be surg wound care, hanging a piggy back etc. Of course it was stressful but not unbearable. I had fantastic instructors and they were always in touch and supportive. They push you to make you better. They challenge you and your critical thinking skills must be up to par. Clinicals was TWO weekends towards the end of the program and you get to choose your preferred weekend ahead of time. You aren't guaranteed to get your selection but they work with you. I'm now halfway through my BSN with Excelsior. I continued on with them because of the superior experience I feel I had. I think the best thing to do would be to apply to the program and the school can let you know what you need left to complete your goal. I wish you success going forward. ? Any other questions feel free to ask. 

Kind Regards,

Elizabeth 

Hi did you do the lpn- BSN? Are u able to sit for your boards once u complete the associate portion? And then continue with the bachelors?

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Specializes in LPN pursuing RN.

From what I gather from the info on the website is yes, you take your boards & then continue on with the Bachelors portion.

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Kendra.sev said:

From what I gather from the info on the website is yes, you take your boards & then continue on with the Bachelors portion.

That is great! Thank u!!

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