Excelsior Grads - Do You Think Online Nursing Is In Jeopardy? What State Are You In?

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I want so badly to get started with Excelsior. I read so many things on this forum about online problems and State BONs being negative about them. Tell me what is going on with this aspect? I am almost about to change my career goals. Nursing is getting to be a headache; I wish I didn't love it so much. Things don't have to be this complicated. This is why there is a shortage and people are getting fed up. It's happening while they are yet students. I am in the hit and miss arena. When I get one thing done, it changes to something else. HELP ME PLEASE!!!:yawn::argue::chuckle

Specializes in Peds stepdown ICU.
This statement is NOT true. In fact, grads of EC who have 50% or more supervised clinical/lab/community experience in a traditional RN program with 1-2 years experience as an RN can apply for licensure by endorsement in California. In fact, I know two who work traveling to California. And no it didn't take them 5 years to complete the program. Claifornia is looking for the supervised clinical compenent and RN experience. California evaluates students like this on a case by case basis. This can be verified with the EC state boards office, unless something has changed in the last 24 hours.

The only place to verify if you can get licensed in a particular state is by contacting that state board...not by calling Excelsior.

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No, I don't believe distance learning is in trouble, but I think EC's program is going to meet new opposition in many states. I do believe that distance learning classes with in-person clinicals is going to be the nursing program of the future.

If you love nursing, you'll find a way; don't give up. :) Best of luck.

I agree completely! I hate to compare but I think if EC did the clinical component the way that ISU does they may be more widely accepted. When someone asks about ISU I can say I have all the same requirements as an on campus program except that my lectures are online instead of in person. Not that much of a difference from traditional but it provides the flexibility people are looking for.

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How many clinical hours does an LPN have to have in order to bridge from LPN to RN at this school? It, I believe, is the only one that MD BON will accept. Am I right? Look like I remember this in some of my research?

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How many hours does an LPN have to have in order to bridge from LPN to RN at this school? It, I believe, is the only one that MD BON will accept. Am I right? Look like I remember this in some of my research?

About 500. I'm not sure if Maryland will accept EC or not. I'm not at all interested in EC so I'm not sure. Everything I've read so far centers around EC not having clinical hours outside of the CPNE so whether people think they need to do clinicals to bridge or not is irrelevant. It seems to be what a lot of BONs and hospitals want so if EC wants to remedy that then adding clinicals may be the answer.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
I agree completely! I hate to compare but I think if EC did the clinical component the way that ISU does they may be more widely accepted. When someone asks about ISU I can say I have all the same requirements as an on campus program except that my lectures are online instead of in person. Not that much of a difference from traditional but it provides the flexibility people are looking for.

But ISU's program isn't accepted everywhere yet either, is it?

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
About 500. I'm not sure if Maryland will accept EC or not. I'm not at all interested in EC so I'm not sure. Everything I've read so far centers around EC not having clinical hours outside of the CPNE so whether people think they need to do clinicals to bridge or not is irrelevant. It seems to be what a lot of BONs and hospitals want so if EC wants to remedy that then adding clinicals may be the answer.

I believe beginning was asking about ISU being accepted in MD, not EC. And EC is not currently accepted in MD; one had to graduate before 12/31/2007 to be licensed in MD. As far as I know, ISU is accepted in MD.

I know that at least one community college in Northern Virginia has implemented a distance learning/in-person clinical hybrid. I just think that's smart. That's the kind of model I was referring to when I said I thought that would be the wave of the future. :)

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Specializes in MICU, Burns, Med Surg.
The only place to verify if you can get licensed in a particular state is by contacting that state board...not by calling Excelsior.

I am fully cognizant that the most reliable information will come from each states board of nursing. So after consulting with EC I did call the CBON and verify this information. Like I said, I know 2 other RN's traveling to Cali who are EC grads, both of whom completed 50% or more supervised clinicals in a traditional RN program, worked 1-2 years as RN's then applied for licensure as RN in California & were granted such. So yes I believe it is still possible for some EC grads.:up:

In regards to MD, I read the thread about there being hope and clicked on the link the the BON website, so is MD now accepting EC grads who meet this new criteria? This decision was made after that cutoff date.

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But ISU's program isn't accepted everywhere yet either, is it?

Not yet but the distance track is still pretty new. There haven't been states that accepted it and then changed their mind. If the clinical portion is why some states have an issue with EC then it just makes sense to me to add on clinicals. *shrug*

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I believe beginning was asking about ISU being accepted in MD, not EC. And EC is not currently accepted in MD; one had to graduate before 12/31/2007 to be licensed in MD. As far as I know, ISU is accepted in MD.

I know that at least one community college in Northern Virginia has implemented a distance learning/in-person clinical hybrid. I just think that's smart. That's the kind of model I was referring to when I said I thought that would be the wave of the future. :)

How does the program in Virginia differ from ISU's program?

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
How does the program in Virginia differ from ISU's program?

I don't think it does, by much, except that it's probably easier for a local school to arrange local clinicals. Which school was it that had all the problems ... Deaconess? Which became Chamberlain? The ADN program, though -- they had difficulties securing clinical spots for students and eventually had to close down part of the program.

NOVA's program (info is here in PDF format: http://www.nvcc.edu/medical/health/nursing/ ) is four semesters, and it doesn't really look like there is a self-paced option to it ... it's all or nothing, and they recommend you don't work while you're doing it (yeah, let me just take two years off of work, no problem ... heh). There is also some class time required at the NOVA campus -- it's not truly 100% distance, from the sound of it. It wouldn't be viable for someone who lived out-of-state, unless they really want to travel.

I was kind of surprised that ISU isn't accepted everywhere yet, and I have no doubt they will be; like you said, the distance track is new. How close are you finishing?

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

Oh, and chaxanmom, the big difference I forgot to mention -- it's an ASN, not a BSN at completion, and it's not just for LPNs to bridge -- I think students start from scratch. :)

I wish ISU had a paramedic-RN/BSN bridge! That would have been something I would have done, definitely.

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I don't think it does, by much, except that it's probably easier for a local school to arrange local clinicals. Which school was it that had all the problems ... Deaconess? Which became Chamberlain? The ADN program, though -- they had difficulties securing clinical spots for students and eventually had to close down part of the program.

NOVA's program (info is here in PDF format: http://www.nvcc.edu/medical/health/nursing/ ) is four semesters, and it doesn't really look like there is a self-paced option to it ... it's all or nothing, and they recommend you don't work while you're doing it (yeah, let me just take two years off of work, no problem ... heh). There is also some class time required at the NOVA campus -- it's not truly 100% distance, from the sound of it. It wouldn't be viable for someone who lived out-of-state, unless they really want to travel.

I was kind of surprised that ISU isn't accepted everywhere yet, and I have no doubt they will be; like you said, the distance track is new. How close are you finishing?

I'm not sure which program it was that had to close down d/t clinicals. I haven't had any problem finding sites. As a matter of fact, Johns Hopkins is listed as a contracted clinical site so I'm going to call them next week and see about doing ICU clinicals there. :yeah:It's a 45 min drive but so worth it considering they do hire new grads in ICU. I love where I'm doing clinicals now but we're talking about HOPKINS!! :bow: lol!

I have this semester and two more until I'm done. Of course that's assuming I get these last 3 testouts done PDQ. I'm starting senior year in January and still have that one 100 level class that I was supposed to do before I even got into the nursing program. :no: The lady who keeps track of all that emailed me to point it out so I'm thinking if it's not done before spring semester starts that I'm gonna have a problem registering for 400 level nursing courses. Stupid Public Speaking test. :banghead::banghead:

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