Excelsior college

DeLynn, RN · May 12, 2005

I graduated from LPN school in december 2003. I only had 7 college credits I was able to apply towards the RN degree. I started out really slow, just one class or test at a time. But as I got closer to finishing I was motivated to go a little faster. Now I have 3 nursing tests left (hopefully 2 after today) and Ethics. I'm going to apply for the CPNE in June if all goes well and hoping to get a date in the fall (I guess the usual wait is 4-6months) then hoping to take NCLEX by december or Jan. So all together it will be two years exactly from start to finish. But if you have some college courses done, like English, then it might not take as long. I suggest you jump right into it right after LPN school. I only took about a month off in between.

Betty555 · May 12, 2005

I graduated from LPN school in december 2003. I only had 7 college credits I was able to apply towards the RN degree. I started out really slow, just one class or test at a time. But as I got closer to finishing I was motivated to go a little faster. Now I have 3 nursing tests left (hopefully 2 after today) and Ethics. I'm going to apply for the CPNE in June if all goes well and hoping to get a date in the fall (I guess the usual wait is 4-6months) then hoping to take NCLEX by december or Jan. So all together it will be two years exactly from start to finish. But if you have some college courses done, like English, then it might not take as long. I suggest you jump right into it right after LPN school. I only took about a month off in between.

Thank you for the reply. I didn't know anyone who had taken it so your advice means alot. Thanks again.

chip193 · May 13, 2005

Hi Betty,

I graduated from EC last April. I was a medic for 13 years before enrolling.

I made it through the program in about 9 months. In reality, if I didn't get married in the middle of it, I would have been done in about 6. I had most of the general eds done - had 70ish credits before I started.

Good luck!

Chip

HONEYBEAR · May 13, 2005

What is the web address for this program?

FROGGYLEGS, LPN · May 13, 2005

What is the web address for this program?

http://www.excelsiorcollege.edu

tiroka03, LPN · May 13, 2005

I am currently doing the preq's for the program as it has been over 5 years since I graduated from LPN. I have been slowly putting them away. I would advise you start soon so that you don't have to bother with them.

I am using Chancellors study system. There are many different learning systems out there that you can use. However, they are set up so once you start, you can't get out of them.

If you want to use their guides, you can buy them for a fraction of the price you would have paid for them.

My best advise is to look and ask before you leap.

Good luck

Pertlvn03 · May 13, 2005

This sound like an excellent program for a working people like myself. How do they set up their clinical experience/class? Do you have to go to New York for it?

Betty555 · May 14, 2005

Hi Betty,
I graduated from EC last April. I was a medic for 13 years before enrolling.
I made it through the program in about 9 months. In reality, if I didn't get married in the middle of it, I would have been done in about 6. I had most of the general eds done - had 70ish credits before I started.
Good luck!
Chip

Thank you !!! If I can ask you one more thing... Just wondering... I have no college credits except for my LVN program credits, it was from a vocational

school though. Does that count?

chip193 · May 14, 2005

Thank you !!! If I can ask you one more thing... Just wondering... I have no college credits except for my LVN program credits, it was from a vocational
school though. Does that count?

Hi again Betty!

I don't know if any of those credits count. The only exception, if I recall correctly, might be Nursing Concepts 2. I believe that they will grant credit for NC2 if you are an LPN.

A poster above talked about using Chancellors. I have heard very mixed reviews (ok, so mostly bad!) about any of the publishing companies. EC will provide you with a study guide for each class. You can also get great deals on people's notes from Ebay (something that I did for Ethics, used only that person's notes, and pulled an "A").

My wife was finishing her traditional nursing school as I was mid-way through EC. I attended an NCLEX review with her and it made everything click. You may want to attend one before you start the NC exams.

Cliff's Notes has a group of publications called "Quick Review". I used their Quick Review for A&P, Micro, Lifespan Development, and a few other courses. Micro and Lifespan were foreign concepts to me. A&P was a review. And I passed all of them (2 "B"s and a "C").

Take a look at CLEP and Dantes Exams. They're much cheaper and will get you credit at EC. Where an EC exam is around $200, the CLEP and Dantes are about $70 each. There are some 6 credit CLEPs and Dantes too. I used CLEP and Dantes for Psych and a bunch of Humanities.

The only class that I suggest that you take in a school (or via the internet) is the writing class. The writing exam is supposed to be impossible and they won't take any other exam for it.

Good luck!

Chip

PS There is a Yahoo group called "RNStudyGroup" that you really want to join. They have some great study files there and there are usually some hints as to what to look for on the exams. Also, frankly, the support for each other is awesome! http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rnstudygroup/

chip193 · May 14, 2005

www.excelsiorcollege.edu

Actually, it's www.excelsior.edu

burned78 · May 24, 2005

I have been a paramedic for 4 years and I have enough college credits to kill a horse (mostly in other disciplines however) I only have to take Lifespan development, Micro and the 7 nursing classes to finish. My question to anyone out there who has been through the program...How long will the classes take me? And more importantly...How hard is the CPNE to prepare for and pass. I know I have 6 months before I can test but should I take the practice weekend in Albany prior to the actual CPNE. The lady on the phone said the exam was really hard and if you fail, you must wait another 6 months and pay another 1500$. I just need to know if I should be going forward. Any help out there?